The Starmer Symptom

'A vital kickback against national decline, ranging over the aimless, joyless landscape of Britain under Grey Labour. Mark Perryman has persuaded some of the fiercest, most eloquent polemicists in the land to examine, expose and ultimately eviscerate one of the lamest leaders in Labour history. An essential, devastating, often very funny chorus of left-wing righteousness' -- Alex Niven, Editor, <i>Tribune Magazine</i> 'Packed with insightful commentary focussing on Labour lacking a two-way dialogue between members and leadership which is driving many of the party’s activists away. Via a critique of Labour’s resistance to coalition-building, so vital under our undemocratic voting system, The Starmer Symptom pinpoints the reasons why Labour is failing to reverse the rise of the Far Right agenda' -- Cat Arnold, member Labour Party National Executive Committee 'The core of the argument is that Labour needs to break out of Labourism and remake itself a part of a broader pluralist bloc. Labour absolutely should be like this, here is a book that brilliantly explains why it has never been' -- Alan Finlayson, Chair of Editorial Board Renewal: A Journal of Social Democracy 'Had me cheering on the writers and their arguments as they interrogated the symptoms of a Labour Party that has undermined its own potential for change. Left me asking, what is this bloody huge parliamentary majority for?!' -- Laura Parker 'A book that provides a theoretical critique of Starmerism which is both extremely accessible and entirely non-intimidating, no mean feat when drawing on thinkers such as Gramsci and Stuart Hall' -- Pat Stack, 'Stack on the Back' 'A very stimulating, accessible, and engaging read. By drawing on a wide range of theoretical and historical sources, Mark Perryman advances our understanding of Starmer's project, its prospects, and its implications' -- Colm Murphy author of Futures of Socialism: 'Modernisation', the Labour Party, and the British Left, 1973-1997 'Keir Starmer decries the existence of Starmerism. Yet his actions as Prime Minister tell a different story - he has a discernible political project. Mark Perryman and the authors tease out the underlying shape of what this 'Starmerism' is and could still be. An invaluable contribution to thinking about Labour politics today' -- John McTernan, formerly Tony Blair’s Director of Political Operations