Starmer shambles

WITH the whole country focused on the rising numbers of both Coronavirus cases and resulting deaths we might have expected the LOTO, Starmer, to query the Government on it at PMQs on Wednesday. Indeed, a lot of us were waiting for it.

But no, instead he spent his time talking about online abuse in the wake of the tragic death of David Amess MP and asking for a commitment from the PM to start the passage of the Online Safety Bill “by the end of this calendar year”. Starmer said: “If he does, we’ll support it.” 

Speaking in the Commons, Starmer said: “It’s three years since the government promised an online safety bill but it’s not yet before the house. Meanwhile, the damage caused by harmful content online is worse than ever. Dangerous algorithms on Facebook and Instagram, and Hope Not Hate have shown me an example of violent Islamism and far-right propaganda on TikTok.”

What about our MSM?

Violent Islamism and far-right propaganda on TikTok? Has the man not picked up a tabloid over the last five or six years when it has become noticeably worse? Oh sorry, he must have done, he’s written in a couple of them.

So let’s have a go at people online letting off steam and usually just wanting to hold those in power to account, but not a mention of the vile and toxic abuse thrown at certain MPs and lately even medical staff, both doctors and nurses, by mainstream media. Instead, yet another “we’ll support the government”. Well of course he will support it, he’s supported the government on oh so much since he became leader of the Labour Party.

And maybe that’s why he was so reticent about bringing up the Covid statistics. After all, he has been in favour of many of the Government’s measures. Indeed, in September of last year, in an interview with ITV he said he supported Johnson in his latest coronavirus restrictions, and any future measures, but refused to say if he thought they should be more stringent.

We’ll wait and see, we agreed with the Prime Minister, we support the measures he’s put in place.

Keir Starmer

Starmer did criticise the Government’s testing regime and economic support package, but he praised Boris Johnson for implementing a 10pm curfew on hospitality venues. He was asked three times during his interview whether he thought the new rules should have gone further, but would only say: “We’ll wait and see, we agreed with the Prime Minister, we support the measures he’s put in place.

“We’ve supported the government because when it comes to things like restrictions, communication is absolutely key and therefore I think it’s right that there’s one communication that’s coming out on a cross party basis.” Yes, one agreed upon course of action is absolutely key, but did that mean Starmer couldn’t put forward what his own course of action might have been and tried to get public consensus on that?

Agrees on lifting schools lockdown

And this year, despite concern from teachers and unions about schools reopening, and the latter calling for a staggered return, Starmer once again agreed with the PM who had outlined his plan for lifting the coronavirus lockdown in England and prioritising the return to schools by children on March 8th by stating: “I’d like to see all schools back open on March 8th and all children back in schools on March 8th.” So, that’d be no staggered return then eh Keir? No support for the unions, but support for the party overseeing such a chaotic handling of the pandemic. And remind us of what’s happened since?

So on Wednesday, with the news of our insanely high Covid case levels at the forefront of most of our minds Starmer decides to jump on the ‘online abuse’ bandwagon after one person was killed, albeit a senseless and tragic death, but couldn’t bring up the fact that the day previous had seen 223 people die of the disease and that we should perhaps, just perhaps, be looking at further restrictions.

Just to put it in perspective Keith, that’s a planeload of people. But I guess if a plane crashed out of the sky you wouldn’t call for action to be taken to prevent another such case unless somebody else did first, so why should it be any different when it’s the Government’s inaction causing these deaths?

Mr Forensic

Just look at what is happening in other countries man, then try to switch to forensic mode and put two and two together.

But remember, this is the man who wouldn’t say Matt Hancock should resign when practically everyone was calling for his resignation back in February when a court ruled he had “acted unlawfully” when his department did not reveal details of contracts it had signed during the pandemic, then a few months later when Hancock was caught on video kissing an aide in breach of coronavirus guidelines, and after Hancock had resigned, Starmer tweeted ‘Matt Hancock is right to resign. But Boris Johnson should have sacked him.’

So, no resignation for acting unlawfully but should have been sacked for a kiss. Not quite sure where your moral compass is Keith, if you have one.

Ashworth contradicts Starmer

Even yesterday he couldn’t seem to get his act or Party together with Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth saying one thing and Starmer another.

Ashworth had suggested the party’s stance on Covid restrictions had shifted when he told an interviewer: “We are in favour of plan B.”

But Starmer said the controversy over plan B was “the wrong focus”, that instead “The question we need to ask is why is plan A failing?”

Because, Starmer, plan A is not really a plan to deal with this pandemic and plan B is what most other countries have had in place from the outset.

Didn’t think I’d ever find myself agreeing with nasty little Ashworth but he’s bang on here. We do not need to be asking questions Keith, we need to be taking action.

For god’s sake man, do your job!

Susie Granic

Socialist always. Journalist and ESL teacher while travelling the world in better days.
Times change, my values have not.

I am grateful to my comrades at Critical Mass for giving me the opportunity to write for ‘the masses’ once more. and it is such a pleasure. During difficult times it has giving me something to focus on while also contributing as part of a very, very good team.

And you can also read my blogs on https://revbluessusie.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your support.