If the following took place at a Tory conference we would not be surprised. Sadly, as may people have been warning the public for a long time, this is not a surprise either. Stamping down on protest and dissent from the establishment’s orders will be met with the same methods as with the blue Tories.
Remember this?
Anyone who confronts Zionism and the Israeli stranglehold of the west will be treated as a threat that needs to be silenced.
Every single one of us should be reporting this assault to@MerseyPolice. Let us make sure that the thug responsible is arrested and charged. https://t.co/R6r8UFJTfK
— Jo Walton 🥀 (@jowalton15) September 23, 2024
Unless we stand with this person we are part of that silencing.
"This is a changed Labour Party, not a party of protest"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 23, 2024
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is heckled by a protester as she addresses the party's conference in Liverpool
Follow live https://t.co/g9UO5E1Jz4 pic.twitter.com/z2AdO6BHHI
One And The Same. They Are Not Meant To Be The Same
The Conservative Party and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party have exhibited convergence across a wide range of policy areas, making them appear more similar than different. This alignment is evident in economic policy, welfare reform, foreign policy, immigration, and even cultural issues. Below is an examination of various aspects of their policy positions and the growing overlap between them.
Economic Policy
Both parties now endorse a fiscally cautious approach. Starmer’s Labour Party has distanced itself from Jeremy Corbyn’s expansive spending plans, instead advocating for spending cuts and a more restrained fiscal policy that favours the wealthy. For instance, Labour has been careful to not commit to large-scale nationalisations and has been more conservative in its approach to public spending. This mirrors the Conservative Party’s longstanding commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic prudence, which has involved limiting public expenditure and promoting private sector-led growth.
All of this enriches the wealthy disproportionately at the expense of the rest of us.
An example of this convergence is their stance on corporation tax. While Labour under Starmer has proposed increasing corporation tax, it is a relatively modest rise compared to what was suggested during the Corbyn era. The Conservatives, after a brief U-turn on corporation tax, have also shown flexibility, suggesting they are open to adjustments based on economic conditions. Both parties are focused on ensuring the UK remains a competitive environment for large corporations, albeit with slightly different tax rates.
Welfare and Social Security
Both parties now favour a more restrained approach to welfare and social security, in contrast to the traditional Labour position of expanding the welfare state. The Conservatives have long advocated for welfare reform aimed at reducing dependency and promoting work, implementing policies such as Universal Credit. Labour, while critical of some aspects of Universal Credit, has not committed to fully reversing these reforms. Instead, Starmer has focused on making the system “fairer” and addressing issues such as sanctions and the benefit cap, rather than proposing an overhaul.
What neither tells us is that the vast majority of businesses in the UK depend upon the welfare state to supplement the wages they pay. Without it they would be uncompetitive and cease to exist.
In terms of social security, both parties have expressed support for maintaining or slightly increasing benefits for those in need, but with an emphasis on affordability and sustainability. This cautious stance reflects a shared view that welfare should provide a safety net rather than extensive support, reflecting a broader consensus on limiting state intervention in individuals’ lives.
As a result poverty in the Uk has risen dramatically over the last forty years.
Foreign Policy and Defence
On foreign policy, both parties share a similar commitment to NATO and a robust defence policy. The Conservatives have always been vocal supporters of strong defence spending and an active role for the UK in international affairs, including the deployment of military forces when necessary.
It is the term ‘necessary’ that people should focus upon. Necessary for whom?
Starmer’s Labour has echoed this position, committing to the NATO spending target of 2% of GDP and maintaining support for the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Trident. This marks a significant shift from Corbyn’s leadership, which was more critical of military interventions and nuclear weapons.
In relation to specific geopolitical issues, such as relations with the United States, China, and Russia, both parties have shown a commitment to a cautious, measured approach. For example, on the issue of Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network, both parties eventually aligned in supporting the exclusion of the Chinese firm from the critical infrastructure, citing national security concerns.
Immigration
On immigration, both parties have moved towards a more restrictive stance. The Conservatives have long advocated for reducing immigration numbers, implementing a points-based system after Brexit aimed at prioritising skilled workers. Under Starmer, Labour has adopted a similar position, refraining from calling for a significant increase in immigration and instead focusing on “controlled and fair” immigration. This marks a departure from previous Labour platforms that were more welcoming to migrants and focused on the benefits of immigration.
What both will not inform us is that Brexit led to the small boats coming across the English Channel as all agreements with France and others in the EU, to return asylum seekers, ceased.
For instance, both parties now express concerns about illegal immigration and have proposed measures to address the issue. Labour has been cautious in its criticisms of the Conservative government’s policies on asylum seekers and has not outlined a radically different approach, reflecting an understanding that public opinion in many constituencies favours tighter controls.
Lip service with the hope that most people will not look too closely. As ever was.
Climate Policy
In the realm of climate change, while Labour has set a more ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2030 compared to the Conservatives’ 2050 target, the methods proposed by both parties are not significantly different. Both advocate for a transition to renewable energy, investment in green technologies, and a role for the private sector in driving this change. Starmer’s Labour has moved away from Corbyn’s more radical proposals for large-scale nationalisation of the energy sector and instead promotes a mixed economy approach, similar to the Conservative emphasis on public-private partnerships.
An example of this alignment is their shared support for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and green job creation. Both parties have pledged to support the expansion of EV charging networks and to invest in training for green jobs, positioning these initiatives as central to their respective climate strategies.
Much of it is too little too late and their orders tend to come from large corporations and their lobbyists.
Law and Order
On law and order, both parties have adopted tough-on-crime stances, with the Conservatives traditionally positioning themselves as the party of law and order. They have introduced measures such as increased police funding and tougher sentencing laws. Starmer, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, has also placed a strong emphasis on law and order, pledging to crack down on crime and antisocial behaviour, and promising to increase police numbers. His approach, which has been described as “practical rather than ideological,” contrasts with Labour’s earlier focus on addressing the social roots of crime but aligns closely with current Conservative priorities.
Thus, crime continues to be a huge issue as no attempt to confront the causes occurs. It is driven only by responding to the symptoms.
Support for Israel
Both parties have shown strong support for Israel. The Conservatives have always maintained a pro-Israel stance, opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. Starmer’s Labour has moved away from the more critical position seen under Corbyn, also rejecting BDS and affirming Israel’s right to security. Although Labour under Starmer still advocates for a two-state solution and expresses concern over issues like settlement expansion, the overall tone and policy are much closer to the Conservative position than in previous years.
Both support the arming of the Israeli mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza.
Education
In education, both parties are broadly in agreement on key issues such as the importance of standards, accountability, and school choice. The Conservatives have championed academies and free schools as a means of raising educational standards, and while Starmer’s Labour has criticised aspects of these policies, it has not proposed a complete reversal. Instead, Labour has focused on issues such as improving funding and teacher recruitment but within the existing framework of education provision. This suggests a recognition that large-scale structural changes, like abolishing academies, might not be popular or practical.
Both enable the private school system that perpetuates the domination of society by the Upper and Upper Middle classes.
Dissent
Neither allow dissent. Both prefer a system and returns either Tweedle Dum or Tweedle Dee.
In the words of Babyshambles: “One and the same, They are not meant to be the same.”.
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