This was an Independent headline yesterday:
As we all know, if anyone bought a copy of the Independent yesterday (is it still printed?), this would be chip paper by now (and I know newspaper is not used for such a purpose now, but live with the metaphor, please).
Let's also be clear, this is all based on a, no doubt anonymous, briefing from Downing Street and may have as much substance to it as do a unicorn's tears.
However, presuming this to be correct, what on earth is Starmer thinking?
The opposite of globalisation is localisation, or even nationalisation.
The chance both provide is a choice to set your own standards, free from the artificial competitive pressure that globalisation created. In other words, the need for the abandonment of the supposed red tape that has actually been immensely beneficial to most of humankind by enforcing standards, protecting people from harm and by defending human rights, is not what is required now. We could, in fact, celebrate this moment by highlighting our differences.
Alternatively, Starmer could appreciate that we are most definitely a trading nation, but in that case, we need to show leadership by building a new world architecture that upholds standards and avoids a race to the bottom of the sort he is proposing because he very clearly does not understand what is actually collapsing all around him.
Is there any chance of such thinking from Starmer? Not much, I suspect, at the moment. The man is too stupid to realise what a changed world requires of him.
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This was also the line taken by a minister when being interviewed yesterday.
I think they are too myopic to realise that the US is not the whole world. One country isolating doesn’t need to be the end, especially if that country has been a bad influence.
Agreed
Heidi Alexander got the short straw. But she is never someone to inspire.
Typo in title: one of the is’s should probably be an if.
Corrected thanks
Too much early morning writing
I started by 5.30
I need a coffee now
I do not see the LINO leadership showing any ability to think outside their current box.
There is every possibility that LINO will rapidly agree a new, very sided trade deal with King Don. Then crow look we have “saved the UK”.
If and when the other major trading blocks realign the UK is highly likely to be even more marginalised than ever.
More austerity anyone from Rachel in accounts on the cards?
I saw the quote on-line. And the ominous phrase more “supply-side” reforms are needed.
Sad but true.
Sir Kid Starver and Rachel from accounts will do what their wealthy funders bid.
It’s small wins, scraps, umble pie for the plebs.
“The man is too stupid to realise what a changed world requires of him”. True, but other more derogatory adjectives could be used.
Whatever happens, the changes In USA herald a country that is going to be different from the one we knew up to Jan25. I just don’t see a way back to the ‘good old days.’
Starmer et al just don’t seem to realise this. They need to Just Have A Think. Given our previous relationship, change may well be hard and costly for us. Do we like the USA’s direction of travel? I don’t. So we must learn to select our own, different path, and start now. The longer we delay, the more it will cost this country in both money and reputation.
Much to agree with
If the end of globalisation means the end of the exploitation of cheap Labour and indeed slave Labour in what we erroneously call the Third World; the end of the enormous harm done to the environment from shipping cheap disposable rubbish, that is then discarded, from one side of the world to the other; and the destruction of manufacturing industry in the west so that the rich can become even richer, then I for one wouldn’t shed a tear.
Sorry, spellcheck, despite my best efforts insists on putt in a capital L in labour. Has no-one told it that Labour Is dead?