Labour takes another poll lead based on Tory woes, not Starmer’s lying leadership
Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer: there are only liars in this image.
Who are these any-way-the-wind-blows mouthpieces the poll companies magically find every time they want to show a change in public opinion?
Apparently the Labour Party has surged to an 11-point lead over the Conservatives (42 to Labour, 31 to the Tories).
Metro‘s report of the Savanta ComRes poll makes it clear that the result comes as increasing numbers of Conservative MPs are submitting letters of “no confidence” in Boris Johnson – or voicing dissent against him.
One thing it absolutely doesn’t reflect is any faith in the policies – or even the honesty of Labour leader Keir Starmer.
He – and his deputy Angela Rayner – has just been served with a questionnaire from Durham Police regarding their participation in allegedly lockdown-busting drinks at the constituency office of City of Durham MP Mary Foy on April 30 last year.
They both deny breaking any Covid-19-related rules that were in place at the time and have said they will tender their resignations from their party positions if they are fined.
And, given the light treatment of Boris Johnson by the Metropolitan Police and Sue Gray, it would seem highly incongruous if that happens.
But that doesn’t mean Starmer will be found to be entirely truthful in the court of public opinion. His personal history suggests the exact opposite – as Owen Jones points out in a recent Guardian article, here:
Last week, it was reported that Starmer is likely to abandon the party’s commitment to raise income tax on those earning more than £80,000 a year: that is, the top 5% of earners. Yet, during the leadership campaign, Starmer issued a document known as the 10 Pledges. The first of those pledges – still live on Starmer’s website – under the heading “Economic justice”, is “Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners”, driving it home with a final flourish: “No stepping back from our core principles.” Such was the Starmer campaign’s emphasis on this pledge that one of his key aides personally rang me up to underline its cast-iron nature.
Coupled with Starmer’s campaign promises that the 2017 Labour manifesto was the party’s “foundational document” and the warning, “don’t trash the last four years”, anyone who claims there is no dishonesty if the pledge is indeed dropped is being deceitful themselves.
Also here:
While Starmer has since claimed that pledge number five, which calls for “common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water” did not mean nationalisation when it came to energy, this does not explain why he stuck up his hand to support “nationalising water and electricity” in the televised hustings on BBC Two’s Newsnight during the campaign.
And here:
Maybe some believe his sixth pledge – “Defend free movement as we leave the EU”. It shouldn’t haven’t been made but it was, and it has been brazenly abandoned.
Finally, here:
As for “unite our party” and “promote pluralism”, Starmer personally reassured me at the end of 2020 that “I am not out to crush the left”, before 10 months later seeking to change the party’s leadership rules in a move clearly intended to prevent the left standing a candidate ever again. That Starmer simultaneously declared in the contest that “the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn were terrible, they vilified him” before removing the whip – while his aides briefed the Murdoch press they intend to expel leftwing MPs – points towards a duplicity beyond parody.
In fact – unless my recollection fails me – Starmer has rowed back on every single one of his 10 pledges.
And with what sparkling new policies has he replaced them?
The answer, it seems, is none. Here‘s Skwawkbox:
Labour’s head of policy Anneliese Dodds was asked to name the biggest policy Labour is putting forward in response to the string of massive crises facing the UK at the moment – and was humiliatingly unable to name any policy, let alone the ‘big one’.
So we are left with a serious question:
If we’re all so dissatisfied with Boris Johnson’s dishonesty, shouldn’t we reject dishonest Keir Starmer as well?
Source: Labour takes 11-point lead in the polls putting more pressure on Boris
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
I remember Cameron making a big fuss over the 10 or 12? pledges and they were made to look like official documents, he too abandoned all but two within the first two years so Starmer has learned from the best(snake oil salesmen).