How long can Starmer survive? Getting popcorn ready 🍿🍿

Iam64

Exactly Maramia, decent man may lose his job. Others just crack on

Farage is keeping a low profile isn’t he. Usually on tv every day giving his opinion on everything but currently having to lie low…

Exactly Maramia, decent man may lose his job. Others just crack on

I don't think Starmer was in the files, but Farage was.

Will Keir Starmer stay in this storm? We know the tip of an iceberg about the Epstein files and no doubt more poisonous info will emerge. Mandelson and AMW/saraFerguson are sitting ducks and no doubt will continue to be a focus. Pity people like Trump/Clinton etc seem to have magic shields currently

One man I’m sure isn’t implicated is Keir Starmer. He made a huge error of judgement with Mandelson. Morgan M and his comms lead have both gone and in any well ordered number 10 would have gone by the time the Pip reviews were suggested. Awful terrible communication within the party and shambolic introduction to the public

I can’t see how Starmer can survive much longer. I’m sad to feel like this. He’s a man of integrity but his leadership has been poor. All the positives this govt is achieving is being drowned out by poor comms and overpowered by the Mandelson horrors

Starmer was given the wrong advice about appointing Mandelson

How do you know that?

And you are saying or implying that Startmer doesnt have a mind of his own.
Or/and is clueless.

foxie48

IMO People seem to have a very odd idea about what the Chief of staff and the Director of Communications actually do and why they would resign if the advice that they are giving to the PM is not getting the desired results. The PM doesn't have the time or energy to do everything and relies on the team he has around him have to do the background work and present why a decision should or should not be taken based on the evidence that they present. Clearly people in Starmer's team thought Mandelson was right for the job. Starmer was given the wrong advice about appointing Mandelson and the comms around that decision have been pretty appalling. I'm not at all surprised that MM and TA have resigned.

I agree that his comms team has been appalling at getting over what the Labour Party has achieved. Hopefully the new person in this role will be more successful.

As for KS not knowing anything about Mandelson, sorry I cannot believe that he wasn’t aware that he had already been sacked twice from his previous positions in the Party.

There have been photos of Mandelson and Epstein shopping, and one of him in his dressing gown laughing with Epstein in the public domain before any of the Epstein Files were released.

IMO People seem to have a very odd idea about what the Chief of staff and the Director of Communications actually do and why they would resign if the advice that they are giving to the PM is not getting the desired results. The PM doesn't have the time or energy to do everything and relies on the team he has around him have to do the background work and present why a decision should or should not be taken based on the evidence that they present. Clearly people in Starmer's team thought Mandelson was right for the job. Starmer was given the wrong advice about appointing Mandelson and the comms around that decision have been pretty appalling. I'm not at all surprised that MM and TA have resigned.

They all have their fan clubs David49. Hanging your hat on any one individual is a game only for mugs though. I think defending a leader’s actions because they accord with your beliefs is a very different thing to people being a fan of ‘a good bloke’.

MayBee70

eazybee

Boris was the most disliked PM? The evidence of the Polls would dispute that, but his opponents were far more vociferous in their criticism. Try scrolling through past comments on Gransnet.
Starmer was expected to be a safe pair of hands but has lost the trust of his MPs. His worst failing is letting an employee take the blame for his poor decisions.

That’s because there was so much to criticise. Even decent Conservative MP’s ( the ones he didn’t throw out) wouldn’t serve under him. But he was popular because, like Farage, he seems to have conned the working classes into thinking he was ‘ their mate’.

He was/is a good bloke in the minds of many, as is Farage, who I think will make a bad PM just like Johnson

eazybee

Boris was the most disliked PM? The evidence of the Polls would dispute that, but his opponents were far more vociferous in their criticism. Try scrolling through past comments on Gransnet.
Starmer was expected to be a safe pair of hands but has lost the trust of his MPs. His worst failing is letting an employee take the blame for his poor decisions.

That’s because there was so much to criticise. Even decent Conservative MP’s ( the ones he didn’t throw out) wouldn’t serve under him. But he was popular because, like Farage, he seems to have conned the working classes into thinking he was ‘ their mate’.

David49

Johnson was popular with Tory party voters even after the MPs has outed him. Starmer is being reviled by his own MPs not many voters have much positive to say about him either, its hard to see how he will survive now, if he does he will be a very lame duck with little authority.

Hmm.
www.ipsos.com/en-uk/boris-johnson-slight-favourite-public-if-kemi-badenoch-falters-half-say-none-above-or-dont-know

Boris was the most disliked PM? The evidence of the Polls would dispute that, but his opponents were far more vociferous in their criticism. Try scrolling through past comments on Gransnet.
Starmer was expected to be a safe pair of hands but has lost the trust of his MPs. His worst failing is letting an employee take the blame for his poor decisions.

2019 - 10,269,051 voted for Labour

2024 - 9,708,716 voted for Labour

Labour had less votes with Starmer at the helm than Corbyn, but managed a huge majority due to the split of the right votes between Conservative and Reform.

This could be why they are so worried about going too far to the left…

Johnson was popular with Tory party voters even after the MPs has outed him. Starmer is being reviled by his own MPs not many voters have much positive to say about him either, its hard to see how he will survive now, if he does he will be a very lame duck with little authority.

