Progressively taking soundings
The Guardian this morning says:
“Keir Starmer to launch progressive fightback against ‘decline and division’ fuelled by far right”
I can see the OED having to reassess its definition of the word “progressive” soon. More work for them — they’re already busy modifying “change”.
Anyway,
“Senior sources said Starmer had begun to spend significantly more time taking soundings from MPs … As well as spending time last week in the voting lobbies and tea rooms with MPs, Starmer hosted a delegation for breakfast in No 10 on Monday morning.”
I get why he would go to the tea rooms — taking soundings is thirsty work. And there’s no substitute for a traditional (English) breakfast to get you off on the right foot. But the lobbies? I thought you just went there to vote. Unless this is a bullying operation: “No, Richard, you’re in the wrong lobby. You want the progressive lobby.” It’ll get Keir nowhere though. Richard Burgon, the honourable member for Leeds East, knows the meaning of “honourable ”.
More work for the OED, though. On the definition of “taking soundings”!
No change
So I woke up this morning, noting a slight chill in the air. But nothing spectacular, either weatherwise or any other wise. There certainly doesn’t seem to be any change in the political scene at all.
Yet there is a flurry of headlines that think the opposite, and the BBC spells it out clearly: “Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon.”
There are two main problems with this. One is that there is no Palestinian state waiting to be recognised. The other is that UK policy has long been to support a two-state solution. This would necessarily involve recognition. So, as of this slightly chilly “Sunday afternoon”, nothing will have changed. Yet we are to believe that brave Keir has looked at the situation over the last few weeks and, calling into play the courage for which he is justly famed, has “shifted” his policy in defiance of Trump. Bravo! But it’s all bullshit.
In any case, Netanyahu, backed by Trump, won’t be making way for a Palestinian state. There will be no Palestinians left in the West Bank or Gaza, when Bibi and Trump have done their worst; and let’s not forget that Gaza itself is set to be the new Riviera, set up for rich people who have become bored with Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo, with their nice clean beaches. The new, Trump-owned beaches of Gaza won’t just be clean: they’ll have been cleansed.
What more could you want?
Bob Mouncer's blog 