Starmer and Macron Warn Against Populist Surge: “Real Change Takes Time”
London – UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron made a joint appeal for political patience and pragmatic governance during a high-stakes press conference in Paris, warning against the rise of populist forces on both sides of the Channel.
The two leaders, both trailing in opinion polls and facing pressure from surging opposition parties, defended their centrist platforms amid growing public dissatisfaction with establishment politics.
“We must show that practical politics delivers results,” Starmer said, pushing back against what he called “the politics of easy answers.”
His comments followed new polling that shows a sharp shift in voter sentiment. Twenty-six percent of Labour voters from the 2024 general election who have since moved to Reform UK said they would reconsider their support if the government reduced small boat crossings.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who spent the morning filming with GB News from a vessel in the English Channel, dismissed the UK-France returns deal as a national embarrassment. He called for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and demanded stricter immigration controls.
Farage’s message appears to resonate with a restless electorate. A survey conducted by Portland Communications found that nearly half of voters now view Farage as the political figure most closely aligned with change. Eight out of ten Reform-leaning voters said the Labour government has had enough time to deliver results.
President Macron, facing his own political battle with France’s National Rally party, echoed Starmer’s concerns.
“We must acknowledge the complexity of today’s world,” Macron said. “It is easy to give in to the temptation of populists, but democracy requires responsibility and nuance.”
The leaders avoided direct mention of Farage or French opposition figure Jordan Bardella. But the message was clear: the growing appeal of anti-establishment parties is forcing centrist governments to confront uncomfortable truths about public trust and political patience.
Starmer emphasized that governing takes time and difficult choices. “Others are just taking pictures of the problem,” he said, in a thinly veiled swipe at Farage’s media-driven approach.
The context for their joint appearance is urgent. With immigration and economic pressure mounting, both leaders face growing scrutiny over their ability to deliver visible change. The returns deal with France, designed to address illegal Channel crossings, is one such step but its political cost remains high.
Privately, officials in both the Labour and Conservative camps have expressed concern that if voters conclude Labour has failed as many did with the Tories last year Reform UK could capitalize in a way its predecessors never could.
One senior figure asked a troubling question: “If Farage wins, and is then seen to fail, where does the country turn next?”
For now, Starmer and Macron are betting that the public can be persuaded to stick with gradual reform over dramatic promises. Whether that message lands in time remains to be seen.
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