I thought there was quite an interesting comment made below the article:

Drawing a compelling narrative for the nation, that tugs emotional strings, has always been something that the Right have been good at, as limitations imposed by the like of objective reality, historical fact and a sense of intellectual integrity never have to intrude. Keir Starmer would not be the first leader of a centre party steeped in pragmatism to struggle to come up with something that can compete.

The new Right is an unholy alliance stretching across the globe that informs and supports each other. Their common cause is the entrenchment of power among the unaccountable. It is the pursuit of a low tax, deregulated shrunken state that provides a safe haven for the selfish … the oligarchical kleptocrats skimming off the world’s cream, the future of the planet be damned.

A useful tool for these people is migration …… the fear of the unknown …. the blaming of “national decline” on the “other”. It is a hackneyed play straight out of the handbook. These people probably quite like the idea of the free movement of labour – it’s good for businesses, after all – but they see much more electoral value in simply weaponising it. And they do this because there is a widespread feeling out there that immigration is out of control. This is an unfortunate fact that progressives and centrists have to address, so it is very worthwhile to parse the issue out.

The UK – and much of the first world – have aging societies. The majority of people understand the need for immigration. However, they also don’t want to see an immigration system in chaos. It undermines confidence in the state and it breeds insecurities and suspicions. What is required is a system with transparent bureaucratic controls and appropriate regulation. This can provide the bedrock of assurance upon which the obvious benefits of migration can be appreciated and celebrated.

Starmer – and politicians generally - refuse to make the case for immigration. He has not taken the time to describe the demographic time-bomb in the West with its aging population. He has not extolled the vibrancy that migrants bring, both economically and culturally. He does not make the case that the ambition and drive of migrants, putting themselves through unimaginable hardships in the pursuit of opportunity and a better future, are exactly the sort of people a country could use.

Instead, the terms of the debate have been ceded to the Tories and the right-wing media, and in so doing Starmer has enabled the very worst instincts of the electorate. The outrage of the Labour frontbench to Tory policies on immigration is centred on a system that doesn’t work. The moral outrage at the Tory government …… at their inhumanity …… is largely being outsourced to less prominent figures.

I am happy to say that in recent weeks Starmer has begun to mention the benefits of immigration. He is a cautious, disciplined, methodical man. Let us hope that these are the first steps that signal his intended direction of travel