So it begins….. Streeting resigns

And if Starmer comes across as wooden why not just get someone who can communicate better and just be honest about why they’re doing it. If Burnham does become a MP again let him do the communication stuff. Why does he have to be PM?The electorate didn’t vote for a left wing government.

Things have changed. And pretty rapidly. I can't know his private views, just assume he was reasonably happy with things as they were back then.

If Burnham wanted to put the work in why didn’t he remain as an MP? Or did he not want to be an MP just the party leader?

I went to a lot of CLP meetings, if world peace were dependent on those, we would be absolutely snookered, the branch meetings were more peaceful.

I've just come back from a Labour Party "do" - it was informal chat with a short speech from a local woman candidate who was defeated by Reform (hard fought close vote) and our MP. Who was one of the original ones to sign up for no confidence.

Of course what she could say was limited tho of course its clear she is for Burnham as the only viable option.

Generally it was felt that Keir Starmer just hasn't got that leadership "touch" when it comes to people feeling he understands, is in touch, and its because of his character - one doesn't want an overload of faux charisma like Boris J,

but he cant get across warmth, caring: he comes across as wooden and doesn't communicate the many things the Labour Party has done well ie the sort of thing like renters rights and a whole sign of smaller positives we've often listed here.

Major mess-ups of course like the way restrictions on the winter allowance was tackled, the level (not the principle) of inheritance tax on land and farmers. Also when Starmer was chosen as appropriate to win over Conservative Voters, Reform was but a small force. Most people in the LP are basically to the left of his current policies. (Our area is northern - not the sort of area people could stick a "woke" or trendy label on, no one rich and so on - NHS workers, some teachers, some younger ones struggling to enter the world of work and get a house etc)

(which so easily get forgotten or ignored by the press)..and people wanted and want so very much, that no party could realistically deliver, on *every single front*)

But "why now"? why so quickly? Not sure, but given the world situation, and Reforms gains, how can we predict there will be a "right time"for a leadership contest

We did (out of hearing of MP) speculate if Streeting actually acted in concert with Burnham

Streeting tips up the boat, forces a situation where there will be a leadership challenge..he knows he wouldn't win it, but there would be a cabinet job, and yes, all want a change of chancellor: no to Raynor as in "unreliable"

It's a high risk strategy. Considered necessary because there is no one waiting in the wings and very uncertain future as regards world affairs.

but when would it not be as Burnham does enjoy a popularity that is hard to break as he's put the work in.

Alas I have to report....world peace not sorted.

westendgirl

AGAA4 and Maybee, I mentioned this further back ,
There are certain newspapers which seemed determined to bring down the Labour Government right from the get go. Then we have the huge donations to Reform and individual ones to Farage.
I know some posters will say I've been watching too many spy films, but somethings are making me feel quite uneasy as they don't add up.

Agreed. Not just newspapers, but plants and bots on social media, YouTube videos and more. I know I bang on about it to the point of tedium, but it's clear from the cliches that have taken over from debate - people absorb the soundbites and believe them, then reiterate them so they become 'facts'.

I am very uneasy too, FWIW.

MayBee70

I don’t think that most of that is on the scale of the misdemeanours made by the last government. With Mandelson, I think most people realised it was a case of fighting fire with fire but no one dares to say it, at least not while Trump is still in power. As for u turns, I don’t have a problem with politicians admitting that they’ve made a mistake and rectifying it. And the party that is favourite to win the next election is already snowed under with dirt and scandal that no one seems to be bothered about.

Summed it up well.

Starmer could have been perfect (which he isn’t) and the press would have dragged him down regardless.

They don’t like him, they hated Starmer.my DM would have referred to our current press as the gutter press?

Casdon

When people talk about the press, I think they are referring to the media, including social media, rather than print newspapers. It’s the online views that are important now, because that is where the vast majority of people access news.

Very true.

Anniebach

Corbyn on social media, criticised Streeting and Burnham, not supporting Starmer

I’m not surprised

Corbyn on social media, criticised Streeting and Burnham, not supporting Starmer

When people talk about the press, I think they are referring to the media, including social media, rather than print newspapers. It’s the online views that are important now, because that is where the vast majority of people access news.

I agree with this. It certainly is shameful. I believe there are outside forces interfering in our government. Those who want Farage as PM.

You may be right.

But the irony is, and I suspect why some people now have changed their voting, is that conspiracy theorists have been saying that for many years about both conservatives and Labour.

For Whitewave, and anyone else on a similar wrong track, the "right wing press" doesn't hold that much sway any more, the press generally have had plummeting circulation for several decades.

The most read paper these days is the Metro -- seen much politics in there, have you?

TV has far more influence, and of the channels, BBC (still by far the most watched) usually gets moans for being allegedly too LEFT-wing, I've yet to see any preference from ITV (doesn't have many current affairs shows anyway - as they pander to Loose Women and that jungle drivel), and C4 News should come with a red border round the screen?

Oh, and the supposedly "right wing press" didn't have much effect at the last Gen Election, did it??

In 2025 the Express was recorded as having the biggest DECREASE in circulation -- sounds like the right wing is doing well???

Oh, and the i paper has been doing well, but it has no bias, carries reports and opinions from a variety of stances, so readers can make up their own mind -- if they have one of course. So that's encouraging??

