Starmer's stubbornness

Oh dear - keep digging because you are simply making your remarks look sillier by the minute.

And frankly my dear i doubt that many of labours supporters can give a damn.

Honestly continually talking about one’s achievements is not a good look, and I notice that no one else feels the need to do so.

But now to begin to compare oneself with who is potentially the next prime minister is boarding on the bizarre.

I agree with the Labour Party on this. I am of course assuming he is talking about schools such as Eton and Harrow. 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.

My real experience of private schooling is this. We lived in Germany and the 2 eldest went to the International School ; paid for by the company, and youngest a German state school. All was well until the fall of the Berlin wall and the deutschmark.

My eldest children then went to a private school in UK, nothing fancy, it was previously known as an forces school for officers and was supported by the local council until they went private. When my youngest was eligible to join his siblings he was refused. Reason, he had an education statement and needed extra educational support due to being Dyslexic. The council was willing to provide extra teaching help. The reaction from the school's headteacher was ' we can of 10 of these kids every week, not good for the school's image'.

As a result we took our 2 children out of this school and placed them in a state school, because we treated all our children the same. As a consequence, they all got their degrees and are doing very well as adults including out dyslexic child.

My point is this, it's about being fair to all children, If you can afford private school fine but not at the expense of everyone else. My children only went to a private school because we lived in Germany. It nearly bankrupted us and that was before our youngest was refused. In fact their snobbery did us a favour.
Our schools are crumbling and the teachers are on their knees, at the expense of the privileged rich and favoured few, our universities are going the same way. If we need an example of the over previledged who can cheat the system because they got private education just look at Boris Johnson, David Cameron and many MPs.

Let's work together and support this idea. Ask yourselves Why do private schools have charity status, Answer, because they don't pay have to pay tax, is that fair? We complain about big companies not paying taxes, well private schools are a means of tax avoidance for the very rich.

By working together we can give all the next generation a good education no matter what their background, after all we live in the same country rich or poor and we need each other to survive, to do this every child needs a good education.

We need all our children, not the selected few, to have a good education which will lead to jobs, careers and the future prosperity of this country

A level results really don’t matter at all if your later academic successes overshadow them Germanshepherdsmum. There is no way Oxford would have accepted him for a Masters if his initial degree results hadn’t been outstanding.

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.

He achieved his A levels whilst being chief carer of his mum.

What an unpleasant and frankly childish remark.

Casdon

Joseann

And Maybee70 he went to the Taylor Swift gig at Wembley!

He’s got a 13 year old daughter, bet she had a great time! I would have gone myself given the chance, I’ve heard Taylor is great live.

Here you are. No picture of daughter as he keeps them as private as possible

Germanshepherdsmum

MayBee70

‘I first meet Keir Starmer in March, on the platform of Harlow station in Essex. We’re heading to Purford Green Primary School, where the Labour leader will emphasise his desire to unleash a “generation of creativity” in schools. Team Starmer shuttle off the train. They all carry themselves in public a bit like the boss: cordial but tightly wound, powered by a kind of in-it-to-win-it intensity.
Starmer stops to say hello. “We’re going to see some eight and nine-year-olds,” he tells me before being bundled into a waiting Range Rover. “Then after that we’re going to Westminster, where the average age will drop considerably.”
A joke! And quite a funny one at that. This is the first surprising thing you should know about Keir Starmer: he has a good sense of humour. He’s not Ricky Gervais funny, but he leavens his intensity with quick, witty asides as he moves through the world. Another thing you should know about Starmer is that he’s genial, relaxed company. He likes a pint or two. He enjoys arguing about footie. He doesn’t like having his doors opened or bags carried. He is, in many ways, a pretty normal bloke.
But try as he might, much of the public still doesn’t perceive him as such. And he really has tried. He has welled up about his childhood on national television. He’s co-operated with a revealing biography. He’s done Desert Island Discs. He’s been a public figure for the best part of two decades, from top human rights barrister to director of public prosecutions to Labour’s shadow Brexit minister and now leader of the opposition. And yet still there’s this sense of unknowability about Starmer, a cautious opacity that leaves many people cold or vaguely suspicious.
Who is he really? To find out, I’ve followed him around the country for three months, riding pillion on his seemingly inexorable quest to become the most powerful man in Britain. I’ve been to hospitals in Mansfield and nurseries in Nuneaton. I’ve been to his local, the Pineapple in Kentish Town. I’ve watched him pat babies and embrace veterans and endure the hellish cacophony of a primary school music class.
What I’ve found is someone as kind as he is ruthless, densely resilient yet also thin-skinned, coursing with emotion but deeply repressed. Starmer seems a man unwilling, or unable (or possibly both), to perform the public role that many people expect him to: the charismatic leader, the nimble debater, the warm, jocular father of the nation. But barring a miraculous Tory resurrection he will soon be prime minister anyway.’
From todays Times

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?

