Keir Starmer

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

All the Blarite MPs crying foul at the Daily Heil for attacking their leader.

Where the fuck were they the past 5 years? Oh yes, giving the daily Heil stories on their leader.

The Daily Hail did not need anyone to give them stories on Corbyn - that was the problem. His 30+ year career of doing things the general public would find objectionable spoke for itself.

 

[BlueAnorak]

From on the studies all over the world that are starting to be referenced in the British press, I would say Starmer is very sensible in not backing the teacher unions over school reopening. It looks like schools are pretty safe so long as temperature and health checks are done on staff and pupils.

 

[mat]

Hopefully it’s a sign that Starmer can get more/most/all aspects of Labour, and the electorate, behind him.

I’d argue Corbyn would have got that if those cunts didn’t spent more time trying to win elections than sabotage them.

 

[joe123]

I’d argue Corbyn would have got that if those cunts didn’t spent more time trying to win elections than sabotage them.

It's possible, but ultimately Corbyn just rubbed up too many people the wrong way, be it his policies, past actions or media coverage. Those that he inspired were always gonne be outnumbered by those who didn't like him. Starmer's got a much more acceptable face to a wider section of the populace, and from a personal perspective would be good for everyone who doesn't want this government in charge to back a horse that has a chance of winning.

 

[mat]

It's possible, but ultimately Corbyn just rubbed up too many people the wrong way, be it his policies, past actions or media coverage. Those that he inspired were always gonne be outnumbered by those who didn't like him. Starmer's got a much more acceptable face to a wider section of the populace, and from a personal perspective would be good for everyone who doesn't want this government in charge to back a horse that has a chance of winning.

Can't argue against that. Just hope the policies aren't all thrown out of the window for a balls out rejoin the EU mashup.

 

[joe123]

Can't argue against that. Just hope the policies aren't all thrown out of the window for a balls out rejoin the EU mashup.

Yeah, it's a fairly fine line to tread. So far, am cautiously optimistic he's got it in him to appeal to enough people but time will obviously tell.

Cynically, or maybe naively, the first 6 months of Boris make me optimistic KS could beat him. HIs image as a competent pair of hands might be what people are crying out for if the government handle no-deal brexit as well as they have Covid.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Can't argue against that. Just hope the policies aren't all thrown out of the window for a balls out rejoin the EU mashup.

Corbyns policies were a hot mess. Free wifi for everyone was a bit of a joke. If people no longer believe you are serious (even though i have no doubt they were) then you have a massive problem. There is a long way to go before Starmer has to put together a manifesto so I guess we will have to see where we are.

 

[Mon Autre]

Corbyns policies were a hot mess. Free wifi for everyone was a bit of a joke. If people no longer believe you are serious (even though i have no doubt they were) then you have a massive problem. There is a long way to go before Starmer has to put together a manifesto so I guess we will have to see where we are.

Access to free high speed broadband for everyone (well I say free, we would have been paying for it via taxes) could have been a real asset to the country at a time like this. The ability for anyone to be able to do business or learn or work from anywhere could be viewed as a source of real competitive advantage in a modern progressive country that wants to stay ahead of the curve. I think as a policy it became too much of a distraction, but I don't think it was a joke of a policy.

 

[Chris in London]

Access to free high speed broadband for everyone (well I say free, we would have been paying for it via taxes) could have been a real asset to the country at a time like this. The ability for anyone to be able to do business or learn or work from anywhere could be viewed as a source of real competitive advantage in a modern progressive country that wants to stay ahead of the curve. I think as a policy it became too much of a distraction, but I don't think it was a joke of a policy.

of itself it was a brilliant policy.

It was when it was lined up with everything else that it became a pipe dream, and that particular policy became the defining image of an impossible manifesto

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Starmer has been receiving fairly good reviews, and justly so.
However, it's very, very easy to examine each and every govt initiative, and criticise, and these are
exceptional times that make the oppositions job even easier. When this period ends, then we will need
to hear exactly what Labour policies are, and how they will be implemented, what their
European objectives are, the post Brexit future etc; etc;
The last thing I heard about how Labour were intending to enrich society is whether to let
blokes use the girls bogs or not, so he's been very good at the criticising bit, let's hear about
the doing bit.

