I've just read the article, and this jumped out at me;
We’ve had Keir Starmer accuse the politicians who want an inquiry of jumping on a ‘far-right bandwagon’.
Does he not understand that by refusing a proper enquiry, and NOT sacking Lucy Powell after those appalling comments, he is 100% giving wagon-loads of fuel to every single politician prepared to tackle this issue, from Tories through Reform, right to the thuggish end of the Far Right?
He is making himself look like an absolute, Grade A, black belt, gold medallist imbecile.
The Tories did bugger all about it, and then nice middle-class people of a liberal/ left persuasion are shocked and astounded that people vote for Reform. Of course they bloody do: as far as they can tell - as I recently told a solid, hard-working LibDem - none of the three main traditional parties give a shit about anyone who hasn't got a degree and comfy income. The Tories are not, historically, the party of the poor. the LibDems have displayed an incredibly degree of idiocy by getting wrapped up in the trans flag. And now Labour...
People aren't stupid: they can make the link between a rising population and pressure on housing (which means their kids can't afford places of their own*), they notice the Lucy Powells of this world dismiss their concern and outrage about the rape of adolescent girls and worry for their own daughters and granddaughters. And they think, the big parties don't care about us, that is clear. Reform claims to, I know who I'll vote for next time.
If Reform win the next election, there will be wailing and breast-beating from the established parties, but they will only have themselves to blame.
NB. I have zero intention of voting Reform. I am a deeply disaffected former LibDem who is pissed off with the lot of them.