Starmer’s a decent bloke!

Whatever Starmer's minor faults he's a whole lot better than Call me Dave, the Buffoon and Truss and a number of other Tories.

Plunger

Can Starmer cut the sob story about his poor background! My brother was a toolmaker and my sister a nurse. They were all around the same age as his parents and neither were on the breadline. Lived in the SE of England. Sister was a divorced single parent. Anyone who could afford a home telephone in the 50s or 60s was not hard up. They were considered a luxury. Even I didn't have one until the middle 70s.

We didn't have a telephone or a car either.

In fact, I don't remember any of my friends' parents having a telephone except for the posh ones and those whose fathers were commercial travellers.

We got a telephone put in for my parents in about 1970 after we'd all left home.

Was my childhood in 1960 really so deprived that we were wildly out of step with the norm?

Did you have the toes cut out of the ends of your sandals at the end of the summer? It saved buying new shoes until the start of the school term?
😁

He's not presenting a "sob" story. People legitimately want to know how someone got to be where they are.

Tories like to accuse Starmer of changing his mind but they have lied to the voters for the past fourteen years. What is it with Sunak and previous incumbents and their pledges which haven’t been fulfilled. Recent ones have been ridiculous. Starmer will make a great Prime Minister.

I've googled! Casdon I think you'll find the census you're referring to is the USA one from this link www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/coh-phone.html#:~:text=In%201960%2C%20about%201%2Din,single%20digits%2C%20at%207%20percent.

It pays to check your sources.

If you check out UK statistics via this link www.statista.com/statistics/289158/telephone-presence-in-households-in-the-uk/
you'll see in 1970 only 35% of UK homes had a telephone. 80% was only achieved in 1985!

Callistemon21

^Was my childhood in 1960 really so deprived that we were wildly out of step with the norm?^

Did you have the toes cut out of the ends of your sandals at the end of the summer? It saved buying new shoes until the start of the school term?
😁

No I just scrunched up my toes and never told my parents they were hurting, I knew money was tight

Wyllow3

He's not presenting a "sob" story. People legitimately want to know how someone got to be where they are.

Or why they actually care about the NHS. Have the past few PM’s ever tried to explain why they went into politics? And, if they were to what would they say?

I think both Sunak and Starmer are probably decent, hard working chaps but Sunak seems unable to identify with the man in the street and Starmer bores me to tears. Neither of them are, imo, leaders. The country and the world are in dire straits and we need a strong leader with a real moral compass and I don't see either of the main parties having one.
Someone does not have to be likeable to make a good leader.

Casdon

By 1960 only one in five households didn’t have access to a telephone Plunger, it certainly wasn’t a luxury. That comes from the Census.

These attempts to discredit Starmer are now entering into the world of fiction, Gransnet could launch its own conspiracy theory company at this rate. At the end of it, it boils down to the fact, unpalatable though it is for some, that he was a very gifted boy from an ordinary family, who made good.

Access to a telephone does not equate to a home telephone. There were red phone boxes everywhere which were the only access the majority had. People would actually call the box and ask for someone to fetch whoever from their home. Did it many times.
.

DiamondLily

I have never found Sunak to be a decent person, even when he was a Chancellor. He’s always come across, to me, as a snake oil salesman.

But, we all view people differently. 🙂

I am not British however, I love your commentary about Sunak.

He is a snake ! A poisonous one !

What has any of this to do with Starmer?

Plunger if you look at my post of 11.56 I believe I've solved it, Casdon was using A USA government census which did mean home phones.

MissAdventure

What has any of this to do with Starmer?

Probably nothing MissAdventure but glaring statistical inaccuracies need addressing, even when they're largely irrelevant If we can't trust figures that are posted then........

Oh yes, I agree with righting written wrongs (try saying that five times, quickly!)

Casdon

By 1960 only one in five households didn’t have access to a telephone Plunger, it certainly wasn’t a luxury. That comes from the Census.

These attempts to discredit Starmer are now entering into the world of fiction, Gransnet could launch its own conspiracy theory company at this rate. At the end of it, it boils down to the fact, unpalatable though it is for some, that he was a very gifted boy from an ordinary family, who made good.

Exactly this
He achieved on his own merits and hard work.

Decency is NOT a description I could apply to Mr Sunak. His announcement of the date of the General Election mostly concentrated of snide, cheap, whining, peevish and nasty shots at Keir Starmer and the Opposition.

For all his millions he hasn't learnt how to be a gentleman.

Buy youself a copy of Debrett's, Rishi.

MissAdventure

Oh yes, I agree with righting written wrongs (try saying that five times, quickly!)

Blimey you've coined a new tongue-twister 🤣🤣

Plunger

Can Starmer cut the sob story about his poor background! My brother was a toolmaker and my sister a nurse. They were all around the same age as his parents and neither were on the breadline. Lived in the SE of England. Sister was a divorced single parent. Anyone who could afford a home telephone in the 50s or 60s was not hard up. They were considered a luxury. Even I didn't have one until the middle 70s.

I just thought he’d morphed into victim mode. It was like watching someone on Strictly or the X-factor. . I am very wary of him. He has a history of being very left wing only appearing to be transforming for electability.

Surely we need an intelligent person with the right policies.?

Rosie51

Plunger if you look at my post of 11.56 I believe I've solved it, Casdon was using A USA government census which did mean home phones.

No, it was UK. I did misinterpret it though - it said access to a telephone, not own a telephone in the census. That I think on reflection means a neighbour or public phone box within easy access.

Plunger

Casdon

By 1960 only one in five households didn’t have access to a telephone Plunger, it certainly wasn’t a luxury. That comes from the Census.

These attempts to discredit Starmer are now entering into the world of fiction, Gransnet could launch its own conspiracy theory company at this rate. At the end of it, it boils down to the fact, unpalatable though it is for some, that he was a very gifted boy from an ordinary family, who made good.

Access to a telephone does not equate to a home telephone. There were red phone boxes everywhere which were the only access the majority had. People would actually call the box and ask for someone to fetch whoever from their home. Did it many times.
.

We had a home phone in the 1960’s. Left by the person before.

It was left connected, but we weren’t allowed to make outgoing calls,🙄

Casdon

Rosie51

Plunger if you look at my post of 11.56 I believe I've solved it, Casdon was using A USA government census which did mean home phones.

No, it was UK. I did misinterpret it though - it said access to a telephone, not own a telephone in the census. That I think on reflection means a neighbour or public phone box within easy access.

And yet your phrasing was identical to that from the USA census? How strange. Can you link to your source please as I'm interested to see it? Thanks.

icanhandthemback

Plunger

Can Starmer cut the sob story about his poor background! My brother was a toolmaker and my sister a nurse. They were all around the same age as his parents and neither were on the breadline. Lived in the SE of England. Sister was a divorced single parent. Anyone who could afford a home telephone in the 50s or 60s was not hard up. They were considered a luxury. Even I didn't have one until the middle 70s.

I just thought he’d morphed into victim mode. It was like watching someone on Strictly or the X-factor. . I am very wary of him. He has a history of being very left wing only appearing to be transforming for electability.

He has a history of being very left wing only appearing to be transforming for electability

No, I've been in the LP throughout and he has never been very left wing. Thats not to say he hasn't changed any announcements on policy - they change over time and do for all politicians depending on the given political circumstances.