Former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw writes for The Mirror about Keir Starmer’s success on the international stage – and how even non-Labour voters agree
From strangers in the street, to close friends, I’m often asked what’s ‘gone wrong with the Labour Government’, and what I think of Keir Starmer.
I answer both questions with a question of my own. How do my questioners think that Keir Starmer has done on the international scene – well, or badly?
Without exception, the answer I receive is ‘well’. That’s the case even from people who have never, would never vote Labour even were the Archangel Gabriel our leader. They may utter the word ‘well’ through gritted teeth, but even they cannot bring themselves to deny what they can see with their own eyes, that Keir really is a star on the international stage.
He’s re-established good relationships with key allies in Europe, pre-eminently France, Germany, and the EU, but many others as well.
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His support for Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been exemplary, as has his leadership of a ‘coalition of the willing’ to match fine words with practical measures, including armaments, training, and finance for Ukraine.
Then there’s Keir’s handling of US President Trump.
Much of the British media were waiting, hoping, praying for Keir to make some misstep during the President’s State Visit this week. They were sorely disappointed. It’s hard to spot a way in which the Visit could have gone better – and that’s despite the patent differences in approach between the two leaders on Palestine, climate change, Ukraine, and handling Putin.
What Keir instinctively understands, but some of his critics do not, are rules one and two of international relations. One. You can’t pick and choose other countries’ leaders, nor how those countries are run. Two. Other countries’ perspectives and histories will always be different from ours. Don’t judge them by your own standards. It simply won’t work.
Instead, take them and their leaders as they are, and work out how the relationship with them can best serve this country’s interests.
Having put across my perspective, I go on to say that Starmer, whom they have conceded is doing so well internationally, is exactly the same person about whom they have criticisms domestically.
Top of those criticisms is likely the economy. Back in 1997 we thought (correctly) that we’d been given a hospital pass by the outgoing Major government, but that was minor compared to the complete Horlicks the Sunak/Truss/Johnson shambles left us. Keir’s also had to handle all the disruption to our trade caused by President Trump’s tariffs.
Despite this, things are getting better in many areas. In the NHS, in schools, in our area even the potholes are getting repaired.
Return of Sure Start
One of the best things the last Labour Government did was to introduce ‘Sure Start’ centres. In Blackburn, where I was MP for 36 years, these really did transform the lives of countless youngsters from low-income homes and troubled families, by giving them support when it’s most needed, in early years.
Research showed that those who lived within a short distance of a Sure Start centre in their first five years were more likely to achieve good GCSE grades at 16.
They were so good that George Osborne axed them.
Now our Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is bringing them back, with up to 1,000 ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ to be rolled out across the country.
Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s all going wrong under Labour. A great deal is going right.
Youth Services
I’m an Essex boy, but the ever-generous Lancastrians in Blackburn re-elected me as their MP eight times. I’ve been a Trustee of the amazing Blackburn Youth Zone since a week after I left the Commons, in May 2015. I chaired it for over eight years. Mainly financed by grants, and local businesses, this summer we had over 2,300 youngsters using the centre – four times the number ten years ago. Thank God this Government recognises the importance of youth services.
Stick to your guns
My predecessor as MP for Blackburn was the great Barbara Castle.
She introduced major reforms which caused loads of grumbling. Seat belts, the breathalyser, equal pay for women, child benefit – sparking a Cabinet ‘wallet to purse’ row about how men would complain when this benefit was paid to women!
She stuck to her guns. Stick to yours, Keir.
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