Starmer’s Speech today.

Now Jess Phillips has resigned from government. In her speech she says some positive things about KS, having worked with him for years, but nevertheless she feels he must go.

albertina

I had admired KS before he came to be PM and had high hopes for change for the better in our country. I even printed his first speech outside Downing Street and put it on my kitchen wall.

He has been such a disappointment. Today more than ever.

Unfortunately, he appointed Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and that's where his problems started. So many u-turns. She is either incompetent or doesn't listen to her advisers. Not sure which.

Maybe 70. My thoughts exactly. How is Brexit going? Look to America and you will see what's to come under a Reform government. Reform is a one-man limited company, not even a proper party and all they talk about is immigration. What are their policies? Wonder what Farage's Clacton constituents think of him?

albertina

I had admired KS before he came to be PM and had high hopes for change for the better in our country. I even printed his first speech outside Downing Street and put it on my kitchen wall.

He has been such a disappointment. Today more than ever.

I did not print Starmers speech out, Albertina but everything else you write is exactly what I feel as well, which is why I am so bitter about him, and now, uite frankly, I hold him in contempt. He has shown himself up to be, not a democrat but a man determined to cling onto power for as long as possible, simply because he likes being in power.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. He clearly seem himself as having absolute power. - dangerous.

MaizieD

Casdon

Basgetti

Barbour jackets are really stiff and uncomfortable.

Was so disappointed when I was gifted one. Thought it would be great for walking in the rain but just couldn’t get on with it. Still pristine in the cupboard.

They do wear in quite quickly, and go soft on the seams and creases, and round the pockets if you stuff your gloves, the dog lead, bits of string and such like in them. After a few waxings though, they take on a unique aroma , and if they are also dirty they will stand up on their own. It’s very easy to spot the townies.

They also don't protect you from the cold. You have to wear several layers under them in cold weather (yes, I had a Barbour once and would never buy one again).

That is true, buy bigger. I knew one old farmer who wore about six (holey) jumpers and his disreputable tweed jacket under his in the winter. These days they tend to wear high performance jackets instead.

Primrose53

Casdon

Primrose53

Casdon

I’ve noticed that Farage sports a Barbour jacket that has never seen mud or rain in its life. Funny that.

Barbour jackets are designed to withstand mud and rain. My brother is outside in all weathers beating for pheasant shoots, metal detecting, walking, gardening etc and his decades old Barbour jacket is still as good as new.

😝 that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all morning.

No need to be sarcastic. It’s the truth. Barbour jackets are expensive because they last and wear well. Maybe Primark is more your style. 😝

I would have thought any "man of the people" would be proud to wear Primark!

I had admired KS before he came to be PM and had high hopes for change for the better in our country. I even printed his first speech outside Downing Street and put it on my kitchen wall.

He has been such a disappointment. Today more than ever.

Casdon

Basgetti

Barbour jackets are really stiff and uncomfortable.

Was so disappointed when I was gifted one. Thought it would be great for walking in the rain but just couldn’t get on with it. Still pristine in the cupboard.

They do wear in quite quickly, and go soft on the seams and creases, and round the pockets if you stuff your gloves, the dog lead, bits of string and such like in them. After a few waxings though, they take on a unique aroma , and if they are also dirty they will stand up on their own. It’s very easy to spot the townies.

They also don't protect you from the cold. You have to wear several layers under them in cold weather (yes, I had a Barbour once and would never buy one again).

Starmer is the best there is for now. He mustn’t be weak. Stay strong for now. It’s what we all do in the face of adversity.

MayBee70

Fallingstar

If Starmer cares so much about the country I believe he should fall on his sword and let another leader step up.
We have to prevent the billionaires club aka Reform from coming to power and this requires a new leader and a major rethink.

Farage used Starmer Out as a slogan during the council elections. Why can’t people see that, if Starmer is made to stand down Farage will claim it as a personal victory and it will only strengthen his so called party? ( you know, the one that would have taken us into a war with Iran). He’s already destroyed the Conservative Party and he’s now destroying Labour. And the electorate who are supporting him are the very people that will suffer the most under a Reform government. Just like in America now.
.

I so agree, Starmer is taking us closer to the EU who are clamping down on tax evasion & restricting profits on privatised essential services like fostering that's why the right wing hate him.
He is wooden in front of a camera but he's great on the international stage & I've noticed improvements in the NHS already

Basgetti

Barbour jackets are really stiff and uncomfortable.

Was so disappointed when I was gifted one. Thought it would be great for walking in the rain but just couldn’t get on with it. Still pristine in the cupboard.

They do wear in quite quickly, and go soft on the seams and creases, and round the pockets if you stuff your gloves, the dog lead, bits of string and such like in them. After a few waxings though, they take on a unique aroma , and if they are also dirty they will stand up on their own. It’s very easy to spot the townies.

Is it pheasant beating or peasant beating?

A Barbour may be of some use for the latter I suppose.

I don't think that Casdon was being sarcastic. I doubt Farage's Barbour will get much working wear. Looking at his record he seems allergic to it.

Casdon

For me, your last sentence epitomises what is wrong with the way much of the public view the actions of politicians Oreo. Securing the future of the UK by becoming more self sustaining and working with our only true allies is the most important thing, but we have become so complacent that we think that our short term needs and wants, which no party can ever hope to meet, are more important than that.

I do agree working closely with EU allies is a good thing. But this was already Starmer's declared position direction. It is also a very incremental, step by step, measured and slow negotiation. No big wins easily seen in the distance for the electorate.