Do you actually think A level results matter at 60? Particularly when you’ve got a masters from Oxford and rose to the very top of your profession before reaching the leadership role in politics he has? If it gives you comfort to gloat that your A level results were better than his, you carry on. 😓 (PS so were mine, but neither of has us achieved the heights of career success he has, have we?)

He got a First Class degree, GSM, if you feel it's essential to go down that route. 💁

I believe he got a first class honours degree, and then did a masters the following year.

MayBee70

‘I first meet Keir Starmer in March, on the platform of Harlow station in Essex. We’re heading to Purford Green Primary School, where the Labour leader will emphasise his desire to unleash a “generation of creativity” in schools. Team Starmer shuttle off the train. They all carry themselves in public a bit like the boss: cordial but tightly wound, powered by a kind of in-it-to-win-it intensity.
Starmer stops to say hello. “We’re going to see some eight and nine-year-olds,” he tells me before being bundled into a waiting Range Rover. “Then after that we’re going to Westminster, where the average age will drop considerably.”
A joke! And quite a funny one at that. This is the first surprising thing you should know about Keir Starmer: he has a good sense of humour. He’s not Ricky Gervais funny, but he leavens his intensity with quick, witty asides as he moves through the world. Another thing you should know about Starmer is that he’s genial, relaxed company. He likes a pint or two. He enjoys arguing about footie. He doesn’t like having his doors opened or bags carried. He is, in many ways, a pretty normal bloke.
But try as he might, much of the public still doesn’t perceive him as such. And he really has tried. He has welled up about his childhood on national television. He’s co-operated with a revealing biography. He’s done Desert Island Discs. He’s been a public figure for the best part of two decades, from top human rights barrister to director of public prosecutions to Labour’s shadow Brexit minister and now leader of the opposition. And yet still there’s this sense of unknowability about Starmer, a cautious opacity that leaves many people cold or vaguely suspicious.
Who is he really? To find out, I’ve followed him around the country for three months, riding pillion on his seemingly inexorable quest to become the most powerful man in Britain. I’ve been to hospitals in Mansfield and nurseries in Nuneaton. I’ve been to his local, the Pineapple in Kentish Town. I’ve watched him pat babies and embrace veterans and endure the hellish cacophony of a primary school music class.
What I’ve found is someone as kind as he is ruthless, densely resilient yet also thin-skinned, coursing with emotion but deeply repressed. Starmer seems a man unwilling, or unable (or possibly both), to perform the public role that many people expect him to: the charismatic leader, the nimble debater, the warm, jocular father of the nation. But barring a miraculous Tory resurrection he will soon be prime minister anyway.’
From todays Times

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?

Joseann

And Maybee70 he went to the Taylor Swift gig at Wembley!

He’s got a 13 year old daughter, bet she had a great time! I would have gone myself given the chance, I’ve heard Taylor is great live.

I wouldn't accept the opinion of someone who thought Ricky Getvais was funny. Really???

And Maybee70 he went to the Taylor Swift gig at Wembley!

dalrymple23

What about the children of members of the armed forces? They get posted every 18 to 24 months. Despite a national misconception, they only have a small percentage of school fees paid by MoD. Parents have to make up the rest, which is a huge chunk out of a lower rank salary. These people are prepared to put their lives on the line for all of us. It is a national disgrace that Starmer wants to penalise them.

Before various statistics are bandied around the place and used as ammo, I should like to see what the proportion is of non UK nationals in the great scheme of the education census! Me sceptical? Good lord no!!

Don't forget that one of the greatest educational levellers was the grammar school. If you were bright enough, you could climb the heights. If you did not quite make it at 11, you went to secondary modern (you could re-take 11+ after a year) but meanwhile received a good grounding AND went on to learn a trade. What is wrong with that? We all need plumbers, carpenters and electricians and why do those trades need Latin?

But, of course, this sound idea was smashed by the Labour Party. Do not forget this on 4 July.

I've checked out armed forces education. In the UK they can attend State Schools and if they are abroad they get free education.

It's the ones where parents want their children to go to boarding school that fit your description

for whom as you describe MoD gives a grant towards boarding schools.

From Gov.Uk website

The MOD provides schools and early years settings in key locations overseas and these are run by Defence Children Services ( DCS )
DCS schools and settings provide education to the dependent children of service personnel and MOD entitled civilians, entitled contractors and fee payers

