How long can Starmer survive? Getting popcorn ready 🍿🍿

Wyllow3

*some reform supporters her may have forgotten that Farage initially praised the appointment of Mandelson*.

Yes, for real!

Farage has meanwhile said that he "might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he's a very intelligent man" and would be good choice for ambassador

quoted in the Independent and others, but behind paywalls (I did check with the quote) so giving the BBC reference

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvnlxxp8jko

I'll also add two pictures, one a comment from the writer and commentator and author David Aaronovitch, and the comments beside the image of Starmer which gave me the clue to Farage's initial support of Mandelson.

“Nigel Farage has said he would be willing to help Peter Mandelson negotiate with the Trump administration, after the Labour grandee was confirmed as Westminster’s new ambassador to the US.

Lord Mandelson has indicated he believes the Reform UK leader, a friend of Donald Trump, could serve as a link between the UK and the Republican president-elect.

But Downing Street would not be drawn on whether Keir Starmer would like the political veteran to work with Farage, saying when asked only that the prime minister had “already started to begin to build a relationship” with Trump.

Farage has previously offered to use his relationship with Trump and his team to act as a bridge between them and Downing Street. He told the Telegraph he would be willing to work with people in Labour if it was in the “national interest”.

“I am no fan of any of the people in the Labour party, but if it is in the national interest I have always thought I could be a useful asset if they want to use that - but if they don’t, more fool them,” the Clacton MP said.”
From the Guardian 2024

No, it becomes chewy and sticks to your teeth.

Does popcorn stay fresh after a week? I know that crips go soggy. 🍿

I do agree with last comment Wyllow this is all about Starmer instead of Epstein.
You would think with the backlash landing on Starmer that he was guilty of abusing girls. His only guilt seems to be that he appointed Mandelson.

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202602/medium-8drnai-screenshot-2026-02-12-at-12-21-39.jpeg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202602/medium-49usi4-screenshot-2026-02-12-at-12-21-39-2.jpeg%3C/span%3E

some reform supporters her may have forgotten that Farage initially praised the appointment of Mandelson.

Yes, for real!

Farage has meanwhile said that he "might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he's a very intelligent man" and would be good choice for ambassador

quoted in the Independent and others, but behind paywalls (I did check with the quote) so giving the BBC reference

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvnlxxp8jko

I'll also add two pictures, one a comment from the writer and commentator and author David Aaronovitch, and the comments beside the image of Starmer which gave me the clue to Farage's initial support of Mandelson.

No wolves need be involved nowadays. Starmer is doing a brilliant job of self annihilation. And just why is Chris Wormald being made to resign? DAR

Casdon

She doesn’t have the ability to pin him, or anybody else down, she is sort of head girly in her approach I think, she always gives people the chance to waffle rather than hitting the nail on the head.

The (old-fashioned) head girl picture of KB sums her up well. However, I think she is also a very manipulate person who would be happy to throw others to the wolves to stop them seeming more capable than her and, I would guess, claim any success as her own.

nanna8 👏👏 She manages to remain calm and she speaks very well. Starmer does too much dithering, “erms” and almost gasping for breath when he gets flustered.

Kemi is the best person you have and I sincerely hope she can revive the Conservative Party because that would be a whole lot safer than the unknown quantity Reform party. She knocks spots off Starmer, she is a joy to watch.

Casdon

In fairness MayBee70, he was just doing his job. He was incisive, which both rattled Starmer and showed up Badenoch’s lack of skill when trying to do the same. That is the role of opposition leaders in PMQ, whether we like them, their politics or what they have done in the past or not.

Didn’t he call for a vote of no confidence in the PM the other day?

MayBee70

I assume that Ed has forgotten his own parties backtracking on student loans and his involvement in the postmaster scandal.

That was the kind of deflection Starmer tried to use!

It's irrelevant to the present crises.

She doesn’t have the ability to pin him, or anybody else down, she is sort of head girly in her approach I think, she always gives people the chance to waffle rather than hitting the nail on the head.

Casdon

In fairness MayBee70, he was just doing his job. He was incisive, which both rattled Starmer and showed up Badenoch’s lack of skill when trying to do the same. That is the role of opposition leaders in PMQ, whether we like them, their politics or what they have done in the past or not.

I thought Kemi was excellent. she got Starmer on the ropes when she pointed out that he had some explaining to do about Matthew Doyle as well as Mandelson. How could he do this twice? He looked furious and couldn’t answer her.

In fairness MayBee70, he was just doing his job. He was incisive, which both rattled Starmer and showed up Badenoch’s lack of skill when trying to do the same. That is the role of opposition leaders in PMQ, whether we like them, their politics or what they have done in the past or not.

I assume that Ed has forgotten his own parties backtracking on student loans and his involvement in the postmaster scandal.

Casdon I have just watched Ed Davey at PMQ and, as he said, he did indeed touch a nerve with Starmer. Like I said, I had only seen snippets so thank you for bringing that to my attention.
Starmer was well and truly rattled. So rattled he didn’t attempt to answer Davey’s pertinent questions.

I saw part of PMQ today which inspired my comment about how poorly Starmer responds to hostile questioning and how rude he becomes when flustered.
A barrister has had the most experience of forensic cross-questioning yet he seems resentful and increasingly unable to cope.
Compare that to his performance when apologising for everyone else's mistakes with a prepared speech to a captive audience a few days ago after last week's battering in PMQs. Deeply, deeply insincere.
At the root is a profound lack of confidence in him from opposition and supporters alike.
'We looked into the abyss.' said Miliband.

PMQs man of the match today definitely Ed Davey.

Gorton and Denton I would guess. The predictions are up and down like a yo-yo.

Which poll would that be?

Thanks GNs for those updates.
Saw a post on Facebook just now, yes, yes, needs checking, stating that despite all of the 'excitement', Labour was catching up with Reform, in whatever poll they were discussing.
If the Epstein issue was affecting Starmer, maybe the fact that Farage is actually IN the Files is affecting Reform?

I watched it and thought both Badenoch and Davey landed some real blows.Ouch!
He must have expected it tho.

eazybee

^Hoping for some improvement if Starmer gets better advisors but not expecting much.^

Starmer is Prime Minister; he shouldn't need better advisors.

I seriously wonder how he was ever called to the Bar, and who was responsible for giving him the position of DPP.
Quite seriously.

He was a barrister but cannot give an unscripted speech, let alone a credible answer.
His performances in the Commons are lamentable and also rude.
Is this his idea of how he thinks the working class behave? Because they don't.

Starmer is not a charismatic, inspiring leader he can't convince his own MPs to follow him. Instead his own left wingers are making the running, exactly the reverse problem Cameron had with the 1922 committee.

I hope he survives because that is the least worse outcome, maybe he will pull a rabbit out of the hat and become popular

He is far more incisive questioner than Kemi Badenoch, and he is always well prepared, I think it’s right to give credit where it’s due.

it was definitely Ed Davey who got him flustered

Oh, well done Ed!