 

[Chris in London]

Starmer has been receiving fairly good reviews, and justly so.
However, it's very, very easy to examine each and every govt initiative, and criticise, and these are
exceptional times that make the oppositions job even easier. When this period ends, then we will need
to hear exactly what Labour policies are, and how they will be implemented, what their
European objectives are, the post Brexit future etc; etc;
The last thing I heard about how Labour were intending to enrich society is whether to let
blokes use the girls bogs or not, so he's been very good at the criticising bit, let's hear about
the doing bit.

this doesn’t make sense. In the first part of your post you seem to be saying that when this period ends will be the time to see what labour’s policies will be on a host of issues, in the latter part you use the present tense (“let's hear about the doing bit“) so you seem to be saying now is the time to talk about transport policy, foreign aid etc. Which is it?

 

[Mon Autre]

Starmer has been receiving fairly good reviews, and justly so.
However, it's very, very easy to examine each and every govt initiative, and criticise, and these are
exceptional times that make the oppositions job even easier. When this period ends, then we will need
to hear exactly what Labour policies are, and how they will be implemented, what their
European objectives are, the post Brexit future etc; etc;
The last thing I heard about how Labour were intending to enrich society is whether to let
blokes use the girls bogs or not, so he's been very good at the criticising bit, let's hear about
the doing bit.

If that's the last thing you've seen or remembered then maybe try paying more attention.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

this doesn’t make sense. In the first part of your post you seem to be saying that when this period ends will be the time to see what labour’s policies will be on a host of issues, in the latter part you use the present tense (“let's hear about the doing bit“) so you seem to be saying now is the time to talk about transport policy, foreign aid etc. Which is it?

It's merely an interpretation of what's happening, how Starmer is getting fair reviews, and many
outlets admiring his 'Forensic' detail etc; which is fine, I'm just saying it's far easier to criticise
than act. As yet, we know very little, if anything, about what Labour's policies are, are they a continuation
of Corbyn's, is he giving us completely fresh ideas, or just carrying on Boris bashing?

 

[Ancient Citizen]

If that's the last thing you've seen or remembered then maybe try paying more attention.

To what?

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

It's merely an interpretation of what's happening, how Starmer is getting fair reviews, and many
outlets admiring his 'Forensic' detail etc; which is fine, I'm just saying it's far easier to criticise
than act. As yet, we know very little, if anything, about what Labour's policies are, are they a continuation
of Corbyn's, is he giving us completely fresh ideas, or just carrying on Boris bashing?

Prepare to be disappointed. Pointing out that Johnson is not fit for the job is what he will stick to for the next 4 years. Unless of course he resigns or something.

 

[The perfect fumble]

this doesn’t make sense. In the first part of your post you seem to be saying that when this period ends will be the time to see what labour’s policies will be on a host of issues, in the latter part you use the present tense (“let's hear about the doing bit“) so you seem to be saying now is the time to talk about transport policy, foreign aid etc. Which is it?

We're years away from a general election, no opposition sets out their stall this early, even in normal times and these aren't normal times.

Starmer has big problems in the Labour Party and one of the unintended consequences of Covid-19 is they're not front and centre, but eventually Cummings will make them so. Starmer might not be Corbyn but the party that elected Corbyn is still in place. In order to get elected Labour leader Starmer mouthed policy positions not too dissimilar to Rebecca Long-Bailey. Cummings knows that in order to burst the image of a middle of the road, well spoken, moderate politician of authority and gravitas, so appealing to Mail and Torygraph readers, he'll have to bring to the surface all the identity politics baggage Starmer is carrying.

I expect Cummings to bring legislation to Parliament in the not too distant future around these issues, for no other reason than to force Starmer to defend his "extreme" positions. In so doing Cummings will try to get a low key culture war going, after all the right wing media can't run with the likes of donkeygate forever.

The ticking time bomb is the leaked report showing right wing sabotage in the Labour Party, it has the potential to tear the party to pieces. How Starmer deals with this scandal is pivotal to his leadership and the future of the party.

Cummings and his right wing allies in the media see an opportunity.

To sow distrust among the left and reinforce the fear that Starmer is going to sell them out, the media is now prominently featuring the voices of old blairite war horses like Alan Johnson and David Blunkett. The blairites are dead in the party, but by presenting Blunkett and Johnson as relevant voices again, it creates the impression that Starmer is really nothing more than a blairite in left wing clothing.

It's all a bit double edged sword. Cummings and his stooges will portray Starmer as nothing more than a left winger in a good suit to scare the Shires and simultaneously as a right wing blairite clone to scare the left in the party.

I don't envy him.

 

[George Hannah]

We're years away from a general election, no opposition sets out their stall this early, even in normal times and these aren't normal times.

