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Congrats Keir Starmer

(130 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".*

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…

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.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

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 12:47:14

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)

Cossy Wed 15-Jul-26 12:42:45

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.

Casdon Wed 15-Jul-26 12:37:15

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.

Casdon Wed 15-Jul-26 12:27:29

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.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 15-Jul-26 10:22:09

I agree with your post of 09.33.30 eazybee

Tuliptree Wed 15-Jul-26 10:18:28

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

ronib Wed 15-Jul-26 10:09:56

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?

Oreo Wed 15-Jul-26 09:40:41

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

eazybee Wed 15-Jul-26 09:32:30

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.

Oreo Wed 15-Jul-26 09:20:09

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

Harris27 Wed 15-Jul-26 09:03:11

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

Mollygo Wed 15-Jul-26 09:00:54

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.😄

greyfur Wed 15-Jul-26 09:00:41

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.

Casdon Wed 15-Jul-26 07:55:24

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.

Sunshinegirls Wed 15-Jul-26 07:31:50

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.

Jaxjacky Wed 15-Jul-26 07:30:01

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

valdali Wed 15-Jul-26 07:18:24

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

nanna8 Wed 15-Jul-26 03:05:56

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.

Samwam Wed 15-Jul-26 02:34:35

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.

Luckygirl3 Tue 14-Jul-26 23:51:01

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.

Luckygirl3 Tue 14-Jul-26 23:49:27

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.

Doodledog Tue 14-Jul-26 23:21:50

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.