He has done it! The toolmakers son has resigned!

Btw your assertions eazybee around “unfair changes to renting and employment” are actually laughable!

CatsWhiskas

Going forward, it would be good if our future PM is judged on what he/she does rather than who his/her parents are or any personality trait (or clothes). It's almost as though petty criticisms are used to distract from the serious job of politics.

I think it's too late for that!

Gone are the days when most of our leading politicians were grey, uninspiring-looking, middle-aged men (mostly) - a look and persona we were accustomed to.

I don't quite know who started the cult of personality - maybe it was Theresa May with her flamboyant footwear and dance-routine, but anyway, we now seem to crave 'charisma' and 'personality'.

Oh yes - and we want 'change' - when do we want it? We want it now.

Good luck Burnham (or whoever) - you'll still be up against the same political and economic structure of your predecessor, which will be defended fiercely by the, largely, right-wing press and assorted very-wealthy-individuals who have a vested interest in making sure we maintain the status quo.

eazybee

^And look at what we’ve achieved in just two years: an economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers; wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power; investment secured; infrastructure being built; an end to austerity; with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years; the biggest improvement in rights for workers and renters in a generation; the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War; small boat crossings falling; asylum hotels closing; protecting young people from social media; and half a million children being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made.^

And if you believe that you will believe anything.

Starmer has been forced out, in a very poor way, but he was ultimately incompetent, refused to listen to advice, (Mandelson) ,could/would not stand up to his MPs,(welfare Bill) , agreed unfair changes to renting and condition of employment (Rayner) and an ever increasing load of debt due to borrowing.(Reeves)
All the boasts about the grownups being in charge; Hollow.
The only victory: defeating Reform, in a Labour stronghold.
The result, a very dubious successor in the form of Burnham, and whoever is pulling his strings.

Sorry eazybee the things the LP have achieved are actual able to be proved and evidenced.

You are perfectly entitled to your views and opinions and to despise our PM.

But do not confuse your opinions with facts

Cossy

CatsWhiskas

But it wasn't a Labour stronghold in the local elections!

Ah, there’s the rub. I wonder if this is a reflection of the country as a whole? Voting in Reform in droves for local elections, but thinking far more deeply at a GE?

Not so sure about that! I think the Burnham factor played a significant role. I saw some people being interviewed who took it for granted that Burnham would replace Starmer, so there was an anti-Starmer factor.

Given how spectacularly bad the Reform candidate was, I'm surprised so many people voted for him. I assume he was chosen because he's a local plumber and Reform wanted to emulate the Gorton by-election. I suspect if they'd managed to find somebody a bit more intelligent and less sexist, they might have won.

I don't think any trends can be spotted here.

Farage is a grifter.

Losing a good prime minister is a crying shame.

If there was any safe alternative to democracy, I'd be all for it.

sundowngirl

I am not a labour supporter and no fan of Starmer but I would much rather he had stayed as PM. I do not trust Andy Burnham over the way he has handled himself.

However considering calling Keir Starmer a tool maker's son as disparaging is a bit of a stretch, when posters are happy to be disparaging to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farrage. Just a couple within this threat:-

Johnson - "that ragged mop head Johnson"

Farrage - "he's a complete and utter grifter"

Cossy - "It’s the element of sheer spite towards another human being which I so vehemently object to, however, as time goes by it’s just what I’ve come to expect in our world of dog eat dog, “goadyness” and utter rudeness.

It won’t stop me, and others, calling it out"

One of the above quotes was from your own post - so do you only "call out" goadyness and utter rudeness to those politicians that you support??

There is a difference between referring to someone's deliberately 'tousled' hair, and to their parent's occupation. One is a reference to the appearance of someone who represented the UK to the rest of the world, and the other to a rather outdated hierarchy of status.

Kier Starmer, love him or hate him, is a very successful man in his own right. He got to the top of the legal profession, and to the top in politics, entirely independent of his father. He always looks the part - rather staid, corporate, but respectful of the people he is talking to and to the role he occupies. The parts of people's appearance that they can control (eg hair or clothing) say a lot about their attitude and sense of responsibility. There is not a lot to say about Starmer's appearance, precisely because he does show respect and responsibility. The fact that people commented on Johnson's appearance (which showed no such respect or restraint) does not give anyone a free pass to make snobbish remarks about Starmer's father - it's really clutching at straws to suggest it might.

The 'tit for tat' attitude about criticising politicians is perplexing. If someone lies, cheats, grifts, gives contracts to cronies, whatever - there is every reason to criticise them, regardless of their party. But criticising one person (regardless of party) does not mean that scrabbling to find something negative to say about members of a different party in some sort of 'revenge' is ok - why would it?

