Starmer's vision quest

[briantrumpet]

The Sun piece followed The Telegraph suggests his handlers seem to now think they can play both sides. I am starting to accept he is clueless when it comes to engaging the public, too many missteps now. I am almost at the point where a Labour coup led by Andy Burnham seems like it might be a good idea.

I think McSweeney might be one of those people like Dominic Cummings who thinks he's an absolute genius (on the back of Labour's inevitable crushing electoral victory), and has persuaded Starmer of his eternal 'genius'. Starmer's never going to win over Reform voters, and meanwhile he's really really pissing off the people who gave him his thumping victory. It's a masterclass of how to completely hollow out your support.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I think McSweeney might be one of those people like Dominic Cummings who thinks he's an absolute genius (on the back of Labour's inevitable crushing electoral victory), and has persuaded Starmer of his eternal 'genius'. Starmer's never going to win over Reform voters, and meanwhile he's really really pissing off the people who gave him his thumping victory. It's a masterclass of how to completely hollow out your support.

Completely agree and I see no sign at present of Starmer getting rid of him. If Starmer genuinely has complete confidence in him I think he is toast. If he is giving him a lot of leeway out of loyalty to the guy he sees as delivering him the election but really has his doubts, there may be time to dig himself out of a hole.

 

[Psamathe]

I think McSweeney might be one of those people like Dominic Cummings who thinks he's an absolute genius (on the back of Labour's inevitable crushing electoral victory)

I agree about "Labour's inevitable crushing electoral victory". Except I don't really regard it as much of a "victory" in that Corbyn got more votes in the General Election. Labour slipped in after the collapse of other parties through split votes.

 

[Stevo 666]

It would be more of a concern if they didn't have nearly 4 years left to get themselves back on track. That said I'm becoming less confident that we won't have a Reform government after the next GE and if that happens the current government and the previous one will look like the height of competence.

Some might argue that having nearly 4 more years to f*ck it up even more is not a good thing.

This article also offers a good reason why they've got such a problem and how hard it will be to sort it:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/27/labour-abandoned-working-class/

 

[briantrumpet]

Lord Glasman certainly has an 'interesting' profile, as Starmer's 'whisperer'. No wonder Starmer is flailing with his Farage tribute act.

https://bylinetimes.com/2025/09/25/...aga-is-making-in-roads-into-british-politics/

 

[pubrunner]

I’m suspicious of the timing of Starmer’s statement re. the introduction of digital ID Cards. He’s effectively dropped a known, massive and divisive trigger – immediately before the Labour Party Conference.

My (cynical) guess, is that timing of the announcement of digital ID cards, is to provide a distraction from ‘controversial revelations’ that will arise during the conference – which starts tomorrow and runs until next Wednesday.

Starmer needs to tread very carefully; there are those within Labour, who will take every opportunity to undermine and score points from him and what better time, than during the Labour Conference ?.

I fully expect that something will be released (in the next few days), that will cause great embarrassment to Starmer. I’m sure that he’s wary of Andy Burnham, but I think he especially needs to watch out for Peter Mandelson, whom he recently sacked. I’ll be buying newspapers on Sunday & Monday and looking out for a sensational headline.

 

[briantrumpet]

I’m suspicious of the timing of Starmer’s statement re. the introduction of digital ID Cards. He’s effectively dropped a known, massive and divisive trigger – immediately before the Labour Party Conference.

My (cynical) guess, is that timing of the announcement of digital ID cards, is to provide a distraction from ‘controversial revelations’ that will arise during the conference – which starts tomorrow and runs until next Wednesday.

Starmer needs to tread very carefully; there are those within Labour, who will take every opportunity to undermine and score points from him and what better time, than during the Labour Conference ?.

I fully expect that something will be released (in the next few days), that will cause great embarrassment to Starmer. I’m sure that he’s wary of Andy Burnham, but I think he especially needs to watch out for Peter Mandelson, whom he recently sacked. I’ll be buying newspapers on Sunday & Monday and looking out for a sensational headline.

Well, it might be coincidence, but...

 

[briantrumpet]

Obviously, if the above is a completely legal way to reduce the tax burden on inheritance, I'm sure than anyone who is an expert in legally reducing tax burdens will be fully in favour of the sensible tax planning.

 

[pubrunner]

Well, it might be coincidence, but...

View attachment 10208

That might be it, but I anticipate something of greater significance. I'm convinced that Mandelson has something on Starmer.

With no warning, Starmer has just casually decided to make everyone’s right to work, conditional on something he has unilaterally decided. That isn’t normal. (A new system could have been adopted, for anyone who is not a UK citizen. No one would have objected, but going after everyone is extreme).

What's interesting, is the diversity of those against DID, which includes Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Jeremy Corbyn, Rees-Mogg, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson.

 

[Ian H]

That might be it, but I anticipate something of greater significance. I'm convinced that Mandelson has something on Starmer.

With no warning, Starmer has just casually decided to make everyone’s right to work, conditional on something he has unilaterally decided. That isn’t normal. (A new system could have been adopted, for anyone who is not a UK citizen. No one would have objected, but going after everyone is extreme).

What's interesting, is the diversity of those against DID, which includes Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Jeremy Corbyn, Rees-Mogg, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson.

I took it as a simple, ill-thought out, kneejerk attempt to show he's tough on 'illegal' immigration. I suspect the main result would be another Windrush-style horror story.

 

[briantrumpet]

That might be it, but I anticipate something of greater significance. I'm convinced that Mandelson has something on Starmer.

With no warning, Starmer has just casually decided to make everyone’s right to work, conditional on something he has unilaterally decided. That isn’t normal. (A new system could have been adopted, for anyone who is not a UK citizen. No one would have objected, but going after everyone is extreme).

What's interesting, is the diversity of those against DID, which includes Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Jeremy Corbyn, Rees-Mogg, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson.

Nah, think it's all part of McSweeney's 'strategy' to persuade non-existent Reform-voters-who-might-vote-Labour-if--they-sound-Reformy-enough to trust Starmer with their prejudices. To be fair, if you're doing that, with the amount of free and uncritical airtime Farage gets, you need eye-catching announcements every couple of days, if you're not going to actually rebut the tosh that Farage spews.

 

[briantrumpet]

I took it as a simple, ill-thought out, kneejerk attempt to show he's tough on 'illegal' immigration. I suspect the main result would be another Windrush-style horror story.

Snap.

 

[briantrumpet]

What's interesting, is the diversity of those against DID, which includes Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Jeremy Corbyn, Rees-Mogg, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson.

And how many of those have argued for ID cards in the past?

 

[pubrunner]

And how many of those have argued for ID cards in the past?

No idea.

As an aside, it's curious, that Labour is hell bent on digital id cards for all, yet they were completely against voter id.

 

[Pblakeney]

No idea.

As an aside, it's curious, that Labour is hell bent on digital id cards for all, yet they were completely against voter id.

Just as interesting as those who have proposed it in the past but are now against it.
Politicians gonna politic, innit.