By David Crowe
Copyright brisbanetimes
“Fly those flags!” he urged from the podium, as party members waved the Union Jack and the banners for the nations within the union: the St George’s Cross for England, the St Andrew’s Saltire for Scotland, the St Patrick’s Saltire for Northern Ireland and the Red Dragon for Wales.
The urgent shift in Starmer’s message is bigger than British politics because it is a guide to the way progressive or centrist leaders are adapting to populists who watch US President Donald Trump and seek to copy his victory. This is a contest on migration and patriotism as well as economics.
Starmer has slumped in the opinion polls and might be removed if he cannot win back voters who are drifting to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage – the populist who won the argument for Brexit nine years ago and now campaigns for big cuts to migration.
The test comes in May when the people of Wales and Scotland elect their next parliaments. Labour has always held power in Wales, but Reform is on the rise. A shock defeat for Labour would put Starmer on notice.
