Starmer's vision quest

[BoldonLad]

I don't know enough about Manchester's situation to be able to comment. From a long way away it looks big and shiny, and has decently integrated public transport, but I've no idea how sustainable that is or how it's been achieved, Amy. (It's OK, the novelty will wear off. Or I'll just forget it, given my age.)

Yeah, despite Manchester allegedly bing in the North, it is quite a long way away, but, I have heard rumours of very big loans. I didn't know this but, apparently local Manchester news paper has already been mentioning them. Could it be another Teeside?

 

[briantrumpet]

You'll forget, Shirley.

And don't call me Cherie.

Sorry, what was it?

 

[Pross]

Well it seems to be a competition between Starmer and truss for the least popular ever, depending on how you try to measure it, or which polling company is used.
From Fullfact.org:
Ipsos polling shows Mr Starmer has the lowest satisfaction level of any PM since it started asking the question in the 1970s, some other polls suggest fewer people approved of or favoured Liz Truss.

Starmer won a General Election as leader, something Truss and Sunak failed to do (and May only managed to win without getting an overall majority). A GE is the only test of popularity that really counts.

We’re in a position where PMs are just a disposable figurehead which doesn’t feel good for building any kind of direction. Arguably one area where the Yank’s have a democratic advantage (even if most of us wish they would force a resignation).

 

[Psamathe]

Starmer won a General Election as leader, something Truss and Sunak failed to do (and May only managed to win without getting an overall majority). A GE is the only test of popularity that really counts.

We’re in a position where PMs are just a disposable figurehead which doesn’t feel good for building any kind of direction. Arguably one area where the Yank’s have a democratic advantage (even if most of us wish they would force a resignation).

Maybe a signal and time more power was returned to Parliament rather than ever more power being passed to PM (via Ministers).

Starmer has again demonstrated how poor PMs can be so time to let our elected representatives have more say.

 

[Rusty Nails]

PMs are as popular as the media tells people they are.

 

[Psamathe]

PMs are as popular as the media tells people they are.

I'm uncertain the role of the media in Starmer's unpopularity. It's been building for a fair time and based on bad decisions and on failures/U-turns. Things like winter fuel allowance (nobody likes to see the most vulnerable pensioners forced to suffer more), NI increases suppressing growth, etc., etc. more recently Mandleson.

He's not the first to make bad devisions but (ignoring terms < lettuce) it's been one after another after another after another etc.

 

[briantrumpet]

Looking a bit desperate for Burnham. "Gizza seat, mate, gizza seat!"

 

[Pross]

It’s never going to end well if you have politicians and their advisers being concerned about popularity from day 1 of a 5 year stint together with an electorate expecting a country to undo years of damage in a few weeks.

As I’ve said many times, having 5 years and a huge majority you need to do what you feel is right / necessary and ignore opinion polls. If you’ve got it right, you’ll get rewarded at the end of those 5 years. Obviously, getting hammered in local and regional elections based on national issues doesn’t help that approach, Unfortunately people have become used to expecting things immediately in all areas of life but running a country doesn’t work like that.

 

[Pross]

Looking a bit desperate for Burnham. "Gizza seat, mate, gizza seat!"

View attachment 15084

It’s a bit pathetic. The fact he’s that desperate suggests he wouldn’t be a good PM and just another in a long line of those doing it for their own ego / personal gain.

There must be other MPs who’d be suitable but lack the profile.

 

[briantrumpet]

For someone under siege, Starmer looked remarkably happy in the King's Speech debate, and had some good jokes at Badenoch's expense, which went down well on the Labour benches. Badenoch looked a bit rattled.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

an electorate expecting a country to undo years of damage in a few weeks.

With zero understanding how how they got here in many cases. (Return to the austerity coalition anyone?)

 

[Pblakeney]

With zero understanding how how they got here in many cases. (Return to the austerity coalition anyone?)

Did austerity end? I didn’t notice.

 

[TailWindHome]

Well now, isn't that a thing....

 

[TailWindHome]