Embracing patriotism could help Starmer take on Farage

How will Keir Starmer try to combat Nigel Farage? By beating his exclusive, divisive nationalism with an inclusive, unifying patriotism.

- ANDREW GRICE

Labour strategists plan to turn the next general election into a new “Battle of Britain”. Convinced that Reform UK, not the Conservatives, will be its main enemy, Labour will portray Reform as offering voters a better yesterday while Labour focuses on a positive, brighter future.

Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister and one of Starmer's closest allies, told anxious Labour MPs at a grim post-mortem into the party’s poor local election results: “A new fight is taking shape... between our values and a nationalist politics of the right. It’s a battle for the very future and the heart and soul of our country.”

It's not as selfless as it sounds. It foreshadows a Labour campaign to encourage anti-Reform tactical voting at the next election. Labour will plead with disenchanted left-of-centre voters tempted by the Liberal Democrats and Greens to vote Labour to keep Farage out of Downing Street.

Starmer has his faults but is the right leader to dilute Farage's appeal by stressing Labour's own patriotism. Wrapping Labour in the flag grates on some in the party but it’s authentic Starmer. His first party political broadcast began with: “I love this country” and it seems he has rarely performed without a union flag (or two) since.