Starmer urges European allies to ‘meet the challenge of the far right’

(Berlin) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his concerns about the rise of the far right in the United Kingdom during a visit to Berlin on Wednesday and called for progressive parties in Europe to work together to combat populism.

“I think we should be alert in the UK to the challenge of the far right, of populism and nationalism,” Keir Starmer told reporters after meeting Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“There are several reasons for my concern: on the one hand, what is happening in the United Kingdom and, on the other hand, what is happening in other European countries, notably in France and Germany,” continued the Prime Minister, who came to power at the beginning of July after the Labour victory in the legislative elections.

The election, which turned the page on 14 years of Conservative rule, was also marked by the success of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which won 14% of the vote, one of the highest scores for a hard-right party in UK history.

The country also faced racist and Islamophobic riots in dozens of cities in late July and early August. Protesters attacked hotels where asylum seekers were staying.

In Germany, the far-right AfD party is well placed to make significant gains in two regional elections on Sunday, which are shaping up to be disastrous for Olaf Scholz.

France, where the far right has been on the rise for years, has been in a political impasse since the legislative elections in early July, governed by an executive that has resigned for more than 40 days, something never seen since the end of the Second World War.

Keir Starmer is due to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

“I think the challenge must be taken up by democracy and by progressives,” said the British head of government, adding that he wanted to discuss it with “progressive parties.”

Political observers have attributed Reform UK’s rise to a disaffection with politics that has been compounded by the UK’s dire purchasing power crisis, record levels of regular and irregular immigration and the fallout from Brexit.

“Getting results and honesty are the best ways to cope […] “to populism and nationalism,” Keir Starmer said.