He has done it! The toolmakers son has resigned!

That’s was nasty and necessary

Jess20

He's going to be missed, the LP has fallen for the popularist propaganda. I think Starmer was going in the right direction and has achieved a lot in his time, not least winning an election. I'm sorry he's not been left to at the least complete his term. Perfect, no. All the things I'd like to have seen, no. But going in the right direction and, I believe a sound politician in a very messed up situation treading a decent a path as possible. Will Burnham be better? Well, probably a better speaker but in the way both Johnson and Farrage are. Not disparaging him but I'm not sure Burnham is any tougher or more capable than Starmer is. In the current climate politics is set with a million traps to fall into and is set up by the press and oppositions as drama. The uncertainty of the information that drives the policy decisions politicians make mean an outward appearance of gung-ho confidence is deeply misleading. I'm disappointed with the labour party. I'll still vote for them as things currently stand, I don't think Burnham is a disaster, I just think a bit more continuity and stability would have served the country better than yet another head rolling. Who the hell would want to put themselves forward for a leadership role under these circumstances!

I agree Jess, I think people were desperate for a change after 14 yrs of Tories & he served up the winter fuel allowance cuts which gave the right wing press all they needed to start laying into him & they never stopped. I think KS was very tolerant of it.
His biographer Ton Baldwin says he has always been underestimated & I agree.

Me too.

MaizieD

^Look out for YP coming to a place near you!^

What is YP, Frogoet?

... yes, what - or who, is it?

Do I need to bring the washing in off the line / bolt all doors and windows... or just keep looking out of the window?

Cossy

You shouldn't feel ashamed to be a LP supporter. Although it's understandable. But everyone appreciates that it takes all types to make the World.
.

What about all the beautiful children in Rochdale. Did he share a tear for them

I was sad to see him go, there's no magic wand, real change always takes time, but at the bottom there is Brexit and that was the mistake.

He took action hebbernsent. This is what came up on AI.

‘In 2017, the Greater Manchester Mayor commissioned an independent review into child sex abuse in Rochdale and Manchester to assess how authorities handled the cases. The resulting report, which detailed widespread failure to protect young people, was published in January 2024.

While Burnham initiated these local investigations, he also publicly acknowledged their limitations, as local reviews lack the legal authority to compel witnesses to testify. This led him to repeatedly advocate for a statutory national investigation, which the UK government ultimately established in June 2025.’

Patsy70

I usually feel sympathy towards PMs when they resign, whether I support them or not. Who would want that job?
I’m sure his wife and children will be relieved.

She'll have to buy her own dresses now though!

Well reported Lettie44. Cameron didn't want Brexit but had to bow to the pressure of the far right of his party. He didn't think voters would vote for leaving. Michael Gove was the architect of Brexit and used Boris as the potential populist new PM. They upped the anti by pressing on racism and the NHS. The main things that sparked the leaves note. I am disgusted by how that is happening again and again. Fire up the general public, misinform them and get into power. Exactly what Farage is doing. We need Europe more than ever now.

Haven't read or heard any of ABs proposals should he be elected PM other than the awful idea of a land tax on all properties to be paid yearly.

Luckygirl3

I think the title of this thread says it all - it is an example of media soundbites at their worst and shows the way in which people have been led by the nose into this mess, the effects of which the rest of us will need to endure.

What a way to run a country ......

Thank you for seeing something not from our disgusting press or social media. I don’t see any reason why we are not going to end up at exactly the same place in 6 months time once everyone starts on Andy Burnham. I used to like the British character but now it just depresses me.

Completely unnecessary and vile thread title.

MaizieD

What a horrible thread title. Starmer's detractors vindictive to the last.

Yes, I absolutely agree. There are people who gloat and try to belittle people who have done their best but unfortunately fallen from grace. What does it matter what somebody's parents profession is or was. A nasty jealous attitude.

Not a Labour party supporter, but felt upset at his resignation speech.

Sir Keir Starmer went against most of his manifesto pledges - taxation, reducing welfare state, also illegal migration. Not to mention the Mandelson fiasco, or the numerous u-turns. Not forgetting the £3 trillion national debt!

Hoping that his successor does a better job!

MaizieD

What a horrible thread title. Starmer's detractors vindictive to the last.

It’s only what most of the country are thinking.

Dickens

MaizieD

Look out for YP coming to a place near you!

What is YP, Frogoet?

... yes, what - or who, is it?

Do I need to bring the washing in off the line / bolt all doors and windows... or just keep looking out of the window?

I'm assuming it's Your Party that Frogoet is meaning by YP. That post praises Corbyn criticises Starmer and the rest.

Why couldn’t the title have included top lawyer not the denigrating use of “ tool maker”s son”?
He looked humble, hurt and emotional after giving it his all! I really felt for him as a fellow human who has been stabbed in the back by his colleagues!

Starters father owned a factory that produced tools. He grew up in a wealthy household and went to a private school that was turned into a state grammar school. The very fact that he constantly lied about this and many other things shows his character. The country has suffered under labour and now has debts in excess of 3 times of GDP.
That idiot Burnham now wants more debts.

Racingsparrow

Starters father owned a factory that produced tools. He grew up in a wealthy household and went to a private school that was turned into a state grammar school. The very fact that he constantly lied about this and many other things shows his character. The country has suffered under labour and now has debts in excess of 3 times of GDP.
That idiot Burnham now wants more debts.

Good Lord. How much wrong information can be crammed into one post?

Good riddance, he clearly wasn't up to the job which was handed to him on a plate, and he still managed to completely balls it up. The rest of the Labour Party MPs are a complete shower, and none of them are up to the job either, so they've had to draft in an outsider in the form of Andy Burnham. God help us all from these dangerous left wingers

Let’s at least get the facts right Racingsparrow.

Keir Starmer attended Reigate Grammar School in Surrey, which transitioned from a state-funded grammar school into a fee-paying independent school while he was a student. He entered the school as a state pupil after passing the 11-plus exam. Two years later the school became independent, but the local authority continued to pay his fees because he had enrolled before the conversion.

His father owned a small business, he was self-employed and ran the Oxted Tool Company, an engineering and toolmaking workshop in Oxted, Surrey. He worked on the shop floor, and it is not known if there were any other employees.

hebburnsent

What about all the beautiful children in Rochdale. Did he share a tear for them

That’s utterly disgusting and totally unnecessary!

Shame on you

Racingsparrow

Starters father owned a factory that produced tools. He grew up in a wealthy household and went to a private school that was turned into a state grammar school. The very fact that he constantly lied about this and many other things shows his character. The country has suffered under labour and now has debts in excess of 3 times of GDP.
That idiot Burnham now wants more debts.

Reigate Grammer was not a private school

This is so unkind, not a good example for a Gran to be setting. He is a thoroughly decent man. perhaps in the wrong post but representing our country with grace and dignity.