Congrats Keir Starmer

Watch Andy Burnham’s fantastic and heartfelt speech here (18:25) and the thanks he gives to Keir Starmer for the work he has done to bring about the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

This truly is his legacy.

www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a0466668-8bff-4a84-92e9-82773ac99700

Yes, excellent news tonight.
It would have come sooner if the Secret Services had not objected to be included in accountability - it was in the 2024 election commitments but an earlier bill was stopped by the SS.

(Lamentable whine from the Conservatives "they've hurried it we haven't had time to think")

Good to see the PM and Burnham both responding. (Burnham remember, comes from Liverpool whose supporters were blamed for Hillsborough where the police lied, so so has been a long term supporter of these measures)

It will also help any corruption or lack of proper action or lies in women and child abuse cases. Starmer concluded this in his speech.

Primrose53

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Oh come on …. You can’t blame his resignation on the media!
Starmer even said he accepted “with good grace” thatLabour MPs do not want him to lead them into the next general election. Hence his resignation.

Resigned because Labour MPs didnt want him for next election [because] bad results at local govt elections [because] of all the negative media coverage.
I certainly can blame it on the media.

Primrose53

Casdon

His worst critics were the media, who don’t see beyond the end of today when they set out to destroy reputations to sell copy to keep themselves in jobs. I suspect Starmer will be one of those PMs who is judged less harshly in retrospect than in the present. He should be very proud to receive the Legion D’Honneur, it’s not lightly awarded.

Oh come on …. You can’t blame his resignation on the media!
Starmer even said he accepted “with good grace” thatLabour MPs do not want him to lead them into the next general election. Hence his resignation.

He resigned because Burnham et al were planning the coup way before the local election results. He said he resigned with good grace because that’s the sort of person he is. Country before party as ever.

I, too, blame the media and the sheer spite with which his very move has been treated from the start. I am so heartily sick of hearing media-inspired soundbites and catch-phrases from the day he took office.

I very much hope that the same doesn't happen to AB, but fully expect that it will.

Anyway, Congratulations, Sir Kier - I think you did have to go, but am sorry that it happened, and hope you can find some solace in the great honour you have earned. And I also hope that you can, and are willing to, continue your work as Foreign Secretary going forward.

Casdon

Yes Primrose53, I do think it is down to the media. The relentless media campaign against him affected his standing with the public, and once the MPs realised that would not change they wanted him to go. Ultimately the media were responsible for his downfall. Different scenario, but the same tactic now happening to Farage too.

I agree. Labour MPs turned on him because the media had decided to trash his image with the public and so they had little choice but to seek his resignation.

We are more and more governed by the media. They decide who is in and who is out.

Starmer richly deserves his honour. It is a very long time since we have had a serious international statesman who has worked tirelessly for the UK,'s interests.

He was left alone by the press at the start given an easy ride as he is establishment won't rock the boat. Won't mention Palestine and the genocide that he helped facilitate with increase in arms, spy flights diplomatic cover.

Before he was PM on LBC he said Israel does have that right to cut off water electricity. That is collective punishment a war crime.

He has lied to the voters 10 pledges and lied ever since saying one thing then another time saying the exact opposite. U turns flip flopping. He had no plan for the country no vision. And people could see that. Also the press didn't mention Gaza that's why a lot of people left Labour. With all that the media will talk.

Don't know if new PM will be any better He did say Labour got it wrong on Gaza but will there be action. And who will he surround himself with?

Ukraine is another subject.

I don’t blame the media. I blame Keir Starmer. I have always thought he might make a good foreign minister but as PM I think he was absolutely dreadful. No matter what his personality is, no matter whether he is a nice person, he just was not cut out to be the leader.

Well, Emmanuel Macron & France obviously saw leadership qualities in him that escaped you, nanna8.

Well deserved, Macron praised his decency, a fine acknowledgment.

07:18valdali

Well he did enough bowing and scraping with his best buddy Macron (who is on his way out as well) and trips to his beloved EU so I'm not surprised. He won't be getting any prizes or praise from most of the voters in the UK the most hated PM in my lifetime.

You’re distorting reality in what you say about Macron Sunshinegirls. He is one of the most longstanding and successful French presidents, he is coming to the end of his second term, and is therefore ineligible to stand again.

We are more and more governed by the media. They decide who is in and who is out

A continual re run of X factor. You have 2 minutes to prove yourself, we're not interested in the back story.

I’m pleased he got the award, especially after the pile-on by his own MPs.

Lucky they had the media to pass the blame on to, as an excuse for their lack of support.

Lovely for them to see him rewarded.😄

At least he wasn’t Boris. More calm and did his best out of a bad job.

nanna8

I don’t blame the media. I blame Keir Starmer. I have always thought he might make a good foreign minister but as PM I think he was absolutely dreadful. No matter what his personality is, no matter whether he is a nice person, he just was not cut out to be the leader.

Exactly

Still same-old, same old: it is all the fault of the media, right wing obviously.

When Starmer was appointed I thought, and said, that he would be a safe, if dull, pair of hands.

What a disappointment he proved to be.

He had no authority over his Party which led to constant appeasement rather than leadership and inability to enforce his aims. He was a very poor communicator, lacked self-knowledge,and failed to listen to advice re Mandelson, the biggest mistake of his career.

I totally agree Eazybee it’s been a huge disappointment.

Isn’t Starmer the first pm to be facing wrongful dismissal claims from a very senior civil servant? I wonder how that will pan out?

ronib

Isn’t Starmer the first pm to be facing wrongful dismissal claims from a very senior civil servant? I wonder how that will pan out?

As an out of court settlement as is usually the case

I agree with your post of 09.33.30 eazybee

I don’t. I don’t believe that eazybee is in any way better qualified than the French President to evaluate Starmer’s contribution to European and world politics, funnily enough.

ronib

Isn’t Starmer the first pm to be facing wrongful dismissal claims from a very senior civil servant? I wonder how that will pan out?

No, Sir Philip Rutnam claimed unfair dismissal against the government and won in only 2021.

Samwam

He was left alone by the press at the start given an easy ride as he is establishment won't rock the boat. Won't mention Palestine and the genocide that he helped facilitate with increase in arms, spy flights diplomatic cover.

Before he was PM on LBC he said Israel does have that right to cut off water electricity. That is collective punishment a war crime.

He has lied to the voters 10 pledges and lied ever since saying one thing then another time saying the exact opposite. U turns flip flopping. He had no plan for the country no vision. And people could see that. Also the press didn't mention Gaza that's why a lot of people left Labour. With all that the media will talk.

Don't know if new PM will be any better He did say Labour got it wrong on Gaza but will there be action. And who will he surround himself with?

Ukraine is another subject.

That’s simply not true! He was hounded by the press/media from day one!

Sorry but it’s factual.