Why is Johnson more popular than Starmer?

PS Thatcher did not have any charisma in my view, she was humourless. I don’t agree with her at all, but I do think she was a serious politician.

M0nica

Whatever he is in real life - and all the virtues you attribute to him Iam 64 are all the virtues of a man lacking in charisma and very worthy.

But in politics, as far back as you go, it is the charismatic and/or the rogues that win hands down over the worthy. Lord Palmerston, Disraeli, Lloyd-George, Thatcher, Blair.

A party is viewed through its leader, and if the leader comes over as dull and boring, that is how the party is seen.

There is a real difference between how we like to think people vote and how they ought to vote, and how they do and leaders who cannot come over to the electorate as having a strong and distinctive personality are death to their party.

At the end of day people are attracted to a rogue, especially a loud noisy ebullient one and have a respect for one that somehow always gets away with it. This applies on ordinary life. How often do you here people describe someone, a local man, or a neighbour, that leads his life on the edge of the law being described as 'a lovable rogue'.

When you say the rogues ‘win hands down’ Monica it depends entirely on what you mean by that. Being popular, initially at least, certainly doesn’t mean that when viewed with hindsight some of those you name did the best jobs for the country as PM. Some of the best PMs were not charismatic at all, but they were principled and far sighted. I think those attracted to rogues are those who can’t be bothered with the serious business of politics.

Great comment - I agree wholeheartedly and I would definitely be in the dumping group!

I heard it summed up on Have I got news for you wher somebody said Kier Starmer is like Teresa May but without the personality ?

OakDryad, I couldn’t have put it better myself. Have you ever thought of standing for your constituency??? We could do with someone like you.

I didn't call Mrs Thatcher a rogue, I listed prime Ministers who were Charismatic and/or rogues. She was charismatic.

And Churchill was a most unpleasant, uncaring character. There actually are some similarities between him and our current Churchill wannabe PM.

growstuff

"Mr. Attlee is a very modest man. Indeed he has a lot to be modest about." (Winston Churchill)

Attlee still won the 1945 election and did more to shape post-war Britain than most PMs.

I'm glad you've pointed Attlee out, growstuff. A quiet and uncharismatic figure who had a profound and benign influence on the country that our generation was born into and profited from in a way that our children and grandchildren will not have the chance to unless ideas change very radically..

I don't think Thatcher would have thanked anybody for calling her a rogue.

"Mr. Attlee is a very modest man. Indeed he has a lot to be modest about." (Winston Churchill)

Attlee still won the 1945 election and did more to shape post-war Britain than most PMs.

I don’t and neither do my family members.

Expectation of behaviour should be higher than that.

Those “lovable rogues” always leave harm and heartbreak in their wake.

Whatever he is in real life - and all the virtues you attribute to him Iam 64 are all the virtues of a man lacking in charisma and very worthy.

But in politics, as far back as you go, it is the charismatic and/or the rogues that win hands down over the worthy. Lord Palmerston, Disraeli, Lloyd-George, Thatcher, Blair.

A party is viewed through its leader, and if the leader comes over as dull and boring, that is how the party is seen.

There is a real difference between how we like to think people vote and how they ought to vote, and how they do and leaders who cannot come over to the electorate as having a strong and distinctive personality are death to their party.

At the end of day people are attracted to a rogue, especially a loud noisy ebullient one and have a respect for one that somehow always gets away with it. This applies on ordinary life. How often do you here people describe someone, a local man, or a neighbour, that leads his life on the edge of the law being described as 'a lovable rogue'.

The good thing is that the DM circulation is dropping like a stone.

They don’t like it though and blame WFH??

Murdoch controlled Media will ensure Starmer is never given positive publicity.

Starmer is not colourless, charismatic or boring when seen in real life.
It’s a sad reflection when a narcissist who lies can be seen as a better PM than ah honest, intelligent man whose professional and personal life are a reflection of that

Because Keir Starmer is a very worthy man and that means he is colourless, uncharismatic and boring. At least that is how he comes over.

Perhaps he should start doing something each day that attracts attention. Crossing the road at a pedestrian light controlled crossing when the the pedestrian red light is showing. Then gradually build up from there.

If she and those who share her world views, don’t appeal to the majority if Labour voters, they’ll fail to appeal to the majority of voters.

Me neither.

She’s a Corbynite. It’s not going to happen, is it? I can understand the left championing her, but she won’t appeal to the majority of Labour voters.

To be honest, I don't think I've seen Sultana speaking up for the poor. I'm afraid I really don't rate her and I certainly don't think she's the saviour of the Labour Party.

I struggle to understand why Zara and her small group are seen by some as the
Only hope of a Labour government. History teaches us labour fails miserably to convince the electorate it’s a safe pair of hands when the leadership is viewed by the majority as ‘extreme left’.

Grany

Zarah always attacks this Tory government standing up for the poor growstuff in parliament and on various social media. And on TV

Which is why I was surprised that she didn't include them in her "electoral coalition". The article doesn't seem to recognise them as partners in producing a Labour government. It's as though they're the tools for getting ideological socialists into power, which incidentally is why (I think) Labour lost so many "red wall" seats. It certainly wasn't because people didn't think Labour wasn't socialist enough.

Zarah always attacks this Tory government standing up for the poor growstuff in parliament and on various social media. And on TV

The answer to your question- for me, he isn't.

Mollygo

growstuff

But pop stars and 'celebrities' aren't responsible for writing legislation or handling the country's finances.

No, growstuff, I didn’t mean that.
Simply that the bad behaviour of politicians is likely to have less impact on young people and behaviour of those I mentioned.

I honestly don't know. The "young people" I know aren't the airheads people imagine them to be.