Congrats Keir Starmer

I don’t blame the media. I blame Keir Starmer. I have always thought he might make a good foreign minister but as PM I think he was absolutely dreadful. No matter what his personality is, no matter whether he is a nice person, he just was not cut out to be the leader.

He was left alone by the press at the start given an easy ride as he is establishment won't rock the boat. Won't mention Palestine and the genocide that he helped facilitate with increase in arms, spy flights diplomatic cover.

Before he was PM on LBC he said Israel does have that right to cut off water electricity. That is collective punishment a war crime.

He has lied to the voters 10 pledges and lied ever since saying one thing then another time saying the exact opposite. U turns flip flopping. He had no plan for the country no vision. And people could see that. Also the press didn't mention Gaza that's why a lot of people left Labour. With all that the media will talk.

Don't know if new PM will be any better He did say Labour got it wrong on Gaza but will there be action. And who will he surround himself with?

Ukraine is another subject.

Starmer richly deserves his honour. It is a very long time since we have had a serious international statesman who has worked tirelessly for the UK,'s interests.

Casdon

Yes Primrose53, I do think it is down to the media. The relentless media campaign against him affected his standing with the public, and once the MPs realised that would not change they wanted him to go. Ultimately the media were responsible for his downfall. Different scenario, but the same tactic now happening to Farage too.

I agree. Labour MPs turned on him because the media had decided to trash his image with the public and so they had little choice but to seek his resignation.

We are more and more governed by the media. They decide who is in and who is out.

I, too, blame the media and the sheer spite with which his very move has been treated from the start. I am so heartily sick of hearing media-inspired soundbites and catch-phrases from the day he took office.

I very much hope that the same doesn't happen to AB, but fully expect that it will.

Anyway, Congratulations, Sir Kier - I think you did have to go, but am sorry that it happened, and hope you can find some solace in the great honour you have earned. And I also hope that you can, and are willing to, continue your work as Foreign Secretary going forward.

Primrose53

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Oh come on …. You can’t blame his resignation on the media!
Starmer even said he accepted “with good grace” thatLabour MPs do not want him to lead them into the next general election. Hence his resignation.

He resigned because Burnham et al were planning the coup way before the local election results. He said he resigned with good grace because that’s the sort of person he is. Country before party as ever.

Primrose53

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Oh come on …. You can’t blame his resignation on the media!
Starmer even said he accepted “with good grace” thatLabour MPs do not want him to lead them into the next general election. Hence his resignation.

Resigned because Labour MPs didnt want him for next election [because] bad results at local govt elections [because] of all the negative media coverage.
I certainly can blame it on the media.

Yes, excellent news tonight.
It would have come sooner if the Secret Services had not objected to be included in accountability - it was in the 2024 election commitments but an earlier bill was stopped by the SS.

(Lamentable whine from the Conservatives "they've hurried it we haven't had time to think")

Good to see the PM and Burnham both responding. (Burnham remember, comes from Liverpool whose supporters were blamed for Hillsborough where the police lied, so so has been a long term supporter of these measures)

It will also help any corruption or lack of proper action or lies in women and child abuse cases. Starmer concluded this in his speech.

Watch Andy Burnham’s fantastic and heartfelt speech here (18:25) and the thanks he gives to Keir Starmer for the work he has done to bring about the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

This truly is his legacy.

www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a0466668-8bff-4a84-92e9-82773ac99700

Casdon

Yes Primrose53, I do think it is down to the media. The relentless media campaign against him affected his standing with the public, and once the MPs realised that would not change they wanted him to go. Ultimately the media were responsible for his downfall. Different scenario, but the same tactic now happening to Farage too.

Starmer deciding to resign is partly media and partly his decision making and style.

In comparison Farage has had a pretty breezy, much more positive ride from the majority of Uk media outlets than Starmer- until fairly recently. That Rupert Murdoch and his right wing media outlets are briefing against Farage’s actions, decisions and undeclared “gifts” is outside the norm.

It will be Farage’s actions and decisions that determine what happens next as a result of investigations surely?

Yes Primrose53, I do think it is down to the media. The relentless media campaign against him affected his standing with the public, and once the MPs realised that would not change they wanted him to go. Ultimately the media were responsible for his downfall. Different scenario, but the same tactic now happening to Farage too.

He wasn’t inspiring but I thought he was a very steady, safe pair of hands I certainly didn’t dislike him I think him and Andy Burnham would have made a good PM and deputy together. Ying and Yang
Yes the media destroyed him
I m glad he’s got this honour

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Oh come on …. You can’t blame his resignation on the media!
Starmer even said he accepted “with good grace” thatLabour MPs do not want him to lead them into the next general election. Hence his resignation.

I find it sad that world leaders outside of this country appreciate him in a way that his own party don't. He has worked tirelessly [even before he became PM] to rebuild our fractured relationship with europe whilst at the same time respecting the referendum vote. A difficult path to tread but that's the sort of thing he's good at [one only has to see the way he has handled Trump to realise that]. A well deserved honour and I've been proud seeing him represent my country on the world stage.

I am so pleased. He has been a steady hand after many years of political chaos in the UK and has been terrific on the international stage. I hope he will continue to contribute his expertise in parliament and in world affairs.

I'm very sorry to see him go. Not perfect - who is? -but so much better than the leaders we have had recently, and a very important figure on the world stage. I hope he returns to political life.

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Starmer had successes and this is one of example that derserves credit and celebration.

He definitely was not the worst PM we’ve had in recent times. It’s hard to govern.

Starmer was a steady hand on the wheel when it came to dealing with Europe and the threat posed by Putin as well as in his dealings with Trump over the Iran war.
A good enough legacy in my book.
Well done Keir.

His worst critics were people in his own party. That’s why he was forced to resign.

What an honour. I am so pleased to hear this.

I believe Macron mentioned "decency", that most British of traits.

I liked him and thought he was a really good PM with the exception of his allegiance to Rachel Reeves. She produced the most anti growth budgets that decided businesses could no longer employ people in the normal way. The result was unemployment especially affecting young people. Then there were outcries at the cost of unemployment being paid out. She made very bad decisions but Starmer stuck by her.

I would like to think that Burnham makes use of Starmer’s diplomatic skills, and Starmer will be willing to use them.