UK voters do not want extremes of left or right, says Keir Starmer

28 comments

1. > Starmer: ‘I think you win from the centre ground’ because people don’t like ‘extremes of right or left’
   >In an interview in the Times, Keir Starmer has said he believes that elections are won from the “centre ground”, because that is where most people in the country are.

   I read it as UK voters do not want to be taxed to death?

2. Agree with his politics or not, adopting a centrist position and pushing the Tories further to the right at the same time, is a tactical masterstroke. 

3. I would class Starmer as ‘extremely progressive’. By that I mean, in the past, ‘Tory but embarrassed to be so’ was a thing that had to be worn a bit closer to the chest, but as he says whenever he can, ‘we’ve changed’ – now the most important Labour position is ‘we are extremely pro-business, more than anyone else ever!’, and that’s just super. When I look upon Britain – its water companies, its Royal Mail, and so on – all I feel in my heart is ‘god I wish someone was a bit more helpful to business.’ That’s why I’m so excited about this election.

4. Tbh the vast majority of the population believes in exactly the same things, its only the fringes that have any real division in them. We want decent housing options, fair wages, for society to help those most in need, clean water, affordable energy and food.. it appears that these cannot be achieved regardless of who we vote for

5. He’s completely true. Why does everything have to be left vs right. Let’s come together.

6. What do we want?

   Change!

   When do we want it?

   At a glacial, incremental pace!

7. The thing is it’s been received wisdom for so long, as it’s kind of true. Voters don’t want barmy extremists, they’ve been told the left are barmy extremists, so they don’t want that.

8. No shit sherlock. What we want is a caring compassionate government that does its best for all the people, not just a few rich tossers who are trying to think of new ways to line their pockets

9. A nothing statement. Please, Starmer, give the electorate some reason to vote for you other than “our name is not the Conservatives”. I mean, you’ve lost my vote already but at least make it look like you believe in something or at least have an idea of what you’ll actually change.

10. The UK voters who voted for Brexit and the fucking Tories?

11. Yet history shows that people will vote for those extremes if they feel that the mainstream has consistently failed them. He shouldn’t forget that warning.

12. I just want a functional government.

    Capable ministers instead of a merry go around of the same failed ones, no endless trial and murder by media, a prime minister who can actually demonstrate leadership skills instead of producing meaningless sound bites and doesn’t grift for the donors of their party.

    Just like in America, we have descended into a reductionist and binary system of “us” versus “them” by extension “my party” versus “your party”.

    Let’s move away from tiktok style politics and concentrate on debating like adults and admit you can be wrong and you can change your mind.

13. Social media has influenced politics massively over the past decade, the vast majority don’t tend to post political opinions only the far left/right do, resulting in policies pandering to these communities to ensure they get good “social sentiment” on them

14. Well, he’s not wrong is he? Most people want to get on with their lives, put a bit of money away and not drink water filled with liquid shit, not too much to ask is it?

15. Yeah that extreme left wing stuff like scrapping two-child benefit limit, paying nurses and care workers fair wages, strong unions, ensuring everyone has access to good healthcare, tackling wealth inequality, nationalising industries the private sectors has run into the ground. 

    We need more sensible stuff like privatising the NHS, further austerity and following Tory fiscal rules, unlimited bankers bonuses, empowering landlords and cracking down on civil liberties and the right to protest.

16. According to Starmer, voters want nothing, because that’s all he offers.

17. Yeah, he’s right.

    Most people want a centre-left, centrist, or centre-right government

18. I’d like to hear how Starmer defines “extreme left” because I doubt it aligns with either established political theory or what the UK public think it means.

19. So why do our governments and institutions only ever deliver far left then?

20. Almost correct juuust need to add in the bit where we dont want HIM or Sunak either.

21. Everything I disagree with is extreme, and nobody wants extremes, therefore everyone wants what I want because I’m especially rational and moderate.

22. I feel like 2 elections down the line this will have changed dramatically, whether we go Right or Left is the interesting part

23. No we want islams out. They can come to our country but embrace our culture – not force there’s.

24. Probably unpopular (mainly because a lot people won’t really remember it) but Tony Blair’s New Labour delivered IMO, I have fond memories of the country feeling like it was really going places. 14 years or Tories has beaten any optimism I had out of me.

    I’d happily have another New Labour style government but I’m concerned that people are desperate for seismic change and this iteration of Labour just doesn’t have the means or the willingness to deliver anything of significance, the honeymoon will be short and the press will be brutal.

25. Should have listen to the voters after Brexit and the last election. You’re all the same

26. What people really want is to ride our failing system to the bottom.

27. He got that right, less he forget they do not want him Stank nor Soon to Go Sunak either, better a Coalition government with lots of Greens.

28. Zionists re not extremists but occasionally they may murder children /s

    Keir Starmer .