Is Starmerism really Arsenalism?
‘Get in’ the new book by Times journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund makes one reference to Arsenal, to Jeremy Corbyn complaining about uneven results. I’ve never been totally convinced that Jeremy is really an Arsenal fan, although I accept its prudent for an Islington MP.
Starmer however appears to be more definitely an Arsenal fan and still playing himself even now he is over 60 (I have bad knees and this bit of Starmer impresses me).
Tom Baldwin’s biography mentions that before July 2024 Starmer was often asked whether he preferred Arsenal winning the Premiership to a Labour Election victory. Baldwin argues that a ‘will to win’ better explains what Starmerism is about than his Socialist Alternatives period.
As a lifelong Spurs fan that has long had a non-aggression pact with Arsenal fans- North London United-there are some things that can be understood about Arsenal supporters.
They are keen, indeed, obsessed, with winning (no point being a Spurs fan if that’s your take on things) and they don’t mind too much how those victories occur.
Baldwin notes that 1-0 to the Arsenal rather sums things up. It might be a boring win but it’s a win.
Perhaps that rather sums up Starmer’s approach to politics too. Is it enough to keep winning? Is it a game of two halves..
No