Andy Burnham blocked from re-entering parliament.

I think Starmer has kicked himself in the foot not allowing AB to stand.
Reform will take that position no doubt.

Good post Rabbitgrans . When I look at the polling, what strikes me is that Starmer’s support (and criticism) cuts across traditional lines. He tends to poll relatively well with centrists, older voters, and people who prioritise competence, stability, and international credibility. At the same time, a significant chunk of the criticism comes from within Labour’s own very broad tent – especially from those who want a more radical break or faster, more dramatic change than the current fiscal and political reality allows.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the critics are wrong in their values, but it does suggest a tension between ideals and governability. After 14 years of austerity, Brexit, and institutional damage, any government is constrained by hard facts: finances, capacity, and the state of public services. There really is no magic wand.

I’d describe myself as a centrist social democrat – broadly supportive of social capitalism, strong public services, and redistribution where it’s effective, but also realistic about trade-offs and limits. From that perspective, Starmer’s approach makes sense: less performative politics, more incremental repair, rebuilding trust at home and abroad, and prioritising competence over charisma.

Ironically, the very breadth of Labour’s coalition now means many of the loudest critics are people who otherwise share the same broad goals. Stability, though, rarely looks exciting in the short term – especially in a media environment that treats politics as entertainment. But after the chaos of recent years, boring competence feels like a feature, not a flaw.

Another who agrees with*Rabbitgran*s post. There's lot's of time until the next election so plenty of time for more shocking revelations and intrigue to surface. I doubt the polls of today will have much relevance nearer the next GE.

DaisyAnne Returns yes,

CocoPops

Rabbitgran I agree with yout excellent post. Thank-you.

Ditto!

What a common sense, realistic post. Thank you Rabbitgran.

But after the chaos of recent years, boring competence feels like a feature, not a flaw.

But Starmer hasn't shown much 'boring competence' in his initial year. It's been one stupid move after another and numerous U turns.

I don't agree with Rabbitgran at all.

MaizieD

^But after the chaos of recent years, boring competence feels like a feature, not a flaw.^

But Starmer hasn't shown much 'boring competence' in his initial year. It's been one stupid move after another and numerous U turns.

I don't agree with Rabbitgran at all.

We can agree on that at least.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I’m in the middle I agree with some of rabbitgran and disagree with some.

I see that Polly Toynbee in the Guardian thinks that it's time for Starmer to go. She has been his cheerleader for years.

So I am pleased that Labour has adopted the policies she outlined in her last sentence, but I can see very little evidence that this is happening, or that policies are being instigated that will clearly improve the situation for so many of us.

Today there is a report by Rowntree which says that 3.8 million people in the U.K. have experienced destitution. The definition of destitution is where someone has absolutely nothing.

6.8 million people are in deep poverty - where their income (a couple with 2 children) at less than £16k pa is insufficient to provide, warmth, food and the ability to pay for basics.

Rising numbers of people are constantly food insecure.

The progress has stalled. The system is failing these people.

MaizieD

^But after the chaos of recent years, boring competence feels like a feature, not a flaw.^

But Starmer hasn't shown much 'boring competence' in his initial year. It's been one stupid move after another and numerous U turns.

I don't agree with Rabbitgran at all.

I don’t think “boring competence” means never changing course Maizie. Some of what you’re calling U-turns look to me like adjustments in response to circumstances.

But these are judgement calls. Reasonable people can look at the same year and come to different conclusions.

Ilovecheese Tue 27-Jan-26 11:23:19 "I see that Polly Toynbee in the Guardian thinks that it's time for Starmer to go. She has been his cheerleader for years".

I read that also Ilovecheese. She feels Labour needs a new leader and fast: " Here is the Starmer tragedy, a good and clever man may not be made for politics or leadership". Many of the points she makes have merit in my view.

Casdon

The influence of Russia, and Trump copycatting is what I think is going on. The media generally pursues a right wing agenda for the self preservation of the owners and shareholders, and because they see the unpopularity of the Tories with the public, Reform is the only place they can go to pursue their own agenda. I think all moderate electors should be praying for the resurgence of a moderate right Tory party at the moment, that’s the best chance of stability for the country.

Unfortunately the infighting on both main parties is creating a vacuum and, although the Lib Dems should be the ones who could fill that vacuum, they are being sidelined by Reform.

