London, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 21st Jan, 2024) – Britain’s ruling Conservatives are ramping up personal attacks on opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer, aiming to undermine his chances of becoming the next prime minister. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Tories, supported by right-leaning newspapers, are targeting Starmer’s past as a prominent human rights lawyer and public prosecutor in an attempt to regain support from his centre-left party. However, political scientists view these attacks as a desperate tactic from a government running out of ideas and possibly nearing the end of its rule after 14 years.
A recent mocked-up poster circulated by the Conservatives on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) read, Are you a terrorist in need of legal advice? Better call Keir. The party followed up with a comment stating, When @RishiSunak sees a group chanting jihad on our streets, he bans them. Keir Starmer invoices them. This was in reference to Starmer’s provision of advice to the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2008, when they challenged a ban on their activities in Germany.
The UK government recently classified Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organization and banned their operations in the country. Sunak, during the weekly prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons, alleged that the now-proscribed group had once been a client of Starmer’s. The prime minister’s press secretary further told reporters, If Keir Starmer wasn’t leader of the opposition, he’d be representing a lot of these people still today. However, a spokesperson for the Labour party clarified that Starmer did not formally represent Hizb ut-Tahrir and soon after became the chief state prosecutor in England and Wales.
These personal attacks align with Britain’s ongoing culture wars, with Prime Minister Sunak accusing Starmer of being a lefty lawyer. Starmer’s tenure as a human rights barrister involved defending causes such as trade unions and anti-McDonald’s activists. He also worked to ensure that the police in Northern Ireland adhered to human rights legislation. In 2008, Starmer was appointed the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, a position he held until 2013. During this time, he oversaw the prosecution of lawmakers for expense abuse, journalists involved in phone hacking, and young rioters during the 2011 unrest in England. Starmer’s successes earned him a knighthood in 2015, resulting in his title Sir Keir.
The Conservative party and sympathetic media outlets have also highlighted cases where Starmer represented an Irish Republican Army member and hate preacher Abu Qatada. However, Labour and legal experts argue that Starmer had a professional duty to provide representation under the cab rank rule, ensuring legal assistance for all regardless of their background or views.
Despite the personal attacks, a recent YouGov poll revealed that Labour is 27 points ahead of the Conservatives. While Sunak is yet to announce the date of the next general election, the survey suggests the ruling party is heading towards a significant defeat. The Tories have faced criticism for grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, long waiting lists for hospital treatment, and a series of leadership changes since the Brexit vote in 2016.
While the personal attacks against Starmer may grab attention, experts believe that the government’s handling of the economy and the National Health Service will ultimately determine its fate. The focus on bread and butter issues resonates more with the public than the personal slights, according to analysts.
As the election draws nearer, the battle between the Conservatives and Labour will intensify, and the personal attacks against Keir Starmer are likely to continue. However, it will ultimately be up to the voters to decide the future of the UK government and the country’s next prime minister.
