Keir Starmer on Brexit

Lottowyn

Lottowyn

Well-known member
Sir Keir rejected calls for an extension to the Brexit transition period and said that "the PM should complete the negotiations as quickly as possible ".
 
Constitutionally the right approach - government have an absolute mandate to do this.
Key phrase ‘complete the negotiations’.
Devil, as ever, in the detail.
 
Realistically he has very little say anyway, it's the Tories that will take the flack if it goes t*ts up, and it'd only harm Labour to be seen to be trying to prevent Brexit again, whatever the actual reality of the situation.

I don't blame him for saying it.
 
Yep. I'm sure he'd argue for an extension if it became apparent negotiations couldn't be completed in time (which he thinks unlikely).

Unlike his predecessor he's playing the game a bit. No doubt aware that a lot of historical labour voters who wanted brexit need bringing back on board. So he can't be seen to be trying to block or frustrate Brexit, and arguing that we need an extension until it's clear whether negotiations can be completed in the current timescale would be portrayed as exactly that.

Whether he plays the game well or not, time will tell. But at least he's playing it.
 
festa5 said:
Yep. I'm sure he'd argue for an extension if it became apparent negotiations couldn't be completed in time (which he thinks unlikely).

Unlike his predecessor he's playing the game a bit. No doubt aware that a lot of historical labour voters who wanted brexit need bringing back on board. So he can't be seen to be trying to block or frustrate Brexit, and arguing that we need an extension until it's clear whether negotiations can be completed in the current timescale would be portrayed as exactly that.

Whether he plays the game well or not, time will tell. But at least he's playing it.
Click to expand...

He is however, one of those responsible for bouncing Labour into a second referendum stance before the GE.
 
BBG - correct.
That was then.
Don’t worry, it won’t be forgotten - the Daily Mail et al will keep bringing it up to remind us.
 
As said above, it’s refreshing to have an opposition led by someone who is prepared to play the game and is smart enough to run rings around Boris and his goons. I’d even go as far as to say he will be able to manipulate them more than he should be.
The way he politely and respectfully set traps for Boris to walk into in the first PM questions was very interesting.

There are only so many times a charlatan can come out with the bluff and bluster act against somebody far more intelligent, before everyone sees right through the charlatan’s waffle. He’s fooled a good proportion of the country for a while now, but I think Starmer will gently coax him down a path where there will be a tree and a rope long enough for him to hang himself.
 
I am not sure his comments on Brexit are a game. The country voted, and even if he firmly believes leaving the EU is the wrong decision, he has realised that the decision needs to be respected. Not sure that qualifies as a game so much as accepting the electorate has spoken.

His stance pre-election turned out to be disastrous for Labour, so you change that approach and support the policy that is being enacted, it's all he can do.

I am sure he will play the game, when required, something Corbyn refused to do. I just don't think that is what he is doing now.
 
Laughing said:
I am not sure his comments on Brexit are a game. The country voted, and even if he firmly believes leaving the EU is the wrong decision, he has realised that the decision needs to be respected. Not sure that qualifies as a game so much as accepting the electorate has spoken.

His stance pre-election turned out to be disastrous for Labour, so you change that approach and support the policy that is being enacted, it's all he can do.

I am sure he will play the game, when required, something Corbyn refused to do. I just don't think that is what he is doing now.
Click to expand...

I just mean he has one eye on how he's perceived. More so than Corbyn ever did. That is 'playing the game' for me.

I think he probably believes we need to be extending the transition period. That's not ignoring the will of people or frustrating Brexit. It's just common sense given completely unprecedented circumstances that no-one foresaw at the time it was set.

However there's no point saying so at this point as the government claim they can reach an agreement in time. So rather than open himself to the inevitable criticism, he's keeping his powder dry until the case for extending it becomes more obvious and pressing.

I wouldn't be surprised if the government eventually decide to extend it anyway, it makes sense to do so and they can justify it easily due to covid-19 (although who knows with this lot).

So by playing the 'game' I don't mean he's looking to score points or trip anyone up. He's balancing pushing for the right thing while keeping the politics of it in mind too.
 
I think it would be madness not to extend it. There is no way that something so important should not be given full attention and the pandemic should take precedence.

It should be an easy sell, even to those most worried about Brexit never actually happening.
 
boromike85 said:
I think it would be madness not to extend it. There is no way that something so important should not be given full attention and the pandemic should take precedence.

It should be an easy sell, even to those most worried about Brexit never actually happening.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Unless they somehow deliver a comprehensive deal in the time we have that's going to have minimal impact on the economy (chances seems unlikely to impossible) why would you put businesses and economy through it, while still reeling from the impact of coronavirus?

At least give the economy a chance to recover and give yourself more time to get a better deal. Be madness to force through a no deal or hard Brexit at this point.

With almost any other government of any colour we've ever had I'd have said no chance we won't look to extend. With this lot though, I'm not as sure. I think they will, but wouldn't bank on it.
 
It would seem sensible to extend the current status quo re: brexit, easily justifiable too. I worry that Johnson may want "a victory" and try and push it through though, assuming he still has the keys to no 10
 
boromike85 said:
It should be an easy sell, even to those most worried about Brexit never actually happening.
Click to expand...

Should be, but I can just imagine the furore.

The Tories are lucky, in a way, that with this virus we're going to be in financial turmoil whatever happens with the transition period.
Some of it could be swept under the rug.
 
Not a chance it will be extended IMO.
This is an open goal for Johnson.
Any negative ‘economic impact’ of leaving gets hidden behind the consequences of an ‘unprecedented pandemic’. He will be full on ‘getting brexit done’
 
Free trade with goods & services, visa to live & work though with some flexibility of travel.. done..
Longer term will the EU even exist in a few years??
When will their internal borders reopen to allow their - non-negotiable - free movement of people??
 
boromike85 said:
I think it would be madness not to extend it. There is no way that something so important should not be given full attention and the pandemic should take precedence.

It should be an easy sell, even to those most worried about Brexit never actually happening.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the opposite the economy will be on its knees why you would inflict more damage by extending doesn’t make sense. Actually as all parties will be in a bad economic position it may help focus there minds to reach agreements quicker, be a bit more accommodating.
 
Cant see travelling there like we used to until the Vaacine is on the go, be very little tourism either way. As for trade we both need it, As for buying the new10 thousand bits of essential things we didnt produce and bought em cheap in China ,India etc... we will have years of building new factories and also producing essential good products but slightly more expensive rate, but able to get things sharpish.

China and India will have to start making their homies richer to buy from their own market.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top