Keir Starmer and Project Fear

Dinahmo

He as become less wooden recently and has even been making jokes at Sunak's expense.

yes that is true now you point it out, its a helluva responsibility on him, so many are relying on him winning the next election, he gets my vote, labour always has looked after ordinary folk and thats what I want

He as become less wooden recently and has even been making jokes at Sunak's expense.

Buttonjugs

Anniebach

The far left thought Corbyn was such a winner, he gave Labour the worse defeat since 1935

The only reason for that was Boris promising to ‘Get Brexit done’ so all the people who voted leave voted Conservative. Jeremy didn’t commit to a strategy on Brexit and people were fed up of waiting. That’s it. Before that he had done well in the previous election. Starmer is not popular and I’m not keen but I will be voting Labour and hoping he gets ousted by the party at some point. The only reason Labour is predicted to win the GE is because the Tories have been so appalling.

spot on Buttonjugs, I'll be voting Labour too for the same reason, I think Starmer is better than he comes over, he is wooden but a perfectly decent chap and will be a good PM

I'd say that the point about Starmer is not whether he is popular or not but

1) whether he can get all factions of the Labour party to pull together enough to win the next election, and

2) whether, once they have a majority in power, he can plan and introduce measures to counteract the appalling legacy of the Tory years and

3) whether he can get them voted into effect.

He seems to be achieving point one, against resistance from some who would prefer him to stick to old policies.

He is perfectly capable of point two, as his legal experience equips him with the ability to do the research, form a coherent plan, and carry it out, and his previous record in helping clients with complex problems will have shown him what legislation is needed.

Point three he will succeed in if he isn't hindered by party members who want to dump him once he has earned them a good majority of seats - but without first finding someone who can do better in a very difficult position.

The Labour party could be cutting off its nose to spite its face if they don't continue to support him.

Anniebach

The far left thought Corbyn was such a winner, he gave Labour the worse defeat since 1935

The only reason for that was Boris promising to ‘Get Brexit done’ so all the people who voted leave voted Conservative. Jeremy didn’t commit to a strategy on Brexit and people were fed up of waiting. That’s it. Before that he had done well in the previous election. Starmer is not popular and I’m not keen but I will be voting Labour and hoping he gets ousted by the party at some point. The only reason Labour is predicted to win the GE is because the Tories have been so appalling.

Iam64

What a strange summary of your views on Starmer, greyisnotmycolour.
I didn’t know he plays the flute, good for him. His wealth is the result of work and as for ‘woke’ a lazy and offensive way to describe someone whose politics aren’t to the right of Genghis Khan

I think you have misinterpreted that post. greyisnotmycolour is quoting from the OP, but, along with a number of posters, seems to have forgotten how to format a post so as to make it understandable.

What a strange summary of your views on Starmer, greyisnotmycolour.
I didn’t know he plays the flute, good for him. His wealth is the result of work and as for ‘woke’ a lazy and offensive way to describe someone whose politics aren’t to the right of Genghis Khan

I think all the nonsense being put out about Starmer was being quoted - not necessarily agreed with.

To lie convincingly is part of the job description for jobs in public office.

Greyisnotmycolour

"he’s a hypocrite, a racist, a liar, an ocean-going dud who doesn’t believe in anything. He can’t be trusted on Brexit or security. He can’t be trusted to protect women. He can’t be trusted with the economy, the NHS, the free press or even the monarchy. In fact, he can’t be trusted on anything. What’s more, he’s rich, he’s woke, and he plays the flute."

This still makes him a vast improvement on the last 5 PMs in my eyes. I didn't see the words blatant liar on that list.

You don’t like him much then!.

"he’s a hypocrite, a racist, a liar, an ocean-going dud who doesn’t believe in anything. He can’t be trusted on Brexit or security. He can’t be trusted to protect women. He can’t be trusted with the economy, the NHS, the free press or even the monarchy. In fact, he can’t be trusted on anything. What’s more, he’s rich, he’s woke, and he plays the flute."

This still makes him a vast improvement on the last 5 PMs in my eyes. I didn't see the words blatant liar on that list.

Definitely he has transformed the party

That might be true but the labour party is only functioning because of KS. His transformation of the party is nothing short of extraordinary.

I understand why some posters feel that Keir Starmer is the attraction, but my feeling is that many voters vote for the party, not the man. There are notable exceptions to this: Blair, Thatcher, and Johnson come to mind, but generally speaking, the man or woman on the street care little about the leader, or even their own MP (it’s surprising how few people can name their own MP) and they simply vote for the party. The people have had enough of the Conservatives and want change. They don’t really care who is at the helm so long as it’s not the Conservatives.

We are in the strong electoral position we are in because Starmer is the leader, it would be very different if Corbyn had remained. Even with the chaos that is going on kn the conservative party.

Project Fear, is that the smear campaign being run by the right-wing press?
We should be feeling glad that, should Labour win the GE, the PM will actually be a properly talented person, with a decent line-up of ministers. Even Tory backbenchers lament that the front bench is full of mediocrities.
Lack of charisma? The same was said of Clement Attlee, whose government bequeathed to the nation the welfare state, the NHS and secondary education for all. Some of this is in tatters 70-odd years later, but could be mended. This is not going to happen under the Conservatives as they are at present.

The idea Corbyn could win the next election is frankly laughable. He did great damage to the LP. Starmer is steering a cautious path. He and R Reeves are being seen positively by business which must be a posituve\
The world is a different place than in the 1945 period. The parties need to shape up and so far, only Labour is trying to do so

maddyone

Casdon
I am saying that any leader of Labour will win the next election. Precisely that. It doesn’t matter who the leader is, Labour will win.
With regard to Corbyn, and it’s clearly a moot point because Corbyn is not the Labour Party leader, I think he would have had a much improved chance of winning this time around, had he still been in position.

I don’t agree with you, I think a lot of people will vote for Labour because they believe Starmer will be a safer pair of hands than the current government, but that those people would not vote Labour if there was a more left wing Labour leader. I may be on my own thinking that, but I doubt it.

I should add, with Reform splitting the Conservative vote, it will make a Labour victory even more certain.

Casdon
I am saying that any leader of Labour will win the next election. Precisely that. It doesn’t matter who the leader is, Labour will win.
With regard to Corbyn, and it’s clearly a moot point because Corbyn is not the Labour Party leader, I think he would have had a much improved chance of winning this time around, had he still been in position.

Reform on 13%. Tories on 20. Leybur- just an even worse alternative after you get the Tories out. Why 'tactical', surely skulduggery is up to the politicians.

Thank you Casdon.

Yes of course Anniel. I use the Sky weekly poll tracker, which gives a running total election percentage prediction based on all the poll results from the previous week. I hope this link will work.
news.sky.com/story/sky-news-poll-tracker-how-are-political-parties-performing-as-an-election-looms-12903488

I don't trust him.

Casdon could you let me know which opinion pols show that Ed Davey has not suffered from the PO debacle? I ask because maybe I have not seen these particular polls? Ed Davey used to be in my local Lib Dem party. I have always thought their greatest strength was in local Council elections and they do a good job. I voted Lib Dem in previous local elections because they listen to residents and get things done. I could not vote for them nationally as we are poles apart.