So it begins….. Streeting resigns

eazybee

If Keir Starmer had an ounce of integrity he would have stepped down after the dire local election results, which were the people speaking. Instead he chooses deliberately to plunge his party and the government into chaos.

The much maligned Liz Truss went after seven weeks; Starmer has proved during the past two years that he is an incompetent PM but refuses to accept the inevitable. His intention to forge much closer links within the EU, without even the courtesy of discussing it in Parliament, show where his personal priorities lie.

I don’t agree. Integrity is actually what is stopping him stepping down. Misguided or not, he has a strong sense of duty to the country, and although I’m sure he realises that he has to go, there is not a clear leader emerging immediately to replace him, so it needs to be a planned process.

Perhaps KS actually believes it is better if he stays put? Belligerent, I'm not sure.

What a mess. the rest of the the world must think we are daft.

I dont really know enough about him. But he must have had a good team, and influence to have regenerated Manchester?

He does indeed have a good, proactive team around him in Manchester and, as the results of his regeneration have become more obvious, that team has grown significantly. Investors are virtually queuing up to throw money into new developments hence it being the fastest-growing city economy in the UK with a GDP that is double the national average. Burnham did make a serious mistake though. He spent £104 million in setting up the Clean Air Zone which would have been similar to the London ULEZ and tackled air pollution. He suddenly did a complete U turn at the last minute and cancelled it. Money wasted. Funny thing; people seem to have forgotten all about that. Maybe he's right for PM after all?

Whilst not denying Burnham’s contribution, we must not get too carried away. Manchester regeneration started decades ago and the formation of the GMCA was a big contributory factor in Manchesters successful regeneration.

What I think Burnham did was to pick up the baton and combined it with devolution. Successfully branded Manchester regeneration by identifying it with what he termed “Manchesterism”. But Burnham is not the entire story and we should not be fooled into thinking that he was the biggest component - he wasn’t.

So expectations of Burnham’s potential as PM should be managed imo. He may possibly be the best of what I think is a mediocre bunch, but he will not produced miracles.

Saying all that I do like some if his ideas like greater nationalisation. I would very much like water being brought back into public control. But I can’t agree with his idea of borrowing to fund defence. Imo a government should only spend on projects that promote growth.

I agree eazybee. KS's belligerent 'I'm not going anywhere' is damaging to his party as well as the country.

It is a high risk strategy but does show Burnham's resolve and determination.

If he wins the Makerfield bye election and increases the current slim Labour majority, he thereby demonstrates he can withstand Reform challenge successfully - in the face of "everything but the kitchen sink".... Farage determination.

If Keir Starmer had an ounce of integrity he would have stepped down after the dire local election results, which were the people speaking. Instead he chooses deliberately to plunge his party and the government into chaos.

The much maligned Liz Truss went after seven weeks; Starmer has proved during the past two years that he is an incompetent PM but refuses to accept the inevitable. His intention to forge much closer links within the EU, without even the courtesy of discussing it in Parliament, show where his personal priorities lie.

nanna8

Don’t they have to have an election for Andy Burnham to get in ? What if Reform get in ? Maybe he can just go straight in without an election, I don’t know what the rules are.

Do keep up, nanna8. An MP resigned yesterday to make his seat available for Burnham to fight.

I have seen some discussion of whether ‘the rules’ allow Mayor to run for Parliament while still in Mayoral office. There doesn’t seem to be any clarity on this.

If it is true that the he doesn’t have to give it up until elected to Parliament then Burnham retains his Mayorality if he loses in the by election. If it isn’t true and he loses then he’s destroyed his career…

You know what ? I agree with you, Cossy. Is that a first ?

nanna8

Don’t they have to have an election for Andy Burnham to get in ? What if Reform get in ? Maybe he can just go straight in without an election, I don’t know what the rules are.

Nope, he certainly cannot go straight in, yes there needs to an election, yes there’s a chance he won’t get in! Manchester also need a election to replace him as Mayor.

A really bloody stupid time to pitch this given Reform’s recent results locally!

Complete knee jerk reaction and they all need their heads knocking together!

I still think the LP need a far better PR team. - exactly. Labour have done some good things but they are not being talked up and the media are being allowed to pull all the strings.

