Starmer Off to Egypt.........

I had to drive through a run down area of my town today that was covered in flags ( with a few painted vans thrown in, too). I even saw someone riding along on a mobility scooter draped in an England flag.. If only the people in those areas made an effort to at least keep their own patch neat and tidy. But they must think the whole country is like that and don’t realise you can drive for miles through beautiful countryside and not see a soul. I haven’t been into the town centre for a long time but reckon it looks pretty grim. The country imo needs a jolly good tidy up.

Absolutely agree.

We are red wall. Excellent young Labour mp who lives across the road from me. Reform are very active, the have pop up canvassing tents every weekend. They’re door knocking regularly. Our town centre like many others is in dreadful decline. We are a city of sanctuary, north west so cheap rents in grim parts of town.

But that's the problem Iam64. Obviously he needs to keep the remaining members happy, but he needs to do something about keeping the Reform target seats and winning over a few non-members.

There have been some horrendous mistakes, but there has also been an unprecedented amount of negative spin ... and people are believing it. They really need to make sure people know about achievements.

I’m still ok with Starmer as PM and party leader. I absolutely agree comms have been awful and so far, little sign of anyone getting a proper grip. The LP needs an Alistair Campbell character . Starmer needs to work more constructively with comms and the back benchers. They were right to remove the WFA from many pensioners and managed differently, ie put a block on pensioners with an income above xxx and I don’t believe it would have caused such a row. Ditto pip and disability - constructive lengthy discussions to ensure the reasons are debated and consensus
Yes growstuff - LP members get regular emails setting out achievements. Preaching to the converted

Primrose53

StripeyGran

I think DT and his ego need guiding back into place.

For what he’s achieved this past few days, his giant ego is well deserved.

Really hope so.

StripeyGran

I think DT and his ego need guiding back into place.

For what he’s achieved this past few days, his giant ego is well deserved.

I think DT and his ego need guiding back into place.

We watched Donald Trump’s speech at teatime. He was thanking a long list of leaders from loads of countries who were involved in the peace deal. Each was spoken to individually saying what good people and great friends they were.

They all stayed where they were with DT at centre stage. Then he said he would like to thank the British PM, Keir Starmer and Starmer stepped forward to join him with a sickly grin on his face. DT then kind of guided him back to his place. It was so funny. 🤣🤣

I agree with you Maybee70, Iam64 and AGAA4.

Starmer has been a disappointment to me because I think he's too timid and indecisive. Being flexible is generally a good thing, but not always a good quality in a leader. I also think Starmer has been naive about comms and the barrage of criticism he has faced from the media.

Maybe Labour should employ an Ed Davey-like character to shout what Labour has actually achieved from the rooftops.

Ah yes Iam64 - I am a prime offender. Although no prime minister has ever floated my boat - it’s still early days for Starmer to have grown into this very demanding role I guess. I don’t know if the Labour Party will eventually replace him. He’s very unpopular and only he can improve his performance??

Iam64

The constant cold critical negativity about Starmer is increasingly tedious

I agree.

The constant cold critical negativity about Starmer is increasingly tedious

Lollipop1

Like Tony Blair, Keir Starmer is a globalist. He isn't particularly interested in the minutiae of English politics.
I think he's busy making contacts, lots and lots of contacts and when his 4 year stint is over and he's well aware he's unlikely to be returned for a second time, he'll try his luck at emulating (or joining) Tony Blair. Let's be honest, Tony didn't make his money tootling around here, he made it through his contacts on the world stage. The old "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours).
Just an idea but I shall be watching to see how he does.
Incidentally, he's clocking up a lot of airmiles and I do wonder if some of these trips are necessary and are they environmentally friendly.

I disagree. I think he went into politics because he wanted to do his best for this country but world events got in the way. When he gave up his career in the law to enter politics he couldn’t have foreseen what was going to happen in Ukraine and Palestine.

AGAA4

I agree with most other posters Keir Starmer has to be at that meeting representing the UK.

He could always send Mandelson or Blair - so long as the money is right

Like Tony Blair, Keir Starmer is a globalist. He isn't particularly interested in the minutiae of English politics.
I think he's busy making contacts, lots and lots of contacts and when his 4 year stint is over and he's well aware he's unlikely to be returned for a second time, he'll try his luck at emulating (or joining) Tony Blair. Let's be honest, Tony didn't make his money tootling around here, he made it through his contacts on the world stage. The old "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours).
Just an idea but I shall be watching to see how he does.
Incidentally, he's clocking up a lot of airmiles and I do wonder if some of these trips are necessary and are they environmentally friendly.

NotSpaghetti

Here's something else interesting and relevant Casdon

It talks about "The International Fund for Ireland"
One leading peace activist termed the fund the “social glue that holds our peace process together”, while Britain’s chief negotiator, Jonathan Powell, called it the “great unsung hero” of the Good Friday Agreement.

The one for Israel/Palestine seems to be looking to a similar model.
These (below) are labour links but I thought it was interesting and haven't read it before today.

www.lfi.org.uk/promoting-peacebuilding/

www.lfi.org.uk/lfi-publishes-civil-society-and-a-new-israeli-palestinian-peace-process-an-agenda-for-a-labour-government/

That’s very interesting NotSpaghetti, thanks. I hope for the same success now as there has been in Ireland.

Starmer does well on the world stage.We should be represented. We are not the major player but hopefully Starmer's contribution will keep us up there with the other European countries.

Apparently Trump had the idea of inviting Netanyahu to the summit.

But Turkey’s PM, who was at the time in mid-flight to the meeting said that he would refuse to attend if Netanyahu turned up.

Trump was forced to back down.

Starmer is a good member of the chorus. Along with a few others.

UK will be represented by USA. We are no more now than a vassal state after brexit and Starmer’s fawning.

Oh thanks for that sunami - I missed it as I was so horror struck by Netanyahu's speech that I missed Trump’s speech.

I disagree GANNET.

Trump appears to have had an injection of common sense. He said the following in his speech:

"Trump is now talking about how Middle East nations should stop making enemies and work together to create "opportunity and prosperity".

He says that "instead of making weapons", countries in the region should focus on spending money on schools, medicine, industry and artificial intelligence.

"Even to Iran, whose regime has inflicted so much death on the Middle East, the hand of friendship and co-operation is open," he says."

(BBC)

The UK, like all the wealthy nations, will have a part to play in the reconstruction, whether it's offering medical care, giving scholarships to Palestinian students or negotiating construction contracts. We might no longer rule the waves, but the UK is still an important, respected country on the world stage.

Casdon

I’m pleased to see that you accept that the place of the UK PM is at a summit this important ronib

We really don’t feature on the global stage at all these days. Frankly it’s embarrassing. Meanwhile Trump for all his frightening nuttiness does appear to act as a catalyst on the world stage. Our days of influence are long gone.

Casdon

Despite the views of the Negative Nancys on this thread, the US have recognised the contribution to the process of the UK.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg4rwne0ggo

Thanks Casdon. People don't realise what is going on behind closed doors and the UK has been very active in bringing this peace process about.

Here's something else interesting and relevant Casdon

It talks about "The International Fund for Ireland"
One leading peace activist termed the fund the “social glue that holds our peace process together”, while Britain’s chief negotiator, Jonathan Powell, called it the “great unsung hero” of the Good Friday Agreement.

The one for Israel/Palestine seems to be looking to a similar model.
These (below) are labour links but I thought it was interesting and haven't read it before today.

www.lfi.org.uk/promoting-peacebuilding/

www.lfi.org.uk/lfi-publishes-civil-society-and-a-new-israeli-palestinian-peace-process-an-agenda-for-a-labour-government/