Best of the Spectator

Quite right!: is Labour 'racist' too?

9 snips
Oct 1, 2025
Michael and Maddie dive into the Labour party conference, dissecting Keir Starmer's attempts to reclaim patriotism. They question whether his rhetoric resonates or comes off as patronizing. A heated discussion emerges about Labour's provocative move to label opponents like Nigel Farage as racists. The duo then shifts gears to Donald Trump’s baffling Middle East peace plan and Emma Watson's olive branch towards J.K. Rowling, exploring the broader cultural implications at play.
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INSIGHT

Starmer's Patriotism Felt Calculated

  • Keir Starmer tried to reclaim patriotism by pitching Labour as working-class, open and inclusive.
  • His portrayal risked feeling stereotyped and rhetorically strained rather than emotionally authentic.
INSIGHT

Mixed Messages On 'Broken' Britain

  • Labour shifted from saying the country is 'broken' to accusing critics of being unpatriotic, creating mixed messages.
  • Madeleine Grant felt this sudden pivot bordered on gaslighting voters about real anxieties like migration.
ANECDOTE

Tea, A Rich Tea Biscuit, And Political Lessons

  • Starmer recounted chatting to an Oldham woman over tea and a Rich Tea biscuit about migration concerns.
  • Gove compared that moment to Gordon Brown's infamous Rochdale remark as an example of political misstep.
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