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Starmer abandons plans to cancel local elections

(279 Posts)
sundowngirl Mon 16-Feb-26 15:17:25

Yet another U-turn for keir

The government has abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections in England following legal advice.

You would think that a former DPP would know the law.

Casdon Tue 17-Feb-26 15:46:41

fancythat

I cant say I want anyone that has a track record.
That's my point.

Time to try some new people.

Who would you choose from the current cohort of Labour MPs? That is the choice for anybody who has an opinion on this.

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:45:08

all worse I should have said.

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:44:44

cc

It's all very well talking about Starmer going, but the alternatives appear to be worse.

401 others worse.

I doubt it.

sixandahalf Tue 17-Feb-26 15:44:42

fancythat

I cant say I want anyone that has a track record.
That's my point.

Time to try some new people.

A 19 year old perhaps?

It's frightening really.

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:43:52

MaizieD

Rosie51

I was not going to be affected by the postponement, and was no admirer of Boris Johnson, but I do wonder if the replies and opinions would have been the same from posters if he had proposed such an action. I suspect not.

Fair point, *Primrose grin

I am bemused by this fuss, really.

Considering that the average turnout for council elections is around the 30% mark the interest in these particular ones is quite extraordinary... Where have all these deeply concerned voters come from when 70% don't ever bother?

They still wont bother[though of the cant be bothered, there are a lot of people who simply do not have time to study politics, and those who cant choose between them all, and those who are not interested[they think they are all the same].

Still leaves 9 million people who do vote[no idea the exact number, but this Country has a big population].

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:41:19

I cant say I want anyone that has a track record.
That's my point.

Time to try some new people.

David49 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:26:06

fancythat

Bazza

I’d rather he stayed too David, not because he’s doing a good job because he obviously isn’t, but who would we get to replace him? There is no alternative that I think would do any better.

But how do we know? Out of 359 MPs, or however many there are.

That's the point, nobody with a track record, unless you count Milliband, so a lot of uncertainty, we will have no idea what will change.

cc Tue 17-Feb-26 15:20:26

It's all very well talking about Starmer going, but the alternatives appear to be worse.

Rosie51 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:16:44

My post to MaizieD

Rosie51 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:16:20

👍

AGAA4 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:15:53

It's not a good idea to keep changing prime ministers. The Tories did this and it ended badly for them.
I was a Tory voter most of my life but they have let me and many others down.
I didn't vote Labour but we need stability and disruption is doing the country no good at all.

MaizieD Tue 17-Feb-26 15:14:50

Oh, I do apologise. I was replying to you, of course, Rosie blush

Rosie51 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:12:25

MaizieD

Rosie51

I was not going to be affected by the postponement, and was no admirer of Boris Johnson, but I do wonder if the replies and opinions would have been the same from posters if he had proposed such an action. I suspect not.

Fair point, *Primrose grin

I am bemused by this fuss, really.

Considering that the average turnout for council elections is around the 30% mark the interest in these particular ones is quite extraordinary... Where have all these deeply concerned voters come from when 70% don't ever bother?

Sorry is that reply to me as quoted or to Primrose?

MaizieD Tue 17-Feb-26 15:10:57

Rosie51

I was not going to be affected by the postponement, and was no admirer of Boris Johnson, but I do wonder if the replies and opinions would have been the same from posters if he had proposed such an action. I suspect not.

Fair point, *Primrose grin

I am bemused by this fuss, really.

Considering that the average turnout for council elections is around the 30% mark the interest in these particular ones is quite extraordinary... Where have all these deeply concerned voters come from when 70% don't ever bother?

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:08:57

Bazza

I’d rather he stayed too David, not because he’s doing a good job because he obviously isn’t, but who would we get to replace him? There is no alternative that I think would do any better.

But how do we know? Out of 359 MPs, or however many there are.

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:08:25

To MayBee70

fancythat Tue 17-Feb-26 15:08:06

Well, there is the small matter of democracy.
And other things debated above, like the Law.

Rosie51 Tue 17-Feb-26 15:06:29

I was not going to be affected by the postponement, and was no admirer of Boris Johnson, but I do wonder if the replies and opinions would have been the same from posters if he had proposed such an action. I suspect not.

Bazza Tue 17-Feb-26 15:05:44

I’d rather he stayed too David, not because he’s doing a good job because he obviously isn’t, but who would we get to replace him? There is no alternative that I think would do any better.

MayBee70 Tue 17-Feb-26 14:27:53

All Reform have done with contesting the postponement of council elections has been to cost the taxpayer money that could have been spent on other things. Reform with their councils that promised rates reductions and then put them up.

Susieq62 Tue 17-Feb-26 14:18:56

Listened to an excellent professor on Jeremy Vine today as I drove up the motorway ! He was speaking about the elections issue! He gave a very concrete and calm analogy about the situation and the number of seats affected are far fewer than what Reform are bellowing about! Bully boys at it again !!
Once again certain members on this forum raise the immigrant issue ! I suspect that if the “ illegals” were white , a different message would be given! Just saying!
Oh and I want Starmer to stay the course , the alternatives are horrendous unless you are lovers of privately educated , grifters and bullies who want to dictate over women !

GrannyGravy13 Tue 17-Feb-26 13:58:16

MaizieD

^My referral to Stephen Kinnock was for breaking Covid regulations when it suited his family, and then issuing a pathetic justification as to why he hadn't. I am not holding him responsible for the u-turn, but would find any reassurance of its appropriateness from him unreliable.^

OK. But he was just saying what he had been told to say regardless of whether or not it was his personal opinion.

I can see why you wouldn't trust what he says, but the 'morning round' of political interviews is tightly controlled by the parties. No going 'off piste'...

I have given up listening/watching the morning rounds very seldom are the MP’s allowed by the presenters to speak about their brief (what they are on for).

They end up fluffing their way through endless questions regarding whatever the PM/party has done in the previous 24 hours.

MaizieD Tue 17-Feb-26 13:53:13

My referral to Stephen Kinnock was for breaking Covid regulations when it suited his family, and then issuing a pathetic justification as to why he hadn't. I am not holding him responsible for the u-turn, but would find any reassurance of its appropriateness from him unreliable.

OK. But he was just saying what he had been told to say regardless of whether or not it was his personal opinion.

I can see why you wouldn't trust what he says, but the 'morning round' of political interviews is tightly controlled by the parties. No going 'off piste'...

Wyllow3 Tue 17-Feb-26 13:52:04

Whats the point in upheaving councils - for that is the Reform agenda - for a short time? The social costs I believe will be so damaging. Yes Reform will make gains in 2027, thats how things are: but let it be managed locally as best possible.

The effects on people in an area by upheaving much in May:

then the absolutely enormous task when people affected find themselves in completely new councils, starting from scratch: I dont believe its justified to upheave, re upheave, long term arrangements for all the social care and other services that councils carry out.

MaizieD Tue 17-Feb-26 13:48:37

fancythat

AI Overview
That is a central debate in legal philosophy. While it is true that many, if not most, legal disputes hinge on the interpretation of the law rather than a simple denial of the facts, the assertion that a law has been "broken" is the conclusion that a court reaches after that interpretation process.

That is what I said.