Starmer's stubbornness

Germanshepherdsmum

Not long RVK1CR, in my opinion. He doesn’t come across as a strong leader. He will face a challenge from those further left.

Labour aren’t like the Conservatives who change their leader on a regular basis! Ok, so they did change Blair for Brown but that was in their third term in office. Just remind me how many leaders the Conservative Party has had over the past few years…

There will be a challenge from the ‘left’ who want `Starmer to reflect their minority views. There’s also the issue of his support for Sunak’s approach to Gaza. Many of this minority accuse Starmer of ‘being a zionist’, linking that to his wife’s Jewish heritage. All very unpleasant and, if a Starmer led LP wins the election, unnecessary and wrong.
Starmer is a strong leader and will continue to assert control over the disrupters. They don’t like it but he’s managing it. Unlike the conservatives, scrapping publicly like rats in a sack

Not long RVK1CR, in my opinion. He doesn’t come across as a strong leader. He will face a challenge from those further left.

The boys' state Grammar School, entrance by scholarship only, where I grew up chose to become independent and partly fee-paying; its results declined. The girls' Grammar School chose to remain scholarship entrance only and continues to maintain its high standards to this day.
Possibly irrelevant but just saying.
I would dispense with fee-paying schools and increase the number of Grammar schools, and Special schools.

It’s and envy and spite tax, nothing less. If it breaks even it will be a miracle, as Labour already knows and has been told by public finance bodies.

It is my observation over the years, that those who harbour negative emotions such as spite, envy, anger, resentment and bitterness are eaten up by them and never thrive. This, rather than the ‘luck’ of others is what causes them to fail. Those who strive to be happy, contented and grateful generally are ‘blessed’ by good fortune.

Germanshepherdsmum

Starmer doesn’t give a damn. He just wants to punish people like you.

I wonder how long Starmer will reign at No10?

Casdon

Germanshepherdsmum

I know that and I haven’t suggested that his parents paid fees. But it was a very good school. You can’t deny that.

You’re flogging a dead horse here, because you’re the only one who cares about his A levels- they are irrelevant 42 years down the line, whatever the results. I doubt he was even required to list his A levels on his CV, the 1st class degree and masters were what counted.

I agree.

I don't think people "on the doorstep" will give two hoots about the less than 3 A's A level results given that he went on to get a first/then Oxford.

Especially if he was caring for his very sick mother at the time.

Put another way - if it wasn’t a good school would parents pay to send their children there?

only a very good grammar school will become independent, as Starmer’s school did

That's not how I remember it, GSM. Grammar schools were given the choice to become independent or stay in the state system. Becoming independent had nothing to do with how 'good' they were. It was just a choice they made.

You have no idea whether I was the only person to be shocked at such mediocre results.

Lizzie, only a very good grammar school will become independent, as Starmer’s school did whilst he was there, and with that status comes a privileged education. As you have argued.

Germanshepherdsmum

I know that and I haven’t suggested that his parents paid fees. But it was a very good school. You can’t deny that.

You’re flogging a dead horse here, because you’re the only one who cares about his A levels- they are irrelevant 42 years down the line, whatever the results. I doubt he was even required to list his A levels on his CV, the 1st class degree and masters were what counted.

Yes, it was a good state grammar school, not an independent school and not very privileged as you state.

I know that and I haven’t suggested that his parents paid fees. But it was a very good school. You can’t deny that.

Oh for God’s sake GSM, you know very well that Keir Starmer attended the selective state Reigate Grammar School, which became a private school while he was a student. When the school became independent, existing students did not have to pay fees.

Sorry, he was at what was then an independent school, very privileged. I don’t buy that.

I was interested to read in today’s ST that his A level results were BBC. Interesting after attending what was by then an elite public school. Dear God, I did better than that and so did my son in state schools. AAA. Just how clever is he?
Possibly his results were affected by his mother's ill health. He has said he spent a lot of time in high dependency units. His University acceptance probably recognised his difficulties and his subsequent degrees show his ability, his A level results may not
I'm no Starmer fan but there is no need to question his abilities.

Sorry
DH's boss once complained to him that Harrow's fees were now over a £1m a year per child, and how was he supposed to pay for this?
I think the boss might have been having a laugh. £1m!! Unless he had 20 children!

^DH's boss once complained to him that Harrow's fees were now over a £1m a year per child, and how was he supposed to pay for
I think the boss might have been having a laugh. £1m!! Unless he had 20 children!

93% - 7% Enough said!

Starmer doesn’t give a damn. He just wants to punish people like you.

Starmer does not realise that many parents scrimp and go without to pay school fees and 20% on top will mean some children will have to be found a place in the state system.
I was one of those parents, back in the day it was £18,000, per year, now about £46,000. People choose between holidays abroad, new cars etc. and those children are taking the pressure off state schools. I have no time for Rishi and even less for Starmer, what a choice.

Nice of you wwm. That heartfelt private apology for insulting me the other day - you might as well not have bothered because you have reverted to form. And how readily I forgave you. How stupid I am.

Private schools do pay tax freja. They are presently unable to reclaim the vat they pay but they will be able to do so if they can charge vat on fees.

There is apparently a shortage of teachers especially in maths. When tge private schools start cutting back on the numbers of pupils they take, the numbers of teachers too will be reduced but I doubt it will be those in short supply in state schools. The state schools will need to accept additional pupils but there is no guarantee the "spare" teachers will follow. Many will have already experienced the conditions in state schools and not wish to return. It takes a minimum of 9 months for a graduate to qualify for teaching, An awful lot of Starmer's plan is based on people wanting to teach in overcrowded,underfunded, undermanaged environments.

Germanshepherdsmum

Yes, they do matter. My career success was limited initially, by choice , by motherhood but you probably know how I progressed and I am not seeking to score points against you. I remain unconvinced about Starmer’s intellectual ability.

Yes, you have told us often. Your comment about A level results is beneath you.