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Congrats Keir Starmer

(121 Posts)
Cossy Tue 14-Jul-26 18:46:31

Not everyone hates Sir Keir Starmer

Well done!

*”Sir Keir Starmer has been awarded the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour), France's highest national order. French President Emmanuel Macron presented the historic award in recognition of Sir Keir’s "personal leadership" in European security and the creation of the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine.

Sir Keir is the first serving British prime minister to ever receive the award. Macron bestowed the honor during a ceremony in Paris, noting that he found Starmer to be a "very reliable and friendly partner".*

Cossy Wed 15-Jul-26 12:47:14

eazybee

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.

Well clearly the French Government didn’t agree with you.

If you cannot accept that in some eyes he was a good international statesman, particularly with Ukraine and America, then that’s your issue.

He’s far from perfect, made mistakes, should have got rid of RR, (imo) but this honour he’s been awarded from President Macron, is the first time it’s been awarded to a serving PM (which Starmer still is currently)

ronib Wed 15-Jul-26 12:47:43

Rutnam settled out of court against Priti Patel. Cost to taxpayers £340000 plus legal expenses. Not a prime minister.

Cossy Wed 15-Jul-26 12:47:52

Luckygirl3

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.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

GrannyGravy13 Wed 15-Jul-26 12:48:07

Casdon

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.

He was better on the world stage than he was at home.

I have posted this repeatedly, the comms team at No.10 left a lot to be desired.

He campaigned on a no more sleaze ticket, yet was found to have accepted freebies during and after the election.

He didn’t read the room he couldn’t his backbenchers on board, and his chancellor well…

I suppose I was expecting a more ethical and moral outlook…

Casdon Wed 15-Jul-26 12:55:17

The post made no reference to the subject of original thread though GrannyGravy13, it was just a general pop at Starmer. I should have quoted eazybee’s post not yours, for which I apologise, as I know you have acknowledged Starmer’s strength on foreign affairs. Would that everybody was even handed.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 15-Jul-26 13:00:26

Casdon 👍

Madgran77 Wed 15-Jul-26 13:36:48

Graphite

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

Can't fault him on that speech. Brilliant!

Sunshinegirls Wed 15-Jul-26 13:48:44

I bet Starmer thought it was wonderful (not)seeing as Burnham did the dirty on him, heartfelt don't make laugh he couldn't wait to get rid of him and take his place as PM says a lot about Burnham's character to me two faced like most of the Labour MPs smiling at Starmer but secretly couldn't wait to get rid of him.

Primrose53 Wed 15-Jul-26 13:59:55

Just been watching his party giving him a standing ovation after his speech despite most of them turning on him a short while ago and giving him the boot! Hypocrites.

Casdon Wed 15-Jul-26 14:13:00

ronib

Rutnam settled out of court against Priti Patel. Cost to taxpayers £340000 plus legal expenses. Not a prime minister.

ronib, I thought you had said you were a civil servant in the past, did I get that wrong? I’d assumed you knew that government ministers don’t have the legal authority to hire, fire, or to be named as the direct respondent in an unfair dismissal claim by a Permanent Secretary. Civil servants are employed by their departments, not by individual ministers. So, the unfair dismissal claim by Rutnam is a direct comparator.

Dickens Wed 15-Jul-26 14:23:20

I liked the way Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to his family, that was gracious - and Starmer was equally gracious in publicly thanking KB for the private support she had given him on two occasions. And he acknowledged that being an opposition PM is a 'difficult' job.

... a moment that was quite heart-warming and consoling - particularly in this current political 'climate' on various social media platforms where individuals with opposing views spew abuse and jibes at each other...

Oreo Wed 15-Jul-26 16:44:59

Dickens

I liked the way Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to his family, that was gracious - and Starmer was equally gracious in publicly thanking KB for the private support she had given him on two occasions. And he acknowledged that being an opposition PM is a 'difficult' job.

... a moment that was quite heart-warming and consoling - particularly in this current political 'climate' on various social media platforms where individuals with opposing views spew abuse and jibes at each other...

I watched it and totally agree with you.

DamaskRose Wed 15-Jul-26 17:06:27

Doodledog

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.

Exactly what I would have said had you not beaten me to it Doodledog. I really do hope that he will have a role in AB’s government as Foreign Secretary.

