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There are several key figures who wield significant influence within his administration:

1. Sue Gray, Starmer's chief of staff, has been accused of "thinking she runs the country" by Whitehall sources[3]. Her presence is seen as essential for navigating the Whitehall machine, given her experience in pulling levers of power[3].

2. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has risen to prominence and is involved in a budding rivalry with Wes Streeting[2].

3. The Treasury itself is seen as a powerful force, especially with an austere Budget on the horizon[3].

Some critics argue that Labour has been "played by its union paymasters," suggesting union influence on government decisions[3]. However, it's important to note that these claims of external control are common for new governments and often reflect political rhetoric rather than reality.

Starmer's leadership style has been described as becoming tougher and more ruthless, particularly during the Gaza conflict[2]. He has been accused of overriding colleagues and even bullying the Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, over a Palestine amendment[2].

Despite these various influences, Starmer's government has been criticized for lacking a clear defining vision or collective project[3]. The Prime Minister has struggled to establish a strong narrative for his administration, with some insiders calling for bolder initiatives beyond the current focus on fiscal discipline[5].

In summary, while Starmer is nominally in charge, his government's direction appears to be shaped by a combination of influential advisors, cabinet rivalries, and competing policy priorities, rather than a single dominating force[6].

Citations: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starmer_ministry [2] https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/book-of-the-day/2025/02/there-is-no-such-thing-as-starmerism [3] https://www.newstatesman.com/the-politics-column/2024/08/keir-starmer-must-tell-better-story [4] https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/what-do-we-know-about-keir-starmers-ministers [5] https://www.newstatesman.com/thestaggers/2023/05/what-does-keir-starmer-stand-for [6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtvEjoF4Ac [7] https://www.gov.uk/government/people/keir-starmer [8] https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/03/the-battle-for-keir-starmers-soul

--- Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

Die AfD profitiert von sozialem Frust, wirtschaftlicher Unsicherheit und einem Gefühl der Entfremdung gegenüber politischen Eliten.

Zusammenfassend erfordert der Umgang mit der AfD eine Kombination aus sozialer Reformpolitik, Bildung und klarer Abgrenzung von rechtsextremen Positionen.

Klaus-Peter Schöppner, ein renommierter Meinungsforscher, hat sich zur aktuellen Entwicklung in der deutschen Migrationspolitik geäußert.

Er sieht eine Verschiebung von einer Willkommenskultur hin zu einer eher kritischen Haltung, die man als "Prüfkultur" bezeichnen könnte.

*Willkommenskultur Die Willkommenskultur war lange Zeit prägend für die deutsche Migrationspolitik: Sie zielte darauf ab, Zuwandernde willkommen zu heißen und ihnen Perspektiven zu bieten.

Der Fokus lag auf der Vereinfachung bürokratischer Abläufe und der Schaffung langfristiger Perspektiven für Zuwanderer.

Laut einer Studie nehmen 78% der Befragten eine Willkommenskultur bei staatlichen Stellen für Arbeitsmigrant*innen wahr.

*Prüfkultur Schöppner beobachtet nun eine Verschiebung hin zu einer kritischeren Haltung: Die Zahl der Bürger, die für eine Aufnahme weniger Flüchtlinge plädieren, hat sich in den letzten zehn Jahren deutlich erhöht. 78% der Befragten erwarten Mehrkosten für den Sozialstaat durch Zuwanderung, 74% befürchten Wohnungsnot in Ballungsräumen.

Diese Sorgen führen zu einer verstärkten Prüfung der Auswirkungen von Migration auf Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft.

*Schöppners Einschätzung

Schöppner sieht diese Entwicklung als Resultat einer zunehmenden Polarisierung: Die jüngsten Bundestagsabstimmungen zur Migrationspolitik haben zu einer Festigung verschiedener politischer Lager geführt.

Viele Unionswähler befürworten eine strengere Migrationspolitik, während SPD und Grüne dies als Wahlkampfthema nutzen.

Schöppner betont, dass diese Entwicklung zu mehr Klarheit in den Positionen der Parteien führt, was er als positiv für den demokratischen Diskurs wertet.

*Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass laut Schöppner die deutsche Gesellschaft von einer überwiegend offenen Willkommenskultur zu einer kritischeren Prüfkultur in der Migrationspolitik übergeht, wobei die Sorgen um die Auswirkungen auf Sozialstaat und Infrastruktur in den Vordergrund rücken.

Stephen Fry, the renowned English actor, writer, and broadcaster, has recently sparked discussion with his comments on the rise of right-wing politics. In a podcast episode, Fry argued that the left's approach to political discourse has inadvertently contributed to the growth of right-wing ideologies.

Fry's key argument is that the left has prioritised being "right" over being effective, which has alienated potential supporters.

He stated, "Almost everything that I dislike about the rise of the right... I can say is probably the fault of the left".

This sentiment reflects his belief that the left's failure to address certain issues pragmatically has pushed some people towards right-wing ideologies.

Criticisms of the Left Fry highlighted several areas where he believes the left has faltered: Approach to free speech: Fry criticised attempts to police speech, arguing that it stifles truthful dialogue.

Handling of economic issues: He pointed out that the left failed to capitalise on favourable economic conditions in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Response to immigration concerns: Fry suggested that labelling concerns about immigration as simply "racism" is not helpful and fails to address the underlying issues.

Historical Context It's worth noting that Fry has a history of involvement with left-wing politics. He was previously an active supporter of the Labour Party but became disillusioned with some of its policies, particularly regarding the Iraq War.

His current stance seems to be a call for the left to reassess its strategies and priorities to prevent further growth of right-wing movements.

Fry's comments have generated both support and criticism. While some view his perspective as a necessary critique of left-wing tactics, others might see it as oversimplifying complex political dynamics. Regardless, his remarks have contributed to ongoing debates about political polarisation and the effectiveness of current left-wing approaches to social and economic issues.