What is going on in Starmer's brain?

Yes I think there have been one or two scary moments but this is not one of them. Many people, probably myself included, underestimated Starmer, it was a mistake to do that. Politicians also often need a bit of luck, and the Tory party's revolving door of prime ministers and what is happening in Scotland has provided some luck for Starmer. At the moment his support is not something I am worrying about.

There will almost undoubtedly be a swing to Labour in the next election. However, I don't know what the predicted swing is in individual seats, but I suspect Starmer does. The swing won't be uniform and will be affected by Labour voters who don't think Starmer is left enough and votes for Reform and those who won't be bothered to vote.

If you look back to 1979, Thatcher didn't win that election because she promised a right-wing agenda, but she promised competence as opposed to the muddle and weak economy which had characterised late 1970s UK. The "Winter of Discontent" persuaded some people that the unions were in control. Callaghan was seen as weak and Thatcher impressed people with her single-mindedness. Her pledges to control inflation, immigration and promise to introduce "Right to Buy" won over enough former Labour voters. Whilst promising to control inflation, she didn't actually say that much about public spending, benefits or tax. Like her or loathe her, she a lot of charisma.

I'm sure Starmer has sat down with his focus group leaders and strategists and has had feedback about what people actually want at the moment. I suspect that they want a strong leader with a plan to improve the cost of living, the NHS and education. They probably would like somebody who appears relatively honest too.

I don't really know what his game is, but I suspect very strongly that he has one. Starmer needs to make sure that his votes are in the right constituencies.

Galaxy

Yes I think there have been one or two scary moments but this is not one of them. Many people, probably myself included, underestimated Starmer, it was a mistake to do that. Politicians also often need a bit of luck, and the Tory party's revolving door of prime ministers and what is happening in Scotland has provided some luck for Starmer. At the moment his support is not something I am worrying about.

I think he can't rely on the SNP's collapse. If I were Starmer, I would want to make sure of an absolute majority, so that I didn't have to rely on any conditions set by a coalition partner.

Labour currently has 198 seats. It needs to win about another 125 seats for an absolute majority, depending how the SNP and LibDem votes work out. There is also the factor of boundary changes.

Many of those seats are classic marginals and "red wall seats", which I guess Labour is hoping to win. However, if you go a bit further down the list of target seats, the 125th seat is Welwyn Hatfield, which has been Conservative apart from two elections during the Blair boom. People will need to be persuaded that Labour is as competent as the Conservatives allegedly used to be. There are a number of seats with that kind of demographic. People will need to be persuaded to vote Labour for the same reasons they've usually voted Conservative.

To be honesst my dear, I couldn't give a damn.

M0nica

To be honesst my dear, I couldn't give a damn.

I expect Starmer could give a damn, which is probably the difference.

Let’s hope the majority gives a damn and votes. No wonder many are disaffected given the mess this government continues to make

I think that people do care about getting rid of this corrupt government - but there needs to be some clear blue water between the choices on offer and I do not think KS is making that clear at all. He needs to be saying clearly that his party places importance on creating a fairer society and honest principled government for a start. That is not coming across.

I suppose The Telegraph gave Sir Keir free reign on the premise "give him enough rope and he'll hang himself."

Starmer was illustrating the lack of vision and coherent strategy of the current conservative government. He has a point.

Luckygirl3

I think that people do care about getting rid of this corrupt government - but there needs to be some clear blue water between the choices on offer and I do not think KS is making that clear at all. He needs to be saying clearly that his party places importance on creating a fairer society and honest principled government for a start. That is not coming across.

It is interesting isn't it. I follow him on Twitter and watch and read his interviews and speeches. I have no doubt about what he says and what his policies are. The honest, principled government message has been repeated many times across multiple media.
What else should he do to get his message across?

MamieShould he, do you think, get a placard printed with that message on it and tie it onto himself, so that whenever the media takes a photograph of him, it appears in capital letters, and whenever he makes a speech it is displayed constantly while he talks?

Since no-one seems to have noticed the many times that he has stated it in interviews, on Facebook, and everywhere else possible, that may be the only way to get it through to those who can only hear what Tory voters and died-in-the-wool 2020s-is-still-the-1930s Labourites say about him, and only read what Conservative newspapers print.

No, i don't think that would work either. None so deaf as those who won't hear.

Exactly Elegran. Perhaps it is because I don't actually live in the country? Though I was brought up in the same town as Keir. Maybe you have to be from Surrey? 😂😂😂

Mamie

Exactly Elegran. Perhaps it is because I don't actually live in the country? Though I was brought up in the same town as Keir. Maybe you have to be from Surrey? 😂😂😂

No, I don't think that's the reason.

Mamie

Luckygirl3

I think that people do care about getting rid of this corrupt government - but there needs to be some clear blue water between the choices on offer and I do not think KS is making that clear at all. He needs to be saying clearly that his party places importance on creating a fairer society and honest principled government for a start. That is not coming across.

It is interesting isn't it. I follow him on Twitter and watch and read his interviews and speeches. I have no doubt about what he says and what his policies are. The honest, principled government message has been repeated many times across multiple media.
What else should he do to get his message across?

I agree, Mamie, it depends where you're looking and what you choose to hear.

Luckygirl3

*KS would do better to concentrate on telling the electorate what he Can prioritise to make this country a better and more compassionate place to live. And the measures he Can take to ensure that future cuts/austerities fall on the broadest shoulders not the frailest.*

Indeed so!

Goodness. So many grannies GNetters who know more than he does.

I'm the same Mamie, I follow him and he impresses me as a decent guy, Labour whoever is in charge is always better for ordinary folk.
I think he knows what headlines have hampered Labour in previous elections & he's trying to avoid those. I'm glad too, we need a labour gov't. Its things like 'labour are too spendthrift, not tough enough on crime,' etc that he needs to avoid as well as bringing in some Tory Lib Dem voters, it's working too. Any Labour leader gets my support, there's more than one way to run a gov't in favour of ordinary folk

It’s good to read posts from people who follow Starmer’s speeches and interviews and understand his belief systems.
He’s an intelligent principled individual. He knows Labour never win elections if the leader is seen as ‘too left wing’. That doesn’t make him a Tory as some on the left suggest

Iam64

It’s good to read posts from people who follow Starmer’s speeches and interviews and understand his belief systems.
He’s an intelligent principled individual. He knows Labour never win elections if the leader is seen as ‘too left wing’. That doesn’t make him a Tory as some on the left suggest

So true Iam64 and the devastation this gov't has caused to this county has to be eliminated and Labour have to win, I can quite see why Starmer is doing everything to win

The only alternative to this current government is a Labour government and there is very little chance that Keir won’t be leader of that government. So I would suggest that anyone who doesn’t want another Conservative government joins the Labour Party so they can actively shape the way they govern the country.

Are you in the Labour Party May? Its torture most of the time.

Yes I am. Why would I suggest it if I’m not prepared to be in the party and influence decision making if I wasn’t.

Well yes so am I but after a few CLP meetings lately I do question the sanity of my decision making. Branch meetings by contrast are always productive, perhaps we could encourage people to stick with those.

In the past I wasn’t left wing enough for our local group ( eg Chris Williamson was a member) but I feel a lot more comfortable now!