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Kier Starmer & voice coach during tier 4 lockdown

(305 Posts)
Mt61 Mon 03-Feb-25 17:16:14

How hypocritical of Kier Starmer to have had a voice coach over for lessons during
Tier 4 lockdowns on Christmas Eve!

I am absolutely raging mad that I stuck fast to these lockdown rules, that I hardly saw my parents during these lockdowns, didn’t notice my dad’s dementia because mum always came to the door, couldn’t attend my Aunts funeral, ended up with severe depression & he’s got the gall to put this woman down as a key worker, I thought that was for emergency services, care workers, & shop staff?
What was so urgent that he needed a voice coach on Christmas Eve, he wasn’t even PM?
To think that they gave BJ so much flack, it’s truly unbelievable 😩

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 14:35:37

Apologies Doodledog, I mistook you for another poster always ready with private school digs! My mistake.
I'm not sure it would be possible to have politicians speaking as we would like them to, because some might like a low voice tone (Boris), whereas others might find that bombastic. Personally I think Starner's voice is the a bit
thready if you get what I mean. Thatcher's wax awful, but memorable. The Welsh politicians are the best for me - Neil Kinnock, David Owen of course 👌.

LizzieDrip Wed 05-Feb-25 14:34:02

That was to Escaped.

LizzieDrip Wed 05-Feb-25 14:33:20

So, you can be spouting a load of bull sh** like Johnson most of the time, but as long as you’ve got rise and fall in your voice, pitch and emphasis … that’s OK.

MissAdventure Wed 05-Feb-25 14:32:20

Hitler was a fabulous speaker, so they say.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 14:27:20

Chocolatelovinggran

If I'm looking for splendid diction and charisma, I'll go to the theatre.
In the leaders of the country, I look at different criteria.

I think you're missing the point here a bit. It's nothing to do with diction, (though that helps). It's to do with the rise and fall of your voice, pitch, emphasis and all the rest of it. In order to make your speaking persuasive, credible, engaging etc. so people don't nod off or lose interest!

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 05-Feb-25 14:22:10

If I'm looking for splendid diction and charisma, I'll go to the theatre.
In the leaders of the country, I look at different criteria.

Doodledog Wed 05-Feb-25 14:22:00

escaped

Doodledog

What we really need is Eton-educated ministers, isn't it? You know, our 'betters' who were born to rule. That would help to get the country back on its feet.

Oh.

You won't mind my saying, because you know my background (!!), but yes, public speaking is on the curriculum at many independent schools. Children regularly take LAMDA examinations. It helps their confidence.
I'm not sure they're "better" than any other pupil though.

I don't mind your saying as this is a discussion grin. I don't think I do know your background, but anyway it's irrelevant to this.

I took ESB exams, but I don't know what difference that makes to my ability to run a country. None at all, I suspect. I only mention it because of the way many people on here complain when politicians don't speak as they would like them to, but then complain when they try to do something about it.

Barleyfields Wed 05-Feb-25 14:17:21

escaped

Yes, apparently he employed this same lady since 2017. She said he was "wooden" and "not at ease in himself"??

She didn’t manage to change him then.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 14:15:48

I think many people in countryside properties will have an advantage in being able to have a low cost recharging point for an EV on their premises.
True.

Tip ..... if you're buying a car from a dealer, after they've agreed the price of the car with you, negotiate to have the EV charging point thrown in the deal!

MissAdventure Wed 05-Feb-25 14:12:21

Confidence is no help if they're not up to the job, though.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 14:06:30

Doodledog

What we really need is Eton-educated ministers, isn't it? You know, our 'betters' who were born to rule. That would help to get the country back on its feet.

Oh.

You won't mind my saying, because you know my background (!!), but yes, public speaking is on the curriculum at many independent schools. Children regularly take LAMDA examinations. It helps their confidence.
I'm not sure they're "better" than any other pupil though.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 14:00:31

Cameron was good
Gordon Brown not bad
Tony Blair OK
Boris - tops
Rishi - not good
Starmer thumbs 👎

All in my humble opinion as a linguist, and LAMDA trained!!

