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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Tom Baldwin

A warning for Keir Starmer from his own past: if you’re not bold on Brexit and Europe, your Labour rivals will be

Keir Starmer hosts Belgian PM Bart de Wever at 10 Downing Street, 12 December.
Keir Starmer hosts Belgian PM Bart de Wever at 10 Downing Street, 12 December. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

Seven years ago, it took just eight words to electrify the Labour conference and to show the party was falling out of love with its then leader. Although not exactly the kind of soaring oratory that gets reproduced on T-shirts, the words were greeted with wild cheering as most of the hall rose in spontaneous acclamation.

As the commotion died down, Keir Starmer, then Brexit spokesman, stood at the podium, blinking in surprise. He wasn’t really accustomed to his speeches having such an effect. All he had said was: “Nobody is ruling out remain as an option.” But context is everything.

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