“Fighting for Democracy” or “Defending our Democracy” are the latest political bumper stickers from the US over the last several years and it seems to be the cri de coeur of Albo’s visit to the UK.
Both terms are shorthand for saying basically that any election result that doesn’t favour the left of centre party is an illegitimate result and represents a defeat 𝐧𝐨𝐭 of the party but of democracy itself.
They are trying to conflate, intertwine and interchange their world view with the very idea, the very essence of democracy.
In their minds, they and only they, embody democratic principles irrespective of the will of the voter expressed at the ballot box.
They own it. It’s theirs.
In other words, whatever the vote, only they truly represent democracy and if you don’t vote accordingly you’re complicit, in the murder and the death of democracy.
“…Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared he and fellow Western leaders are locked in a fight for democracy itself as he rallied his British counterparts to show young people that centre-left parties can deliver on the major challenges of our time.
As he came under fire from the opposition for travelling to Liverpool to speak at the British Labour conference, Albanese drew upon the success of Australia and Britain rebuilding their societies after defeating Nazi Germany to say progressive parties must deal with the affordable housing crisis and threat of artificial intelligence.
Referencing former British Labour leader Harold Wilson, Albanese said democratic leaders must show citizens that “the white heat of technology can forge new opportunities for working people”.
“In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming our economies, we must stand up for secure jobs and fair wages,” Albanese told the conference, according to advance speech notes provided by his office.
“At a time when young people feel the housing market is beyond their reach, we must build the new homes and create the economic opportunity that revives the dream of home ownership.”
‘Nostalgia is not a strategy’: Albanese joins PMs against populist right
As his British counterpart Keir Starmer languishes in the polls and Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform party surges in popularity, Albanese said the traditional parties of government had an obligation to show they can make practical improvements to people’s lives.
“We all know this is a time when trust in governments and institutions is under challenge,” Albanese said.
“We all sense this is an era when our capacity for peaceful disagreement is being tested.
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“But what I see here in UK Labour is the same determination that I know lives in every member of Australian Labor – an absolute resolve to stand together and defend democracy itself.”
Albanese said traditional parties of government would be able to seize the opportunities of clean energy and technological innovation “only if our people continue to see our institutions as the best way to make it happen”.
Albanese, the first Australian Labor leader to address the British Labour conference, has been sought out for advice while in Britain on how to prosper as a centre-left party after his thumping May election victory over Peter Dutton.
Urging democratic leaders to “bring both optimism and urgency” to the task of governing in a time of technological upheaval and geopolitical competition, Albanese said the experience of post-war Australia and Britain showed that bold policy reform was possible.
“Clement Attlee and Ben Chifley and their Labor governments worked to build societies worthy of those who’d fought to defend the world from fascism and tyranny,” Albanese said.
“By opening the doors of opportunity through education. By creating secure, well-paid jobs in manufacturing. By treating housing as not only the need, but the right, of every citizen.”
After Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accused him of “swanning” around Britain on self-indulgent trip, Albanese defended his travel to Liverpool by saying he would meet with key members of Starmer’s cabinet.
“The UK relationship is really important,” Albanese told the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“Every minister in the UK government will be in Liverpool tomorrow. I’ll be there too, and I’ll be meeting and engaging with them.”
Ley accused Albanese of engaging in partisan politics in Britain, saying: “Albanese is in the UK as the Australian prime minister, not the leader of the Australian Labor Party – he shouldn’t be swanning around on the taxpayer dollar at Labour political conferences hanging out with his left-wing mates.”
Albanese also met with British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch while in London, but he steered clear of seeking any meeting with Farage.
After his speech in Liverpool, Albanese will travel on to the United Arab Emirates before returning to Australia…”