laurentian
Regular
I was wondering if the "advisers" will face any penalty
Starmer's vision quest
- Thread starter mjr
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I was wondering if the "advisers" will face any penalty
secretsqirrel
Über Member
I’m still waiting for ‘the honeymoon period’. They didn‘t get one, just straight in with stories about specs, suits and concert tickets.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
Yes, he's seen as the devil incarnate by those on the left of Labour, for being a protégé of Mandelson, and for his embrace (including Palantir) of outside businesses in the NHS. He's a good media performer, but has too much baggage to win a contest within the PLP, I think.
briantrumpet
Timewaster
And of behaving like an opposition getting ready for an election, rather than a government with a massive majority and five years (as it was) on the clock.
Psamathe
Legendary Member
I think people can be slow to change and don't flip support readily. From early days things like Winter Fuel Allowance were making voters question their support and start to change. Since then it's been an ongoing stream of U-turns and mistakes giving people no reason to change back to Labour. Trying to out-Reform Reform took Labour to a stance not very Labour further pushing people away. Recent elections have shows viable alternatives (ie Greens is no longer a "wasted vote").
I wonder if a lot of Labour's problems stem from Starmer where somebody like Johnson might be able to convince/sucker the electorate there is a brighter future.
PurplePenguin
Senior Member
She didn't get any tax advice at the time.
PurplePenguin
Senior Member
In a shocking turn of events, HMRC finding that Rayner was not careless means that Dan Niedle was wrong. Imagine that? Anyway, he still thinks that he was right.
spen666
Über Member
Wonder if Streeting, Rayner , Miliband etc are each waiting for someone else to put themselves forward first as the "stalking horse".
Its rare that a stalking horse candidate is perceived will in a party, so perhaps no one wants to risk losing votes by being the one to start publicly any challenge
Its rare that a stalking horse candidate is perceived will in a party, so perhaps no one wants to risk losing votes by being the one to start publicly any challenge
icowden
Pharaoh
More genius from Henry Morris:
May 13, 2026
May 12, 1912
Lost track of dates, but think the last correct. Tragedy all along the line. At lunch, poor Jess Philips said she couldn’t go on. Should this be found I want these facts recorded. The causes of the disaster are not due to faulty organisation, but to misfortune in all risks which had to be undertaken.
1. My decision to move cautiously over every patch of ice we’ve encountered has ensured we remained upon it indefinitely, and while the party remains committed to movement, we are no longer agreed on the direction, pace or meaning of “movement”.
2. The dreadful weather. My repeated assurances that conditions are improving have not entirely overcome the evidence of the thermometer.
3. The loss of Peter Mandelson.
We fought these untoward events with a will and conquered, but it cut into our provision reserve.
I do not think human beings ever came through such a month as we have had, and every detail – food scarcity, fuel shortages, Burnham loitering with intent – should have been overcome in spite of the weather, but for the sickening of Peter Mandelson, whom we had least expected to abandon the project at so advanced a stage.
Mandy’s last thoughts were of his dear friend Jeffrey, but immediately before, he took pride in thinking that the public would be pleased with the bold way in which he met his end. He has borne scrutiny for weeks without complaint, and to the very last was able to navigate the gravest of situations in nothing but a pair of white y-fronts.
He did not – would not – give up hope to the very end. Before his end he said, “I am just going outside and may be some time.” Despite his disappearance, one cannot rule out the possibility of him one day returning at the head of some quango.
As I have said elsewhere, this is when we got into frightfully rough ice. Morgan McSweeney then received a concussion of the spirit, he died a natural death, but it left our party shaken. As indeed did the extent to which Nigel Farage’s rival expedition haunted us from the horizon.
While we refused to eat our dogs, watching his team feast on theirs destroyed morale.
In lat. 85º 86º we had between -20 and -30 approval ratings while in lat. 82º, it’s between -30 and -47, with continuous global head winds. It is clear that these circumstances came on very suddenly, and our wreck is certainly due to this sudden advent of severe opinion polling, which does not seem to have any satisfactory cause other than my underdelivering, frequent repositioning, lack of a basic strategy and the Reform storm which has engulfed us.
Surely misfortune could have scarcely exceeded this last blow. I have managed six days since the poll. But with most households now only able to afford fuel for one last meal and food for two days, for six days I have been unable to leave the Downing Street tent – the gale of broadcasters and their insatiable appetite for reaction is howling.
We are weak. Governing is difficult. But for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that toolmaker’s children can embark on missions they are utterly unsuited for, ignore all advice, and continue insisting they are turning a corner, long after all the available maps say otherwise.
We took no risks, we knew we didn’t take them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of providence, determined still to regurgitate vague managerial cliches to the last.
Had we survived, I should have had a tale to tell of fiscal responsibility, stakeholder engagement and delivery which would have stirred the heart of every mission-driven Englishman. These rough notes and our dead careers must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us – hedge fund managers, Thames Water shareholders, Lammy – are properly provided for.
K. Starmer
May 13, 2026
Since yesterday we have had a continuous blizzard from the bond markets. Streeting put his head inside the tent this morning, but with only fuel to make two cups of tea apiece he left after seventeen minutes. I do not think we can hope for any better things now. We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more.
K. Starmer
For God’s sake look after Peston
Keir Starmer’s diary: his final, doomed expedition
A revealing look into the prime minister’s journey across the political wastes of his career
Henry MorrisMay 13, 2026
May 12, 1912
Lost track of dates, but think the last correct. Tragedy all along the line. At lunch, poor Jess Philips said she couldn’t go on. Should this be found I want these facts recorded. The causes of the disaster are not due to faulty organisation, but to misfortune in all risks which had to be undertaken.
