He has done it! The toolmakers son has resigned!

nanna8

I hope he becomes a foreign minister or an ambassador because he seems much more comfortable overseas. Maybe back to Europe as a lawyer ? At long last he has done something right. What of Burnham ? Maybe his policies will be just as bad but he will be better at ‘selling’ them. Hope he doesn’t use that silly Ed Millibrand in a position of influence.

"At last he has done something right"! What about these - sorry if the facts offend.

Economic growth returning and greater economic stability.
Wages rising faster than inflation.
Significant public and private investment commitments.
NHS waiting times improving.
Expansion of workers' rights and employment protections.
A reduction in small-boat Channel crossings.
Improving relations with European partners and restoring Britain's international standing.

Yes I also think the title is rather derogatory .
A headline the DM might run with.

nanna8

But he was a toolmaker’s son, wasn’t he ? Why so disparaging about toolmakers ? I don’t see that as an insult but tradies are very much respected in my country.

Quite, nanna8, and Starmer himself mentioned his father's trade ad infinitum, so I can't see what all the fuss is about the OP's heading.

Going off piste for just a sec, if that's okay. Ignore, if not, but
what sort of people were 'outraged' by Starmer taking the knee for 'Black lives Matter'?

ViceVersa

I have my doubts. I have serious concerns about his stance on women's rights, for one thing. The way the whole thing has been handled leaves a bad taste in my mouth too.

Well put.✅✅

Primrose53

MrsQuigley

I have never been or ever will be a Labour voter but I do think Sir Kier Starmer has been very unfairly treated by the media and by many members of the public. Is this going to be the way the Prime Minister (whoever it is) will be treated in future? It was bad enough with all the Boris haters, now there are all the Nigel haters and so on.
I really do not look forward to Andy Burnham as PM, further to the left, or, perish the thought, Angela Rayner.
What have we done?

Blame the media and public if you like but it was his own party who turned on him and led to his resignation.

I do think the public really turned on him when he was foolish enough to take the knee along with his Deputy Angela Rayner for the convicted criminal George Floyd. Many people were outraged.

He took the knee four years before he won the GE.

Good one Casdon. That could become a slogan. 👏

CatsWhiskas

Flippin2

I don't believe Andy Burnham,if he gets the position,will be any better.The people of Makerfield voted to get rid of Kier Starmer,it was already a Labour seat. I'm not a supporter of Starmer but he's a human being with feelings,he had to jump before he was pushed.

Yes, it had a Labour MP (and has had one for ages), but the recent local elections returned Reform councillors. It also voted for Brexit with a huge majority and most areas which voted for Brexit have been ripe for Reform. I suspect Reform would have won, if the Labour candidate had been anybody else.

But there was no need for a by-election, that only occurred so Burnham could be shoe-horned in as the candidate with hopes of ousting Starmer as Labour leader and PM. It all leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth.

So yet another white male Oxbridge graduate to take the helm.

Cabowich

nanna8

But he was a toolmaker’s son, wasn’t he ? Why so disparaging about toolmakers ? I don’t see that as an insult but tradies are very much respected in my country.

Quite, nanna8, and Starmer himself mentioned his father's trade ad infinitum, so I can't see what all the fuss is about the OP's heading.

Because it was smutty and an attempt to be funny...

It was toolmakers (especially in my home city) who put our country on the map, as far back as the early Middle Ages.

I’m not a labour supporter - never have been - but I feel sorry for Kier Starmer. I don’t like the way this leadership change has been orchestrated. It feels grubby. If Burnham does take the poisoned chalice, I shall be watching what his future cabinet’s stance on defence will be, given the parlous state of things at the moment.

Is Streeting out of the game now?

Cabowich

Aw, felt a bit sorry for him - his voice was wobbling when he paid tribute to his wife and children.

Yes, I felt sorry for him as well.

Same as when Teresa May resigned.

And Margaret Thatcher crying.

Makes them seem …fallible.

😢

DaisyAnneReturns

nanna8

I hope he becomes a foreign minister or an ambassador because he seems much more comfortable overseas. Maybe back to Europe as a lawyer ? At long last he has done something right. What of Burnham ? Maybe his policies will be just as bad but he will be better at ‘selling’ them. Hope he doesn’t use that silly Ed Millibrand in a position of influence.

"At last he has done something right"! What about these - sorry if the facts offend.

Economic growth returning and greater economic stability.
Wages rising faster than inflation.
Significant public and private investment commitments.
NHS waiting times improving.
Expansion of workers' rights and employment protections.
A reduction in small-boat Channel crossings.
Improving relations with European partners and restoring Britain's international standing.

Well why did everyone dislike him so strongly then ? Don’t tell me it was all the media’s fault because most people don’t even read it these days. I think a parallel universe maybe ?

Maremia

Is Streeting out of the game now?

Probably get offered a top job instead, to stop him forcing a leadership contest.

Not sure about Angela R though.

Cabowich

nanna8

But he was a toolmaker’s son, wasn’t he ? Why so disparaging about toolmakers ? I don’t see that as an insult but tradies are very much respected in my country.

Quite, nanna8, and Starmer himself mentioned his father's trade ad infinitum, so I can't see what all the fuss is about the OP's heading.

