Gransnet forums

News & politics

Starmer and Labour

(75 Posts)
spabbygirl Fri 06-Feb-26 15:04:22

has anyone seen the support for Starmer & Labour on Threads today? it's unbelievable!! People are joining/rejoinig Labour cos they know a good man when they see one!

It can't be easy to find someone to work with Trump, he's mercurial at the best of times & so Starmer made a mistake, he quickly rectified it and apologised.

I'd far rather he & Labour were in charge, we're not having billions passed to their mates via Covid contracts or planning permission hurriedly given to pals (Jenrick)

I'd rather know how much Farage is in the Epstein files but the media continues to big him up, the BBC's Kuensberg giving him 1 hour publicity disguised as a documentary.

In my own field, fostering, I see fab new regulations including stop to the huge profits private fostering agencies were making by charging enormous amounts for providing foster homes for kids, these companies are often based overseas too.

Well done Labour!!

Flippin2 Fri 06-Feb-26 15:30:43

I didn't vote Labour,I'm not a Starmer fan but,no ,no ,no to Angela Rayner,there would be immediate calls for a general election and god help us then with the choices we have

keepingquiet Fri 06-Feb-26 15:47:46

There isnt going to be a GE and Starmer isn't going to resign.

This government is working hard to improve things but you don't see that in the press.

There is too much at stake to begin short-termism again.

We need long-term stability and level headedness.

Do people really want a return to chaos- or worse?

sundowngirl Fri 06-Feb-26 15:55:19

keepingquiet

There isnt going to be a GE and Starmer isn't going to resign.

This government is working hard to improve things but you don't see that in the press.

There is too much at stake to begin short-termism again.

We need long-term stability and level headedness.

Do people really want a return to chaos- or worse?

How do you know that Labour are working hard to improve things?

There doesn't seem much evidence of that and people seem genuinely aggrieved with the U-turns and failed promises over the last 18 months.

The Labour election strap line was 'Change' and we foolishly believed it would be change for the better and not for the worse

Mollygo Fri 06-Feb-26 15:58:57

I don’t want a general election. I’m not impressed with Starmer, or his crew, but I’m not convinced there’s anything for to replace them at the moment.
Labour claim to have done many things, but
unless things change, none of what KS will be remembered for is to his credit.

Jane43 Fri 06-Feb-26 16:08:38

sundowngirl

keepingquiet

There isnt going to be a GE and Starmer isn't going to resign.

This government is working hard to improve things but you don't see that in the press.

There is too much at stake to begin short-termism again.

We need long-term stability and level headedness.

Do people really want a return to chaos- or worse?

How do you know that Labour are working hard to improve things?

There doesn't seem much evidence of that and people seem genuinely aggrieved with the U-turns and failed promises over the last 18 months.

The Labour election strap line was 'Change' and we foolishly believed it would be change for the better and not for the worse

There have been six interest rate cuts, the FTSE 100 is the highest it’s ever been, workers’ rights have been improved and so have renters’ rights, there have been two increases in the minimum wage, ground rents are now capped at £250 a year, there have been trade deals with India, the USA and the EU, the two child benefit cap has been lifted and many breakfast clubs have been opened in primary’s schools, GB Energy has been launched and rail nationalization has begun. There is much more:
whathaskeirdone.co.uk/results

The problem is Labour’s PR is abysmal.

eazybee Fri 06-Feb-26 16:48:31

It seems unlikely there will be many local elections if Starmer has his way.
He has shown he is neither stable nor level headed, qualities I had thought he would bring to government, and he most certainly is not squeaky -clean. Poor under pressure, resentful of questioning, a man devoid of principle, his most serious failure is that of pursuing his own manifesto. To mention but three: encouraging the imposition of the ECHR, selling the Chagos Islands, and resurrecting the persecution of army veterans as initiated by Phil Shiner, who employed him, a convicted fraudster.
MPs are furious because they are left to explain Starmer's many failures and omissions to their constituents.

His polished , practised speech of apology on Wednesday was that of a barrister, smooth and insincere. He was there to explain his lack of judgement in appointing Mandelson, not apologise to American victims, and he made a poor fist of it. Being sacked twice whilst in government should have been sufficient to debar Mandelson from any future public role, never mind the recent unpleasant revelations which so clearly reinforced many people's perception of him.

Labour was elected by tactical voting, not direct choice, the most common refrain being 'they cannot be any worse than Conservatives'.
Well, they have proved that under Starmer's leadership they are.

Oreo Fri 06-Feb-26 17:10:21

I think Starmer will survive until the May elections, then he will be replaced.

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 06-Feb-26 17:51:51

I am amused by the idea of any leader being worse than Liz Truss.

Maremia Fri 06-Feb-26 17:56:52

I agree with the Poster who said that Labour's PR is abysmal.
But maybe there is a definite policy in some MSM outlets, to ignore or minimise Labour triumphs?

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 06-Feb-26 18:03:52

I'm sure it's a bit of both, Maremia.

LemonJam Fri 06-Feb-26 18:14:09

Maremia- I'm also sure its a bit of both...plus R wing dominated media pulling against LP.

MayBee70 Fri 06-Feb-26 20:09:44

sundowngirl

keepingquiet

There isnt going to be a GE and Starmer isn't going to resign.

This government is working hard to improve things but you don't see that in the press.

There is too much at stake to begin short-termism again.

We need long-term stability and level headedness.

Do people really want a return to chaos- or worse?

How do you know that Labour are working hard to improve things?

There doesn't seem much evidence of that and people seem genuinely aggrieved with the U-turns and failed promises over the last 18 months.