‘I first meet Keir Starmer in March, on the platform of Harlow station in Essex. We’re heading to Purford Green Primary School, where the Labour leader will emphasise his desire to unleash a “generation of creativity” in schools. Team Starmer shuttle off the train. They all carry themselves in public a bit like the boss: cordial but tightly wound, powered by a kind of in-it-to-win-it intensity.
Starmer stops to say hello. “We’re going to see some eight and nine-year-olds,” he tells me before being bundled into a waiting Range Rover. “Then after that we’re going to Westminster, where the average age will drop considerably.”
A joke! And quite a funny one at that. This is the first surprising thing you should know about Keir Starmer: he has a good sense of humour. He’s not Ricky Gervais funny, but he leavens his intensity with quick, witty asides as he moves through the world. Another thing you should know about Starmer is that he’s genial, relaxed company. He likes a pint or two. He enjoys arguing about footie. He doesn’t like having his doors opened or bags carried. He is, in many ways, a pretty normal bloke.
But try as he might, much of the public still doesn’t perceive him as such. And he really has tried. He has welled up about his childhood on national television. He’s co-operated with a revealing biography. He’s done Desert Island Discs. He’s been a public figure for the best part of two decades, from top human rights barrister to director of public prosecutions to Labour’s shadow Brexit minister and now leader of the opposition. And yet still there’s this sense of unknowability about Starmer, a cautious opacity that leaves many people cold or vaguely suspicious.
Who is he really? To find out, I’ve followed him around the country for three months, riding pillion on his seemingly inexorable quest to become the most powerful man in Britain. I’ve been to hospitals in Mansfield and nurseries in Nuneaton. I’ve been to his local, the Pineapple in Kentish Town. I’ve watched him pat babies and embrace veterans and endure the hellish cacophony of a primary school music class.
What I’ve found is someone as kind as he is ruthless, densely resilient yet also thin-skinned, coursing with emotion but deeply repressed. Starmer seems a man unwilling, or unable (or possibly both), to perform the public role that many people expect him to: the charismatic leader, the nimble debater, the warm, jocular father of the nation. But barring a miraculous Tory resurrection he will soon be prime minister anyway.’
From todays Times

...and where did Starmer go to school? He'll start on the Grammar schools next. 'Pull the ladder up Stammer' I call him.

I think you are probably right maddyone. I don’t know how much money they are hoping to raise from this initiative. This morning on LBC the Shadow Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said that the money raised was going to be used for Breakdast clubs and Mental Health provision in schools. Meanwhile in the Sunday Times Sir Keir said it was going to fund 100,000 new childcare places. The Shadow Minister did confirm that those children with an EHCP will be exempt from the VAT but also acknowledged that many don’t. The list of things they want to do with this money seems endless. If a large number of parents withdraw their children they may have to revise their sums.

Ah yes, apologies Casdon. Very interesting figures aren’t they!

As you say, if they don’t fit the narrative, oft times they get ignored🤷‍♀️

I posted the actual figures for 2023 above LizzieDrip, but it wasn’t acknowledged - didn’t fit the narrative I guess.

but you know as well as I do that Labour is dependent on funding from the unions

GSM not the case. Labour’s donations during the first weeks of the election campaign were in the £millions - most of it not from the unions.

I’m sure you’ve seen the figures; Tory donations have plummeted.

Dynawritecat

I think we should all be ashamed to live in a country that has a two tier education system. Get rid of all private schools and make a decent system for all. The current system merely propagates entitlement and privilege. Time to end it!

But Starmer has nothing against private schools as such. He keeps saying this. Of course he doesn't want to get rid of them.

Iam64

Babamaman

What ever happened to Tony Blair’s promise of ‘education, education, education’?

The tories got in

That's an interesting one from my experience in the independent sector. We certainly noticed a downturn in pupil numbers from 1997 onwards when prospective parents decided to choose the state sector over the independent sector for their children's schooling, encouraged by the Education, education, education promise. 5 or 6 years later though, they were disillusioned, and were flocking back to the private sector. I know this because when we sold the school in 2004 numbers were at their peak with waiting lists in some classes. The promise had obviously not
materialised.

Babamaman

What ever happened to Tony Blair’s promise of ‘education, education, education’?

The tories got in

👏👏👏 I went to a grammar school at 11 and had a friend who joined after re-taking her 11+. By and large those I knew who attended the local secondary modern left at 16 and learned trades. It worked.

There was no 11+ in our area when my son was young. He went to the local comprehensive which had some excellent teachers.

What about the children of members of the armed forces? They get posted every 18 to 24 months. Despite a national misconception, they only have a small percentage of school fees paid by MoD. Parents have to make up the rest, which is a huge chunk out of a lower rank salary. These people are prepared to put their lives on the line for all of us. It is a national disgrace that Starmer wants to penalise them.

Before various statistics are bandied around the place and used as ammo, I should like to see what the proportion is of non UK nationals in the great scheme of the education census! Me sceptical? Good lord no!!

Don't forget that one of the greatest educational levellers was the grammar school. If you were bright enough, you could climb the heights. If you did not quite make it at 11, you went to secondary modern (you could re-take 11+ after a year) but meanwhile received a good grounding AND went on to learn a trade. What is wrong with that? We all need plumbers, carpenters and electricians and why do those trades need Latin?

But, of course, this sound idea was smashed by the Labour Party. Do not forget this on 4 July.