Just out of interest I analysed the tone of the headline. It might help some to understand why others have commented.

Triumphant — "He has done it!" is an exclamation of victory or success.
Mocking or derisive — referring to someone as "the toolmaker's son" rather than by name can sound dismissive, especially if their background is being invoked as a rhetorical device rather than as relevant information.
Class-conscious — the phrase draws attention to the person's social origins. Depending on the speaker and audience, it could be intended either as a sneer at a working-class background or as a sarcastic reference to how that background was used in political branding.
Celebratory of a resignation — the headline is not neutrally reporting an event; it is expressing pleasure that it happened.

Hope this helps.

Not forgetting inheritance tax on farms, plus vat on private schools increasing numbers in State schools and therefore cost. Wealthy fleeing the country and so loss in taxes …..

Burnham's dog is a Bichon Frise/Poodle cross.

Larry the Cat will make mincemeat of it.........

nanna8

DaisyAnneReturns

nanna8

I hope he becomes a foreign minister or an ambassador because he seems much more comfortable overseas. Maybe back to Europe as a lawyer ? At long last he has done something right. What of Burnham ? Maybe his policies will be just as bad but he will be better at ‘selling’ them. Hope he doesn’t use that silly Ed Millibrand in a position of influence.

"At last he has done something right"! What about these - sorry if the facts offend.

Economic growth returning and greater economic stability.
Wages rising faster than inflation.
Significant public and private investment commitments.
NHS waiting times improving.
Expansion of workers' rights and employment protections.
A reduction in small-boat Channel crossings.
Improving relations with European partners and restoring Britain's international standing.

Well why did everyone dislike him so strongly then ? Don’t tell me it was all the media’s fault because most people don’t even read it these days. I think a parallel universe maybe ?

Well, I assume you only know about his 'unpopularity' because of the media.

Cabowich

nanna8

But he was a toolmaker’s son, wasn’t he ? Why so disparaging about toolmakers ? I don’t see that as an insult but tradies are very much respected in my country.

Quite, nanna8, and Starmer himself mentioned his father's trade ad infinitum, so I can't see what all the fuss is about the OP's heading.

Exactly this, it was tongue in cheek as he mentioned it sooooooo many times!

Well why did everyone dislike him so strongly then ? Don’t tell me it was all the media’s fault because most people don’t even read it these days. I think a parallel universe maybe? nanna8

What makes you think they did?

Burnhams not going to be any better the scum rw press will chuck dirt at anything he does and there isn't any money in the coffers to do anything. The economy is down the toilet in large part due to Brexit.

Imo the role of PM is a complete poisoned chalice but I guess spectacular downfalls are only to be anticipated & accepted when you start to climb the greasy pole of politics towards the top post, especially in today's world of trial by media and childish, instant gratification.

Even so, it's still startling to me to see his obvious distress coldly dismissed as "blubbing" - cruelly disparaging & callous as if he wasn't a human being with emotions on such a difficult personal day, as if losing your job is just nothing and something to be sneered at.

Andy Burnham is a kind of folk hero, a northern lad which is what the Labour voters want. Sir Keir was a bit to dry for them, more live David Cameron and I fear that Labour's first steps two years ago were to punish the great and the good othe this country, the pensioners, the farmers, the back bone of what we once knew. The slippery slope to nowhere. And Rachel Reeves was completely the wrong choice for Chancellor. You need someone strong with a voice. Even poor of Angela Rayner got her come uppance in the end. Will Burnham do any better? I doubt it. We are in a post modernist bind and things are only going to get worse unless we all pull together - which we won't.

DaisyAnneReturns

Cabowich

nanna8

But he was a toolmaker’s son, wasn’t he ? Why so disparaging about toolmakers ? I don’t see that as an insult but tradies are very much respected in my country.

Quite, nanna8, and Starmer himself mentioned his father's trade ad infinitum, so I can't see what all the fuss is about the OP's heading.

Just out of interest I analysed the tone of the headline. It might help some to understand why others have commented.

Triumphant — "He has done it!" is an exclamation of victory or success.
Mocking or derisive — referring to someone as "the toolmaker's son" rather than by name can sound dismissive, especially if their background is being invoked as a rhetorical device rather than as relevant information.
Class-conscious — the phrase draws attention to the person's social origins. Depending on the speaker and audience, it could be intended either as a sneer at a working-class background or as a sarcastic reference to how that background was used in political branding.
Celebratory of a resignation — the headline is not neutrally reporting an event; it is expressing pleasure that it happened.

Hope this helps.

AI analysed it, you mean?

Maremia

Going off piste for just a sec, if that's okay. Ignore, if not, but
what sort of people were 'outraged' by Starmer taking the knee for 'Black lives Matter'?

I wasn’t!

What’s more, he wasn’t even OM at the time so to try and somehow “link” this event somehow with today’s event is so disingenuous.

* Sir Keir Starmer most recently took the knee on June 9, 2020, in a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and in memory of George Floyd.The Prime Minister (and then-Leader of the Opposition) was photographed alongside his deputy, Angela Rayner, kneeling in a parliamentary office to mark the day of Mr. Floyd's funeral.*