Starmer called out Farage on Brexit... it's about time. This weekend saw Starmer take his strongest stance against Farage's involvement in Brexit. This is how to combat him. This year we're approaching the decade anniversary since the UK voted to leave the European Union. Farage, as one of the poster boys that drove the campaigns for this decision, continues to demonstrate the way he has benefitted politically from the aftermath. The polls, the media and Labour continues to discuss Reform, formerly the Brexit party, as the main political opposition to the government. Even without elaborating on all the details of the timeline, I'm sure it is not controversial to conclude that the way Westminster handled the result of the referendum is inherently linked to any momentum of Farage's party today. Fatigue around Brexit became very real within the public. 'Get Brexit Done' was a perfect three word slogan for the Tories' 2019 General Election campaign and ultimately delivered them success at the time. If only it was that simple. As a result of that national fatigue for the debate that rumbled on so long, I completely understand the position Labour took on the matter of Europe when it came into power almost 18 months ago. To reopen a can of worms, no matter how beneficial some may argue it would be long-term, would likely rub salt into a wound still not completely healed over and prompt outrage that Farage and co could once again seize on. It has then been the case, that any moment in which Starmer has decided to help Britain refresh its relationship with Europe has immediately been responded to by the right wing papers as a "Brexit betrayal". Most notably, the European Summit last year sparked all kinds of unnecessary fury for MPs to deal with, as the loud and proud Brexit brigade would have you believe that Starmer had just spat on half the population from being in a room with EU Commissioner von der Leyen. It always seemed a difficult tightrope for Starmer to walk, and to his credit, I've always felt he walked it well. There is no doubt that since Starmer took charge, one of his best features as a Prime Minister has been his ability as a diplomat, restoring Britain as a serious nation respected by it's international peers on the global stage. I would be confident in arguing that Starmer has successfully managed to redefine the UK's relationship with Europe without upsetting the majority of people at home. Of course, those who shout 'betrayal' exist, but they are not the dominant force in society. This week, however, we saw Starmer take the biggest risk as he continued to balance the progress of the UK's renewed relationship with Europe, with the wounds of the Brexit battles that still exist. Calling out the Reform UK leader openly in an interview with ITV, the Prime Minister took the Brexit that Farage sold the public and compared it to what has happened since. Starmer pointed to the £350 million promised to the NHS, the idea that migration would go down and that there would be less red tape for businesses trading into Europe all as areas of Farage's pitch to the nation that had been ultimately untrue, advising the nation does not listen to what Reform's leader has to say on the matter. This was the best move that Starmer has made in his battle against Reform in a long while. Farage and Reform are ultimately wedded to the British decision to leave the EU. Whether you feel that this decision was right in principle or not, does not change the fact that Farage advocated for the referendum result on a set of changes that have ultimately not been realised. While Farage may choose to blame the Conservative governments for not seeing his Brexit vision through, Starmer has the opportunity to take the battle to him and scrutinise what exactly needed to be different in order to achieve the vision Farage had sold the public. In being able to undermine Farage on the detail offers one of the strongest attack angles to hit his credibility in a place the public will no doubt listen to. It also offers Starmer the opportunity to demonstrate to his own party, that he can better Farage without trying to 'out-Reform, Reform' - something he has been criticised of throughout his time as leader. While Starmer will understand that the Brexit bruises are still felt throughout the nation, if he can continue to find ways to jab at Farage over his involvement specifically in broken Brexit promises, then there may be some shaky foundations of Reform UK that become quickly exposed to the public. | 