Why can’t they just put the country first, stop backstabbing and let Starmer do his job? - because the media have talked all this up to sell their papers and attract online subscribers. And like sheep the MPs are following.

The media have talked up Farage into something he never was; and now Labour MPs are boosting his ego by showing that he can dictate a change of PM. I do worry about how they can be so short-sighted and naive.

And as to Burnham - I think he should finish the job that he was elected to do and show good faith to the electors in GM. And does he not realise that he might be opening the door to a Reform mayor in GM and a Reform MP in Makerfield, where they ran a relatively close second last time round?

He may be the best thing since sliced bread and great PM material but he is opening up a massive can of worms.

As far as I know Mayoral duties are not like being PM where every move you make or don’t make and everything you say or don’t say is scrutinised nationally on a daily basis and usually picked apart and found wanting. If Burnham becomes PM he will soon realise that being the golden boy of the Labour Party will soon become a thing of the past.

fancythat now, there’s a interesting comment, “having a good team”.

Perhaps those so intent on slating Starmer should remember, whilst the buck does stop with him as “head”, his “team” are also responsible for their actions, or lack of them.

I still think the LP need a far better PR team.

Don’t they have to have an election for Andy Burnham to get in ? What if Reform get in ? Maybe he can just go straight in without an election, I don’t know what the rules are.

Allsorts

Andy Burnham is not the answer just because he did a good job in Manchester. Who thought that one up. Don't let him back in. Labour should stop with KS as no one else is up to it any way. Never thought Inwould say that.

I dont really know enough about him.
But he must have had a good team, and influence to have regenerated Manchester?

There is a Labour Minister (Steve Read, Housing) being interviewed on GMB at the moment, he is denying that there is a Leadership challenge.

Technically he is correct…

MaizieD

Galaxy

Yes the racists on the palestine marches and in the green party are deeply worrying.

I don’t think any party is free of racists.

What is deeply worrying is our acceptance of it. In the late 20th C we fought back Now it seems normalised.

I'm sure you're right about their being racists who support all parties. I also agree that it seems to be normalised. Nevertheless, it is only Reform in which racist policies are enshrined, either as part of its appeal to a so-called anti-woke agenda or more explicitly. It has become the antithesis to any attempt to create equality or inclusivity.

Andy Burnham is not the answer just because he did a good job in Manchester. Who thought that one up. Don't let him back in. Labour should stop with KS as no one else is up to it any way. Never thought Inwould say that.

*MaizieD

Galaxy
Yes the racists on the palestine marches and in the green party are deeply worrying.
I don’t think any party is free of racists.

What is deeply worrying is our acceptance of it. In the late 20th C we fought back Now it seems normalised.*

I think the normalisation of totally unacceptable discrimination is actually worse than the discrimination itself.

Sadly I noticed a huge increase of what some people feel is acceptable in terms of both attitude and speech during Brexit and it’s simply grown, abuse thrown at Jews, abuse towards all AS, abuse to Muslims, it’s utterly disgraceful and is not what our forebears fought for.

twaddle

Think about it! Why else would people prefer a racist tax dodging snake oil salesman to somebody who is basically good and well meaning? It must be because those people themselves support racism and tax dodging.

Sadly I agree, but then again Reform really are, just like their predecessors UKIP, one trick ponies.

How utterly ironic that Brexit has greatly exacerbated the small boats issue.

Galaxy

Yes the racists on the palestine marches and in the green party are deeply worrying.

I don’t think any party is free of racists.

What is deeply worrying is our acceptance of it. In the late 20th C we fought back Now it seems normalised.

fancythat

Is that a joke, or did it really?

No it didn’t, my understanding is it came from various central government grants, which have to be applied for, he was a great Mayor but the 3mil he served now have to elect a new mayor and I wonder who’ll have their eye on this!

westendgirl

I agree with you Basgetti. People seem to want things yesterday and are not prepared to wait. I don't understand why Andy Burnham is being promoted as the answer to all problems. Yes, he has done a good job for Manchester, but international events can and do interrupt carefully laid plans at the national level.We have evidence of that with Trump's war.

I agree, the whole thing is utter madness and all involved should be thoroughly ashamed!

Yes the racists on the palestine marches and in the green party are deeply worrying.