Unless the Tories and Labour each decide to remain loyal to their party and their leader then, by the next election, Reform could sweep in.
Perhaps another coalition of either Labour or Tory with the Lib Dems could be the answer.

Too little loyalty, too many egos are wrecking politics at the moment and it's making the electorate feel uncertain.

I respectfully disagree Allira- if Conservatives stay loyal to Badenoch they will lose, they will lose anyway realistically. If Labour stays loyal to Starmer then it will split the vote, therefore they will lose also.

The UK electorate was disillusioned and uncertain before Burnham sought to stand at the by election.

But Starmer hasn't shown much 'boring competence' in his initial year. It's been one stupid move after another and numerous U turns.

He's being reactive rather than proactive.

All well and good to acknowledge when you've made a mistake (intransigence can be dangerous) but the Government seems unable to think through the consequences of their decisions, hence so many U turns.

Are waiting lists down? Truly? The NHS seems to be in chaos; perhaps, as happens in Wales, people's names are either not put on the list in the first place or their names disappear from the list.

Labour won the general election July 2024, Whitewave you expected miracles in 1 year 7 months after 14 years of a Tory government ? I can’t recall Starmer promising we could

The main concern regarding Starmer's leadership is how he is perceived negatively within his own government, by Labour members and the public. Keeping as PM runs a high risk the his negative rating results in a failure to secure a second term.

I think the LibDems will do better than being painted here. My current prediction is for a coalition, I don’t see any one party getting a majority. That is even more likely in the event of Scotland and Wales not voting for any of the UK wide major parties, which may well happen.

Anniebach

Labour won the general election July 2024, Whitewave you expected miracles in 1 year 7 months after 14 years of a Tory government ? I can’t recall Starmer promising we could

No I’m not looking for miracles - certainly not.

But I am looking for far more pro activity from Labour.

What Starmer lacks imo is courage, and imagination.

There is stuff he has done with which I am pleased about, but my focus is and always has been on poverty, health and children in particular, which is why I was so impressed with Gordon Brown. Those are the areas that need addressing.

That said, I am not at present a supporter of a change of leadership. Quite frankly I am not convinced that the Labour Party is exactly stuffed with potential leaders. In fact I think that is true of every single political party in the U.K.

Allira "Are waiting lists down? Truly? The NHS seems to be in chaos; perhaps, as happens in Wales, people's names are either not put on the list in the first place or their names disappear from the list."

I realise that my own experience is not evidence, of course, but my perception is that yes, they have gone down and that the system is more reactive. Alternative appointments are offered when they become available. However, this system relies on access to the internet to log on to various apps to claim the appointments, which is a different discussion, not one for this thread.

There may be a coalition. No party aims for that however- they simply to strengthen their party as much as possible to win.

What I take from this current charade involving Andy Burnham is that Starmer has absolutely no intention of stepping down, even if the remaining local elections (always assuming they are allowed to take place) are even more disastrous than predicted, and that he will use every scrap of his legal know-how to remain in power.
What his intentions for the future are unclear but the concerns of the electorate or his party do not predominate.
As for forming a pact with the Lib Dems , the ones where I live are mostly Labour anyway, recalling student politics from long ago, champagne socialists to a person, but support Lib Dems because they are committed to changing as little as possible of their very comfortable lifestyles. They support labour policies particularly because they don't actually impinge on them here but are awfully good for the rest of the country.

That’s one take eazybee. It’s also notable though that only just over 50 Labour MPs are lobbying for a change of decision to allow Andy Burnham to stand. Why is that?

I believe there’s an east/west split in the UK politically, as well as the dynamics around the four nations. Im convinced that not everybody in the south west is a woolly Lib Dem sometime Labour leaning thinker.

Ilovecheese

Allira "Are waiting lists down? Truly? The NHS seems to be in chaos; perhaps, as happens in Wales, people's names are either not put on the list in the first place or their names disappear from the list."

I realise that my own experience is not evidence, of course, but my perception is that yes, they have gone down and that the system is more reactive. Alternative appointments are offered when they become available. However, this system relies on access to the internet to log on to various apps to claim the appointments, which is a different discussion, not one for this thread.

My experience, and that of a few others I know, is that, mysteriously, names were not put on waiting lists or disappeared from them.

It does, of course, reduce the waiting lists.

There was a good policy announced today. Ground rents are to be capped at £250 per year. Why announce that when Starmer is out of the country? What a missed opportunity for him to announce it himself and show that he is actually doing things.