So it begins….. Streeting resigns

When people talk about the press, I think they are referring to the media, including social media, rather than print newspapers. It’s the online views that are important now, because that is where the vast majority of people access news.

Corbyn on social media, criticised Streeting and Burnham, not supporting Starmer

Anniebach

Corbyn on social media, criticised Streeting and Burnham, not supporting Starmer

I’m not surprised

Casdon

When people talk about the press, I think they are referring to the media, including social media, rather than print newspapers. It’s the online views that are important now, because that is where the vast majority of people access news.

Very true.

MayBee70

I don’t think that most of that is on the scale of the misdemeanours made by the last government. With Mandelson, I think most people realised it was a case of fighting fire with fire but no one dares to say it, at least not while Trump is still in power. As for u turns, I don’t have a problem with politicians admitting that they’ve made a mistake and rectifying it. And the party that is favourite to win the next election is already snowed under with dirt and scandal that no one seems to be bothered about.

Summed it up well.

Starmer could have been perfect (which he isn’t) and the press would have dragged him down regardless.

They don’t like him, they hated Starmer.my DM would have referred to our current press as the gutter press?

westendgirl

AGAA4 and Maybee, I mentioned this further back ,
There are certain newspapers which seemed determined to bring down the Labour Government right from the get go. Then we have the huge donations to Reform and individual ones to Farage.
I know some posters will say I've been watching too many spy films, but somethings are making me feel quite uneasy as they don't add up.

Agreed. Not just newspapers, but plants and bots on social media, YouTube videos and more. I know I bang on about it to the point of tedium, but it's clear from the cliches that have taken over from debate - people absorb the soundbites and believe them, then reiterate them so they become 'facts'.

I am very uneasy too, FWIW.

I've just come back from a Labour Party "do" - it was informal chat with a short speech from a local woman candidate who was defeated by Reform (hard fought close vote) and our MP. Who was one of the original ones to sign up for no confidence.

Of course what she could say was limited tho of course its clear she is for Burnham as the only viable option.

Generally it was felt that Keir Starmer just hasn't got that leadership "touch" when it comes to people feeling he understands, is in touch, and its because of his character - one doesn't want an overload of faux charisma like Boris J,

but he cant get across warmth, caring: he comes across as wooden and doesn't communicate the many things the Labour Party has done well ie the sort of thing like renters rights and a whole sign of smaller positives we've often listed here.

Major mess-ups of course like the way restrictions on the winter allowance was tackled, the level (not the principle) of inheritance tax on land and farmers. Also when Starmer was chosen as appropriate to win over Conservative Voters, Reform was but a small force. Most people in the LP are basically to the left of his current policies. (Our area is northern - not the sort of area people could stick a "woke" or trendy label on, no one rich and so on - NHS workers, some teachers, some younger ones struggling to enter the world of work and get a house etc)

(which so easily get forgotten or ignored by the press)..and people wanted and want so very much, that no party could realistically deliver, on *every single front*)

But "why now"? why so quickly? Not sure, but given the world situation, and Reforms gains, how can we predict there will be a "right time"for a leadership contest

We did (out of hearing of MP) speculate if Streeting actually acted in concert with Burnham

Streeting tips up the boat, forces a situation where there will be a leadership challenge..he knows he wouldn't win it, but there would be a cabinet job, and yes, all want a change of chancellor: no to Raynor as in "unreliable"

It's a high risk strategy. Considered necessary because there is no one waiting in the wings and very uncertain future as regards world affairs.

but when would it not be as Burnham does enjoy a popularity that is hard to break as he's put the work in.

Alas I have to report....world peace not sorted.

I went to a lot of CLP meetings, if world peace were dependent on those, we would be absolutely snookered, the branch meetings were more peaceful.

If Burnham wanted to put the work in why didn’t he remain as an MP? Or did he not want to be an MP just the party leader?

Things have changed. And pretty rapidly. I can't know his private views, just assume he was reasonably happy with things as they were back then.

