Coffee House Shots Are Labour 'pandering' to Nigel Farage?
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May 13, 2025 
Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, and Danny Shaw, former adviser to Yvette Cooper, dive into the Labour Party's evolving stance on immigration. They discuss Keir Starmer’s controversial comments and the backlash from both left and right. The duo highlights internal tensions brewing among Labour members over Starmer's potential shift towards appeasing right-wing narratives. They also contrast the data-driven strategies of Yvette Cooper with Starmer's political rhetoric, raising concerns about the implications for future elections.
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Starmer's Immigration Shift: Politics Over Policy
- Keir Starmer's shift on immigration appears politically motivated rather than sincere policy change.
- Labour aims to address concerns of reform-minded voters but risks losing trust if perceived as pandering.
Labour's Internal Immigration Tensions
- Labour faces internal strain as some MPs oppose tough immigration rhetoric.
- Silent soft-left MPs worry the issue, combined with welfare cuts, could trigger rebellion.
Labour's Tough Immigration Roots
- Labour's tight immigration policies echo New Labour's tougher stances in the 1990s and 2000s.
- The 'hostile environment' approach started under Labour before Theresa May's tenure as Home Secretary.