I hope this crisis cleanses UK politics of all stench and taint from Epstein.
I hope every politician sucked into his evil orbit is named, shamed and removed from power.
We know about Mandelson. We know about Andrew MW.
Who else is hiding in the shadows?

MayBee70

Oh I don’t want an election. It’s just that I’m sick of the way parties seem to change leaders when things aren’t going well in the way that football clubs change managers after losing a couple of matches. And only care about winning trophies, not the standard of the games they play. Has anyone listened to Alastair Campbells latest TRIP podcast. He’s in despair too and can’t sleep ( which is worrying given that he has been quite open about his battles with his mental health). The sheer vileness of Epstein just permeates everything; even people only remotely attached to it is tainted.

Goodness yes utter despair and I don't blame him. I read the Amelia Gentlemen article about Epstein and the role of women and thought it was brilliant.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/feb/07/sex-and-snacks-but-no-seat-at-the-table-the-role-of-women-in-epsteins-sordid-mens-club

Johnson? Charisma? Some say that Trump has charisma.
Is Starmer the most disliked PM by voters on the right because of that huge win?

Elegran

REKA

Luckygirl3

Starmer is the most disliked PM ever - I think Johnson wins hands down on that one ...

Nope. It's Keir. Plenty of info from both left and right wing press says the same. Easy to google.

Johnson worked harder at being liked as the "fun guy" than he did at being Prime Minister. Starmer doesn't work at being liked or being fun because he was never a "personality" He was a working lawyer. That is not a charismatic occupation.

Interesting that the most admired and high achieving PM in my lifetime was Clement Atlee, who, by all accounts seems to have been completely devoid of charisma... But we have him to thank for the NHS

DaisyAnneReturns

Casdon

I don’t agree with you MaizieD. The selection of the leader is never down to the country, the party makes the decision. It was ever thus. Whether we like it or not, (and sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t), once a party is elected they are granted a five year term.

Exactly

She wasn't disagreeing with me, DAR. She was disagreeing with MayBee.

Of course, Casdon is correct' So I agree with her, too.

REKA

Luckygirl3

Starmer is the most disliked PM ever - I think Johnson wins hands down on that one ...

Nope. It's Keir. Plenty of info from both left and right wing press says the same. Easy to google.

Johnson worked harder at being liked as the "fun guy" than he did at being Prime Minister. Starmer doesn't work at being liked or being fun because he was never a "personality" He was a working lawyer. That is not a charismatic occupation.

Casdon

I don’t agree with you MaizieD. The selection of the leader is never down to the country, the party makes the decision. It was ever thus. Whether we like it or not, (and sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t), once a party is elected they are granted a five year term.

Exactly

MayBee70

The country rejected Milliband once. Imo if the party just foist him on the electorate there should be an election. If not they’re just descending to the level of the Conservatives. ( I’m saying that as someone who voted for Ed as leader and really likes him). However, if there is a new leader my one hope is that Keir becomes foreign secretary as I’m sure that even people that dislike him will admit that internationally he does a good job.I’m totally in despair at the whole situation.

His appeal to the left of the party is strong with centerist Starmer having so many problems I would expect him to be nominated, then it depends who else runs against him.

Has he had his photograph taken with Epstein.?

Calendargirl

So if Keir is out, who chooses their next leader?

Well, according to Chatgpt:

To vote for the Labour Party leader, you must be part of one of these eligible groups:

Eligible voters

Full Labour Party members

Anyone who has joined the Labour Party and pays membership dues

This is the main group of voters

Affiliated supporters

Members of organisations linked to Labour, mainly trade unions and socialist societies

They must individually sign up as affiliated supporters to vote (it’s not automatic just because you’re in a union)

Registered supporters (only if the party opens this category)

Members of the public who are not full members but register and pay a small fee

Labour used this system in some past elections (like 2015 and 2016), but it’s optional and not always offered

Important restrictions

You must also:

Be on the official voter list by the cut-off date

Not be a member of another political party that opposes Labour

Agree to support Labour’s aims and values

Who cannot vote

The general public (unless they register as supporters when allowed)

Labour MPs automatically — they only vote if they are also party members like anyone else

Non-affiliated union members who haven’t signed up as affiliated supporters

In short: ordinary Labour members, plus affiliated and sometimes registered supporters, choose the leader — not just MPs.

To become a candidate, someone must:

Be a Labour MP

Get enough nominations from other Labour MPs and MEPs (currently at least 10% of Labour MPs)

Also receive support from local Labour parties or affiliated organisations

So if Keir is out, who chooses their next leader?

Oh I don’t want an election. It’s just that I’m sick of the way parties seem to change leaders when things aren’t going well in the way that football clubs change managers after losing a couple of matches. And only care about winning trophies, not the standard of the games they play. Has anyone listened to Alastair Campbells latest TRIP podcast. He’s in despair too and can’t sleep ( which is worrying given that he has been quite open about his battles with his mental health). The sheer vileness of Epstein just permeates everything; even people only remotely attached to it is tainted.