The Tories’ attempted takedown of Keir Starmer wasn’t the slam dunk they thought it was

On Monday, Keir Starmer made a speech supposedly outlining how Labour would move forward on the issue of Brexit, and it boiled down to little more detail than “We’d do beter than the other lot.”

.@Keir_Starmer making the historic statement that Labour will not take the UK back into the EU, or into the single market, or into the customs union pic.twitter.com/ieErGGeQmh

— Robert Peston (@Peston) July 4, 2022

They helpfully reduced it to five points.

🗣 Labour Leader @Keir_Starmer spoke today at the Centre for European Studies – setting out Labour’s 5-point plan to make Brexit work pic.twitter.com/T2F8fUDIPq

— Labour Press (@labourpress) July 4, 2022

We didn’t see anybody doing the dance of joy, but there were some vaguely positive reactions in with the negatives.

You can't just "make Brexit work", @Keir_Starmer, when it’s clearly doing such damage

Pretending #Brexit can be positive is dishonest, plays into hands of Govt & undermines national interest

Instead, admit this is about damage limitation – don’t falsely claim to “make it work”

— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) July 4, 2022

Don't worry Remainers, he's rowed back on all the pledges that got him elected as Labour leader, so there's no reason he won't renege on this. https://t.co/IuMFicEfmZ

— THE SECRET TORY 🗽 (@secrettory12) July 4, 2022

While Starmer's policy would only reduce barriers a bit, settling the protocol and ending the threat of trade war are significantly better for the economy than Johnson's policy. https://t.co/koDl3tdEzm

— John Springford (@JohnSpringford) July 4, 2022

✅ vague slogan
✅ vague slogan
✅ vague slogan
✅ vague slogan
✅ vague slogan

[pause for applause] https://t.co/0KwWq2SAsX

— Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) July 4, 2022

My cautious support for this approach is, to pluck a ratio out of thin air, about 52:48. Can’t currently see a better way. Doesn’t mean there isn’t one. https://t.co/hhXBxSVY2S

— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) July 4, 2022

The Conservatives both could and should have sat tight and let Labour’s potential voting base argue amongst themselves, but they chose to do a little electioneering, perhaps anticipating a by-election in Tamworth.

Shots fired – right into their own foot.

1.

Keir Starmer voted 48 times to stop us doing something stupid and harmful

But we did it anyway, and it was so bad that only this month we had to pass legislation to let us break international law in an effort to undo it.

Conservatives: machine-gunning both feet since May 2010. https://t.co/BqhhaJmh7f

— Russ Jones (@RussInCheshire) July 4, 2022

2.

Given the state of Brexit polling at the moment I think Labour may just run this exact same ad under the heading, "Remember he tried". https://t.co/TGOr4iTMxY

— Dmitry Grozoubinski (@DmitryOpines) July 4, 2022

3.

How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/j3OUu6bcfe

— Parody Boris (@Parody_PM) July 4, 2022

4.

Other then throwing parties while we buried our dead Boris Johnson got fuck all done …you know it …I know it .. we all know it pic.twitter.com/Fty6D75lI5

— Con O'Neill (@cononeilluk) July 4, 2022

5.

You’re going to campaign on the back of Brexit?! pic.twitter.com/9FYE3r85rn

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) July 4, 2022

6.

Do the 48 times "Starmer voted to block Brexit" include when he voted against May's deal in the first and second 'meaningful votes'?

Because, if so, then Boris Johnson and the ERG also "voted to block Brexit". https://t.co/KFkBLuH8c8

— Chris Grey 🇺🇦 (@chrisgreybrexit) July 4, 2022

7.

"Only Remainers go on and on about Brexit these days. Conservatives have moved on and don't talk about it any longer." https://t.co/iCgkae33He

— Nick Tyrone (@NicholasTyrone) July 4, 2022

8.

I think this would be a really strong message from the Conservatives if:

1). They had actually got Brexit done, and
2). There were any real opportunities to seize.

Apart from that… https://t.co/SCEGZHoWYW

— Jim Robbins (@jimrobbins) July 4, 2022

9.

The only thing being ‘seized’ is criminal evidence against any one of your members, at any one time, constantly. Fuck off.

— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) July 4, 2022

Emma Kennedy’s bafflement spoke for many.

It will never fail to amaze me how you still think this is a vote winner

— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) July 4, 2022

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Source Conservatives Image Conservatives, Screengrab