So it begins….. Streeting resigns

nanna8

Dreaded by me and dreaded by a lot over here. Why the big swing in the local elections ? Obviously dreaded by many. But, and a big but, would others challenging him be any better? Remains to be seen .

I wonder if it's your media in Australia giving him a hard time? If so, I wonder why?
Perhaps I'll ask.

MaizieD

nanna8

Dreaded by me and dreaded by a lot over here. Why the big swing in the local elections ? Obviously dreaded by many. But, and a big but, would others challenging him be any better? Remains to be seen .

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

Take an interest in UK politics by all means, but don’t act surprised and offended when people take issue with your opinions.

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

I suppose with world events in the turmoil they are at the moment, the actions of leaders worldwide could impinge on others, Starmer included. He seems to be doing the right thing as far as international affairs are concerned.
Trump visiting China and being more or less asked to offer up Taiwan as a bargaining tool would be more worrying in Australia, I would have thought.

Quote ronib Sun 17-May-26 09:53:11
What’s wrong with Andy Burnham in running shorts? Hairy legs?? Anniebach

Doesn’t help me choose a Labour Party leader

MaizieD

Whitewavemark2

Streeting has formally recognised that Brexit was a disaster.

I think he’s trying to throw a spanner in Burnham’s works. He has said that he will campaign for him in Makerfield. I understand that it is in a high Brexit voting area. So, Burnham campaigner is now known to want to overturn the Brexit vote (or ‘ignore/destroy democracy’ as many put it). So probably Burnham does too? ‘No way are we voting for that!’

Burnham loses to Reform. Sneaky Streeting has removed a rival…

Feasible?

Yes, that’s exactly what Streeting has done 😂

Anniebach

Quote ronib Sun 17-May-26 09:53:11
What’s wrong with Andy Burnham in running shorts? Hairy legs?? Anniebach

Doesn’t help me choose a Labour Party leader

I bet he looks better in shorts than Boris did.

Oh dear, if a man said that .....
But I'm very old so am I allowed?

Oh! Just seen a photo! They are rather short 😲

So now you have made me google andy burnham shorts.

MaizieD

Whitewavemark2

Streeting has formally recognised that Brexit was a disaster.

I think he’s trying to throw a spanner in Burnham’s works. He has said that he will campaign for him in Makerfield. I understand that it is in a high Brexit voting area. So, Burnham campaigner is now known to want to overturn the Brexit vote (or ‘ignore/destroy democracy’ as many put it). So probably Burnham does too? ‘No way are we voting for that!’

Burnham loses to Reform. Sneaky Streeting has removed a rival…

Feasible?

Streeting has been all over the place.

First he was running then because (I suspect) he couldn’t get the numbers - he wasn’t running but supporting Burnham. At the moment he is running again and presumably laying out his table.

It is feasible re- the by-election, but honestly I just think that they are chaotic.

It is certainly a massive risk on Burnham’s part, but did you read in the Observer, that is he wins the election he will be a shoe-in by the end of the summer and before the party conference, simply because he will have shown that he can see off Farage.

But what about the country! What about policies?

It is so sad to witness this. I know that Starmer is very unpopular with the media which of course feeds through to the voter, but I read that we had something like 5PMs between 1950-1998 and we have had something like 6 in the past decade.

Sheer madness - looking for perfection which is never going to happen. It seems so immature and frankly bloody tragic.

Galaxy

So now you have made me google andy burnham shorts.

😁

First he was running then because (I suspect) he couldn’t get the numbers - he wasn’t running but supporting Burnham. At the moment he is running again

Now I have a vision of Streeting running in shorts - what is it with these politicians? 😲

Sorry Whitewave, I do know what you meant, not trying to derail a serious post, honestly.
Ignore me.

I don't think laughing is a bad response, the alternative is to put your head in your hands in despair.

Male virility? Count me out.

MaizieD

nanna8

Dreaded by me and dreaded by a lot over here. Why the big swing in the local elections ? Obviously dreaded by many. But, and a big but, would others challenging him be any better? Remains to be seen .

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

Take an interest in UK politics by all means, but don’t act surprised and offended when people take issue with your opinions.

