What should Sunak do now?

Freya5

MayBee70

The strange thing about Sunak is that his politics are that of the far right but because he’s such a mild mannered sort of person the electorate tend to think of him as right of centre. They also tend to forget that he was happy to go along with everything that Johnson did until he realised that he was supporting a politician that was on his way out and then helped to bring about his downfall. Not imo out of decency but to save his own skin and further his own career.

Far right, how ridiculous.

Mussolini was Far Right. Not seen any of those traits in Sunak.

MayBee70

The strange thing about Sunak is that his politics are that of the far right but because he’s such a mild mannered sort of person the electorate tend to think of him as right of centre. They also tend to forget that he was happy to go along with everything that Johnson did until he realised that he was supporting a politician that was on his way out and then helped to bring about his downfall. Not imo out of decency but to save his own skin and further his own career.

Far right, how ridiculous.

I don’t think Labour did that well considering the dire state that the country is in. The real winners were the Lib Dem’s and Greens, as far as I can see.

The best that Labour can hope for in a GE. is a small majority and a coalition if Labour doesn’t change tack on the economy, public services and Europe.
Starmer is a Tory-lite uninspiring leader, and I am a Labour voter.

It’s my instinct that many more would vote Green if they thought their vote would count.

The PM needs to regroup, look at party policies and listen to all sides of the electorate.

The Conservatives may not win the next GE, but I do not think they should be written off entirely.

Sunak needs to put off the next GE for as long as possible to have any chance of recovering in the polls. But the recent local voting shows Starmer having the biggest Party in the Commons but no overall majority so Sunak may be able to close the gap somewhat. Perhaps the Tories will tempt the Lib Dems into coalition again or Labour will do a deal with the SNP. Of course they all deny such moves until they happen.

I’ve just read that Labour is now the largest party in local government, surpassing the Tories for the first time since 2002. I think we can safely say the Corbyn era has passed.

“Sweeteners will be offered” didn’t work for Corbyn, he was offering absolutely everything if people voted for him and it went completely the other way and they lost out big time.

Agreed.

He will tough it out and continue on the same line and hope it gets better because he has no alternative. It’s 18 months until the next election, he can only improve the Tory image, predictions based on local elections are usually not accurate. Don’t write him off , Starmer wont.

Thanking his lucky stars its the coronation to take people's minds off everything!

34.5% here.
No change in seats at all except nuances as Tories haven't had a look in, for x? years so its a shared Lab-Lib-Dem council cil

NanaDana

MayBee70

NanaDana

Sunak, Starmer, Davey... who knows what any of these bland, uninspiring figures will do next? Whatever they do, not one of them has convinced me that they have the ability to lead us back to prosperity. I'm pushing 80 now, and I honestly can't remember the last time we had such an impotent, ineffective and visionless bunch of politicians in "the Mother of Parliaments". Our democracy used to be something we could rightly be proud of, and we had true status and respect on the world stage. Just look at us now, adrift in a sea of troubles, widely disrespected abroad, with no capable hand at the wheel, and no prospect of even a new hand doing any better. You may understandably think that whoever takes over next time around couldn't possibly do any worse, but I wish I could be that confident. Depressing times, and what's worse, many people don't even seem to care. 35% appears to be about the average, apathetic turnout for this latest poll. OK, historically that may rise to 60 to 65% in a G.E., but it's still unimpressive. Maybe we deserve what we get...

Out of interest you tell me which MP’s, PM’s you have found inspiring. And, isn’t it about more than prosperity? Isn’t the way we treat people just as important?

Of course the way we treat people is of primary importance, but the practicality of delivering that appropriate, beneficial treatment is inextricably linked to prosperity. As for naming my choice of inspiring politicians, I quickly came up with a list of a dozen, some dating back to the 60's. The majority in one party, but also a sprinkling of others from 3 other parties. On that basis, on reflection I'll remain a wee bit coy about my choice, as I don't want to advertise my particular political preference on social media... that's strictly between me and the polling booth. My allegiance has also changed backwards and forwards over the years, and has always been more influenced by who I thought would best serve our needs at the time, rather than by party political dogma. Suffice to say I wish that some of those past politicians were still in harness, as they seemed to be able to deliver, and had integrity.

Well, if you’re not prepared to say which politicians you do admire it’s a bit unfair to say how bland Sunak, Starmer and Davey are. Imo. Even though I’m a Labour voter I’d still be happy to say which Conservative MP’s I admire although I have to admit that most of them have, on principle, left the party. Eg Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry, Ken Clark,Tobias Elwood. Then again Grieve probably falls under your definition of bland. To me he is upstanding and honourable.

Sit tight and try to give the electorate what they think they want. Difficult to tell exactly what the local elections mean except people are tired of what we’ve got and this could just be a warning message or something far more significant. Praise and support it isn’t.

Retire and sit in his counting house counting out his and his wife’s money

The temptation is to shout RESIGN!

But that would be gloating. Looking at some of the results coming in so far from the "posh" Home Counties I should think he's got his work cut out to keep his parliamentary party sweet. My advice to him would be to hang in there, sack the liabilities (like Sue-Ellen¹) and at least try to keep the ship afloat for the next 12 months without any dirty tricks.

¹ Yes, I know she likes to be called Suella but Sue-Ellen is her birth name and I can't help thinking that an alcoholic gold-digger with an abominable taste in men fits her.

Glorianny

The turnout in elections is always low when people can't see much difference between the parties. The LP is not offering enough of a difference, so many people just don't bother.

Corbyn was Labour leader when this set of local elections happened in 2019, and they are predicting a similar turnout this time to then.

