When in 2016 we went to vote in the EU Referendum there wasn’t a Centrist box to tick. It was a binary choice – In or Out. And that set the tone for what has happened since. Everything has become binary. You are for us or against us. Nuancing and subtlety has vanished.
Jeremy Corbyn has threatened to form a political Party that is the Left’s equivalent of Reform. Hard Left to their Hard Right. The Conservative Party which John Major (just) succeeded from shifting to the Nationalist Right has in the last twenty years done just that. So far Keir Starmer has managed to keep Labour Centre Left and won an election on such a platform. And the LibDems election success showed that votes can be secured for an avowedly Centrist position – and seats to match if you know what you’re doing. Which, unlike Reform, they did.

Hard Right or Hard Left have a raw appeal that is simple to grasp. So in the minds of the Left the NHS is being privatised (it isn’t). And in the minds of the Right immigration is out of control (it isn’t). There are few media spaces for centrists. Moderation is for wimps.
The “third way” of Blair and Clinton is little promoted though it’s very much still around in Britain , if not in America. If Starmer can find a way to unravel Brexit despite having promised not to the Centre has a chance to regain its hold again. A chance.
I like Kier Starmer. His decency shins through after a succession of really disgraceful Tory PMs. I wish people would give him a break. His political inheritance would daunt the best of leaders.
That said, he seems to have a blind spot regarding Britain’s relations with the EU. It’s now clear there is a majority for rejoining. I suspect Union power is behind it. The balancing act to keep the centre left afloat is a serious challenge? The Trade Union movement has never been a supporter of the community, so without Union support for Starmer it’s a road to nowhere.
I think you are right in saying the key to balance in British politics lies in Britain’s membership in Europe. Only time will convince the Labour Party of that.
LikeLike