It wasn’t so long ago that Sir Keir Starmer was making headlines as shadow Brexit secretary for his role moving the Labour leadership in favour of a second referendum. However, since taking over the party, Starmer has gone rather quiet on the matter.
With a global pandemic dominating the news agenda, that was understandable for a while. However, with Brexit now back, some Labour supporters are wondering whether their leader has gone missing in action. While it’s one thing not to comment on Johnson’s Brexit deadline pledge, they sense an opportunity in today’s series of events. After a cabinet minister admitted at the despatch box No. 10’s Brexit plans for the Northern Ireland protocol would mark a breach of international law and a top government lawyer resigned, it appears on the surface to be an open goal for the lawyerly Sir Keir.
So, what’s the hold up? Could it be that Starmer’s hope of wooing both metropolitan remainers and red wall leavers has left him unsure how to proceed. Steerpike
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in