By Mark Buckley
The Labour government under Starmer is not simply legitimising racism but is actively promoting it. Its rhetoric, its policies and its campaigning are all aligned on this point, so this is a concerted and conscious policy. It also aligns with the trend in Western politics, with centrist and social democratic parties espousing racism, while the Trump cabal actively promotes the worst elements of the racist alliance, such as the AfD in Germany and ‘Tommy Robinson’ in Britain.
The economic backdrop remains grim, with the latest GDP showing a continuation of the stagnation of the economy. Worse, average living standards as measured by GDP per head actually fell in 2024. A series of unpopular policies, on the winter fuel allowance, the two child benefits limit and on free school meals have also helped to push the government’s poll rating down. In more than one poll, Labour has trailed Reform UK. Labour’s polling trajectory is downwards.
The turn to racism is not a surprise from a leadership which helps demonise Muslims and ignores racism directed specifically at Black people altogether. It is also commonplace for unpopular and reactionary governments to turn to racism as a distraction from the crises they have caused.
But the scale of this racist offensive is breathtaking, and there seems little prospect of a retreat on this near-term, given both the grim prospects for the economy and the political make-up of this leadership.
On the legislative front, the latest initiative is a thoroughly reactionary ‘Border security, immigration and asylum’ Bill, which demonises and criminalises anyone who arrives here in a small boat; exactly the people who are most in need of asylum. Ordinarily, between 75-80% of all asylum claims are settled in the claimants’ favour, so ministers must know they will be turning away valid asylum claimants. These will include victims of trafficking and modern slavery, as well as children. Even Starmer supporters such as the head of Unison Christine MacAnea have sharply criticised the measures.
The Labour leadership has also decided to consciously ape Reform UK in a series of Facebook ads boasting how many people they have deported. Using the language, politics, even the branding colours of Reform UK, they seem to welcome the charge that they are copying Reform UK.
Yet they are also boosting Reform UK, as the polls consistently show. This too does not seem to bother the ideologues who Starmer has gathered around him, even though its risks disaster for Labour, the labour movement and the Black population.
The overtly racist politics of Blue Labour and its branding have been revived. A group of MPs styling itself as ‘Red Wall Labour’ has demanded even tougher messaging on immigration, but seem to lack the imagination or courage to specify how much worse the rhetoric could get.
It should be noted that Trump is promoting these developments. Maurice Glasman was the only Labour figure to attend the Presidential inauguration. He is the original author of Blue Labour, who was still welcome in senior Labour circles, even after suggesting Labour should listen to EDL members.
What is also clear that senior figures in Labour Together, the dominant faction in the leadership, have their roots in the rancid politics of Blue Labour. These include the all-powerful figure of Morgan MacSweeney, who is nominally Starmer’s chief of staff.
The recent JD Vance speech at Munich was widely criticised in the mainstream liberal press for abandoning Europe (full text here). It was really a call to arms for the White supremacists of the West to unite. The aim is to attack any social progress made in 75 years, especially progress in tackling racism. It was Vance who invited Glasman to the inauguration and they are said to be close personally.
This is the new inspiration and driving force for the rapid growth of racism in Western politics, including Britain. It is a powerful force, but of course anti-racists cannot make a single concession to this reactionary agenda. Instead, we must explain the roots of these developments while uniting all those who oppose them.
In Britain and elsewhere, the stakes for Black people, for Muslims and for the labour movement as whole are very high.