How long can Starmer survive? Getting popcorn ready 🍿🍿

Interesting that under the last Conservative government local shops were going concerns. In fact my local village thrived.

Well said DAR. Brilliant and rational reply.

Galaxy I agree with you totally. However, the person to whom I am referring always has a downer on this Gov and the UK in general based on what information I am unsure of. Having lived in Australia and visited on numerous occasions, I know that their press and TV do not always present accurate facts.
I stand rebuked 👍

There are alternatives to Labour- as in real Labour- not this right of centre bunch of hypocrites or the jackboot Tories and Reform.
YourParty are currently holding hustings for the election of 18 national members. You could look at getting on board and help shape a new way or join the Greens. We don’t have to be reactionary because we’re silver haired. Other potato based snacks are available.
Neither Rayner or Starmer and def not Streeting are for the many…

ronib if the rest of the country was as your local village after 14years conservative government, beggars the question ‘why did Labour win the 2024 general election’?

ronib

My local village used to be a thriving busy shopping area with busy restaurants but now businesses are closing down and going online. This is due to business rates increasing 3 fold, less customers/footfall because parking is no longer free, rises in national insurance payments and so on. I have to ask if local decline is across the UK? If so, what economic benefit has this given the government?
Even more alarming than the publicity surrounding Epstein and Mandelson is the social impact Rachel Reeves’ poor decisions are having on our daily lives. Life under Labour is not working is it?

As with all governments, that depends who you are, and your personal circumstances.

Galaxy

This is an open forum susieq, anyone can comment on anything. Saying someone from another country isn't entitled to a view is an interesting approach.

Agreed, especially as there are multiple anti Trump threads, are we not supposed to discuss politics in the USA due to us being British?

Perhaps we shouldn’t discuss, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Russia…

If Starmer wants to stay PM, he needs a different chancellor of the exchequer! Mandelson is a distraction to the very real problems we have.

This is an open forum susieq, anyone can comment on anything. Saying someone from another country isn't entitled to a view is an interesting approach.

I agree with you DaisyAnneReturns. It's becoming sensationalised, inviting a witch hunt rather than understanding how corruption can infiltrate our political systems. Personally I think we shouldn't get distracted from the actual criminal and immoral behaviour that went on - including the harm done to a lot of young women whose lives were damaged. We can't pretend that power is always innocent or ethical yet good politicians still have to deal with it as best they can. Epstein was a financial and social fixer, a useful person to know. I'm sure not all those he dealt with were criminals and shining a light into the cesspit shows how easy it is to be at the edge of a criminal underworld. From there so easy to become associated with it, mud sticks. Some were drawn into seriously nasty stuff - stupidly, innocently, inadvertantly, nieavely - a lot of people really should have known better, and some freely chosen to participate. As Graphite says, lots of wealthy and powerful people happily moved in that circle, it was treated as legitimate, acceptable. However, Starmer sacked Mandy as soon as evidence of bad behaviour came to light and if we can't support our politicians, and only try to tear them down, there'll be no good ones left to elect! I think we should still be supporting our PM as he is likely to be the best one we've had for years. Who stands to gain if we weaken our own government? That's a scary thought! Think, 'follow the money' ...
where did Epstein's wealth came from, how come he had so much spare cash to give away, how did he manage to draw so many (mostly men) into sordid situations where they could then be embarrassed, exposed etc - maybe he controlled them through threats and favours, blackmail, and so on, his reward, insider information, tips to share with the right people.... But, where did the money come from? Who gains if our government get taken down in the crossfire?

My local village used to be a thriving busy shopping area with busy restaurants but now businesses are closing down and going online. This is due to business rates increasing 3 fold, less customers/footfall because parking is no longer free, rises in national insurance payments and so on. I have to ask if local decline is across the UK? If so, what economic benefit has this given the government?
Even more alarming than the publicity surrounding Epstein and Mandelson is the social impact Rachel Reeves’ poor decisions are having on our daily lives. Life under Labour is not working is it?

Exactly

Popcorn? Cynical. Mandelson a wrong un but widely considered extremely clever and hard working and thought to me just the person to handle Trump and his appalling entourage - wily, unflappable, very knowledgeable about the US and resilient to attacks. Diplomats are chosen for their fit. It was of course an error. Starmer is a good man, maybe harder for him to see the dark, especially as he is a pragmatist. He is balancing the unbalanceable. I don’t see any asset in changing him except it scratches an itch. Ooh we do like to fell folk. Being PM of a small less relevant nation which is outside any major power group, at a time of omni crisis - who would do it? Some may sound better but in the end help the nation survive better? No, not popcorn. A sad time and it will be a sad day and good luck to the next incumbent. Anyone with any self preservation will be running in the opposite direction

I know I'll get roasted for this... But Starmer (et al) followed the routine process and advice. It is that 'process and advice' which is rubbish and also not properly implemented by those supposed to do the vetting. From top to bottom in recruitment, verbal assurances and lack of real evidence rule. Totally wrong. Of course Peter assured Keir he had nothing to concern himself over!

I agree with Fallingstar
This country does need a stable government but KS and his advisers are not that. It has been a disaster from the beginning and only gets worse.

Dan Hodges in the Daily Mail 20 December 2024

Peter Mandelson is cynical, manipulative, ruthless, calculating, cunning and ambitious – and the perfect choice to be Britain’s new ambassador to Washington. … But howls of Leftist anguish simply serve to underline the wisdom of the decision. Mandelson has the experience for one of the most demanding briefs in British diplomacy – fostering an unlikely alliance between the socialist son of a toolmaker and the populist godfather of the global MAGA movement. … And while the Tories have opted not to comment formally on the appointment, one senior backbencher told me: ‘Peter’s a very smart guy, but completely the wrong fit for Washington. He’s pro-EU, pro-China, pro-Establishment.’ … To understand Mandelson’s appointment you have to look not to his virtues, but his vices. Ask any of his enemies, and they will cite the same flaws. ‘He’s Machiavellian.’ ‘He’s power hungry.’ ‘He’s arrogant.’ Maybe he is. But Downing Street’s calculation is that these are precisely the qualities Donald Trump respects.

Not a word about Epstein.

www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-14215417/DAN-HODGES-Ruthless-cynical-cunning-Mandy-perfect-choice-ambassador.html

Farage I might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he's a very intelligent man and would be good choice for ambassador. (BBC 19 December 2024)

What a difference a year and some new dumps of Epstein files makes.

I would be both sorry and worried if Starmer left soon. Despite all his errors of judgement I think he's the best person to deal with the world as it is at the moment. Blair and Brown were very lucky that nothing like this happened to them.

Casdon

I recognise Starmer’s accent, it is definitely Southern English. Maybe you hear accents very different from your own more distinctly.

To be accurate it is North-East Surrey, very close to the border with Kent. I grew up 10 minutes away from the Starmer's house.

What Allira said nothing to do with the accent, non specific. It's the delivery, robotic and uninspiring. Squeaky clean debatable, given the Lord Ali freebies.

Well said DaisyAnneReturns

Maybee 70
I agree

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Galaxy

If squeaky clean now means appointing people who have friendships with prolific paedophiles and traffickers, then my definition of clean is out of date.

So that means Farage should step down as leader of Reform…

I recognise Starmer’s accent, it is definitely Southern English. Maybe you hear accents very different from your own more distinctly.

Dead man walking.

Not so much hollow as stuffed.