How will Starmer and his crew combat the rise of the far-right?

Continual Growth of UK and ROI Relations

Keir Starmer has become the first UK Prime Minister in five years to visit the Republic of Ireland (this wouldn’t usually make the news, but including Starmer, we’ve had five PM’s since 2019). He met with Taoiseach, the Irish PM, Simon Harris, to discuss serious matters like Ukraine, and trade - and of course, Declan Rice. Starmer is hopeful for a “deep reset” in relations between the UK and Ireland, and he’s even got his eyes on a broader “EU reset”, expressing hope that his meeting with Harris would lay the groundwork for a close relationship with other EU leaders within the bloc.

Boosting economic growth is still Starmer’s top priority, and his office confirmed that both leaders have agreed to push further on trade and investment, with hopes of delivering real benefits for both British and Irish citizens.

Though the talks were largely successful, one thing was off the table. When asked by a young Irish fan if Ireland could have Declan Rice back, Starmer didn’t hesitate. “No, absolutely not. He’s fantastic!” This proved to be true, with Rice opening the scoring for England in their 2-0 win against the Irish on Dublin on Saturday night.

Starmer Standing Firm Amidst the Far-Right Surge

Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear that violence won’t influence government decisions, following a summer of riots that have led to hundreds of arrests. So far, the courts have handed down several sentences, including a nine-year term for 27-year-old Thomas Birley, who attempted to set fire to a Holiday Inn in Manvers.

In Sunday’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Starmer acknowledged the strong feeling people have on topics, such as immigration, but stressed that violence isn’t the answer, whilst his government, “is not prepared to tolerate that sort of disorder under any circumstances”.

Starmer also expressed concerns about the growing influence of far-right political parties across Europe, referencing the success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France. And to combat this? Well, Starmer reckons that the best answer is, “in delivery in government”. Right now, there’s a growing consensus that politics, especially in Britain, just isn’t working. People are fed up, and you can see why. And this isn’t just about immigration - it’s the fact that many people can’t even get a GP appointment, can barely afford their weekly shop, and are dodging potholes every time they drive down their street.

So, we know Starmer’s thoughts, but can he actually deliver? How will he convey effective governance and address the deeper socio-economic problems that have contributed to the unrest? While he has taken a strong stance on maintaining order, addressing the root causes of this discontent will be essential moving forward. Because without that, it’s going to be tough for his government to restore any kind of faith from the public in the political system.