Keir the Abstainer strikes again: he’ll ensure new Covid tiers happen despite threatened Tory rebellion
Johnson and Starmer: sadly, a more appropriate image would have them both facing in the same direction.
Who was it greeted Starmer’s election as Labour leader by saying, “Finally, a real opposition”?
Those words ring hollow now.
Once again, Starmer is supporting the worst Conservative government, possibly in UK history.
And this time, he’s doing it when even Tories are threatening to rebel.
Here’s the Guardian:
The prime minister is to announce new one-off discretionary funding paid to councils for “wet” pubs and bars which cannot open under the strictest new tier restrictions for England, the Guardian understands.
Starmer will tell his MPs he does not believe Labour should directly oppose the measures because of the need to keep control of the virus. But he will say that, by abstaining, the party can signal that the financial support for hospitality businesses is inadequate.
Coronavirus measures … have become deeply unpopular with [Johnson’s] MPs. On Monday, the environment secretary, George Eustice, acknowledged that up to 100 MPs could rebel.
So, by abstaining, Starmer is showing more support for Boris Johnson than that terrible Tory PM’s own MPs. He has even said he wants to support Johnson…
… But he is refraining from doing so because he wants to curry favour among the hospitality sector and with those who support it.
Nonsense. If he wanted to support the hospitality industry, he’d be joining Tory rebels in voting down the new system in favour of one that provides proper relief.
Twitter knows what’s going on:
Just saw Starmer saying that Labour will ensure the new tier regulations pass tomorrow……..by abstaining.
Nothing like a forensic abstention to confuse the electorate!— Briefcase Michael (@BriefcaseMike) November 30, 2020
"We shall abstain on the beaches, we shall abstain on the landing grounds, we shall abstain in the fields and in the streets, we shall abstain in the hills; we shall never commit to a recorded vote of our true beliefs." Keir Starmer on #abstaining
— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) November 30, 2020
Labour abstaining on the tier vote tomorrow.
The Tory’s now own it.
— MC (@mgacramer) November 30, 2020
So far Keith Starmer's entire leadership has consisted of abstaining, abstaining again, supporting the Govt and attacking Jeremy Corbyn. I can see why Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston love him so much
— Shlomo (@hapoelorient) November 30, 2020
Labour abstaining on Covid measures is probably 'smart politics' but you have to laugh at pathological abstentions only being interrupted by voting for Johnson's Brexit deal – and all after the #FBPE lot talked about 'finally, a real opposition'.
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) November 30, 2020
Starmer’s latest PR campaign states, “Labour is standing up for Britain.”
How? By lying down and letting Johnson walk all over him?
Source: Labour to abstain in vote on Covid tiers as Tories threaten to rebel | World news | The Guardian
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Given that the SNP and LibDems will also be abstaining there is no realistic possibility of the Tories losing the vote. The brave little Tory CRG rebels can now demonstrate how they are standing up for the whoever confident in the knowledge that the Tories won’t suffer a defeat.
There will be nowhere to hide, the Tory chaos and splits will be there on display for all to see.
The outcome seems to support what I’ve said above
It supports what I said in the article.
Mike – I’m quite happy for other readers to make their own judgement.
This was the perfect opportunity to stike a blow and also support the UK.
Starmer the plant and colaborator has turned the Labour Party into a Tory doormat – shameful !
hello. Could you look into whether the wealthy people who own much of the UK fish industry and whose control might be a blocking issue in UK/EU trade talks are also Conservative Party donors. Here is the, the names are at the bottom. Thank you.
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2018/10/11/fishing-quota-uk-defra-michael-gove/?fbclid=IwAR3ZlWJ-De-avH9V8AI4PJ9LSepxfsMDJvR1TZ9At35ORpTML7nGZJEOPa8
I’ll try when I get some time. Thanks for contacting me with this.
Stammer once a Tory alway`s a Tory,he needs removing ASAP.
He’s utterly useless! Come to think of it, none of them instils me with confidence. Individual M.P.s are worthy of praise but the parties are rubbish, all of them!