We should criticise actions, otherwise criticisms are just an expression of dislike (although if the occupation of someone's father is a basis on which to dislike someone it says more about the disliker than the disliked).

CatsWhiskas

But it wasn't a Labour stronghold in the local elections!

Ah, there’s the rub. I wonder if this is a reflection of the country as a whole? Voting in Reform in droves for local elections, but thinking far more deeply at a GE?

Dontcallmelove

I think I’m a little bit thick. What relevance is his father’s trade to his resignation? I tend to think the words are stronger when the arguments weak.

You are not in the slightest bit thick. The reference to Starmer's trade is a way of mocking him. You're quite right that the most critical in this case don't have strong argiments.

greyfur

The glee alone in the thread title is unpleasant.

Farage is a grifter, that much can be proven.

As ever, the unpleasantness says something about the people who write it.

I think I’m a little bit thick. What relevance is his father’s trade to his resignation? I tend to think the words are stronger when the arguments weak.

GrannyGravy13

CatsWhiskas

Sunshinegirls

I'm glad he's going and hope he takes Reeves and Hermer with him and most of the front bench the most despised PM in history.

But he's not the most despised PM in history!

According to the BBC Keir Starmer is the most unpopular PM, with Rishi Sunak in second place and Liz Truss in third 🤷‍♀️…

Oh yes? What is their source? I'm afraid I find that contradicts other sources.

But it wasn't a Labour stronghold in the local elections!

And look at what we’ve achieved in just two years: an economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers; wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power; investment secured; infrastructure being built; an end to austerity; with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years; the biggest improvement in rights for workers and renters in a generation; the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War; small boat crossings falling; asylum hotels closing; protecting young people from social media; and half a million children being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made.

And if you believe that you will believe anything.

Starmer has been forced out, in a very poor way, but he was ultimately incompetent, refused to listen to advice, (Mandelson) ,could/would not stand up to his MPs,(welfare Bill) , agreed unfair changes to renting and condition of employment (Rayner) and an ever increasing load of debt due to borrowing.(Reeves)
All the boasts about the grownups being in charge; Hollow.
The only victory: defeating Reform, in a Labour stronghold.
The result, a very dubious successor in the form of Burnham, and whoever is pulling his strings.

sundowngirl

I am not a labour supporter and no fan of Starmer but I would much rather he had stayed as PM. I do not trust Andy Burnham over the way he has handled himself.

However considering calling Keir Starmer a tool maker's son as disparaging is a bit of a stretch, when posters are happy to be disparaging to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farrage. Just a couple within this threat:-

Johnson - "that ragged mop head Johnson"

Farrage - "he's a complete and utter grifter"

Cossy - "It’s the element of sheer spite towards another human being which I so vehemently object to, however, as time goes by it’s just what I’ve come to expect in our world of dog eat dog, “goadyness” and utter rudeness.

It won’t stop me, and others, calling it out"

One of the above quotes was from your own post - so do you only "call out" goadyness and utter rudeness to those politicians that you support??

Thank you Sundown.

I speak as I find, and no my critique is not only directed towards politicians I like.

I’m neither “goady nor spiteful”

Most of my posts do state, “in my opinion”.

In terms of Farage, imo, he is a grifter, he accepts an MP salary and doesn’t fulfil that role, he doesn’t vet his electorate colleagues nor attempt to apologise for the many failures of MP and councillor candidates nor comment on their conduct and at times, disgusting comments. How would you describe him?

There are members of the current cabinet for whom I don’t care much, RR our chancellor being one and I’ll be quite glad to see the back of her as I think she’s totally out of her depth. When she’s gone I won’t rejoice at her loss of job, nor will I make a “goady” post entitled “Primary School Teacher’s Daughter gone at last”

CatsWhiskas

Sunshinegirls

I'm glad he's going and hope he takes Reeves and Hermer with him and most of the front bench the most despised PM in history.

But he's not the most despised PM in history!

According to the BBC Keir Starmer is the most unpopular PM, with Rishi Sunak in second place and Liz Truss in third 🤷‍♀️…

The glee alone in the thread title is unpleasant.

Farage is a grifter, that much can be proven.

Going forward, it would be good if our future PM is judged on what he/she does rather than who his/her parents are or any personality trait (or clothes). It's almost as though petty criticisms are used to distract from the serious job of politics.

sundowngirl

I am not a labour supporter and no fan of Starmer but I would much rather he had stayed as PM. I do not trust Andy Burnham over the way he has handled himself.

