Mainstream Labour

Maizie. This is what I picked up:-

Groups in Labour. There is (apparently) already a hard left Group, a socially conservative group and now a centre left group called, as discussed, Mainstream. Mainstream is a group that's saying "we don't like what the socially conservative group are doing (apparently)

The rest seems to be taking about the Mainstream Guardian article, which attacks Starmer and is seen as an attempt to split Labour. I think it was filling on a small news day. Other than the equine references I dont think much is concrete enough to discuss yet - so they didn't.

If Burnham had been an MP and not Mayor of Manchester, I think he'd have stood for leader of the party and won. Then he would have become PM. Now, it seems that the plan is to return him to parliament and eventually challenge Starmer.

I am disappointed with the way Starmer's government has been quite clumsy and tactless. As far as I understand it, they do know what needs to be done, and have done some good and sensible things, but too often they completely miss the climate of opinion among their own supporters.

The Angela Rayner thing, in my opinion, was blown up out of all proportion and I hope she will come back as a minister eventually.

But Peter Mandelson as ambassador in Washington is a completely different matter. If a nobody like me thought it was a dodgy appointment, how did Starmer think he was a suitable person?

I saw an article this morning which I only skimmed as we were packing up to come home from holiday. I suggested Andy Burnham is starting to prepare a campaign to oust Starmer and run for PM. It also suggested he and Lucy Powell may be ready to swap seats if a general election is called. Burnham would take her relatively safe seat opening up his bid for PM and she would stand for Mayor. I don't really have an opinion on Andy Burnham as I haven't heard a lot about him since he has been Mayor.

Wyllow3:

“our branch is known as the "sensible lot"….We also discussed who should be the Deputy Prime minister, and agrees that Lucy Powell was best. “

Am really shocked at this. It is Lucy Powell who said In May 2025, on the BBC Radio 4 programme Any Questions? In response to a question about grooming gangs , “Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Let’s get that dog whistle out, shall we.”

How anyone can support her after that is beyond belief. Apart from demonstrating total lack of judgement and morals, it speaks volumes of how disconnected from real life she is if she thought that was in any a defensible position.

Sorry but I am very concerned about the grooming gangs issue and had expected Gransnetters would be too.

Anniebach

Quote Oreo Fri 12-Sept-25 15:48:56
The Labour voters I know would never have voted for Corbyn Anniebach
I think I expected more of Starmer but so far find him disappointing.He’s a reed who blows with the wind.

I couldn’t even be a member of the Labour party with Corbyn as leader.
Starmer, i don’t think he is a weak man , or a man of indecision, a man with a cool head and controlled thinking,
I may be so mistaken,

Starmer may very well be a man with a cool head and controlled thinking. However, that doesn't appeal to people facing increasing prices, unemployment/insecure job contracts, difficulties getting a GP appointment or seeing a dentist, neighbourhoods which are looking increasingly run down, etc etc.

Immigrants are being used as scapegoats for all the above. They're not the cause, but it's convenient to blame them.

The trouble with Starmer is that he doesn't give the impression of being very committed to any values. Labour needs someone who who can inspire and I'm afraid Starmer is a huge disappointment.

Labour currently has a massive electoral advantage and it's heartbreaking to see them throwing it away. I really can't believe that they can't get their senior policy advisers round a table and focus on the reasons they won the last general election.

I looked through the "Mainstream Labour" literature and I think they do know what their voters want. I don't know enough about the inner workings of the Labour Party to know whether they will be taken seriously. I hope they are because a Reform government (which is where the country is heading) would be a disaster and the Conservatives are at the moment dead.

Babs03 - I agree. For me, voting has become a damage limitation exercise. I have no faith in any of the current parties but have to vote for those who will do me least harm. Isn't that a shame?

Eloethan

I feel a bit like Babs. Those that have the power and the money call the tune and if Labour doesn't dance to it the mainstream media will finish them off.