Turn out here 28 %. Conservative win. Folks just didn't bother to turn out.

The turnout in elections is always low when people can't see much difference between the parties. The LP is not offering enough of a difference, so many people just don't bother.

MayBee70

NanaDana

Sunak, Starmer, Davey... who knows what any of these bland, uninspiring figures will do next? Whatever they do, not one of them has convinced me that they have the ability to lead us back to prosperity. I'm pushing 80 now, and I honestly can't remember the last time we had such an impotent, ineffective and visionless bunch of politicians in "the Mother of Parliaments". Our democracy used to be something we could rightly be proud of, and we had true status and respect on the world stage. Just look at us now, adrift in a sea of troubles, widely disrespected abroad, with no capable hand at the wheel, and no prospect of even a new hand doing any better. You may understandably think that whoever takes over next time around couldn't possibly do any worse, but I wish I could be that confident. Depressing times, and what's worse, many people don't even seem to care. 35% appears to be about the average, apathetic turnout for this latest poll. OK, historically that may rise to 60 to 65% in a G.E., but it's still unimpressive. Maybe we deserve what we get...

Out of interest you tell me which MP’s, PM’s you have found inspiring. And, isn’t it about more than prosperity? Isn’t the way we treat people just as important?

Of course the way we treat people is of primary importance, but the practicality of delivering that appropriate, beneficial treatment is inextricably linked to prosperity. As for naming my choice of inspiring politicians, I quickly came up with a list of a dozen, some dating back to the 60's. The majority in one party, but also a sprinkling of others from 3 other parties. On that basis, on reflection I'll remain a wee bit coy about my choice, as I don't want to advertise my particular political preference on social media... that's strictly between me and the polling booth. My allegiance has also changed backwards and forwards over the years, and has always been more influenced by who I thought would best serve our needs at the time, rather than by party political dogma. Suffice to say I wish that some of those past politicians were still in harness, as they seemed to be able to deliver, and had integrity.

Sweeties will be predictably be offered just before the election, and few will be believed. This why I support Starmer making very few "promises"in advance.... Obviously a properly laid out election manifesto but its far too early for that especially since so much is changing so fast.

I'm rather fed up of Big Personalities and would prefer someone who gets on with the job and very much what MayBee70 has just said,

"And, isn’t it about more than prosperity? Isn’t the way we treat people just as important?".

Starmer has already set "well-being" as a key target (I know as I am in a small L Party group trying to work out best MH policies for the next election and "population well being" (just as in some Scandinavain countries) has already been declared as as much a key aim as "growth".

As regards voting turnout, I'm very concerned indeed. I'll copy this from another thread as its far more relevant here

"The figures aren't available yet, (for today's results) I checked 30 mins ago. I expect we will find out when all the results are in. In some ways that's as important as results.

Once we have constant figures under 30% it gets quite scary as to the future of our country, the non participation and lack of interest especially the young.

A lot of us grew up knowing that women had relatively recently got the vote, that it wasn't so far in the past that only property owning men could vote, and that it mattered very much indeed, and that it was a matter of pride we lived in a democracy and "had a say":

but when this belief slips, and conspiracy theories abound on social media, its truly worrying".

NanaDana

Sunak, Starmer, Davey... who knows what any of these bland, uninspiring figures will do next? Whatever they do, not one of them has convinced me that they have the ability to lead us back to prosperity. I'm pushing 80 now, and I honestly can't remember the last time we had such an impotent, ineffective and visionless bunch of politicians in "the Mother of Parliaments". Our democracy used to be something we could rightly be proud of, and we had true status and respect on the world stage. Just look at us now, adrift in a sea of troubles, widely disrespected abroad, with no capable hand at the wheel, and no prospect of even a new hand doing any better. You may understandably think that whoever takes over next time around couldn't possibly do any worse, but I wish I could be that confident. Depressing times, and what's worse, many people don't even seem to care. 35% appears to be about the average, apathetic turnout for this latest poll. OK, historically that may rise to 60 to 65% in a G.E., but it's still unimpressive. Maybe we deserve what we get...

Out of interest you tell me which MP’s, PM’s you have found inspiring. And, isn’t it about more than prosperity? Isn’t the way we treat people just as important?

Sunak, Starmer, Davey... who knows what any of these bland, uninspiring figures will do next? Whatever they do, not one of them has convinced me that they have the ability to lead us back to prosperity. I'm pushing 80 now, and I honestly can't remember the last time we had such an impotent, ineffective and visionless bunch of politicians in "the Mother of Parliaments". Our democracy used to be something we could rightly be proud of, and we had true status and respect on the world stage. Just look at us now, adrift in a sea of troubles, widely disrespected abroad, with no capable hand at the wheel, and no prospect of even a new hand doing any better. You may understandably think that whoever takes over next time around couldn't possibly do any worse, but I wish I could be that confident. Depressing times, and what's worse, many people don't even seem to care. 35% appears to be about the average, apathetic turnout for this latest poll. OK, historically that may rise to 60 to 65% in a G.E., but it's still unimpressive. Maybe we deserve what we get...

MaizieD more of the same isn’t what will get us out of the huge mess we’re in.,,

Drawing on experience.. this has happened before. Just can’t quite remember when . Feel good factor before the election and definitely paid for it very quickly afterwards.

That might have been in the days when everything worked much better, ronib. When everyone could get a GP appointment and NHS dental treatment and our seas and rivers weren't full of sh*t t and we had modest pay increases every year, and we had enough policemen and the courts worked properly etc.

Then a tax cut bribe might have worked. But I don't think it will now..