The Labour election strap line was 'Change' and we foolishly believed it would be change for the better and not for the worse

People don’t know because their communication with the electorate is dire. But believe me they are doing lots of really good things. I’ve just written to my MP about their lack of communication. I assume you know about the free transport for parents of children having cancer treatment. The increase of free breakfasts for schoolchildren.Maybe there are U-turns because they make mistakes and readily admit to them. We’re still suffering economically from Brexit but heaven forbid that people would have the decency to admit to the damage that is has caused.

keepingquiet Fri 06-Feb-26 21:10:30

I just know that I am much better off than I was last year.
My son who works for himself is also much better off.
I live in a town with a very successful Labour council who are getting with innovative ideas for young people especially.
I can only speak for myself but it's a reality and not a feeling...

LemonJam Fri 06-Feb-26 21:11:36

Jane43 16.08 👍

Jane43 Fri 06-Feb-26 22:08:24

keepingquiet

I just know that I am much better off than I was last year.
My son who works for himself is also much better off.
I live in a town with a very successful Labour council who are getting with innovative ideas for young people especially.
I can only speak for myself but it's a reality and not a feeling...

Our Labour council is the same, we have the lowest council tax in the Midlands and our services are second to none. The FaceBook group has people who are lobbying for Reform to take control which would be a disaster, our neighboring county of Worcestershire is controlled by Reform and is facing a 10% increase in council tax from April, services have been cut and the building of a new high school has been halted.

Ladyleftfieldlover Fri 06-Feb-26 22:16:09

With better PR everyone would know how well Labour are doing. But would the mainly right wing press print that anyway?

Oreo Fri 06-Feb-26 22:17:39

keepingquiet

I just know that I am much better off than I was last year.
My son who works for himself is also much better off.
I live in a town with a very successful Labour council who are getting with innovative ideas for young people especially.
I can only speak for myself but it's a reality and not a feeling...

Strange that as I’m worse off.
Not only the cost of living but our council tax has shot up and I can’t get enough shifts at work as business rates have gone up for employers along with NI and higher wages.Two staff members have been let go recently and they are managing to get by without them and a few less shifts for me and a co worker.

Oreo Fri 06-Feb-26 22:19:50

Ladyleftfieldlover

With better PR everyone would know how well Labour are doing. But would the mainly right wing press print that anyway?

It’s not bad PR or the right wing press! It’s Starmer and Reeves and the added infighting within the party.
Starmer and Reeves have blown up the LP between them.

Jane43 Fri 06-Feb-26 22:37:20

eazybee

It seems unlikely there will be many local elections if Starmer has his way.
He has shown he is neither stable nor level headed, qualities I had thought he would bring to government, and he most certainly is not squeaky -clean. Poor under pressure, resentful of questioning, a man devoid of principle, his most serious failure is that of pursuing his own manifesto. To mention but three: encouraging the imposition of the ECHR, selling the Chagos Islands, and resurrecting the persecution of army veterans as initiated by Phil Shiner, who employed him, a convicted fraudster.
MPs are furious because they are left to explain Starmer's many failures and omissions to their constituents.

His polished , practised speech of apology on Wednesday was that of a barrister, smooth and insincere. He was there to explain his lack of judgement in appointing Mandelson, not apologise to American victims, and he made a poor fist of it. Being sacked twice whilst in government should have been sufficient to debar Mandelson from any future public role, never mind the recent unpleasant revelations which so clearly reinforced many people's perception of him.

Labour was elected by tactical voting, not direct choice, the most common refrain being 'they cannot be any worse than Conservatives'.
Well, they have proved that under Starmer's leadership they are.

The idea that Starmer is stopping local elections is a myth perpetuated on social media by Reform and their supporters. Local councils were invited to take part in devolution which was part of Labour’s manifesto. The changes being made as part of the process of devolution mean that some elections scheduled for May would be an unnecessary waste of money, councils applied to postpone elections and the government gave permission or refused it. Some people are complaining about not being able to vote in local elections when their elections are not even scheduled, ours are not due until 2027.

The Chagos Islands agreement was a result of pressure by the UN to comply with international law, unlike the administration of the USA international law is considered important by this government.

What are your grounds for claiming that Starmer is pursuing his own agenda?

Your perception of Starmer’s speech is, unsurprisingly, very different from mine. One of Epstein’s victims praised him for his sincere apology to the victims.

Tactical voting is here to stay, there is nothing wrong with it and I will certainly be voting tactically to keep Reform out.

MT62 Fri 06-Feb-26 23:57:09

I don’t agree with the 2 child cap being lifted. If you can’t afford to give your kids a breakfast, then you shouldn’t really be having kids.

MT62 Sat 07-Feb-26 00:00:36

MT62

I don’t agree with the 2 child cap being lifted. If you can’t afford to give your kids a breakfast, then you shouldn’t really be having kids.

That’s to KQ

Doodledog Sat 07-Feb-26 00:17:52

Ladyleftfieldlover

With better PR everyone would know how well Labour are doing. But would the mainly right wing press print that anyway?

Good question. I suspect not, and also suspect that the bots all over social media would twist whatever the PR people said anyway.

I can't understand why the LP didn't have a crack PR team in place before the election. They must have realised what was going to happen. Or if they didn't they should have.

mae13 Sat 07-Feb-26 04:05:45

Should Starmer resign then we have the right to expect a General Election. Surely we cannot have a Pass-the-Parcel situation as we saw with the Conservative administration, with the top job being handed on (and on and on) without the Electorate being consulted?

Sarnia Sat 07-Feb-26 08:16:52

I didn't vote for Labour at the last GE and won't vote for them at the next, irrespective of who is PM. Starmer will cling like a limpet to being PM and if Angela Rayner is the alternative then I would rather he stayed despite him being a dreadful PM, everlasting U-turning.
Roll on the next GE when the Tories can return to run the country.