Starmer's vision quest

[Dorset Boy]

And so the merry go round continues - largest majority since forever and can't last 2 years. Not really good for the country.
He's generally been good on the international stage, bar the disasterous Mandelson appointment, but average at best domestically, and he and his chancellor have made some massive mistakes that prevented their growth objective.

Assuming it is Burnham as the next PM, he may pay greater attention to the parts of the country outside the south east, and hopefully will be less susceptible to the Westminster and London bubbles.
However, no one actually knows what he stands for, other than not being Starmer.
Bit like Labour winning the last election because they weren't the tories.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Starmer’s tactic of not putting his head above the parapet worked well in the election but was not suitable for a leader who wanted to bring about change.

 

[C R]

Starmer’s tactic of not putting his head above the parapet worked well in the election but was not suitable for a leader who wanted to bring about change.

But did he? Or was he just a tool of those who wanted no change?

 

[spen666]

And so the merry go round continues - largest majority since forever and can't last 2 years. Not really good for the country.
He's generally been good on the international stage, bar the disasterous Mandelson appointment,

I would concur Starmer's international diplomacy seems to have been handled competently

but average at best domestically,

I think you over rate his domestic work. I would say he has been very poor domestically. The number of U Turns, failing to take his party with him on key policies etc.

Perhaps he should have been a diplomat not a politician?

and he and his chancellor have made some massive mistakes that prevented their growth objective.

Think that is a fair assessment.

Assuming it is Burnham as the next PM, he may pay greater attention to the parts of the country outside the south east, and hopefully will be less susceptible to the Westminster and London bubbles.
However, no one actually knows what he stands for, other than not being Starmer.

I'm still waiting to know what Starmer stands for / stood for

Bit like Labour winning the last election because they weren't the tories.

 

[Psamathe]

There was one notable absence in Downing Street today, Jessica Elgot reports.

Interesting that Rachel Reeves was not outside Number 10 today

Reeves and Keir Starmer used to be very close, and until now their political fates have been entwined. One of the decisions that did most to make Starmer unpopular with voters was Reeves cutting the winter fuel payment early after she took office.
But Reeves is now reportedly hoping that Andy Burnham can be persuaded to keep her on as chancellor.
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...leadership-prime-minister-latest-news-updates

(My bold)
Reeves trying to "switch sides". Be beyond daft for Burnham to keep her given her bad decisions and how they contributed to Starmer's unpopularity/downfall. Also, to me speaks volumes that she can't see that and "lives in hope".

 

[briantrumpet]

(My bold)
Reeves trying to "switch sides". Be beyond daft for Burnham to keep her given her bad decisions and how they contributed to Starmer's unpopularity/downfall. Also, to me speaks volumes that she can't see that and "lives in hope".

Quite apart from her competence (I'm not convinced she's as incompetent as many make out), she also suffers from the Dalek delivery of Starmer, which is utterly uninspiring. If you are just going to read a script (or repeat scripted lines), at least you need to be able to make them feel unscripted, so that the message is communicated in an engaging way.

 

[Psamathe]

Looks to me like Streeting been offered a job he likes

 

[briantrumpet]

Looks to me like Streeting been offered a job he likes

View attachment 15877

Alternative reading: "Gizza job, mate!"

 

[Dorset Boy]

8 PMs in 10 years since Brexit .......
Bit like Italy

 

[briantrumpet]

8 PMs in 10 years since Brexit .......
Bit like Italy

Not at all like recent Italy: Meloni has outlasted five UK PMs.

 

[secretsqirrel]

Looks to me like Streeting been offered a job he likes

View attachment 15877

Is he announcing Burnham as PM before Trump does?

 

[secretsqirrel]

Quite apart from her competence (I'm not convinced she's as incompetent as many make out), she also suffers from the Dalek delivery of Starmer, which is utterly uninspiring. If you are just going to read a script (or repeat scripted lines), at least you need to be able to make them feel unscripted, so that the message is communicated in an engaging way.

She will just hand the empty silk purse to somebody else to make a pigs ear of.

In all fairness to her, its not easy to sex up being a chancellor without some dosh to start with.

 

[First Aspect]

it isn't going to happen, but what I would quite like to see is Burnham temporary following the manifesto, then calling an election with a fresh EU referendum a key policy.

Unfortunately I think the ground work to make that possible both domestically and in Europe will take longer than labour has.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Alternative reading: "Gizza job, mate!"

Will be interesting to see what he is after/has already been promised. Will surely want an upgrade, Deputy PM, possible Home/Foreign Sec?

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

it isn't going to happen, but what I would quite like to see is Burnham temporary following the manifesto, then calling an election with a fresh EU referendum a key policy.

Unfortunately I think the ground work to make that possible both domestically and in Europe will take longer than labour has.

Interesting idea. Possibly throw in electoral reform as well? Two things that could also dictate the political future of the country, as if both went ahead, you would likely kill off Reform in the process.