Surprised and offended ? Well you must have found a post I haven’t written. I would be surprised not to receive comments , I know I am in the minority here. I still keep my view of that man, it will never change, so don’t waste your breath on me. I am not offended because, unlike some others, you were not rude to me.

Allira

^First he was running then because (I suspect) he couldn’t get the numbers - he wasn’t running but supporting Burnham. At the moment he is running again^

Now I have a vision of Streeting running in shorts - what is it with these politicians? 😲

Sorry Whitewave, I do know what you meant, not trying to derail a serious post, honestly.
Ignore me.

No problem. You will laugh or cry or in my case feel furious at the futility of it all.

And we have the spectacle of Farage continuing to rant at the level of immigrants when in fact he is almost solely responsible for he huge increase since Brexit,

Whitewavemark2

Allira

First he was running then because (I suspect) he couldn’t get the numbers - he wasn’t running but supporting Burnham. At the moment he is running again

Now I have a vision of Streeting running in shorts - what is it with these politicians? 😲

Sorry Whitewave, I do know what you meant, not trying to derail a serious post, honestly.
Ignore me.

No problem. You will laugh or cry or in my case feel furious at the futility of it all.

And we have the spectacle of Farage continuing to rant at the level of immigrants when in fact he is almost solely responsible for he huge increase since Brexit,

Hysterical laughter followed by stamping of feet and weeping with helplessness!!

Allira

MaizieD

nanna8

Dreaded by me and dreaded by a lot over here. Why the big swing in the local elections ? Obviously dreaded by many. But, and a big but, would others challenging him be any better? Remains to be seen .

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

Take an interest in UK politics by all means, but don’t act surprised and offended when people take issue with your opinions.

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

I suppose with world events in the turmoil they are at the moment, the actions of leaders worldwide could impinge on others, Starmer included. He seems to be doing the right thing as far as international affairs are concerned.
Trump visiting China and being more or less asked to offer up Taiwan as a bargaining tool would be more worrying in Australia, I would have thought.

Well, about the only thing that Starmer hasn't done wrong is to make international affairs worse than they already are. So I still don't see what cause Australians have to 'dread' him.

I think we all dread Trump. The damage he has caused internally and internationally already is immense. We haven't yet felt the full effects of his little expedition to Iran...

Well, about the only thing that Starmer hasn't done wrong is to make international affairs worse than they already are. So I still don't see what cause Australians have to 'dread' him.

We don't always know what the Australian media is saying. I used to read an Australian newspaper online but it's behind a paywall now.

MaizieD

nanna8

Dreaded by me and dreaded by a lot over here. Why the big swing in the local elections ? Obviously dreaded by many. But, and a big but, would others challenging him be any better? Remains to be seen .

I don’t see that Australians have any business to ‘dread’ Starmer. He’s our PM, not yours.

Take an interest in UK politics by all means, but don’t act surprised and offended when people take issue with your opinions.

I couldn't agree more. "Obbiously" is not a statistic. Gossip is rarely informed; it thrives on speculation, hearsay, and missing context rather than verified facts. On GN

I cannot imagine why Australian gossip - given with only the political bias of the poster - is any great use to us. Perhaps, someone living abroad, wanting to understand the actuality of views from the "old country" should take on board the cross-section that is bound to exist. Equally, I'm sure, a well reported cross section of Australian views would inform us about the cultural differences and similarities between the two countries.

Obbviously Obviously

On GN

When you turn democracy into entertainment you can hardly complain if this is what you get. It's noticeable that those who often seem to see democracy in that way are the very one's who complain that they are not getting what they want.

When you turn democracy into entertainment

What year do you think that started?

24 hour news started in 1995.

I used to wonder or think that myself, but have gone off that idea.

I cannot imagine why Australian gossip ..... is any great use to us

I said Australian media, not gossip. Sometimes it is interesting to read the news from an overseas aspect.

Oh, to see ourselves as others see us!

Just to clarify, I have read and checked out Burnham’s spoken view on the EU and any future very very carefully.
His position aligns with the govt one which is to draw closer to the EU as regards trade and customs matters etc.

There is not any statement about rejoining except not to rule it out forever.

Any suggestion otherwise is speculative and possibly deliberately obfuscating.

Burnham will want to avoid any discussion about Europe - given his potential constituency.

Reform will want to bring it up constantly