Let’s hear it for Sir Keir Starmer

sazzl has repeated the Savile slur against Starmer a number of times on Gransnet, despite it being pointed out on every occasion that it is unfounded. Why people think others won’t notice when they repeat lies, I don’t know.

Starmer Farmer Harmer didn't come out to talk to or see the Pancake Day Farmer Rally /Demo outside Downing Street

I think there are more important things for him to do that deal with tax avoiding farmers - they have no more right to be exempt from inheritance tax than the rest of us.

Some people want peace but don't want to have to contribute either money or boots-on-the-ground to a peace force.

How do they suggest we make sure that peace continues, then? It cetainly won't continue unless peaceful people make sure that it does.

That means, first of all, that we must look beyond our own coastline and know what is going on elsewhere. If countries are tearing each other apart or invading other people's territories, or harassing a location with desirable assets until it gives them away in exchange for a promise to think about peace deals "later" then it is only a matter of time before violence escalates to affect other countries. We can't turn our backs and pretend that danger does not exist.

Secondly, we need friends, and those friends need us. One emblem of Rome was a bundle of sticks tied firmly together. It was a symbol of the strength of unity. One stick can be easily snapped, but a bundle with strong connections withstands attempts to break it. NATO was one such bundle, but it is under stress from the US threat to leave. Our ties and connections with other countries who value peace and co-operation over taking over territory and control by threats have to be kept positive and alive by discussions and common aims, and more countries added who want peace and are prepared to foster it.

Thirdly, there is a need, right now, for sensitive peacekeeping forces in several volatile (or worse) places. That, however unpalatable and unpopular the thought, can only be done by real people, not by distant surveillance and unmanned weapons. Those may detect buildups of military vehicles, but they can't do as well as an intelligent, humane and well-trained peace force.

Fourthly, all three of the previous paragraphs take money. You can't run organisations to collect information, keep allies friendly, informed and in sync with plans, and train, equip, lead, and support a corps of peacekeepers, without money. The US have supplied quite a lot of that (though almost certainly not as much as Americans think it has cost them) but there is a possibility they they will cut that spending, or even quit contributing to or taking part in any defensive initiative outside the States.

If we want peace, we have to pay for it, in money and in preparedness and in putting in the work to create a climate of co-operation between nations where it can thrive.

I dislike Starmer as he tends to ignore things, like Jimmy Savile, the Grooming gangs, WASPI women, pensioners just a couple of pounds over the limit for pension credit

Oh here we go again. The Saville thing was a lie by Boris Johnson (Trumps friend!). He didn't ignore Waspi women - you might not like the decision, nor do I, but he didn't ignore them. He has no more 'ignored' Grooming Gangs than every Prime Minister up to now.
Maybe have a go at the Tories as Thatcher insisted on Savilles knighthood against advice and the Royals who were buddies with him too.
Or maybe just look back on the last 14 years and the 5 Prime Ministers who have left Starmer one hell of a mess to clear up.

LizzieDrip

Farmers should be ashamed of themselves IMO.

The country is virtually on a war footing yet they still maintain their selfish right to exceptionalism with regard to IHT.

Stop being so greedy and do your bit for your country, farmers … as we all have to!

Gosh, I don't know where to start with your post LizzieDrip! Hope you never find empty shelves in your farm shops and supermarkets. What an attitude towards those who are more essential to our survival than anyone.
They're right - no farmers, no pancakes today.

However, I will agree that perhaps today was not the best time for a protest as it would get lost but perhaps it was arranged in advance and could not be changed.

Casdon

sazzl has repeated the Savile slur against Starmer a number of times on Gransnet, despite it being pointed out on every occasion that it is unfounded. Why people think others won’t notice when they repeat lies, I don’t know.

Posts can be reported for breaking the guidelines. Repeating this slur which has countered time and again on Gransnet, should be reported as "spreading false information"

(It was countered by looking at how much, or in the Saville case how little, of the facts were known at that point, the lack of witnesses to come forward and give evidence to the police which would form the basis of a sound case to proceed with, and the way that the CPS decided whether a case could reasonably proceed on the police evidence available )

Paul Gambaccini wasn't best pleased with Starmer

What are the landed gentry AKA Clarkson/ Farage/ Farmers protesting about exactly?

Thanks Elegran and others for correcting sazzl’s incorrect claims .
I’ve asked gransnet to take a look. It isn’t the first time this slur against Starmer has been made on this forum

Do some research and you might find out.
Why should I waste my time posting details for those who appear to be so biased?

