Skip to main content
The Morning Star 2026 Conference
Labour's fables: Sir Keir visits the proles
Labour centrists seek to represent workers in a sort of cultural theatre of identity politics devoid of substance or any relevance to their lives and struggles
OBSESSIVE NOSTALGIA: Keir Starmer among workers

KEIR STARMER’S recent visit to a Burnley plastics factory shows how Labour’s “moderates” approach politics like a kind of amateurish performance, where something called “back story” is meant to substitute for policy.

Starmer was touring the What More UK factory: they are a mid-sized firm making plastic homewares. If you own a “Wham” brand bucket, jug or other useful plastic household item it was made by their 270 or so staff.

A Guardian report tries to be positive but makes the event sound very sad. According to the paper, instead of a rousing canteen meeting with the workers, with Starmer saying what Labour could do for them, “he told his family history at length to any worker who would listen as he roamed the factory.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Jeremy Corbyn MP joins demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, May 13, 2025
Opinion / 5 July 2025
5 July 2025

While Reform poses as a workers’ party, a credible left alternative rooted in working-class communities would expose their sham — and Corbyn’s stature will be crucial to its appeal, argues CHELLEY RYAN

ouse of Commons Handout photo issued by the House of Commons of Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, May 21, 2025
Eyes Left / 28 May 2025
28 May 2025

The Tories’ trouble is rooted in the British capitalist Establishment now being more disoriented and uncertain of its social mission than before, argues ANDREW MURRAY

Alan Mardghum, author supplied
Features / 17 May 2025
17 May 2025

Ben Chacko talks to ALAN MARDGHUM of the Durham Miners Association about Reform UK‘s dangerous inroads into Durham’s long-standing Labour county council; why he cancelled his party membership; and the political class’s disconnect from working people

Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to members of staff during a visit to Leonardo, a defence contractor in Luton, to launch UAS StormShroud into operational service, May 2, 2025
Features / 4 May 2025
4 May 2025

JOE GILL looks at research on the reasons people voted as they did last week and concludes Labour is finished unless it ditches Starmer and changes course