It’s not a “rhetorical game” when I’ve literally just repeated what you said.

“Not in our (life)time”.

I listened to your News Agents podcast & couldn’t agree more with your summary. There was no need for austerity back in 2010-16. That said, it is fair to say Starmer isn’t looking to implement austerity - he’s looking to increase tax so as to increase spending which isn’t austerity at all.

I think you’ve just completely, utterly and accurately summed up British political discourse amongst the British political elite for the last 10 years.

One one level you’re saying nobody in civic society (including “youth” presumably) is saying there should be a youth mobility scheme (which is demonstrably false). On the other level you saypro-Europeans should be criticised for being “passive” for publicly advocating a youth mobility scheme.

From a logical standpoint I don’t understand the argument against it. A youth mobility scheme does not = free movement of all peoples across all borders.

And so say all of us 👏🏻😂

Whilst I agree with you, as PM Starmer has to tow a middle ground at the moment. All of this “not in my lifetime” guff is just that & it’s inevitable that at some point he will have to pick a side. Also worth noting it’s not clear whether the UK would be allowed back into the EU as things stand.

To a point. Everyone knows Starmer was an ardent remainer & furthermore wants to rejoin the EU. It’s politically expedient to tow a middle ground but it’s inevitable that at some point the man will need to pick a side.

It was more in hope than reality. Turns out it was merely the lesser of two perils.