Allira

Do some research and you might find out.
Why should I waste my time posting details for those who appear to be so biased?

bias? repititon? Fancy that.

Iam64

Thanks Elegran and others for correcting sazzl’s incorrect claims .
I’ve asked gransnet to take a look. It isn’t the first time this slur against Starmer has been made on this forum

Thanks both. I must admit I had noticed she was repeating the slur months ago, but I didn’t think to do anything about it then, which I should have with hindsight.

We have had our fil of "charisma" in politics. The firm and capable hands of Starmer are just what is needed.

Can you imagine Boris in tuis scenario? - it does not bear thinking about.

Excellent post at 19:55, Elegran.

Landed gentry, Farage ? You’re having a laugh.

Gransnet responded by saying the incorrect allegations against Starmer are an opinion. They want to encourage debate.

I’m relieved to see so many posters attempting to correct misinformation that slurs Starmer. Disagree with his policies and politics by all means but it’s important to recognise the many positives from his legal work. Nazir Afzal credits Starmer with changing the way investigations into the sexual exploitation of children were managed. That work enabled the first prosecutions of men in so called grooming gangs

“Gransnet responded by saying the incorrect allegations against Starmer are an opinion. They want to encourage debate.”

I would have said it was slander, as it has been proven to be wrong, but that’s my opinion.

J52

“Gransnet responded by saying the incorrect allegations against Starmer are an opinion. They want to encourage debate.”

I would have said it was slander, as it has been proven to be wrong, but that’s my opinion.

Me too.

Frankly I’d support action taken against anyone posting such slanderous and damaging remarks about any public figure, irrespective of their political allegiance.

Of course it was, and proven to be so.

I don't agree with Starmer on a few things, but never ever have I been so grateful for a highly intelligent, experienced, calm and collected PM as him, in such dangerous time.

Fullfact on Starmer/Saville -

"Full Fact reached out to Labour and the CPS to see if they could give any further information about the case and if Mr Starmer had any involvement beyond his role as head of the CPS.

A spokesperson for the CPS said that, “in line with the established data retention policy”, none of the records for the decision not to charge Savile in 2009 were kept.

He added: “There is no reference within the [investigation] report to any involvement from the DPP in the decision-making in the case. The reviewing lawyer at the time set out their own reasons for the decisions they took, which are reproduced in the report.”

A spokesperson for the Labour party said they could not comment on individual cases, but insisted Mr Starmer “put victims at the heart of the judicial system” during his time as DPP, including improving support for victims of sexual and domestic violence and introducing a right for victims to challenge CPS decisions."

I'm sure that Zelensky's crucial letter wouldn't have been possible without efforts put in by Starmer. Hats off.

nanna8, I see that you take issue with Mr Farage being accused of being landed gentry.
I agree that he is not gentry, but he comes from landed/ loaded stock.
He attended Dulwich College, a top notch and very expensive public school, and worked for some years as a merchant banker.
Are you believing his man- of -the- people act perhaps?

Elegran

Fullfact on Starmer/Saville -

"Full Fact reached out to Labour and the CPS to see if they could give any further information about the case and if Mr Starmer had any involvement beyond his role as head of the CPS.

A spokesperson for the CPS said that, “in line with the established data retention policy”, none of the records for the decision not to charge Savile in 2009 were kept.

He added: “There is no reference within the [investigation] report to any involvement from the DPP in the decision-making in the case. The reviewing lawyer at the time set out their own reasons for the decisions they took, which are reproduced in the report.”

^A spokesperson for the Labour party said they could not comment on individual cases, but insisted Mr Starmer “put victims at the heart of the judicial system” during his time as DPP, including improving support for victims of sexual and domestic violence and introducing a right for victims to challenge CPS decisions."^

Further information on the grooming gang allegations against Starmer:

theweek.com/news/politics/955638/what-did-keir-starmer-do-as-dpp

Chocolatelovinggran

nanna8, I see that you take issue with Mr Farage being accused of being landed gentry.
I agree that he is not gentry, but he comes from landed/ loaded stock.
He attended Dulwich College, a top notch and very expensive public school, and worked for some years as a merchant banker.
Are you believing his man- of -the- people act perhaps?

Well, his wealthy father walked out when Nigel was five.
His grandfather was a private in the Army.

I would have thought less silver spoon 'landed gentry' than nouveau riches. There is a difference.

Are you believing his man- of -the- people act perhaps?

Yes, he's no different than most people except that he went to a posher school.