How long can Starmer survive? Getting popcorn ready 🍿🍿

Primrose53

Maremia

Did anyone see PMQ today?
How did it go?

Saw snippets of PMQ.

Starmer, as usual, looked flustered and turned more and more puce as Badendoch calmly pointed out his shortcomings. She received massive cheers as she proceeded to skewer him.

Yet again he blamed someone else for giving him bad advice. It is never down to him is it?

I watched it. The award for getting under Starmer’s skin didn’t go to Badenoch, it was definitely Ed Davey who got him flustered. There was one really funny moment though, that had the whole House laughing. Independent Alliance MP Ayoub Khan told the Speaker that 'rubbish is building up below my very nose' while Nigel Farage, Richard Tice, Sarah Pochin and Andrew Rosindell sat below him.
All in all, it went okay for Starmer, he didn’t get as hard a time as I expected.

Cheers from the Tories!! Having voted Tory for much of my life I now don't think they have anything to crow about.

Maremia

Did anyone see PMQ today?
How did it go?

Saw snippets of PMQ.

Starmer, as usual, looked flustered and turned more and more puce as Badendoch calmly pointed out his shortcomings. She received massive cheers as she proceeded to skewer him.

Yet again he blamed someone else for giving him bad advice. It is never down to him is it?

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.

fancythat

Just thought I would say that, though it doesnt have much to do with the thread?

It does have something to do with the thread. The dissatisfaction with Starmer hasn't just materialised out of thin air. There are reasons for it. One of which being that there has been little attempt to lift 20% of the population out of poverty.

fancythat

^ 20% of our population living below the poverty line might be happier with something a bit more radical..^

There is always "20% living below the poverty line", as it keeps moving[not allowing for inflation]. On purpose.

Do you think that is something to live with?

Not only does it contribute to poor health but it also contributes to a stagnating economy when a very significant number of the population can barely afford the basics in life, let alone the purchase consumer goods which our capitalist economy depend on to maintain growth.

There will always be a hierarchy of 'wealth' in a society from rich to poor, but it should be possible for even the poorest in a wealthy society to live reasonably comfortable lives.

Just thought I would say that, though it doesnt have much to do with the thread?

^ 20% of our population living below the poverty line might be happier with something a bit more radical..^

There is always "20% living below the poverty line", as it keeps moving[not allowing for inflation]. On purpose.

'anti' April 🤔 'until'

Casdon

MaizieD the figures are not out yet for us to know if there has been any change since this government came into office?

What is likely to have changed them, Casdon? To have changed them enough to have brought a significant number of those people out of poverty?

Even lifting the two child cap, not operative anti April this year, will only affect some 3 - 5% (Says AI ) of the 14 million living below the poverty line.

Increasing the minimum wage will have a similar modest effect.

I believe politicians who are previous failed leaders of a party when they clearly say they don’t want to go there again David49. I can’t think of an instance when they have trued to do so before.

MaizieD

Casdon

David Milliband confirmed yesterday that he won’t, and I believe that is true. Rachel Reeves is unpopular within the party, and is not a fool, so she won’t either.

I didn't know David Milliband was even being mentioned as a contender. Are you confusing him with his brother?

Strange, believing politicians

The farmers are out protesting at the moment….

Did anyone see PMQ today?
How did it go?

MaizieD the figures are not out yet for us to know if there has been any change since this government came into office?

I'm happy with any stable moderate government, I can make decisions based on known risks but I fear that is not going to last long.

It's easy to be happy with a moderate government when you are in comfortable financial circumstances. 20% of our population living below the poverty line might be happier with something a bit more radical..

Yes, sorry I am. That was wishful thinking on my part, as I would like to see David Milliband back.

Casdon

David Milliband confirmed yesterday that he won’t, and I believe that is true. Rachel Reeves is unpopular within the party, and is not a fool, so she won’t either.

I didn't know David Milliband was even being mentioned as a contender. Are you confusing him with his brother?

He even mentioned his disabled brother who passed away last year who he says lived in poverty. So with all his wealth why didn’t he help his brother out financially?

Perhaps a more pertinent question to ask, with estimated GDP (national income) per head in 2025 of £41,414.72, would be, Why are some 14 million of the UK population living in poverty, with some 4 million of them living in destitution?

Labour has tinkered around the edges with raising the minimum wage and finally abolishing the 2 child benefit cap, but with their huge majority they could have done a lot more. Introduced more progressive taxation for a start

David Milliband confirmed yesterday that he won’t, and I believe that is true. Rachel Reeves is unpopular within the party, and is not a fool, so she won’t either.

Casdon

As neither of them will stand one can only assume doom mongering is your bag David49. We don’t know exactly what will happen, but we do know it won’t be that.

You know for certain they won't stand, in any case polititians are notorious for changing their mind.

GrannyGravy13

My GS’s hamster could do a better job than Tim Allan has done.

A large part of Labour’s woes is there appalling standard or even lack of communications.

Apologies for the typo it should be their not there 🤷‍♀️

As neither of them will stand one can only assume doom mongering is your bag David49. We don’t know exactly what will happen, but we do know it won’t be that.

Oreo

For those rather desperately saying ‘ nothing to see here move along’ there’s plenty to see and plenty just around the corner.
Starmer has clung on just now but there’s the election in Denton in a fortnight and the other elections in May.It all depends on what happens then.
Am guessing that the other political parties want him to stay as Labour would be easier to beat with him at the helm.
It’s all a big mess.

Oh I wouldn't bet on that, a couple of years with Rayner or Milliband at the helm could create mayhem. If the Tories can create chaos by electing Truss as the wrong leader, Labour can certainly make the same mistake.

Labour have made some very unpopular decisions. They have betrayed their loyal voters and those who hoped they would turn things around after too many years of mismanagement by the Tories.
.
I think Starmer should stay as PM as more disruption is the last thing we need. The Tories played musical chairs with prime ministers which was disastrous.
I was a Tory voter for many years and didn't vote Labour or Tory last time.

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