80 years after VE Day – what lessons has Starmer learnt?
JVL Introduction
Peace activists mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day as the day the Nazis were finally defeated and the war in Europe came to a halt even as the war in the Pacific raged on. Rather than reflection on what led to that war and how to avoid it in future, Starmer spent part of the anniversary speaking to the London Defence Conference organized by BAE systems. You can read his speech on the government website, here.
He talked about increased expenditure on defence, in part because this would create jobs – as though there were no other jobs are needed in Britain. Meanwhile the Far Right is gaining traction and Starmer has no response.
We can surely best honour those who fought or worked in civilian roles in the second world war by doing all that is possible to stop wars and always remembering the huge human cost: but, said Peace Pledge Union’s remembrance project manager Geoff Tibbs, “… we cannot do this from a narrow, nationalist perspective. Only by acknowledging the untold suffering it brought to so many countries, both Allied and Axis powers, both in the West and the Global South, can we recognise the vital importance of working for peace and opposing war and militarism today.”
LL
This article was originally published by The Canary on Thu 8 May 2025. Read the original here.
VE Day 80 commemorations are misusing the past to push for more militarism
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A Labour Government which supports a Nazi government should not be tolerated. That those Stefan Bandera loving Ukrainians were invited to take part in the VE celebrations while the USSR, ie Russia, which lost 27 millions of its people saving the world from Fascism, was not even invited to attend is an outrage. And to not accept an invitation by the Russian Federation to attend their celebrations is a total disgrace. The time is long overdue for the universally unloved autocrat Starmer and his milksop team to make a unlamented exit.
I did not enjoy the constant coverage of the anniversary of VE day . I watch ed a prog. on BBC 1 to see if anyone mentioned the thoughts I was having. The last lady, of 101 yrs. did talk about almost glorifying war, and saying more about peace. I agreed with her ,and would add, that we should be able now to commemorate all the dead and injured of all nations that were involved. Also most service personnel were conscripted, didn’t have a choice to not be killed/ injured. I was born during the war, so was aware of the results , and how people were affected.
I am so glad Myra Sands expressed the above, which mirrors exactly my feelings. I wonder if she too listened to the interview with Sikorsky, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs (and married to the appalling Anne Applebaum) lecturing the British people on Radio 4 yesterday about how we Brits don’t give enough credit to the importance of the Eastern front in the Second World War. He praised the brave Poles and the brave Ukrainians but omitted to mention the brave Russians. It was truly a lesson in propaganda…use the commemoration of one war to promote another.
what lessons has Starmer learnt ?
To, like other Western leaders, completely ignore Russias victory against fascism in ww2.
Wasn’t the original Palestinian national movement allied with the Nazi regime ? Is that why no Palestinian political representatives were in Russia for their celebrations ?
The answer to both questions is No.
Yes, Janet Crosley it is an understatement to say I did not enjoy the small part of the BBC coverage I watched as I happened to be visiting an elderly friend. So much pomp and self importance on display from those who did not experience the horrors of WW2, when the UK is currently colluding in what is not war but a massacre and genocide. And not least when we are constantly being told “there is no money” when it comes to the elderly, children and the sick and disabled.
And whatever one’s views about Russia, as Myra Sands says, no acknowledgement of their major contribution and sacrifice without which the outcome could have been very different…