Let’s hear it for Sir Keir Starmer

On the contrary, I think he is taking advantage of the situation to make himself seem a better person than he actually is.

Whilst I disagree that the U.K. has ever been a

post Brexit pariah/laughing stock

I am pleased with KS and his handling of the current situation, so far.

For the record, I have never been a die hard loather I did and to some extent still do have issues with the hypocrisy which surrounded the Labour government when they came to power after the continued berating of Conservatives for doing similar things.

Being in government as opposed to opposition is not easy, I hope that they have now found their feet.

Hopefully RR will see the error of some of her disastrous policies, I do not expect a total U turn, but some tweaking wouldn’t go amiss.

Aveline

We were just wondering how Boris would have handled Trump!!

I think that’s an interesting question. I suspect Sunak would have done similar to Starmer, as would Cameron. Johnson’s relationship with Europe would have made that impossible, but he was passionate about supporting Ukraine, which would leave us with no allies if he went against Trump to do that. What is interesting me more than that at the moment is Farage’s response, which seems to be alienating him from the public view.

Caleo

One has to like Starmer's improved image! It shows that lack of charisma does not indicate lack of ability.

I think this is crucial. Far too many people have been taken in by populist politicians who rely on charisma over competence, to the point where not being a performer was seen as weakness.

Since the election we have heard countless comments about KS’s ’rabbit in the headlights’ expression, his measured delivery being boring etc - none of which engaged with the substance of what we has done.

Now all but the die-hard loathers are seeing him for what he is - a competent and statesmanlike leader who has moved the UK from being a post-Brexit pariah/laughing stock to a respected country again.

We were just wondering how Boris would have handled Trump!!

One has to like Starmer's improved image! It shows that lack of charisma does not indicate lack of ability.

Heartening to read these posts after months of slagging the man off.
He is the same person- he just deals with things like an adult who takes his responsibilities seriously.
For the first time in years I feel we can now stop talking about Brexit and support the UK together with Europe again!
I hope we can do this together!

Give him time, Karmalady. While you can destroy a country in a few brief weeks of bombing or of dismantling its governing infrastructure, it takes longer to achieve the reverse process. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Starmer is a serious politician, that’s something that irritates some. He isn’t a joke though not everyone approves of his road of travel for the country. I still believe he’s the best PM we’ve had in years

Labour are doing good things in the UK too.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/politics/the-first-6-months-what-has-labour-actually-done/

Starmer is serious on the world stage but is a joke when it comes to dealing with the UK. UK is crumbling

Have never found Starmer boring. Was relieved that at last we had a serious PM intent on the job and not intent on playing to the crowd. Rishi Sunak was doing his best and was serious but lacked experience in handling his Party. No way could he have bettered Sir Keir. Think back to the quiet, unassuming Attlee. Not exciting (fed up with exciting).

In different circumstances, Maizie, he might have become Foreign Secretary and progressed to PM later, but what was needed was a Prime Minister with gravitas to follow Boris Johnson. I'd say we were lucky he was there to take over - and I thought so at the time.

MaizieD

^Proving to be very good at one aspect of a job, while meritous, can not be used to justify just how badly he is doing in other aspects of it^

I have to say that I agree with MOnica here. Perhaps he would have been a better Foreign Secretary than PM. But I can’t deny that he’s doing well with this tricky situation.

I agree with you - both of you.

... and, nanna8

Strange times. Starmer, for the first time , is commanding respect and thank goodness for that. I hope it continues. I also hope he continues to stay reasonably friendly with the US otherwise I hate to think of the future. So far so good

I think he will attempt a cordial relationship with the US; he isn't a hot-head given to mercurial outbursts, seems pragmatic - understands what's at stake, and has a certain amount of integrity. I'm sure he realises that diplomacy when dealing with Trump is essential and will not deliberately antagonise the man. Trump clearly does not like to be challenged though and is well aware that he is centre-stage, all powerful, and will not take kindly to his plans being up ended - and certainly will not relish the thought of a united Europe opposing him, so will throw a spanner or two into the works before long. It's not going to be easy for Starmer that's for sure.

Proving to be very good at one aspect of a job, while meritous, can not be used to justify just how badly he is doing in other aspects of it

I have to say that I agree with MOnica here. Perhaps he would have been a better Foreign Secretary than PM. But I can’t deny that he’s doing well with this tricky situation.

MayBee70

Only ‘for the first time’ with people that have never seen him for what he is. Maybe those people now see why many of us have supported him for years.

Absolutely MayBee.

I’m so pleased and proud we have a PM with integrity, calmness and intelligence.

Of course, many of us have always seen this in him, so it comes as no surprise that he is handling this very difficult situation with great aplomb.

Quite easy to find, Primrose53

The new £2.26 billion is the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme, in which $50 billion from G7 countries will be delivered to Ukraine for its military, budget and reconstruction needs. The loan will be repaid using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets

Lots of info and explanation online to be found

eazybee

Let us wait and see what the outcome is and what concessions there are or have to be made.

Quite.

It’s very easy to give away 1.6 billion to Ukraine. Where did that come from? What are other countries giving? It’s always down to us.

I was thinking the same, Maybee 😎

Only ‘for the first time’ with people that have never seen him for what he is. Maybe those people now see why many of us have supported him for years.

Strange times. Starmer, for the first time , is commanding respect and thank goodness for that. I hope it continues. I also hope he continues to stay reasonably friendly with the US otherwise I hate to think of the future. So far so good.

Proving to be very good at one aspect of a job, while meritous, can not be used to justify just how badly he is doing in other aspects of it.

The problem with both Trump and Vance is that neither of them could be honest and truthful, even if their lives depended on them being so. Trump is simply self-deluded to a level only otherwise found in insane monarchs like Ludwig of Bavaria while Vance is up their with the little tinpot dictator in North Korea or Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

Actually anintersting point, both those named above have driven the inhabitants of their country to flee their home country if they can (North Koreans find it very difficult). Do you think that a couple of years of Trump/Vance will lead to a large scale fleeing of US citizens to Mexico and Canada, to get out of the total basketcase the US will have become?

It's impossible to imagine any of our recent PMs could be doing a better job than Starmer right now.

I also thought that the grouped European leaders (and Trudeau) seem sensible, dignified, intelligent, collaborative and credible. A far cry from Trump, Vance and the various senators in red caps/stetsons and the chain saw wielding tech bros we are seeing show ponying around in America.

I rejoined the LP in order to vote for Starmer. Work meant I’d followed his career before Parliament and I was impressed.

The skills needed as a KC will be invaluable in leading the negotiations between Europe and the USA. He’s streets ahead of Trump or the awful Vance where intelligence and integrity go

From Wikipedia
“Starmer served as a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers, and was also a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Death Penalty Advisory Panel from 2002 to 2008.[2][11] The Northern Ireland Board was an important part of bringing communities together following the Good Friday Agreement, and Starmer later cited his work on policing in Northern Ireland as being a key influence on his decision to pursue a political career: "Some of the things I thought that needed to change in police services we achieved more quickly than we achieved in strategic litigation... I came better to understand how you can change by being inside and getting the trust of people".[30] Starmer represented Croatia at the genocide hearings before the International Court of Justice at The Hague in 2014, arguing that Serbia wanted to seize a third of Croatian territory during the 1990s war and eradicate the Croatian population.”
His experience in these things is standing him in good stead in these troubled times. Thank goodness we have someone like him as PM.