I also agree the public might have short term needs and wants but it would underestimate a sizeable portion of the electorate to believe their expect their short term needs and wants would be delivered quickly. Further there is nothing short term about the public's concerns about cost of living, fears about the cost of fuel in the coming winter period, increasing rents and shortage of available housing.

I think its more the case that a sizeable part of the electorate wants to trust that Starmer understands their key wants and needs and has a clear plan how to get there and communicates it.

But, the key messages I took away from Starmer's speech yesterday were:
1) His defiance and vow to stay on as PM- thats where he began and finished
2) He wants to rebuild UK's relationship with Europe- incremental, slow, already announced.
3) To take full public ownership of British Steel
4) Position Labour as the 'Mainstream Party of Power" what does that actually mean!? The local election voting pattern last Thursday evidence vote fracture AWAY from the 2 main parties
5) "Dark Path" warning- ie streamer launched a fierce attack on Reform UK.

There may have been more but that's what I took away. But if Starmer asked all those who knocked on doors when recently canvassing - what were the top things that came up in their views of the Labour Party and what the public wanted and needed - I suspect NONE of the above featured much.

Therein lies Starmer's problem, and therein, sadly, I think lies the problem for the Labour Party- if Starmer continues to vow to remain PM into the next GE with his current mind set.

I would much prefer to see a structured period of transition, with a date for Starmer to stand down, perhaps around the time of Autumn Labour conference and a none chaotic consideration for the successor.

That approach has the benefit of not spooking the financial markets as much as is happening currently and would avoid continuing leadership no confidence chaos. A successor MAY turn things round and MAY perform better as a Leader. However if Starmer remains the chance of this happening is far lower.

Starmer I feel is better suited in personality. and style to be Foreign Secretary.

Barbour jackets are really stiff and uncomfortable.

Was so disappointed when I was gifted one. Thought it would be great for walking in the rain but just couldn’t get on with it. Still pristine in the cupboard.

Yes that’s it Primrose53. I live in a rural farming community where hunting, fishing and shooting are the norm, and despite owning three in my time I know nothing about Barbour jackets at all, preferring to drive 45 miles to my nearest Primark to buy a jacket that doesn’t keep the rain and thorns out. I must be twp.

Casdon

Primrose53

Casdon

I’ve noticed that Farage sports a Barbour jacket that has never seen mud or rain in its life. Funny that.

Barbour jackets are designed to withstand mud and rain. My brother is outside in all weathers beating for pheasant shoots, metal detecting, walking, gardening etc and his decades old Barbour jacket is still as good as new.

😝 that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all morning.

No need to be sarcastic. It’s the truth. Barbour jackets are expensive because they last and wear well. Maybe Primark is more your style. 😝

Kandinsky

They say they have to change - but how?
They have to appeal to all the reform voters who took their votes & that’s more or less impossible for them.

Sorry, previous post in reply to Kandinsky’s above.

Putting rejoining the EU in their next manifesto, and announcing it now. I would suspect a second term if they did.

They surely realise that they will never appeal to Reform voters, so don’t try to placate them.

Primrose53

Casdon

I’ve noticed that Farage sports a Barbour jacket that has never seen mud or rain in its life. Funny that.

Barbour jackets are designed to withstand mud and rain. My brother is outside in all weathers beating for pheasant shoots, metal detecting, walking, gardening etc and his decades old Barbour jacket is still as good as new.

😝 that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all morning.

I didn’t vote for this government (according to the news this morning they got 26% of the vote in the GE, which means 74%of the electorate were going to be unhappy from the get go)

I was hopeful that the no more sleaze and change promises might show improvements

Speaking from the point of a SME owner it hasn’t been great, no sign of the apprenticeship scheme filtering down to us. NI rise eats into dwindling profits, as has business rates, energy costs, road tax and don’t get me started on the increase in London Road and tunnel tolls 😡

I have waited 16 months for a bone scan and orthopaedic specialist appointment after an accident.

I do think that the PM has handled POTUS with some success.

AGAA4

I didn't vote Labour but this is a bad day for the country. The Tories destroyed themselves in a similar way.
This enables the mini Trump, Farage, to destroy our country even more.
People do want better but Brexit, the Pandemic and now a war in Iran is costing us dearly.
I don't think a new prime minister will magically reverse this. It will make things worse but so much damage has been done to Starmer that I doubt he will be able to carry on as PM.

I'm with you on that. I'm not a usual "Labour voter" although I did vote for Labour in the last election.

I suspect that Reform used the Starmer slogan to get more votes in the local elections but didn’t think that Starmer would actually have to step down.

I have seen footage of Harold Wilson in his mac, pint in hand and waving an empty pipe in public when I have read he drank spirits in private and smoked cigars.
They’re props is all.

MayBee70

Oreo

Actually I very much doubt that Farage really wants Starmer to go as he wants an unpopular PM in place at the next GE.

So why was the Reform council election slogan ‘ Starmer Out’? Oh silly me, it was to prove how much power he has in UK politics, a claim that Labour MP’s are now reinforcing….

It wasa a very silly slogan really. Surely it is more in Farage's political interests to have a deeply unpopular PM remain?

If Starmer resigns there is a strong chance that his successor may be more overtly effective and more popular and give Farage a run for his money.

He might do well to remember Napoleon's maxim: "Never interfere with the enemy when he is in the process of destroying himself."