I am someone who was more impressed than I can remember by Starmer in opposition. He was forensic, honest, direct, well-prepared … all the things the last lot weren’t.
But in leadership …
I hadn’t seen what was approaching, which was a two-sided attack from Reform and the Greens, both of which can say what they believe in in short sentences.
In such circumstances, someone like Starmer was always going to be at a loss.
The Labour party in opposition sounded and looked dumb, lost, uncertain what they could say and do, with very few who came across as serious politicians able to lead. That didn’t change after they took power. Replacing Starmer will be too late IMO and Labour have almost certainly given the country on a plate to Reform. I cannot see replacing him saving the situation, although it might possibly reduce the damage a little.
The thing is that Labour has done a more than adequate job of governing. Especially when compared with the last lot. Unfortunately their gaffs have resonated with the public more than their successes.
I have often said we need political reform and PR, in starting to think that we need to go further and get rid of the party system which is no longer fit for purpose.
I found watching parliment on television very hard going and don’t do that so much as its a puppet show, punch and judy comes to mind, some of issues close to peoples hearts are discussed in an almost empty house. As the recently elected green mp Hannah Spencer said, these people live in a privaleged bubble, there in lays the problem, they are out of touch with the people they represent in.a lot of cases. If for instance the labour party for example spoke up on issues people would have a clearer understanding of what they face but its a bit cloak and dager with seemingly stranger ideas coming to the fore. We know the NHS is going to continue to struggle as care becomes ever more expensive. Yet on the other hand lumps of potentially earnings for the country disapear to foreign hands. There doesn’t seem to be a plan to build back our industries.
Two easy questions for this fine Sunday morning, is it the message or the messenger and is Andy Burnham really the Messiah?
I think it may be both message - which has become very metropolitan, gender-weirdo, Gaza-centric: it would be unrecognisable to my parents and grandparents - and the current messenger, who seems unable to inspire or even lead. I’m sure he’s very persuasive in Cabinet, but he isn’t persuasive to the country at all.
I heard about this man recently wanting to be the PM or some MP’s wanting him to be. I don’t know who he is, too much stuff on the internet to waste time looking but if he can string several words together and put his foot down regarding the spineless do-gooders, he might see frog face disappear into the distance.
Mayor of Manchester. Seemingly doing the job well.
Straight-talking northerner, previously was an MP who served under Blair and Brown, was quite young at the time but held cabinet positions and had a bright future, currently serving (as Sue says) as Manchester’s mayor.
He reminds me of John (“two Jags”) Prescott in a way… but slimmer.
Perhaps he is then, the messiah to save the country from the unspeakable party the sheep follow
He’s doing a very good as Manchester’s mayor, I haven’t spoken to a Mancunian that doesn’t like/ respect him, all think he’s done a fantastic job so far. Ok it’s not an extensive poll but I do know a lot of Mancunian’s.
A populist criticising “the elites”, where have we heard that before? The reality is is that there are all sorts in the House of Commons from genuine working class heroes to the landed gentry. She’s just pulling the same stunt as Farage and so on but from the other side.
Good in a ruck then!
Yes John, I do believe she is quite naive of the tree ring circus she has entered. TBH I felt the same shortly after bevoming a civil servant though. I guess that will temper with time but there is a foundation network that may just need a shake up, the current situation is not best functioning, no sign yet that she has accepted large payments off the record.
Who has the higher kill count, Starmer or Burnham?
Many of my family live in Greater Manchester and they all agree he is a wonderful Mayor and has done a lot for the county. Even the two Farage supporters can’t fault him. He was MP for Leigh (close to where I was brought up) in Greater Manchester for a long time.
I have no knowledge of Andy Burnham and his success or otherwise as Mayor of Manchester.
I also had no knowledge of the former mayor of London who later became PM.
Clearly the latters tenure as PM did not mirror his earlier success as London mayor.
I sincerely hope that should the former become PM in the future he might be a success.
Given the current situation, and Keir Stamer having already blocked Burnams path to become an MP I see little chance of him becoming one.
It seems to me that the mayhem created by the tories in the last 14? Years and now taken on by labour is a poison chalice and the majority seem to have a memory span of a goldfish and blame Keir and his gang for everything.
The build up content to Thursdays local elections was created entirely by the news media whose opinions are believed almost without question by the masses.
I’m guessing Johnson but what successes did you have in mind? Garden bridge? The cable car thing that no one uses?
2012 Olympics perhaps?
Oh yes, he definitely wasn’t being kept as far away from that as possible by all parties involved…