Starmer and the British Right Wing Press …

[anotherside]

Would be interested on everyone’s views on this. Put simply, it appears to me that the right wing press seem pretty comfortable and relaxed about the extremely likely prospect of a Starmer led Labour government in in just 7-8 months time. Most people would accept that Starmer will govern from nearer the centre as opposed to Ed Miliband (or obviously Corbyn). But even so, it’s interesting to compare how the aforementioned Labour leaders were brutally targeted on a daily basis, compared to the proverbial shoulder shrug with which they meet the prospect of Starmer.

So does this suggest:

A) that they believe Starmer won’t change anything significant economically or socially. He won’t move the country to the left in any meaningful way. And perhaps his Party would be a more competent administrator for now than the Tories (and thus better for their pockets)

Or

B) that they are happy to see Starmer carry the can for one term - picking up the blame for a failing country - and then they’ll swing behind the next Tory Saviour in 2030?

Or

C) they are in fact secretly apprehensive about Labour returning to power, but such is the unpopularity of the Tories that they have no choice but to shut up - for now - as there’s little to be gained from backing a certain loser (Sunak).

Or something else? Personally I think it’s 50% A) and 50% B)

[CroftonWillow]

I was going to say precisely C before I read it. That's your answer.

[MushMonster]

C

[tanstaafl]

Maybe they’re keeping their powder dry, until a) the election date is known b) the main manifesto policies are known.

[Lonelycrab]

C

They’re not going to back the losing horse. Or in this case, a knackered, racist donkey.

[Ifailed]

C. The Sun has already started shifting it's position, as they did with Blair.

[anotherside]

My reservation with C) would be that it’s not only now, with the Tories completely on their knees, that he’s getting a relatively easy ride. There was an 18 month or so period following his election as leader where he wasn’t making too much of an impact and the Tories were still ahead in the polls. At that time they could have made his life quite difficult given him following on from Corbyn with huge Labour backing and he been expected by many to make progress sooner. But they didn’t and he was still getting a very easy ride then as well.

So perhaps there is also a sense that Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party is possibly the “best” that the editors and owners of the right wing press could hope for? IE, “well if we have to have a Labour government in the next 10 years I guess it’s better at least it’s one led by this guy who is really just a status quo centrist and will probably do a reasonable job”

So I don’t think they’re apprehensive - I think they’ll be quite pleased to see steady Starmer in No10 - safe in the knowledge that when the public does get bored of him (which IMO will be two terms at most as he doesn’t have the charisma to go beyond that) the only other option available to the electorate will be to swing back to the Tories.

[anotherside]

I guess arguably C) is made up of two parts. I agree that they have no choice now but to shut up as the gap is too big with the Tories polling under 20% in some recent polling. But I don’t think there’s a great deal of apprehension. A steady centrist government that doesn’t challenge anything fundamental - Brexit, privatisation, depressed wages, house prices etc, isn’t really worth getting worried about.

[DianaTaverner]

I think it's mostly C but with a sprinkle of A and B. If Jeremy Corbyn was this far ahead in the polls then no, I don't think the press would have rolled over to have their tummy tickled. But he wouldn't have got that far, because Corbyn had too many weaknesses to be attacked by the right wing press.

The right wing have been attacking Starmer, Rayner, Phillips, Abbot and whoever else they can get their hands on for years, they're only giving up now because they know it's useless. The Ming Vase strategy (say, nothing, do nothing, risk nothing) is frustrating for left wing voters to see, but I understand why the party think it's necessary.

[Eyesopenwideawake]

IIRC the right wing press were very Pro Blair for the vast majority of his premiership.

[WhatWouldJeevesDo]

A good analysis @anotherside. I think the government’s mindset is mostly B so that will be shared by many journalists. At a strategic level amongst the press, their main aim is to sell newspapers so I think it’s mostly C.

[Notonthestairs]

Bits of all three options but weighted towards B.

There was something in the Times weekend long read a couple of weeks ago about Murdoch meeting/interviewing the next group of Conservative leadership candidates.

We don't know half of what goes on behind the scenes between politicians & media owners.

[TizerorFizz]

Murdoch doesn’t get a vote in any leadership contest!

Newspaper circulation in dropping and is certainly lower than it was in 1997. Starmer is making a point about costing policies. I do think the papers won’t back losers, the Cons, but aren’t anti Labour because Labour are trying to be responsible. Abbot isn’t currently Labour. Many women in politics get a hard time. Not just Labour ones. That says more about society than newspapers.

I also think there’s a big shock coming. Old Labour areas that voted for Brexit are right wing. They will be targeted by Reform. Anti immigrant feelings are high and this is why the Cons are trying to woo these people with immigration policies. Labour will feel the anti immigration heat from these areas too. Social media plays a big role now. Murdoch via newspapers doesn’t.