However considering calling Keir Starmer a tool maker's son as disparaging is a bit of a stretch, when posters are happy to be disparaging to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farrage. Just a couple within this threat:-

Johnson - "that ragged mop head Johnson"

Farrage - "he's a complete and utter grifter"

Cossy - "It’s the element of sheer spite towards another human being which I so vehemently object to, however, as time goes by it’s just what I’ve come to expect in our world of dog eat dog, “goadyness” and utter rudeness.

It won’t stop me, and others, calling it out"

One of the above quotes was from your own post - so do you only "call out" goadyness and utter rudeness to those politicians that you support??

Johnson chose to ruffle up his hair to have a "ragged mop".

Farage choses to be a "complete and utter grifter*.

Starmer didn't choose his father.

Sunshinegirls

I'm glad he's going and hope he takes Reeves and Hermer with him and most of the front bench the most despised PM in history.

But he's not the most despised PM in history!

Primrose53

Wyllow3

ixion

A toolmaker's son

So what?
Totally unnecessary and disparaging.

Not just that, but what the O/P does not seem to recognise, it is disparaging to a whole class or group of people who make up our society. Such snobbery*.

Oh come on! How many times did KS trot out the line about his father being a toolmaker. He said it at every occasion until it became a standing joke.

Which is precisely why that thread title is treating him as a joke and ignoring his good qualities.

Wyllow3

Sundowngirl

Of course posters have over time called politicians a whole number of things. I have myself as a lefty and there has been much from the righties or in the middlers or not sure at all.

*However, that is very different from a goady nasty thread title, which is the point so many are trying to make*

👏👏👏👏

Sunshinegirls

I'm glad he's going and hope he takes Reeves and Hermer with him and most of the front bench the most despised PM in history.

You forgot the “imo”, which you’re entitled to have, however it’s not a fact, it’s your opinion. I can think of many more PM’s far worse than Starmer.

Sundowngirl

Of course posters have over time called politicians a whole number of things. I have myself as a lefty and there has been much from the righties or in the middlers or not sure at all.

However, that is very different from a goady nasty thread title, which is the point so many are trying to make

I have been emailed by Keir Starmer as a Labour Party member and I am copying it here to you. some of it you can whizz past, but do read the last bit please about this through decent man

and it gives you a timetable of the process which might be helpful Highlighted.

"Walking up Downing Street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labour Government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair. The chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That’s what I came into politics for.

The journey to that point was not easy. Six years ago, I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially, and morally bankrupt. I was told time and time again that my party was finished, that we were consigned to history, that a majority at the general election - let alone a landslide majority - was impossible.

But we proved those people wrong because we changed our party, ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence, and national security, and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with, not against, our national flag.

The hard work of change was with a singular purpose: not power for power’s sake, but to change Britain for the better. To build a fairer country, with dignity and respect, where everyone is seen and everyone is valued. Wealth and opportunity for all, not just the privileged few.

And look at what we’ve achieved in just two years: an economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers; wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power; investment secured; infrastructure being built; an end to austerity; with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years; the biggest improvement in rights for workers and renters in a generation; the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War; small boat crossings falling; asylum hotels closing; protecting young people from social media; and half a million children being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made.

Our reputation in the world restored, with Britain once again standing up for decency, respect, and the rule of law. Securing trade deals, standing with Ukraine, standing up for our values, and rebuilding our relationship with our allies in Europe.

Change promised by a Labour Government. Change fought for by a Labour Government. Change delivered by a Labour Government.

But I know the question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour Party to take us into power and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people. Those questions have been answered.

The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.

Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.

I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable, with nominations opening on 9 July and completed by the summer recess. In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September

I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power. I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead, and better able to ensure the Labour Party secures a second term in office

I want to thank all of those friends and colleagues who have been at my side for these past six years for their incredible commitment, service, and support. I want to thank the brilliant Number 10 staff, and our country’s extraordinary Civil Service, who dedicate their lives to public service.

And when I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job: being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy

Thank you very much.

Keir

Keir Starmer

I am not a labour supporter and no fan of Starmer but I would much rather he had stayed as PM. I do not trust Andy Burnham over the way he has handled himself.

However considering calling Keir Starmer a tool maker's son as disparaging is a bit of a stretch, when posters are happy to be disparaging to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farrage. Just a couple within this threat:-

Johnson - "that ragged mop head Johnson"

Farrage - "he's a complete and utter grifter"

Cossy - "It’s the element of sheer spite towards another human being which I so vehemently object to, however, as time goes by it’s just what I’ve come to expect in our world of dog eat dog, “goadyness” and utter rudeness.

It won’t stop me, and others, calling it out"

One of the above quotes was from your own post - so do you only "call out" goadyness and utter rudeness to those politicians that you support??