1. My decision to move cautiously over every patch of ice we’ve encountered has ensured we remained upon it indefinitely, and while the party remains committed to movement, we are no longer agreed on the direction, pace or meaning of “movement”.
2. The dreadful weather. My repeated assurances that conditions are improving have not entirely overcome the evidence of the thermometer.
3. The loss of Peter Mandelson.
We fought these untoward events with a will and conquered, but it cut into our provision reserve.
I do not think human beings ever came through such a month as we have had, and every detail – food scarcity, fuel shortages, Burnham loitering with intent – should have been overcome in spite of the weather, but for the sickening of Peter Mandelson, whom we had least expected to abandon the project at so advanced a stage.
Mandy’s last thoughts were of his dear friend Jeffrey, but immediately before, he took pride in thinking that the public would be pleased with the bold way in which he met his end. He has borne scrutiny for weeks without complaint, and to the very last was able to navigate the gravest of situations in nothing but a pair of white y-fronts.
He did not – would not – give up hope to the very end. Before his end he said, “I am just going outside and may be some time.” Despite his disappearance, one cannot rule out the possibility of him one day returning at the head of some quango.
As I have said elsewhere, this is when we got into frightfully rough ice. Morgan McSweeney then received a concussion of the spirit, he died a natural death, but it left our party shaken. As indeed did the extent to which Nigel Farage’s rival expedition haunted us from the horizon.
While we refused to eat our dogs, watching his team feast on theirs destroyed morale.
In lat. 85º 86º we had between -20 and -30 approval ratings while in lat. 82º, it’s between -30 and -47, with continuous global head winds. It is clear that these circumstances came on very suddenly, and our wreck is certainly due to this sudden advent of severe opinion polling, which does not seem to have any satisfactory cause other than my underdelivering, frequent repositioning, lack of a basic strategy and the Reform storm which has engulfed us.
Surely misfortune could have scarcely exceeded this last blow. I have managed six days since the poll. But with most households now only able to afford fuel for one last meal and food for two days, for six days I have been unable to leave the Downing Street tent – the gale of broadcasters and their insatiable appetite for reaction is howling.
We are weak. Governing is difficult. But for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that toolmaker’s children can embark on missions they are utterly unsuited for, ignore all advice, and continue insisting they are turning a corner, long after all the available maps say otherwise.
We took no risks, we knew we didn’t take them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of providence, determined still to regurgitate vague managerial cliches to the last.
Had we survived, I should have had a tale to tell of fiscal responsibility, stakeholder engagement and delivery which would have stirred the heart of every mission-driven Englishman. These rough notes and our dead careers must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us – hedge fund managers, Thames Water shareholders, Lammy – are properly provided for.
K. Starmer
May 13, 2026
Since yesterday we have had a continuous blizzard from the bond markets. Streeting put his head inside the tent this morning, but with only fuel to make two cups of tea apiece he left after seventeen minutes. I do not think we can hope for any better things now. We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more.
K. Starmer
For God’s sake look after Peston
wakemalcolm
New Member
They had a stalking horse. It turned tail and wandered lamely back into the stable though.
spen666
Über Member
They had a potential stalking horse. It turned into a bit pony
Psamathe
Legendary Member
Whilst I don't like Starmer, Streeting is beyond terrible. It's Streeting's actions and decisions as a Minister that I base my views on so I consider he'd be massively worse that even Starmer. So when I consider his (potential) candidacy for PM as likely to fail I do wonder if that is more my wishes than real world likelihood.
I suspect his standoff with No 10 hoping Starmer would resign/step down is probably because starmer would probably beat him in an election.
Stevo 666
Guru
Can't say I'm a fan of Streeting, but he might be the economically least destructive of the available options. Although that said, having one of the other options in charge may well shorten Labour's tenure more than him, so every cloud...
Psamathe
Legendary Member
I'm beginning to wonder if Burnham really wants to be PM or at least if he's prepared to take the "gamble".
He almost seems to be holding back finding a by-election, waiting for a leadership challenge from others but if there's a leadership challenge he won't have time to become an MP so it's "chicken and egg". If he wants to become PM he first has to become an MP and those timescales mean he's got to leap before his path is clear and certain.
Of course that's assuming his allies claims about having MPs in "safe seats" prepared stand down to give him a career progression vehicle are actually the case. If there are such MPs then he has to "go for it" and if there are not, given they've had plenty of time to ask around all potential MPs he should shut up as it's all going nowhere.
He almost seems to be holding back finding a by-election, waiting for a leadership challenge from others but if there's a leadership challenge he won't have time to become an MP so it's "chicken and egg". If he wants to become PM he first has to become an MP and those timescales mean he's got to leap before his path is clear and certain.
Of course that's assuming his allies claims about having MPs in "safe seats" prepared stand down to give him a career progression vehicle are actually the case. If there are such MPs then he has to "go for it" and if there are not, given they've had plenty of time to ask around all potential MPs he should shut up as it's all going nowhere.
TailWindHome
Über Member
There's a problem with the stalking horse strategy
You need 80 MPs
Once you have 80 MPs you're no longer a stalking horse you're a candidate
And the leader is on the ballot if they choose to be
You need 80 MPs
Once you have 80 MPs you're no longer a stalking horse you're a candidate
And the leader is on the ballot if they choose to be
