Keir Starmer, Thatcher & the Great Moving Right Show
Keir Starmer’s support for Margaret Thatcher in the Sunday Telegraph (3rd December) has already been subject to several Starmeresque clarifications. He told Radio 4’s Broadcasting House that it was Thatcher’s political leadership and ability to effect change not her policies that he liked. He later tweeted that of course Labour was the party of working people again.
There are several reasons why Starmer might have spoken of his liking for Thatcher.
Firstly because of the pettiness that has characterised his leadership. Its not something Jeremy Corbyn would have said, so in saying it, its proof Labour has changed. Two fingers to JC etc
Secondly why Labour retains a 20%ish lead in the polls Labour suits are clearly aware that a much higher than usual number of voters appear undecided how they will vote. They are disaffected Tories mainly who might vote Labour, might vote Reform or might not vote. This group suggests an electoral volatility beyond the polls. Its an interesting point though its not clear how the Telegraph article helps
Thirdly and perhaps most seriously because its part of Starmer’s Great Moving Right Show. Thatcher’s political project was hegemonic- it certainly influenced Blair. As the late Stuart Hall correctly noted it was not the idea of a hegemonic project that was the problem, it was that Blair copied Thatcher rather than creating one on the centre-left. Starmer appears to be following the same line.
Its not a surprise given both Blair and Mandelson clearly have his ear and it reminds of a note that Mandelson sent to Blair when he was Minister Without Portfolio 1997/8 (Cabinet Papers)
Its political genesis is a synthesis between the historical position of left and right. It is too simplistic to say it adopts ‘left’ values but is rightward in how to achieve them. It is probably more accurate to say that it has left values but is open about to achieve them and recognises that it was the right, not the left, that up to the end of the 80s was prepared to think more freely. Privatisation of certain industries or the sale of council homes or greater autonomy for schools could have been left ideas
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