As we await the more interesting upcoming French elections, let us briefly reflect on the insignificant British ones. The recent Labour victory in the UK may have garnered attention, but will it truly bring about any significant domestic or international changes?
Keir Starmer, the elected Labour Party new PM, is anything but a Conservative in a progressive disguise. On the international front, Starmer has already made it clear that there will be no shifts in policy. He has expressed support for Ukraine without mentioning the possibility of negotiation and has affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense without acknowledging the issues of genocide or Palestinian rights. Although Starmer claims to be an atheist, he attends the synagogue with his wife, who comes from an observant Jewish family that divides its residence between London and Israel. One wouldn’t wonder if Israel found solace in this.
As for rejoining the European Union after Brexit, Starmer has categorically stated that it is out of the question.
At best, we expect a slight shift towards social policies and healthcare, which are currently dire. However, regardless of whether Labour or the Conservatives are in power, the government will face the daunting challenge of generating ideas and securing funding.
It is worth noting that, despite securing a parliamentary majority of 64 percent, Starmer only received the preference of 34 percent of the voters due to the absurd electoral system in place. Only 60 percent of eligible voters even bothered to cast their ballots, with the rest unresponsive. In essence, only a fifth of citizens have voted for a party that will hold nearly two-thirds of the representation in the Parliament. This raises serious concerns about democracy.
Therefore, Starmer is not interested in popular support. The Tories have received only 10 percent fewer votes than Labour, but they will hold a disproportionately low 18 percent of the seats in Parliament. Nigel Farage, the populist leader of Reform UK, received 14 percent of the vote but will be represented by a mere 0.6 percent of the seats in Parliament. The Liberal Democrats, staying true to tradition, fared slightly better, securing 12 percent of the vote and 10 percent of the seats.
Even more than in other Western democracies, British politics remains entrenched in an ivory tower increasingly out of reach for the public. As a result, people will show their frustration over street protests, shouting loudly to deaf ears,
