Novara Live Labour Won’t Condemn Illegal Attack On Venezuela
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Jan 6, 2026 Kieran Andrieu, an insightful analyst of international relations and UK politics, joins to dissect the UK's response to Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela, which Labour has notably refused to condemn. They highlight the implications of 'progressive realism' in foreign policy, critiquing Labour's inconsistent stances on global conflicts. Andrieu argues for a reevaluation of Britain's role post-empire and the risks of imperial actions, all while a new poll shows Labour's unfortunate dip below the Tories.
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Progressive Realism Masks Selective Enforcement
- Yvette Cooper frames 'progressive realism' as upholding international law while pragmatically choosing when to publicly condemn breaches.
- Stephen Methven and Kieran Andrieu argue Labour applies standards selectively depending on US alignment, exposing hypocrisy.
Realism Condemns, Not Excuses, Colonial Plunder
- Kieran Andrieu calls Trump's Venezuela action 'law of the jungle', arguing realism actually opposes naked colonial plunder.
- He says sovereignty is a realist principle that Trump's violations threaten, not a mere liberal nicety.
Corbyn Refuses Moral Diversion On Maduro
- Jeremy Corbyn repeatedly insisted the key issue is the illegality of the US kidnapping Maduro, not whether Maduro is 'a nice guy'.
- He refused to be diverted into moral judgments to focus on the breach of international law.
