Starmer made another massive U-turn, hitting millions of people

  • Post last modified:June 28, 2024
  • Reading time:12 mins read


Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has made yet another U-turn when he spoke out in favour of the first past the post electoral system:

Obviously, Starmer decided to go even further. Hilariously, he said the current electoral system has given us ‘strong government’.  Which is a complete joke to anyone who hasn’t spent the last 14 years in a coma:

Political jokes

Millions of voters have historically been misrepresented by the first-past-the-post system. In three of the last five general elections, 50% of the votes went to losing candidates. This is down to MP’s being elected with very small vote shares when there are three or more candidates standing in one area. This means that at the 2019 general election, 71% of votes were wasted:

Tactical voting or shooting ourselves in the head?

In recent weeks, Labour has been encouraging people to vote tactically in order to keep the Tories out. According to the Guardian, tactical voting is set to be higher than ever before at this election. Previously, Lib Dem and Labour voters have often switched sides to get rid of the Tories. However, it seems this year that both parties are carrying out extremely specific campaigns. They are focusing on ousting as many Tories as possible.

The problem with tactical voting is that it forces voters to make a choice. One between who they really want to represent them, and someone who they don’t really like, in order to keep out whoever will fuck them over the most.

As Alex Rice said in 2015:

The sentiment of voting should be one of hope not negativity. It should be an act that gives people a stake in society and their community. It shouldn’t be a calculated decision or one that leaves you feeling uneasy on your way home. So here’s a simple message, vote for whoever you think would be your best local MP, then lobby them for change.

Back in October 2023 – which is less than a year ago – Labour adopted official policy which recognised that:

the flaws in the current voting system are contributing to the distrust and alienation we see in politics.

This came after the 2022 Labour Party conference which voted in favour of proportional representation at general elections. Notably, the majority of Labour members, Constituency Labour Parties, and over two thirds of affiliated trade unions all support electoral reform:

Starmer screwing with the electorate

Starmer and his leadership team are choosing to ignore the fact that the labour movement overwhelmingly endorses ditching first past the post and embracing a form of proportional representation. The Labour leadership refuses to represent the policies that its members have voted for.

A recent poll also showed that the British public more generally, albeit narrowly support a change to a more proportional voting system. This means that Starmer isn’t only ignoring Labour voters – but the public mood more generally.

I don’t know about anyone else, but all the U-turns are making me dizzy. Either Keir is the most indecisive man I’ve ever met, or he is purposefully screwing with every single member of the electorate:

Importantly, the UK is the only democracy in Europe which still uses first past the post for its main elections. Meaning, it’s not the only way and we don’t have to remain trapped in a broken system:

Ultimately, now the wind is blowing in Labour’s favour, Starmer is sticking to the familiar. Like many before him, he is willing to sell his soul for the capitalist establishment in order to get the keys for Number 10. Starmer’s Labour was never going to be the party of political reform.

Millions of voices don’t matter to Labour. While they might take power at the next election, they will not speak for the majority of the UK.

And as this guy put it:

Feature image via BBC News/YouTube





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