Keir Starmer and David Lammy may soon be faced with nationalist governments across the Atlantic and the Channel.
In a week’s time, France could see its first hard-right government since the Second World War. President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call an early parliamentary election has not yielded the results he hoped for. On 30 June, the first-round voting saw Marine Le Pen’s National Rally surge into first place, with the left-wing New Popular Front following in second, and Macron’s Ensemble coalition trailing in third.
The outcome has left Macron’s future uncertain, especially if an agreement cannot be reached with the left on a strategic voting alliance to block the rise of the National Rally. Without this, Le Pen’s ally, Jordan Bardella, could end up as France’s new prime minister. Macron’s camp can only hope to prevent the National Rally from securing an outright majority in the second round. In this scenario, France faces two grim options: political gridlock or a government led by the hard right.
This shift to the far-right in France has important implications beyond the country’s borders, particularly for Labour leaders like Keir Starmer and David Lammy. Should Le Pen’s National Rally succeed in forming a government, the growing influence of nationalist movements across Europe and the Atlantic could put additional pressure on the UK’s political landscape. Nationalism, already gaining ground in countries like France, could strengthen populist forces in the UK, which Labour would have to contend with.
For Labour, the rise of hard-right governments on both sides of the Channel could mean navigating a more hostile political environment. As the global landscape shifts, Keir Starmer and his team may find themselves facing nationalist leaders who are less inclined toward cooperation and more focused on hardline policies. The implications for Labour’s foreign policy and domestic political strategy could be profound as these developments unfold.
