‘Sir Keir Starmer’s catchy trademark of ‘not being Jeremy Corbyn”

• SIR Keir Starmer has been very conspicuous by his absence whenever striking workers are looking for support.

Whether a rally is taking place at a children’s hospital on his own doorstep or at an international ferry port he is nowhere to be seen.

Yet two of his predecessors, Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn, and his potential successor, Andy Burnham, have all made appearances at P&O rallies.

So why does he feel so uncomfortable standing shoulder to shoulder with the very people his party is expected to support?

My guess is his stance is a result of his catchy trademark of “not being Jeremy Corbyn”.

This is a bizarre approach because Jeremy is one of the most decent elected representatives in living memory and he has always put others first.

So by being the opposite of a decent man Sir Keir is prepared to blank young climate activists, disband community organisers, expel or alienate Jewish intellectuals, abandon his electoral pledges and vilify democratic socialism and peace movements.

Meanwhile, in Camden, gatekeepers of democracy and scrutiny are being forced out of their roles.

Sir Keir’s loyal enforcers are systematically removing socialists from candidate lists, selection panels and membership and they are driving a massive wedge between the council and the communities.

If this is the recipe for winning a general election then the UK’s voting system has degenerated into a sick joke.

IAN SHACKLOCK, N4