And if Starmer comes across as wooden why not just get someone who can communicate better and just be honest about why they’re doing it. If Burnham does become a MP again let him do the communication stuff. Why does he have to be PM?The electorate didn’t vote for a left wing government.

MayBee70

If Burnham wanted to put the work in why didn’t he remain as an MP? Or did he not want to be an MP just the party leader?

He left parliament, not under a cloud, because he wanted to contest for the new mayor of Manchester role. He had stood against Corbyn as party leader, and lost. He must have preferred being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big one I presume. There is nothing wrong with that, I just don’t like his behaviour since deciding he wanted to try again for the big job.

Galaxy

I went to a lot of CLP meetings, if world peace were dependent on those, we would be absolutely snookered, the branch meetings were more peaceful.

It's interesting how the current situation has sharpened ordinary LP members interest in high level politics. A lot of us feel it's about time.

An interesting unresolved discussion was about, of course, concerns about how much longer people in our country can all aspire to the standards of living many currently do.

The level of consumer consumption, bigger, newer, ideal is better and indeed necessary - who and how do we finance growth - borrow v don't borrow - at the same time many in the UK population don't want to actually pay taxes for more social housing and an adequate NHS and social Care..

Well Starmer has Rachel from accounts thank. If Starmer loses the leadership fight, let's hope the next PM will get rid of Reeves as number 1 priority.

Yes, it's definitely in the wind.

So who will be chancellor?

MayBee70

So who will be chancellor?

I vote MaizieD, but she'd have to do a U-turn on her derogatory comments about London!

MartavTaurus

MayBee70

So who will be chancellor?

I vote MaizieD, but she'd have to do a U-turn on her derogatory comments about London!

😂😂😂

The main reason that Reform UK did so well in the local elections is because of the elephant in the room - illegal migration! Starmer doesn’t get it. No wonder that public services are being stretched. I wonder - if I broke the law would I be given a hotel room? 🤔 I still want to know what’s wrong with France? I’d live there…

TiggyW

The main reason that Reform UK did so well in the local elections is because of the elephant in the room - illegal migration! Starmer doesn’t get it. No wonder that public services are being stretched. I wonder - if I broke the law would I be given a hotel room? 🤔 I still want to know what’s wrong with France? I’d live there…

Well Reform did well mainly in the areas that voted for Brexit. But Brexit didn’t reduce illegal immigration did it? Quite the opposite.

TiggyW

The main reason that Reform UK did so well in the local elections is because of the elephant in the room - illegal migration! Starmer doesn’t get it. No wonder that public services are being stretched. I wonder - if I broke the law would I be given a hotel room? 🤔 I still want to know what’s wrong with France? I’d live there…

I think you're the one who doesn't appear to "get it". I know very well that so-called illegal immigration was one of the main reasons behind Brexit and the rise of Reform BUT this so-called illegal immigration is a tiny percentage of overall immigration. It's not the main reason that public services are being stretched - it's the scapegoat, but racists choose to believe the reason they're being fobbed off with. It's curious that you would choose to live in France, which has more immigrants than the UK.

France has its own problems, believe me I've lived there. It's hanging from a precipice with its spiralling national debt and social malaise.

But, in comparison, Macron at least has a magnetic presence, he's charismatic and eloquent. That's not in Starmer's repertoire, nor in Wes', nor in Burnham's nor in Raynor's. Macron is always a man on a mission, I've watched him in detail. He knows what's needed to survive, whereas our lot are whimps in comparison.

We're well and truly stuffed in our choices for leadership here because none of them is prepared to change their arrogant self-assured behaviour and to listen to the people.

Cloth-eared Starmer and Co. Wyllow3 sums it up at 21.47, not one of them has the necessary leadership qualities and we're just going to end up with another useless fudger.

I know France has its own problems with immigrants. That's why I was curious that Tiggy said she'd live there, given that she seems to think that immigrants are the root of all the UK's evils.

I have a number of French friends with a non-French background (Guadeloupe or Maghreb) who have chosen to live in the UK because they think that the British are less discriminatory than the French.

I disagree with you that Starmer has handled immigration worse than Macron.