Show Racism the Red Card Q&A. The Community Hub. Emirates Stadium, 10/5/16. Credit : Arsenal Football Club / David Price.
In what may be one of the most significant changes of policy since Keir Starmer became Labour leader before Easter he has revised his policy on support for Arsenal.
He told the Sunday Times on 20th September:
‘I’m an Arsenal fan,yeah. But I could watch any football game whoever was playing’.
This seems to significantly shift his position from being a dedicated Arsenal fan to someone who likes football in general but would count himself as an Arsenal support.
This has not always been Starmer’s policy
He spoke to Stephen Moss in the Guardian in 2009:
Starmer’s hobby is football, and as well as watching Arsenal he turns out twice a week for Homerton Academicals, who play not far from his home in north London
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009/sep/21/keir-starmer-director-public-prosecutions
The Observer (5th April 2020 had an update)
He is a huge Arsenal fan,” says Patrick Stevens. “He goes with the same group of his mates to a pub off the Holloway Road before every match. Keir also organises five-a-side games every Sunday and Monday. He sends out the texts and collects the subs.” Asked about his playing abilities Stevens added: “He is a midfield general … with a silky left foot
It may well that Starmer’s policy change from ‘huge’ Arsenal fan to general football supporter relates to his well-known forensic approach to politics. He may well have been keener on the theory and practice of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, famous himself for his cautious and forensic approach, rather than the present manager Mikel Arteta
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