The slitherings of a Two-Tier snake

We are, in the end, the sum of our policy positions but not only that … we’re the extent of our focus … are we more focussed on the “big picture” of world events or on the homeland scene such as Two-Tier theatre with Badenoch in support? The Punch and Judy show?

In the last two decades, I’ve moved more to the world scene, while Guido remains firmly Westminster and in this excellent post by Rolf Norfolk, previously and maybe concurrently Sackerson, he gets to the nitty-gritty of Two-Tier Stalin.

But soft … before embarking on that, we need to look at any pundit him/herself first … his/her own roots, metier, stomping ground … I’ve known Rolf since 2006 I think … part of the centre-right in a Westminstery way, which is fine, except I’m even further from my Fabian/Young Conservative roots these days … always radical though … “radical” meaning back to roots … not mine but the culture’s.

Rolf’s brother is “of the left academic” tradition and he comments at this humble site OoL under a humble moniker but that’s neither here nor there.  Anyway … Rolf:

Sir Keir’s counterattacks on the Opposition are a standard Prime Ministerial way to respond to questions, but his evasions and stock ‘we’re fixing the mess’ routine are becoming irritating. There is only so long he will be able to divert attention to the lamentable performance of the previous Government. Soon his side will have to cope with some difficult hatchlings from what is now their brood. 

There were three in his opening remarks. One was his reference to Monday’s Armistice Day event in Paris where he and President Macron reaffirmed their ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine. There’s a troublesome item for Starmer to discuss in our special relationship with America, for President-Elect Trump’s son has taunted Zelensky about losing his ‘allowance’ under the incoming US administration. 

Another was COP29 on Tuesday, where Starmer raised the UK’s CO2 emission reduction target to 81% down from 1990 levels by 2035. He told the Commons his focus was on ‘British energy security’ although it looks like the dash towards national dysfunctionality and poverty has just thereby accelerated.

(Link is in the Rolf Norfolk embedding above … fine article by a fine writer.)