Labour’s Decision With ‘The Sun’ Sparks Outcry From Boycotters

Labour’s recent decision to advertise in The Sun has sparked outrage in Liverpool, where the newspaper remains boycotted for its false reporting on the Hillsborough disaster, leading to accusations of betrayal from local MP Kim Johnson. Here’s the full story.

Controversial Decision

Keir Starmer has made the controversial decision to place a prominent advertisement on the homepage of The Sun newspaper website, urging voters to consider backing the Labour Party.

Notable Media Shift

The decision, which marked a notable shift in Labour’s approach to media engagement, sparked controversy, especially within Liverpool, where The Sun remains a deeply reviled publication due to its notorious false reporting on the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Liverpool’s Anger

The tension between Liverpool and The Sun dates back to the aftermath of the Hillsborough stadium disaster, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 97 Liverpool football fans.

Infamous Reporting

The Sun published a now-infamous front-page story falsely accusing Liverpool fans of causing the disaster, leading to widespread outrage and a longstanding boycott of the newspaper in the city.

Local MP Outrage

Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, was vocal in her criticism of her party’s decision to advertise in The Sun, which is known colloquially in Liverpool as “The Scum.”

Broken Promise

Johnson stated, “When he was seeking support to be the leader of the Labour party, Keir stood in my constituency and pledged that he would not write in the Scum newspaper.”

Deep Disappointment

She continued, “So myself, Riverside residents and the whole city will now be very disappointed that he has broken his promise to boycott. By U-turning on this pledge, he fails to recognise just how deep the hurt runs in this city.”

Complex Relationship

Keir Starmer and the Labour Party’s relationship with The Sun has been complex and ever-evolving.

2020 Pledge

During his leadership campaign in 2020, Starmer made a public commitment in Liverpool not to engage with the newspaper.

Conciliatory Approach

However, since becoming Labour leader, he has adopted a more conciliatory approach, contributing articles to The Sun and appearing in interviews.

Pragmatic Shift

Some have seen this shift as a pragmatic move to broaden Labour’s appeal. However, it has not been without controversy within the party, particularly among Merseyside MPs who have consistently opposed the newspaper.

Varied Relations

Labour’s relationship with The Sun has varied significantly over the years. Under Tony Blair’s leadership, the party enjoyed a close alliance with the Murdoch-owned paper, which endorsed Labour in three successive general elections.

Blair’s Alliance

This partnership symbolised Labour’s shift towards the political centre and was crucial to Blair’s electoral success.

Shifting Allegiances

However, subsequent leaders like Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn distanced themselves from The Sun, reflecting the paper’s growing alignment with Conservative politics.

Criticism Despite Efforts

Despite the blatant attempts of Starmer and other Labour figures to woo The Sun, the paper has remained highly critical of the Labour Party and has yet to endorse any party for the election.

Murdoch’s Strategy

Murdoch famously likes to back winners in elections, so despite his well-known right-wing views, it is likely that if Labour remains 20 points ahead in the polls, the paper will end up endorsing the party.

Strategic Communication

Starmer previously defended his engagement with The Sun, despite the paper’s historical animosity towards Labour, stating, “I have to make sure that what we have to say is communicated to as many people as possible in the time that we’ve got available and that is why I am very happy to work with the Sun, to write for the Sun, to do interviews with the Sun.”

Diverse Media Strategy

Labour’s decision to advertise in The Sun is part of a broader strategy to engage with diverse media outlets, including those traditionally supportive of Conservative policies.

Conservative Outlets

The party has also placed advertisements in other Conservative-leaning publications like the Mail on Sunday, indicating a concerted effort to appeal to a broader demographic, including older voters who traditionally comprise a large part of the Conservative support base.

Evolving Media Strategy

As the election draws ever closer, Labour’s media strategy will likely continue to evolve as it tries to get its message heard by as many potential voters as possible.

Pragmatic Exposure

Despite its profoundly controversial nature, the decision to advertise in The Sun suggests a pragmatic approach to electoral politics, aiming to maximise exposure and support.

Risk of Alienation

However, this strategy has the real risk of alienating Labour’s core supporters, particularly in regions with strong anti-Sun sentiments like Liverpool.

Controversial Shift

Labour’s recent advertisement in The Sun represents a significant and controversial strategic shift, reflecting broader efforts to engage with diverse media outlets.

Strategic Tightrope

While this approach may help to broaden the party’s appeal, Labour must walk a tightrope between reaching out to voters and maintaining the support of its core base, many of whom are deeply sceptical and distrustful of the UK’s predominantly right-wing media.

Election Uncertainty

It remains to be seen whether this decision will help or hinder the Labour Party as the election campaign continues.

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