Compass has been around for some time. I don't know much about it but I do remember being quite impressed with some of the things they put forward at political gatherings.

I became disenchanted with Labour when they treated Corbyn so badly and I left the party. I have not been tempted to return. Starmer, in particular, was a real turncoat who didn't hesitate to appear to be supportive when Corby was popular in the party but who put the boot in when it suited him to do so. I had hoped Starmer would be an effective leader but, true to form, he appears to have no judgment whatsoever and to rely entirely on what reaction each issue receives from the mainstream media and the public. It makes him look foolish and gutless.

I agree about Starmer's judgement, he washes about like seaweed on a rock. On every issue he appears to wait for a reaction and then chooses the most populist, regardless of any comments he's made on that issue in the past.

MaizieD

Iam64

Labour are doing many positives. It needs an Alistair Campbell to get ahead of the news.

Problem is, its negatives far outweigh its positives and its lurch to the right is horrifying many, many people.

I wouldn't vote for this government again unless it had moved radically back to its basic principles (and got a better Chancellor)

At this stage I'd vote for almost any party who could offer a competent chancellor.

I'm not sure Labour first principles would be enough to see off Farage. How would that work?

Andy Burnham for Prime Minister!

What successes??

All Labour do is spend and borrow. Not a good way for the country to carry on!

I've seen more comments from political vlogs(?) on YouTube suggesting this is a trajan house for Andy Burnam's bid for leadership


Oh the curse of autocorrect!

DaisyAnneReturns

It's done it again! Time for coffee.

😆

It's done it again! Time for coffee.

If I have time (I'll make some) I'll go back and see if it's being clarified.

Not only tragedy, but trajan house! The sad thing is that we each understood "computer"!

DaisyAnneReturns

"As Andy Burnham is top signatory of founder members I think this could be an interesting development."

I've seen more comments from political vlogs(?) on YouTube suggesting this is a trajan house for Andy Burnam's bid for leadership. I'm not sure how. He would have to be an MP first.

However, if he brought the Mayors together and led that group I do think parliament could be influenced.

Burnham apart, what about the principles Mainstream are promoting?

(Trajan has a column, trojans had the horse)

I agree DaisyAnne,

Anniebach

Clive Lewis strongly criticising Starmer , I am sure Lewis stood for leadership 2020, he did hit headlines last year, tweeted fighting Gaza was caused by Islamophobia in this country and was the reason why Palestinians were under attack in Gaza .
Another Corbyn perhaps

The extremes of Labour, and I think Clive Lewis is one, will have a 10 day shout. Hopefully we can then get on with government business and start communicating the successes.

"As Andy Burnham is top signatory of founder members I think this could be an interesting development."

I've seen more comments from political vlogs(?) on YouTube suggesting this is a trajan house for Andy Burnam's bid for leadership. I'm not sure how. He would have to be an MP first.

However, if he brought the Mayors together and led that group I do think parliament could be influenced.

Clive Lewis strongly criticising Starmer , I am sure Lewis stood for leadership 2020, he did hit headlines last year, tweeted fighting Gaza was caused by Islamophobia in this country and was the reason why Palestinians were under attack in Gaza .
Another Corbyn perhaps

Corbyn has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

What do you think of Mainstream Labour, Ab?

Quote Oreo Fri 12-Sept-25 15:48:56
The Labour voters I know would never have voted for Corbyn Anniebach
I think I expected more of Starmer but so far find him disappointing.He’s a reed who blows with the wind.

I couldn’t even be a member of the Labour party with Corbyn as leader.
Starmer, i don’t think he is a weak man , or a man of indecision, a man with a cool head and controlled thinking,
I may be so mistaken,

The Labour voters I know would never have voted for Corbyn Anniebach
I think I expected more of Starmer but so far find him disappointing.He’s a reed who blows with the wind.

I left the party because of Corbyn, joined again as soon as he stood down as leader