LemonJam Wed 15-Jul-26 17:28:55

Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) yesterday and a very well received speech at PMQs today- well done Sir Keir.

I thought Keith Starmer's speech at PMQs today was kind and honourable. It was heart warming to see so many standing and cheering him on at the end- including a number on the opposition benches- and Lindsay Hoyle also shaking his hand.

Samwam Wed 15-Jul-26 17:31:59

'New strategic direction for the media' government green paper. Control what you are allowed to watch. They want MSM not the independent journalists bringing truth to power on various platforms YouTube etc.

We are supposed to live in a democracy.


.

Luckygirl3 Wed 15-Jul-26 17:33:49

DamaskRose

Doodledog

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.

Exactly what I would have said had you not beaten me to it Doodledog. I really do hope that he will have a role in AB’s government as Foreign Secretary.

Indeed.

Government by media.

Burnham will be next ...

Ladyleftfieldlover Wed 15-Jul-26 17:42:18

Sunshinegirls

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.

Did you just say that Starmer is the most hated PM in your lifetime? Surely you jest or are sadly misled. Lettuce Truss anyone (ruined the economy) B Johnson (is almost as big a liar as trump). Mmm. I think you need to do some careful research.

Maremia Wed 15-Jul-26 18:09:24

Oh yes I can blame it on the media.

Maremia Wed 15-Jul-26 18:09:56

Congratulations on the honour 🎊

Maremia Wed 15-Jul-26 18:11:40

Nobody was worse than Liz Truss. Right enough, she was gone so quickly you probably didn't notice. 🤣 😂

Labradora Wed 15-Jul-26 18:22:27

Indiebee

I am so pleased. He has been a steady hand after many years of political chaos in the UK and has been terrific on the international stage. I hope he will continue to contribute his expertise in parliament and in world affairs.

Can we have him back please ??

Bukkie Wed 15-Jul-26 18:33:20

I don't hate him. I didn't vote Labour but I recognised the country needed a change and thought he would be so much better than he has been. I think the real problem is the people who surrounded himself with including Angela half a brain cell Rayner, Calamity Lammy and Ed Minibrain.

Wyllow3 Wed 15-Jul-26 18:37:21

It was a very moving farewell in the H of C indeed, shown quite a bit of it on the BBC 6pm news, worth catching up on it later.

LemonJam Wed 15-Jul-26 18:37:33

Samwam

'New strategic direction for the media' government green paper. Control what you are allowed to watch. They want MSM not the independent journalists bringing truth to power on various platforms YouTube etc.

We are supposed to live in a democracy.

.

Im really looking forward to seeing the detail of this New strategic direction for the media' government green paper it's long been needed.

Foreward on gov.uk

"Like many of us, evenings in my home growing up were often spent gathered around the living room TV set. Whether that was the whole family glued to the Generation Game or Noel’s House Party on Saturday night, or cheering on Scotland in the football.

Our media is a central part of our civic realm. High-quality television programmes, like culturally relevant drama and comedy, provide common references and help shape attitudes to social issues. Trustworthy news, subject to rigorous editorial standards, provides the shared understanding and facts needed for people to trust one another The broadcast of national moments, such as the Olympic Games or international sporting fixtures, bring the nation together for shared experiences.

However, these benefits are under pressure in today’s media environment where a limited selection of broadcast channels has given way to an explosion of seemingly unlimited content, accessed primarily via the internet. The digital age has seen audiences move away from traditional linear broadcasting and into the online world where, rather than watching together, we are encouraged to consume content in individually curated feeds, and divisive and inaccurate narratives are more likely to thrive

This green paper sets out a new strategic direction for the government’s media policy to address these challenges. The interventions we are consulting on will:
foster a healthy information environment where trustworthy news is easy to find
ensure audiences can continue to enjoy universal access to trusted and high-quality television content and benefit from our modern digital society more broadly
support our public service media providers, who sit at the heart of our domestic TV industry ecosystem, driving growth and inward investment

Taken together, this work will ensure that our media continues to play its vitally important roles in entertaining, educating, serving democracy and supporting social cohesion in the UK, while putting audiences first.

Ian Murray, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts

LemonJam Wed 15-Jul-26 18:39:05

Part of Starmer's legacy - though not congrats regarding his award from Macron yesterday.

Might warrant a thread of its own once published....