Starmer has big problems in the Labour Party and one of the unintended consequences of Covid-19 is they're not front and centre, but eventually Cummings will make them so. Starmer might not be Corbyn but the party that elected Corbyn is still in place. In order to get elected Labour leader Starmer mouthed policy positions not too dissimilar to Rebecca Long-Bailey. Cummings knows that in order to burst the image of a middle of the road, well spoken, moderate politician of authority and gravitas, so appealing to Mail and Torygraph readers, he'll have to bring to the surface all the identity politics baggage Starmer is carrying.

I expect Cummings to bring legislation to Parliament in the not too distant future around these issues, for no other reason than to force Starmer to defend his "extreme" positions. In so doing Cummings will try to get a low key culture war going, after all the right wing media can't run with the likes of donkeygate forever.

The ticking time bomb is the leaked report showing right wing sabotage in the Labour Party, it has the potential to tear the party to pieces. How Starmer deals with this scandal is pivotal to his leadership and the future of the party.

Cummings and his right wing allies in the media see an opportunity.

To sow distrust among the left and reinforce the fear that Starmer is going to sell them out, the media is now prominently featuring the voices of old blairite war horses like Alan Johnson and David Blunkett. The blairites are dead in the party, but by presenting Blunkett and Johnson as relevant voices again, it creates the impression that Starmer is really nothing more than a blairite in left wing clothing.

It's all a bit double edged sword. Cummings and his stooges will portray Starmer as nothing more than a left winger in a good suit to scare the Shires and simultaneously as a right wing blairite clone to scare the left in the party.

I don't envy him.

tbh he's a bit of a plank.

 

[The perfect fumble]

tbh he's a bit of a plank.

He is.

But solid and boring might be appealing after Bozo the Clown.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

We're years away from a general election, no opposition sets out their stall this early, even in normal times and these aren't normal times.

Starmer has big problems in the Labour Party and one of the unintended consequences of Covid-19 is they're not front and centre, but eventually Cummings will make them so. Starmer might not be Corbyn but the party that elected Corbyn is still in place. In order to get elected Labour leader Starmer mouthed policy positions not too dissimilar to Rebecca Long-Bailey. Cummings knows that in order to burst the image of a middle of the road, well spoken, moderate politician of authority and gravitas, so appealing to Mail and Torygraph readers, he'll have to bring to the surface all the identity politics baggage Starmer is carrying.

I expect Cummings to bring legislation to Parliament in the not too distant future around these issues, for no other reason than to force Starmer to defend his "extreme" positions. In so doing Cummings will try to get a low key culture war going, after all the right wing media can't run with the likes of donkeygate forever.

The ticking time bomb is the leaked report showing right wing sabotage in the Labour Party, it has the potential to tear the party to pieces. How Starmer deals with this scandal is pivotal to his leadership and the future of the party. To sow distrust in the party It's noticeable that the media is now featuring the voices of old blairite war horses like Alan Johnson and David Blunkett, that's quite deliberate. The blairites are dead in the party, but by presenting Blunkett and Johnson as relevant voices again, it creates the impression that Starmer is really nothing more than a blairite in left wing clothing.

It's all a bit double edged sword, the right will portray Starmer as nothing more than a left winger in a good suit to scare the Shires and as a blairite stooge to scare the left in the party.

I don't envy him.

I don't agree with that analysis. Corbyns election manifesto was a hot mess that the public didn't believe in and they didn't like him to start with. Starmer wont be revisiting that for as long as he can get away with. They might try and pin him down but he is to smart to get drawn in - he wont be making policy commitments as he doesn't need to. He just need to carry on doing what he is doing and you have to admit that he is very good at it.

The tories will come out of this pandemic with big questions hanging over them in terms of competence. Then they will rip themselves to shreds over brexit. I have no idea where it will end up but it will be ugly. Johnson has pissed of a lot of people to get where he has and they wont be shy in wadding in when the grim reality hits home. Starmer will have to suggest a solution at some point but the smart game is not to go all out on the alternative - he will keep the focus on Johnsons failure. The importance Johnson and all leavers placed on getting a good deal and the number of times they said they would get one and the fact they played down the risks. The risks will become reality and it will become untenable.

 

[Chris in London]

It's merely an interpretation of what's happening, how Starmer is getting fair reviews, and many
outlets admiring his 'Forensic' detail etc; which is fine, I'm just saying it's far easier to criticise
than act. As yet, we know very little, if anything, about what Labour's policies are, are they a continuation
of Corbyn's, is he giving us completely fresh ideas, or just carrying on Boris bashing?

So basically you don’t like the fact that he is making the prime minister look stupid, and you look forward to the time when the nation’s attention isn’t focussed exclusively on what a fuck up he’s making of the crisis?