Labour MP: Starmer as PM without reconciliation will destroy the party
6 Min Read
Jon Cruddas examines Keir Starmer's strategies as leader of the Labour Party and expresses doubts about the future as Starmer runs for government.
-
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP)
Jon Cruddas, a key centre-left Labour MP and former policy chief of the Labour Party, recently expressed doubts concerning the current Labour chief Keir Starmer for his lack of attachment to his party's traditions and tenets, which signifies a lack of "a clear sense of purpose."
In a book to commemorate 100 years since the founding of the Labour Party, Cruddas addresses the implications of Starmer's character, describing him as "elusive" and "difficult to find," signifying a clear paradox encompassing Starmer's immediate presence in the party yet his distance from it.
He also examines Starmer's lack of commitment to the Labour Party's socialist values and principles, saying, “His approach to economics does not appear to be grounded in any specific theoretical understanding of inequality, material justice and welfare distribution. Despite a successful career as a human rights lawyer, as Labour leader Starmer appears disinterested [sic] in questions of liberty and freedom.”
Although Starmer has great ambition to take office, especially as PM Rishi Sunak plans to hold general elections throughout the year, and as the Labour Party is 20% ahead according to polls, Cruddas admits that he cannot envision Starmer's long-term plans after taking office or the purpose of instating him at all.
On the other hand, Starmer considers he is ready and suitable for government, with plans to end the cost of living crisis, cut crime, improve national health services, deliver cheaper energy, and increase educational opportunities for children, but most importantly, Starmer wants to rebirth the people's trust in their government. “This year, in Britain, the power to shape the future of our country will rest in your hands,” he told voters. “I’m ready to renew our politics so it once again serves our country.”
Cruddas revisits eras of former Labour PMs, only six in the past century, and studies the essence of their success and the success of any aspiring Labour PM to come, saying it is at the core of uniting traditions and values to improve social values, redistributing wealth, enhancing liberty and freedom and most importantly, fresh ideas to promote human virtue.
In this context, Starmer had planned out 10 pledges that are situated at the core of Labour history and lore, surrounding his "moral case for socialism." However, as Starmer garnered significant power in Labour, he performed a series of "pivots" or "U-turns", essentially abandoning many of his pledges that signify the baseline of socialism, including imposing taxes on the top 5%, public ownership, and constitutional reform, according to Cruddas.
Moreover, Cruddas claims that Starmer “oversaw a brutal centralisation of power on strictly factional lines and the removal of any signs of independent thought from prospective Labour candidates," adding that in four years of leading the Labour Party, Starmer remains non-partisan to what should be his central focus, alluding that his conduct disallows him from embodying a political identity that is in its core connected to the party he is representing.
To conclude, Cruddas raises concerns for the future of the Party if Starmer succeeds in taking office, saying while it signifies a monumental victory, he fears it would be destroyed without reconciliation.
Starmer: 'A cheerleader of war crimes'
The left has seen more just stances when it comes to human suffering and the elevation of equality among all, which would be expected in the leader of the Labour Party. However, Keir Starmer has abandoned his socialist values when his solidarity was needed the most.
For example, Starmer had consistently neglected a call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the brutal Israeli genocide that has so far killed around 22,000 Palestinians and injured over 56,000 others.
Two leaders of Labour councils in Lancashire, UK, urged Starmer to resign over his call to not push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Britain is united with Israel against terror.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 16, 2023
We are united in upholding international law and the protection of innocent lives. pic.twitter.com/0c2tp3U9N3
This comes after calls from senior Labour figures like London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who challenged Starmer's stance, but the party's shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, relayed to Sky News, "This is about what's right for the people of Israel and Gaza. The primary focus of this is not the Labour Party."
Burnley Council leader Afrasiab Anwar said, "I joined the Labour Party because of the values of standing up and speaking out against injustices across the world. Sadly, Keir Starmer has not stood up for Labour values, hence why we are calling upon him to step down."
Asjad Mahmood, the Pendle council leader, noted that because Starmer is neglecting Labour members' input, he would need to "resign to allow someone to lead our party who has compassion and speaks out against injustice and indiscriminate killing of innocent human beings."
When discussing Keir Starmer's reaction to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Kensington and Chelsea Councilor Mona Ahmed remarked, “Nobody will forget how Starmer chose to be a cheerleader of war crimes and collective punishment. He could have called for de-escalation, but instead, he contributed to the chorus of voices which enabled the genocide we are now seeing. Arab and Muslim communities will not forget this.”
Moreover, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain wrote a letter to Starmer criticizing him for endorsing and supporting the ongoing genocide. “The cutting of food, water, power, and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza is an act of collective punishment that violates international law... Like many others, I was therefore deeply troubled by the comments you made... You appeared to endorse such actions by the Israeli military," the letter read.
Hussain concluded that he would continue to urge for a ceasefire from the backbenches of parliament, following his resignation.
Hussain, and almost 11 other MPs, resigned from their positions, slamming Starmer for being closer to PM Rishi Sunak, alongside the US and their endorsement for the genocide of an entire people, in blind loyalty.
