After much flip-flopping and batting off the subject, Starmer finally admitted yesterday that he is “not in favour of ideology being taught in our schools on gender.” Earlier this week he echoed Blair’s comments that a woman has a vagina and a man a penis. Though he previously said that’s true only 99% of the time…
Just a few months ago Starmer’s position was not so certain. His confusion over gender went even so far as to get the sex of his children wrong, accidentally declaring he has two sons instead of a boy and a girl on Sky News in January. It must have been a slip up. Funny how these things get mixed up…
Victoria Starmer told the Westminster Magistrates’ Court she felt ‘sick’ and fearful when pro-Palestinian protesters targeted her and Keir’s home in April. Protesters from ‘Youth Demand’ left children’s shoes in their front garden and hung a banner demanding Sir Keir Starmer halt UK arms sales to Israel that read “Starmer stop the killing”. Now the court is hearing evidence from Lady Vic, who gave an emotional statement…
She said: “I felt a bit sick, to be perfectly honest. I felt apprehensive and uncomfortable.” She drove around the corner before contacting Sir Keir’s office because she “didn’t want to stop and be obvious”. She went on to say that it didn’t appear peaceful: “It would look like a peaceful protest if it hadn’t been outside my home.” She may be hidden away from the campaign trail, though she’s good at public speaking…
Lady Vic’s complaint is at odds with Labour’s light touch policy on direct action groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. As ever with Starmer’s labour it’s one rule for them…
Starmer’s wife has been in hiding during this campaign, with Labour sources keen to keep her out of the spotlight. Starmer says the reason for her notable absence is “the kids”. Though ‘Lady Vic’ hasn’t shied away from political activity in the past…
In 2017, she was more than willing to parade herself and her daughter at The Women’s March ‘wake’ mourning the inauguration of Donald Trump. The movement stated on its website that the US election “proved a catalyst for a grassroots movement of women to assert the positive values that the politics of fear denies”. Despite Keir saying the family want to keep out of the public eye, it appears Victoria was more than happy to be pictured with her and the family, along with a family friend. The photo was published on the Ham & High news website at the time:
If the polls are anything to go by, it may be a little awkward for Victoria when she’s made to to stand next to Melania Trump in November…
Stamer was also asked about his wife by Nick Ferrari this morning: “Why don’t we see more of her?” Starmer gave two reasons for “Lady Vic’s” absence.
“Well Vic does um quite a bit with me but during this campaign uh two things one, she’s working at the NHS in a hospital. Two – our boy’s been doing his GCSEs…we wanted to create the environment where he could study calmly.”
Newspapers have been reporting recently on the “cut out” Victoria. That includes the indignance of some figures in the party, who believe she would make a strong contribution to Starmer’s image, at her lack of presence in the campaign. The Guardian’s Catherine Bennett notes that “the public is still largely in the dark” when it comes to Starmer’s family life. Labour sources suggest there are various reasons for Starmer’s insistence on privacy for his family. More of Lady Vic would add some much needed glam…
The Daily Mail has now followed The Telegraph and run an interesting piece titled “Why is Sir Keir Starmer’s wife not accompanying him on the campaign trail?“. It notes that many in the party think “Lady Vic” would be great on the campaign trail but is being kept off it for privacy. It says party insiders “have claimed that her absence is to protect the couple’s children.” In his Wednesday night interview with Beth Rigby in Grimsby Starmer said that children are the only thing that keeps him up at night:
“My only fear really is the impact it’s going to have on them. That’s why we never name them in public, never have a photo shoot with them. I want them to be able to go to school and have their own lives unaffected as much as I can by what I’m doing… the only thing that sort of keeps me up at night is worrying about my children.“
Labour sources suggest there are various reasons for Starmer’s insistence on privacy for his family. As The Telegraph declared this week – “Come what may, the spotlight will be on.”…
The Telegraph has pushed its piece titled “Why Keir Starmer’s wife is being cut from the campaign trail” to the front of its features supplement. It points out”the public is still largely in the dark” about the figure known as “vivacious and glamorous” yet kept away from the public eye because “Starmer simply won’t allow” it. The paper notes that Starmer explains: “I am worried about my children“. Labour sources suggest there are a variety of reasons why ‘Lady Vic’ is being kept under the radar. The Telegraph finishes with a declaration: “Come what may, the spotlight will be on.”…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”