Mamie Wed 05-Feb-25 13:59:52

I guess now 56% of electricity in the UK is from nuclear and sustainable energy, the shift to electricity might be possible with a state owned energy company. I think many people in countryside properties will have an advantage in being able to have a low cost recharging point for an EV on their premises, which is much harder in towns.
Certainly here in rural northern France, gas is not available and oil is dying out fast. Lots of ground to air, air to air and photovoltaic roof panels going in.

bathsalts Wed 05-Feb-25 13:57:01

Doodledog

What we really need is Eton-educated ministers, isn't it? You know, our 'betters' who were born to rule. That would help to get the country back on its feet.

Oh.

Yes, no flat vowels for us old chap.

Doodledog Wed 05-Feb-25 13:54:00

What we really need is Eton-educated ministers, isn't it? You know, our 'betters' who were born to rule. That would help to get the country back on its feet.

Oh.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 13:48:52

Yes, apparently he employed this same lady since 2017. She said he was "wooden" and "not at ease in himself"??

Barleyfields Wed 05-Feb-25 13:44:58

5 years’ worth? Really? Not much of an advertisement for this lady’s abilities then.

Perhaps the Central should send details of their online course to various members of the government. I will start by suggesting Starmer, Reeves, Rayner and Lammy. I’m sure there are others who would benefit.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 13:42:23

Barleyfields

I think he needs another course of lessons escaped. Whatever he learned must have gone in one ear and out the other.

Cloth eared generally.

escaped Wed 05-Feb-25 13:39:30

Barleyfields

I think he needs another course of lessons escaped. Whatever he learned must have gone in one ear and out the other.

But he already had 5 years' worth. He should almost be at Masters level by now!
By the way, the revered Central School of Speech and Drama, (I know well because back in 1980 they offered me a 3 year F/T place), is advertising the right course for Keir Starmer:
Developing Your Professional Voice: Public Speaking and Presentation Skills. Online course.
There's no need to bring a tutor up from Brighton. Certainly not a keyworker at the time either.

jobieP Wed 05-Feb-25 13:09:33

Reeves voice is awful as well.
I read that 30 curries were ordered. So, if true more people where
there than said.

Barleyfields Wed 05-Feb-25 12:22:33

Yes Cossy, oil heating is much more expensive than gas. The government seems to think everyone can switch to electricity but realistically a very great many can’t. Milliband really has no idea.

Barleyfields Wed 05-Feb-25 12:19:44

I expect they grow barley in Norfolk bathsalts. I’m an Essex girl and barley is certainly grown in Essex, fwiw.

Cossy Wed 05-Feb-25 12:17:52

Doodledog

I suspect that a lot of the targets around things like EVs ,heat pumps etc are more to encourage people who are planning to replace things to consider getting the more ecologically sensible versions than to force anyone's hand. People can only spend what they have, so insisting that everyone forks out £30k for a bottom of the range EV, or £15k for a heat pump just won't work, and people won't stand for being told they can't have transport or heating and hot water.

Whether this approach will work is anyone's guess. It might nudge things along and improve developments in the newer technology, I suppose. We will need a new boiler in the short-medium term. The plan is to hang on as long as we can to the old one, but to replace it with a gas one before it's too late, so that with luck we will avoid the need for a heat pump before they are cheaper, smaller and more efficient. The same applies to cars - we currently have a diesel one that has an Adblue system to reduce emissions, and will put off replacing it until we absolutely have to, in the hope that by then there will be a better infrastructure for EVs. Even then, we might buy a second hand car that runs on petrol or diesel, as they won't be outlawed for the foreseeable future.

Sensible plans which I echo.

I do wonder though why more new builds aren’t more eco-friendly? There must be a financially sustainable way of doing this??

Cossy Wed 05-Feb-25 12:15:48

Barleyfields

I suspect Labour have no idea how many people are totally reliant on oil, don’t even have a mains gas supply available, and live in homes totally unsuitable to bolt an air source heat pump onto.

I suspect that no govt has/had any idea.

It’s a real challenge for those who have no access to gas. The financial costs is also higher, I believe.

Allira Wed 05-Feb-25 12:11:27

bathsalts

Are there Barleyfields in Norfolk?

confused odd question 😀

Yes, miles and miles of barley fields, good for beer making. 🍺