He has done it! The toolmakers son has resigned!

I was no fam of Theresa May, nanna8 - but she had a better Brecit deal than Johnson and was more honourable.

She was maligned too.

nanna8

I think Starmer played a part. He was hopeless. Like Theresa May.

It would be interesting to see whether you could justify that criticism. He most certainly wasn't "hopeless". He actually achieved quite a lot in two years as PM and has been more successful in his career than I (and I bet you) have ever been.

Maybe the heat is getting to me, but I have a slight crush on Andy Burnham.

That should lighten the mood a little on this increasingly rancorous thread!

ronib

But will the population want to hear Burnham’s messages? What is his mandate to impose his changes?

What was Starmer's mandate to take the LP to the right and try to win Reform voters? (which resulted in hundreds of party members leaving)

PS. That last post was to Allsorts.

I really am struggling to understand why you find Andy Burnham embarrassing. He's presentable, intelligent, has proved he can get things done and has years of political experience. He is perfectly capable of making a serious speech, as he has done on a number of occasions.

I could understand that you don't agree with what he's done as a politician, but he's not embarrassing.

Primrose53

*OldFrill*. I didn’t say he was PM when he took the knee forGeorge Floyd! People lost respect for him when hedid that as Leader of the Opposition.

Some people.

Desdemona

ViceVersa

I have my doubts. I have serious concerns about his stance on women's rights, for one thing. The way the whole thing has been handled leaves a bad taste in my mouth too.

100% this.

What are the reasons that Keir was forced to leave? How can somebody step into the Prime Minister role without the requirement for a General Election?

They can easily step into the PM's role without a GE. It's been done before a number of times. In the UK, we don't vote for a leader of the country.

I wonder how Burnham will fare on the international stage? Starmer at least seem to be respected. Burnhams man of the people style might not work on the world stage unless he models himself on Zelenskyy or similar.

Plevey08

The only reason Sir Kier was ousted is because the party members were reacting to the poor opinion polls re his popularity. They want Burnham because he is deemed to be a people's person and they want to ensure that Labour will win again in a couple of years time. Burnham will still have to follow the party's mandate. I was saddened watching him leave and it felt like a mistake. If we want the ever-changing turnover of PM's to stop then we have to move to a Presidential style, which guarantees they stay put for the duration of their terms. We are the laughing stock of the world and they can't believe what is happening here.

I believe we will not stop this until we have PR. The parties themselves tear each PM apart egged on by the media.

Yes Violetbynight, other Leaders were all for jumping at Trump's command.

ViceVersa

I have my doubts. I have serious concerns about his stance on women's rights, for one thing. The way the whole thing has been handled leaves a bad taste in my mouth too.

100% this.

What are the reasons that Keir was forced to leave? How can somebody step into the Prime Minister role without the requirement for a General Election?

The only reason Sir Kier was ousted is because the party members were reacting to the poor opinion polls re his popularity. They want Burnham because he is deemed to be a people's person and they want to ensure that Labour will win again in a couple of years time. Burnham will still have to follow the party's mandate. I was saddened watching him leave and it felt like a mistake. If we want the ever-changing turnover of PM's to stop then we have to move to a Presidential style, which guarantees they stay put for the duration of their terms. We are the laughing stock of the world and they can't believe what is happening here.

greyfur

Calendargirl

The late Queen had 15 Prime Ministers throughout her 70 year reign.

King Charles will soon see his 4th, in just under four years.

Average of 1 a year so far then.

He was not "hopeless" Whilst many were eager to jump into an illegal war, he refused.

Not sure why I have been quoted.

I never said he was hopeless.

To Maremia, the fact that he was able to pacify Trump and keep us from participating in an illegal war is something to be really thankful for. I agree that we should always be grateful for that. Steve Bray showed a singular lack of kindness playing Ode to Joy all through Starmer’s goodbye speech. It was an important political moment and it was a pity that it was ruined by an anti Brexit demonstration, regardless of one’s views.

Why lose support for someone who agrees with 'Black lives matter'?

OldFrill. I didn’t say he was PM when he took the knee forGeorge Floyd! People lost respect for him when hedid that as Leader of the Opposition.

I will not be reading the responses, pointless

I am not Labour or a KS fan, but he is infinitely better than AB.
What does it matter if he was a toolmakers son, he could at least speak eloquently with other World Leaders. What a snobbish and judgemental mind the original poster has, .always blaming Tories for everything without knowing the facts., its been a catalogue of errors from all governments. I do not want AB, The sooner we actually get a vote the better. Imagine AB and Angela Raynor representing this country, its embarrassing.

Iam64

Starmer is far from the worst pm we’ve had. His speech today was a reflection of him, a decent, thoughtful man of integrity. I’m sad to see him forced to resign but it was inevitable.
I don’t understand the level of anger and vitriol directed at Starmer. Yes our right wing media played its part, yes Starmer’s comms and some decisions were very poor.

Of course Andy Burnham will be treated with the same disdain. The northern jokes are everywhere, the north as a foreign slightly weird other country. He’s well known here, as a good mp, mayor and campaigner. Hillsborough one of his achievements

what AB has is passion, an emotion he utilises as a driving force and one of the reasons he is popular, an antidote to cold fish Starmer, his perceived decency and integrity notwithstanding.

whoever remarked on him supporting Everton yet drinking from a Liverpool mug did not understand the implication or symbolism
as in the place he was brought up and now lives, twixt the Liverpool and Manchester conurbations, without realising,
possibly because they are Southerners, the magic he has wrought

He is the King in the North as he unites, which is now a political imperative.
His children are adults, Marie-France is his support act,
he is raring to go.
I hope he is up to it, frankly.

Those of you calling for a General Election might consider
that Andy Burnham could still be PM by a landslide rather
than circuitous route, the aim achieved.

AGAA4

I blame the Tories for this. It was unheard of for a party to get rid of so many PMs. It seems to have become the norm.
Keir Starmer was handed a poisoned chalice with those who voted for him expecting a lot more than any PM could possibly deliver.
His chancellor was a very poor choice I believe too.
In two years Labour have achieved to improve some things but not enough press attention to any successes.
Starmer is a decent man with little charisma which has not helped him.
Those with charisma like Farage are anything but decent.
I'm sorry to see Starmer go. I didn't vote Labour and at one time was a Tory but they let me down far more than Starmer has done.

Even as a Labour voter it saddens me to see what the Conservatives Party has become and look back with nostalgia to a time when there were so many decent people in the party, even if I didn’t agree with their political ideology.

I blame the Tories for this. It was unheard of for a party to get rid of so many PMs. It seems to have become the norm.
Keir Starmer was handed a poisoned chalice with those who voted for him expecting a lot more than any PM could possibly deliver.
His chancellor was a very poor choice I believe too.
In two years Labour have achieved to improve some things but not enough press attention to any successes.
Starmer is a decent man with little charisma which has not helped him.
Those with charisma like Farage are anything but decent.
I'm sorry to see Starmer go. I didn't vote Labour and at one time was a Tory but they let me down far more than Starmer has done.

Calendargirl

The late Queen had 15 Prime Ministers throughout her 70 year reign.

King Charles will soon see his 4th, in just under four years.

Average of 1 a year so far then.

He was not "hopeless" Whilst many were eager to jump into an illegal war, he refused.

ronib

Well obviously the late Queen knew how to advise her pms?

which a few times including ‘suggesting’ they step down
apparently

But will the population want to hear Burnham’s messages? What is his mandate to impose his changes?