the problem is exactly as you say. On the one hand you cant deny there was an issue which has been largely sorted, but now ‘being seen’ as anti semetic is an ongoing, rolling snowball which is dangerous because surely it shouldnt matter about perception, only what you actually do and have a record for. So the trap Starmer is falling into is, hes being forced to change position because his party cant be seen to be voting against their own consituency members wishes on this significant point of principle. This is not a pragmatic error, its a political one.
I personally think hes been right about the pragmatic side of things. Israel has given in to short pauses, which Labour called correctly. The wider issue is much more complicated until the hostages are recovered. Nice to see Clare Short in the papers again, I went on the Iraq marches in 2002-3 and the arguments were much the same only we had the majority party and a popular PM. That issue largely killed the grassroots Labour party in traditional heartlands, a party commited to peace and justice for all snuffed out at the branch level.
Starmer needs to change his position. Labour is so afraid of being seen as anti semitic they have lost sight of Israel being a state not a religion.
the problem is exactly as you say. On the one hand you cant deny there was an issue which has been largely sorted, but now ‘being seen’ as anti semetic is an ongoing, rolling snowball which is dangerous because surely it shouldnt matter about perception, only what you actually do and have a record for. So the trap Starmer is falling into is, hes being forced to change position because his party cant be seen to be voting against their own consituency members wishes on this significant point of principle. This is not a pragmatic error, its a political one.
I personally think hes been right about the pragmatic side of things. Israel has given in to short pauses, which Labour called correctly. The wider issue is much more complicated until the hostages are recovered. Nice to see Clare Short in the papers again, I went on the Iraq marches in 2002-3 and the arguments were much the same only we had the majority party and a popular PM. That issue largely killed the grassroots Labour party in traditional heartlands, a party commited to peace and justice for all snuffed out at the branch level.