Oh, and just to repeat, the same group publishes the Mirror AND the Express, as they know that people buy what they WANT to read, they DO NOT by and large buy a paper to be converted to another doctrine!! That has long been the case, whatever the bandwagon moans about Right or Left wing media!

ruthiek

Browncow I just wish there was a coalition to put this country back in its feet at the moment it is so divided and there feels no hope

Have there been Countries were coalitions have been thought to be succsessful by most people?

Cardamom

I know MayBee70 I'm as dumbfounded as you are! And Starmer promised that all the intrigue, back stabbing and politicians with their snouts in the trough would stop. But it hasnt; it's just been a rinse and repeat of the Tories. I honestly don't know which party I now support; I'm politically homeless; deeply disillusioned and disappointed by Labour, totally lacking in the belief that the Conservative could run a raffle, let alone the country and utterly repelled and disgusted by Farage and Polanski.

I still think Starmer is a decent man who wants to do his best for the country. And they have, I believe, fulfilled a lot of the manifesto pledges. But the left of the party have always resented him. And the very people they are so concerned about are all voting Reform. We’re still suffering from Brexit, too, which no one will admit, although Keir is turning that around. Or was.

I know MayBee70 I'm as dumbfounded as you are! And Starmer promised that all the intrigue, back stabbing and politicians with their snouts in the trough would stop. But it hasnt; it's just been a rinse and repeat of the Tories. I honestly don't know which party I now support; I'm politically homeless; deeply disillusioned and disappointed by Labour, totally lacking in the belief that the Conservative could run a raffle, let alone the country and utterly repelled and disgusted by Farage and Polanski.

a clear vision of his aims and a firm hand on the tiller to achieve it and, he's just...... not

What do you think has gone wrong?

I had a slither of hope.

Cardamom

^And the party that is favourite to win the next election is already snowed under with dirt and scandal that no one seems to be bothered about.^

Well I'm bothered about it; Farage and Polanski are at opposite sides at the bottom of the same filthy barrel as far as I'm concerned. I too admire anyone who, having realised they've made a mistake, owns up to it and changes course. But 14(?) in 2 years is an awful lot! I'd hoped for so much from Starmer; he presented as a calm, capable and confident statesman who would have a clear vision of his aims and a firm hand on the tiller to achieve it and, he's just...... not. Bitterly disappointed and angry.

But when the Conservatives got in all they gave us was austerity followed by Brexit. And yet they somehow managed to remain on power for 14 years albeit aided by Labour choosing Corbyn as leader.

I am torn between desperately wanting no more Reform MPs and thinking that Burnham deserves his bloody nose if that is what he gets

I feel exactly the same LuckyGirl.

Obviously I don’t want Reform to win the by-election (can you imagine Farage’s smug grin) but it would serve Burnham right.

Apparently, Caroline Lucas is saying that the Greens shouldn’t put up a candidate so as not to split the Labour vote.

Again, I don’t think Burnham deserves yet another helping hand but …🤷‍♀️

And the party that is favourite to win the next election is already snowed under with dirt and scandal that no one seems to be bothered about.

Well I'm bothered about it; Farage and Polanski are at opposite sides at the bottom of the same filthy barrel as far as I'm concerned. I too admire anyone who, having realised they've made a mistake, owns up to it and changes course. But 14(?) in 2 years is an awful lot! I'd hoped for so much from Starmer; he presented as a calm, capable and confident statesman who would have a clear vision of his aims and a firm hand on the tiller to achieve it and, he's just...... not. Bitterly disappointed and angry.

I don’t think that most of that is on the scale of the misdemeanours made by the last government. With Mandelson, I think most people realised it was a case of fighting fire with fire but no one dares to say it, at least not while Trump is still in power. As for u turns, I don’t have a problem with politicians admitting that they’ve made a mistake and rectifying it. And the party that is favourite to win the next election is already snowed under with dirt and scandal that no one seems to be bothered about.

Words fail me when it comes to this government and the mess they’ve made. Do any politicians really care about the future of GB. I’m beginning to think not. What a lot they are!

There are certain newspapers which seemed determined to bring down the Labour Government right from the get go.

There is some truth in that statement but if Labour had kept to their promises of being absolutely determined to restore honesty and integrity to government" and Restoring Integrity the newspapers wouldn't have had anything to criticise them for. Instead they lied about pretty much everything from day one; exaggerating the £22 billion "black hole" in public finances for a start. After that, it's been one damned scandal after another: Rachel in Accounts lying about her CV, Rayner making "mistakes with her taxes", Starmer "not knowing" that Mandelson was a corrupt, lying sleaze when everyone knew that he'd been mired in dirty dealings for decades and was commonly known as the Prince of Darkness. Added to that, they've flip flopped around, making U turns so many times they became untrustworthy and ended up looking as though they were just the Tories #2. Yes, the press haven't helped but Labour is the architect of its own misery.

And Cummings was a disrupter.

westendgirl

AGAA4 and Maybee, I mentioned this further back ,
There are certain newspapers which seemed determined to bring down the Labour Government right from the get go. Then we have the huge donations to Reform and individual ones to Farage.
I know some posters will say I've been watching too many spy films, but somethings are making me feel quite uneasy as they don't add up.

Remember the outside influences at play pre referendum. Cambridge Analytica, Bannon.