For the first time ever

Thank you for saying this. Before he was PM, there was an in depth discussion in parliament about a complicated piece of legislation. I was really impressed at how Starmer could speak in such a seemingly simple way that even I, no lawyer, could follow his argument through.

Being able to put over a complicated explanation so that it can be understood by someone with no background in the subject means that he thoroughly understood it himself and has the capacity to understand other things and form joined-up policies. This is the contrast with, for instance, most of the Trump administration. If he can just gain confidence in his own abilities (he did not go into politics as a bumptious career politician) and survive the rest of this parliament, he will be an asset to the country.

Thank you for your post, nanna8. I know that you have been critical of Mr Starmer in the past, and it's great to hear that you can see some of his strengths. As other people have said, he's made mistakes, but his handling of this isn't one of them.
When I hear Mr Trump speak like a child, or listen to the playground bully rhetoric of Mr Netanyahu, I am so glad to have an adult in charge of my country.

👍👍👍 nanna8

Starmer is the sort of steadying influence we need in a crises.

I admire his ability to alter course without fear, and remain firm when faced with those siding with the likes of Tony Blair etc, like Farage and Badenoch.

Thank you nanna.

I feel the same, and have been Starmer’s harshest critic at times.
He has done well when it mattered.

I didn't vote for and don't like Sir Keir Starmer. However, I much prefer his measured approach to Trump's illegal war. I would think far less of him had he done a Blair and jumped into this present conflict just to keep in Trump's good books.

I think the LP has learned from Blair's massive mistake. I am so glad Starmer is taking the stance he is.
The US will never win at interfering in this way, and Trump and Vance both spoke about how they wouldn't do it before getting elected.
It is a complete nightmare and not one the US or ME will wake up from for some time. Infact, it just adds to the whole sad story of the ME since the discovery of the oil reserves there, and their history for centuries before that.

nanna8 maybe you’re seeing the side of Keir Starmer that some of us (myself included) have recognised for some time:

*quiet calmness is not weakness

*performative rhetoric is not strength

*charisma (whatever that is) does not equal effective leadership

*changing direction when circumstances change is not weak - it’s brave

*being ‘perfect’ is impossible

Thanks nanna8
Yes, Starmer has stepped up to the mark. His steady, measured approach is just what we need at the moment when others on both sides seem to have lost their reason.

The best summary I have seen of Starmer, I heard at the weekend on R$, probably lunch time mews on Sunday.

Starmer is an excellent lawyer but he is not a statesman

And I still agree with that definition. A statesman reuires the ability to be very subtle and when to know when it is best not to know, including not knowing the law. Starmer is not a statesman.

I am not entirely convinced that having the appellation “statesman” attached to a minister is quite the description I would look for.

One can be considered a “statesman” but still have made some terrible decisions.

Blair
Thatcher
Churchill
Attlee

To name a few.

I’m with Whitewave’s comments on what we understand a statesman to be.

I did note for Starmer as party leader. I’d begun to feel despondent about poor management of proposals at home, despite what I saw as good international work. His response to this illegal war so far is spot on.

Great to see your change of mind in response to new evidence nanna8, not a u-turn 😉

Tony Blair part of Trump’s Peace war and after taking us into Iraq, criticising Starmer, disgusting

M0nica

The best summary I have seen of Starmer, I heard at the weekend on R$, probably lunch time mews on Sunday.

Starmer is an excellent lawyer but he is not a statesman

And I still agree with that definition. A statesman reuires the ability to be very subtle and when to know when it is best not to know, including not knowing the law. Starmer is not a statesman.

But surely no one wants him to turn a blind eye to the flagrant breaches of international law, (not to mention common decency) committed by both Israeli and American leader?

I agree with lizziedrip that Keir Starmer has many good qualities and is now beginning to be recognised as a steady hand.

Keir Starmer is just what we need now. A cool head while the hotheads in the US are bumbling about not knowing what comes next.
Thank you Mr Starmer for not taking us headlong into this illegal and unnecessary war.

Thank goodness he wasn’t forced to stand down when so many people were calling for him to do so.

M0nica

The best summary I have seen of Starmer, I heard at the weekend on R$, probably lunch time mews on Sunday.

Starmer is an excellent lawyer but he is not a statesman

And I still agree with that definition. A statesman reuires the ability to be very subtle and when to know when it is best not to know, including not knowing the law. Starmer is not a statesman.

A lawyer not a leader!

MayBee70

Thank goodness he wasn’t forced to stand down when so many people were calling for him to do so.

Starmer is stronger than some people believe and he has done the right thing for the UK.
When we went to war with Germany the legality of it had to be addressed before any move was made.
Trump is quite obviously not sane and judging by the way Hegseth behaves he isn't either and yet people follow them into an illegal war.
They had no plan for later which was another reason for not joining in with them.

AGAA4

Keir Starmer is just what we need now. A cool head while the hotheads in the US are bumbling about not knowing what comes next.
Thank you Mr Starmer for not taking us headlong into this illegal and unnecessary war.

I agree

I am really glad because I was honestly fearing for what might happen if he went, even though I thought he was not a good PM. Anyway, he is now showing perhaps his ‘true colours’ and all power to him.

AGAA4

MayBee70

Thank goodness he wasn’t forced to stand down when so many people were calling for him to do so.

Starmer is stronger than some people believe and he has done the right thing for the UK.
When we went to war with Germany the legality of it had to be addressed before any move was made.
Trump is quite obviously not sane and judging by the way Hegseth behaves he isn't either and yet people follow them into an illegal war.
They had no plan for later which was another reason for not joining in with them.

I’m with you AGA4. Starmer is proving he’s a good
PM.
Trump and Hegseth are a dreadful combination. Hegseth’s speech today and that dreadful video actually made me feel worried as to what they’re capable of.

Is it really so remarkable that Starmer got one thing right? I mean he has got so many things wrong be was bound to get one right sooner or later.

I am sorry but this one right decision does nothing to redeem him in my eyes. When his rights eual his wrongs, I will rethink.

M0nica

Is it really so remarkable that Starmer got one thing right? I mean he has got so many things wrong be was bound to get one right sooner or later.

I am sorry but this one right decision does nothing to redeem him in my eyes. When his rights eual his wrongs, I will rethink.

So who would you have wanted him to be replaced with?

Well - thats the key question. No one else is right atm, Wes Streeting is ambitious but I don't like him..