Tories lose both by-elections.

The Labour Party do not need an "outright" majority Katie. I'm sure they would like one. However, one of Starmer's assetts is the ability to recognise reality, plan and know what is possible and what your opponent may use against you. His training as a QC will have given him that.

An outright victory in the next election was disregarded by most because the defeat was so fundamental. So Starmer's initial aim had to be to improve that winnability. He has been successfully doing that.

I don't believe he is looking for an outright win in the next election, although I am sure the LP would be delighted if he got one. The next step is being in power. To achieve usable power the party must aim for 50% of the seats. (In reality, he could do it with less). With 50% and other parties willing to assist with various bills they can all agree on, he would bring the LP back into government.

If an early bill was passed for PR then the Conservatives, as we see them now, will not exist.

I'm not nor, I think, ever would be, a member of the LP. Nor do I see Starmer as a 'personality' other than in the 'acceptable in company and unlikely to embarrass, more likely to pour oil on troubled waters' sense.

However, I would suggest people don't underestimate him. He is more "clever soldier" than commander-in-chief at the Charge of the Light Brigade - which is what we seem to have currently.

Witzend

What are the bets on a Labour/LD/Green pact at the next GE, distributing candidates so as not to split the anti-Tory vote, with promises of a coalition afterwards?

From what I've read on Starmer I think that I wouldn't put any money on it at all. Not an 'official' pact, anyway.

That's not to say that voters and parties won't be looking at individual constituencies, weighing up which party is most likely to beat the tories and vote/act accordingly.

I'm loving all the indignant squealing about 'dishonest electoral pacts' from tory cabinet muppets. How dare voters work together to oust them..

Like they didn’t over Brexit and the DUP where they actually paid for their votes with tax payers money!

At last year's LP conference 80% of the CLPs voted for PR but the unions voted against. This month Unison delegates also voted against FPTP in favour of PR. By doing this they are on agreement with other unions - ASLEF, CWU, TSSA and the Musicians Union.

If the LP votes the same way at this year's conference we might get PR after the next GE.

Many people claim that we shouldn't have PR because it would allow parties like UKIP to gain seats. If they did, it would only be a few and therefore such parties would have little power, if any.

Johnson doesn't think he needs to change, and that's what will sink the Tories, if they don't oust him.

He's too arrogant to see the problem is his character, lack of morals and personality.

"Mr Johnson said voters were "fed up with hearing conversation about me" and wanted to focus instead on the cost of living, the economy and "standing up to violence and aggression" in Ukraine.

The PM was challenged by presenter Mishal Husain that a lot of the criticism had been about him personally and had come from people who had worked with him.

They included his top policy aide Munira Murza, who criticised Mr Johnson's "scurrilous allegation" about Jimmy Savile and Sir Keir Starmer; former minister Jesse Norman, who said the PM "presided over a culture of casual law-breaking"; and ethics adviser Lord Geidt.

But Mr Johnson said: "As a leader, you have to try to distinguish between the criticism that really matters and the criticism that doesn't."

Asked if there was any matter of principle he would consider resigning over, he said if he had to abandon Ukraine because it became too difficult or the costs were too great, he would quit.
He said that "of course" he regarded morality as a part of leadership.

But Mr Johnson was questioned about how he had not resigned over misleading the House of Commons, breaking the law for the Covid fine, or losing the support of 41% of his MPs in the confidence vote.

"Let's look at this in a more cheery way, if that's possible" he said. "Actually, what's happened is that I've got a renewed mandate from my colleagues, and I'm going to continue to deliver."

The prime minister did not engage with a question about the UK's top civil servant Simon Case having an informal conversation about job opportunities for his wife, Carrie.

"The worst thing I could do is get into conversations about my family," he said."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61934851

DaisyAnne You're right. Labour doesn't need an overall majority. His "problem" is likely to be the SNP, who would demand another referendum as the price of voting with Labour. I put "problem" in inverted commas because, of course, the SNP would see it as an opportunity, not a problem. I wouldn't have any issue at all with Labour having an agreement with the Greens, the LibDems or Plaid.

He's too arrogant to see the problem is his character, lack of morals and personality.

I don't think it's even that, DiamondLily. He really couldn't give a stuff about people's judgements of him, or them trying to get rid of him. He's in the top job, comfortable life with LOTS of freebie benefits, capering around the world looking important, completely above any rules, and with a cabinet and PLP happy to make him even more difficult to winkle out. Why would he even think about being arrogant? He's way above that now.

Your report of everything he said in that interview is interesting , but it's just words, meaningless words.

Like much on here? ??

Advise for post operative sinus.

So did he lie?

Did his lips move?

MaizieD

^He's too arrogant to see the problem is his character, lack of morals and personality.^

I don't think it's even that, DiamondLily. He really couldn't give a stuff about people's judgements of him, or them trying to get rid of him. He's in the top job, comfortable life with LOTS of freebie benefits, capering around the world looking important, completely above any rules, and with a cabinet and PLP happy to make him even more difficult to winkle out. Why would he even think about being arrogant? He's way above that now.

Your report of everything he said in that interview is interesting , but it's just words, meaningless words.

Yes, it always is with him. Whether it's pole dancers, girlfriends, wives, kids, colleagues or friends, he doesn't give a stuff.?

It's all about him, and what he can get out of it.

So, why should he think he has to care about voters?

People were fooled by him, but hopefully the tide is turning with voters and his fellow MPs. ?

Urmstongran

Like much on here? ??

Speak for yourself, Ug

Urmstongran

Like much on here? ??

Yep, just faceless people interacting on the internet.

Who really knows if they are who they say they are?

Those who have met/interacted in the real world have nothing to hide.

So why do you post GrannyGravy? I'm sure you've got a face - just as I have.

Was it a sinus problem or is he walking with a limp and sitting on a cushion? Perhaps his family is complete.

Eh?

Complaining about the uselessness of an internet forum discussion while contributing to an internet forum discussion?

growstuff

So why do you post GrannyGravy? I'm sure you've got a face - just as I have.

I was replying to Urmstongran who was referring to the last paragraph of MaizieD’s post.

GrannyGravy13

Urmstongran

Like much on here? ??

Yep, just faceless people interacting on the internet.

Who really knows if they are who they say they are?

Those who have met/interacted in the real world have nothing to hide.

I’m quite happy to meet up with anyone. And, pre covid lots of people on here did so on numerous occasions.

volver

Eh?

Complaining about the uselessness of an internet forum discussion while contributing to an internet forum discussion?

Not complaining, but hey ho putting words /spin on others posts is your forte.

Whitewavemark2

Advise for post operative sinus.

So did he lie?

So did he lie?
I don't know but he's getting right up my nose
(Sorry)

MayBee70 yep we have regular meet-ups in our neck of the woods, and have made very good pals.

With one we realised our AC were friends.

GrannyGravy13

Urmstongran

Like much on here? ??

Yep, just faceless people interacting on the internet.

Who really knows if they are who they say they are?

Those who have met/interacted in the real world have nothing to hide.

So ? What are you suggesting ? We stop ? Or just some of us ?!

Lucca see my post of 14.04

GrannyGravy13

volver

Eh?

Complaining about the uselessness of an internet forum discussion while contributing to an internet forum discussion?

Not complaining, but hey ho putting words /spin on others posts is your forte.

Oh dear, touchy, touchy....

Starmers problem is that he is not “yet” an inspirational leader, the sort of personality that will attract votes from the middle ground floating voters. With the Tories making such a mess that should not be an unreasonable aim in 2 yrs “if” the rest of the party backs him.