That Starmer fella...

If the UK had an economy and industrial output even half as healthy as Switzerland's, Brexit wouldn't have been anywhere near as much of a clusterfuck as it is.

When I said "even half as" I knew I was being conservative, but didn't realise that Switzerland has an exports per capita figure that is x5.5 that of the UK!

Not surprising. Toblerone is really expensive.

Switzerland has an exports per capita figure that is x5.5 that of the UK

It's really interesting if you dig into that stat (I had never looked into it before). Swiss exports are 40% pharmaceuticals and 25% gold, which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined. USA is the biggest single trading partner.

Given recent polling I think he might be being over cautious.

I reluctantly agree. I think he's making the same mistake that Corbyn made in 2017 when he put hard brexit in the manifesto - making himself a hostage to fortune later by ruling sensible things out now. And Starmer has been quite good at NOT doing that on many other culture war issues - trans rights, for e.g., or the strikes, or immigration - that it feels like Brexit is the odd one out.

I think I do understand what he's going for here - he figures the Tory voting bloc is falling apart and their only hope of pulling it back together is to run the next election on a 'save Brexit' footing. He wants to close that line of attack down the way he has done with all the other attack lines. I do get that. And I'm sure he has polling to show that it's the right move.

But I think he's on the wrong side of the zeitgeist with this one. It's just going to open him up to charges of hypocrisy when he changes his mind.

I'm not sure I can vote for Starmer's Labour any more. Not with any enthusiasm for sure.

Just remember you're voting against the Tories.

I think he's making the same mistake that Corbyn made in 2017 when he put hard brexit in the manifesto - making himself a hostage to fortune later by ruling sensible things out now

The difference being that Corbyn had always been in favour of hard Brexit, whereas I am pretty sure that Starmer's "real" views on immigration are very different from what he is saying.

25% gold, which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined.

Or stolen...

The other interesting thing is that chocolate and luxury goods arent even in their top five exports.

which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined

Switzerland do have a few gold deposits left but long ago decided that the environmental impact of mining it outweighed the £££ so it is going to stay in the ground.

Switzerland really is a strange place. Both amazing and depressing. One other amazing thing I learned about Switzerland is that rain that falls on 93% of its surface area will ultimately pass through a hydro power project before leaving the country. 93%!

Or fished up from lakes

Just remember you're voting against the Tories

Would be nice to vote for something though

You're voting for a party that isn't the Conservatives.

Better?

ah yes!

Jokes aside, in a representative democracy (or any kind of democracy) you're never going to get one party that wholly represents your views.

So look at what matches most of your values in balance and vote accordingly, whether that's Labour, Reform, etc.

I'll be honest that for me it's past even really being about political policy or ideology.

This lot are beyond incompetent and corrupt and they need to go. Obviously I'd rather have them than Reform or whatever the BNP are now called, but they are destroying our country. With Hunt and Sunak in my bet is that people will move back to the Conservatives and the next election will be much tougher than people assume.

I've never ever thought about campaigning, have never been a member of any party, and live in a Conservative stronghold. But I am seriously thinking about joining Labour in the run up to the next election to help out.

Would be nice to vote for something though

Of course it would be lovely, but Tories out will have to be enough for now.

If you're going to protest vote, at least vote for the Greens...

There is no way back to the singlemarket or even a swiss style deal in the next parliament. Until its a settled issue in the Uk the EU aren't going to even talk to us. Labours current policies are for much closer alinement which will improve trade and its a step in the right direction.

Whilst the overall polls looks like people are turning away from brexit overall polls are meaningless in a first passed the post system. Starmer, I hope is making these statements based on detailed polling from there target sets. In all likely hood he's talking to 300k people who will decide the next election in those target seats.

If it pisses off a few metropolitan elites in seats where they have massive majorities, never mind.

Get in!

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Starmer drinks pints and watches the game. Ledge.

Bet he drinks a Carling tops.

Nah that’s a pint of peroni
To go with the sheaux

I reckon he just asks for a lager.