Keir Starmer stepping down as an MP

It’s so easy to spot the anti-Labour posts! I get the impression that if a Labour PM discovered a cure for cancer he or she would still be ridiculed by the right.

Apologies - they were Richmond Tests, a precursor to SATS but probably better!

AB made several pledges when he campaigned in Makerfield (not to mention his many, many Social Media promises) … let’s see how many of these he fulfills now he’s achieved the top job he gained through an underhand coup.

In response to MaizieD.

JenniRen

Apologies - they were Richmond Tests, a precursor to SATS but probably better!

I think you'll find that Richmond is the surname of the person who developed the tests. Nothing to do with the town of Richmond (or Rishi Sunak)

Oh, I stand corrected.
I thought those Richmond Tests were local to Richmond-upon-Thames and that was why.

AI explains:

The Richmond Project (Post-Premiership Charity)

Launched a registered charity focused on making numbers less scary, improving everyday numeracy, and boosting social mobility.

Introduced campaigns like "Books Count," an online book club and school-distribution scheme supporting number-themed reading for children.

Provided evidence and policy recommendations to parliamentary committees, such as the House of Lords

Numeracy for Life inquiry, advocating for better online adult math tuition and financial literacy.

It is worthwhile in my opinion.

MaisieD said;
There are a great many Labour people (some of the now exLabour) who considered that Starmer was somewhat underhand, having won the Labour leadership on the strength of ten pledges which he abandoned pretty fast once he'd got the job.

I am one of them. I voted for him as leader because I believed what he told the membership. I believed the pledges he made. I don't think that I was wrong to believe that he was telling the truth. I wouldn't believe him again.

Under his premiership, we were heading for a reform Government. He should be staying to make the transition (to Burnham) as seamless as possible.

Cossy

I was a bit taken aback, as I thought he was staying on til the next GE.

However, I understand he’s going to continue the work he started supporting girls and women affected by domestic abuse.

The by-election should be very interesting indeed. I understand the Green Party have their eye on this seat!

Pity he didn’t do anything for the thousands of girls raped, drugged, impregnated and abused by the Pakistani grooming gangs. He didn’t want to know!

Ladyleftfieldlover

It’s so easy to spot the anti-Labour posts! I get the impression that if a Labour PM discovered a cure for cancer he or she would still be ridiculed by the right.

If any party claimed it had found a cure for cancer. I would not believe them or trust them.

I wish all parties would stop making promises they cannot keep and I wish voters would see these promises for the worthlesness they really have.

Scribbles

So now it's confirmed: being an MP was all about personal ambition. Now he's no longer prime minister, he has no further interest in his constituents or in promoting their concerns within the governing party.
No, I'm not surprised. He was just another snout in the trough while it suited him.

I agree

Primrose53

Cossy

I was a bit taken aback, as I thought he was staying on til the next GE.

However, I understand he’s going to continue the work he started supporting girls and women affected by domestic abuse.

The by-election should be very interesting indeed. I understand the Green Party have their eye on this seat!

Pity he didn’t do anything for the thousands of girls raped, drugged, impregnated and abused by the Pakistani grooming gangs. He didn’t want to know!

True

Such venom on here 😱😱

The worst accusation re grooming and female victims is strictly accurate;

“Throughout his career as a legal leader and politician, Sir Keir Starmer has reformed prosecution guidelines for sexual offenses, overseen record prosecutions of child abuse, and launched national strategies to tackle violence against women and girls.As Director of Public Prosecutions (2008–2013)Updated Guidelines: Starmer revised Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidelines to challenge harmful courtroom myths and stereotypes—such as dismissing a victim's credibility because they delayed reporting or had consumed alcohol.Child Abuse Cases: He left office with the highest number of child sexual abuse prosecutions on record at that time.Support for Victims: He promoted measures allowing vulnerable victims to give evidence via video link so they did not have to face their abusers in person.Criticism and Scrutiny: While defending his overall record, Starmer’s tenure at the CPS has also faced criticism from some whistleblowers and campaigners who argued that historical grooming gang cases (such as those in Rochdale and Oldham) suffered from institutional failures and inadequate initial charging decisions.As Labour Leader and Prime Minister (2020–Present)National Inquiry: Following an independent review by Dame Louise Casey, Starmer launched a statutory national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs.VAWG Strategy: His government published a cross-government strategy on tackling violence against women and girls with a stated goal to halve such violence within a decade.Funding and Support: This strategy includes over £1 billion in investment for victim support services, specialist police units, and preventative education in schools”

Primrose53

Cossy

I was a bit taken aback, as I thought he was staying on til the next GE.

However, I understand he’s going to continue the work he started supporting girls and women affected by domestic abuse.

The by-election should be very interesting indeed. I understand the Green Party have their eye on this seat!

Pity he didn’t do anything for the thousands of girls raped, drugged, impregnated and abused by the Pakistani grooming gangs. He didn’t want to know!

How many times does that lie have to be corrected?

From AI, a brief recap of a long and detailed answer:

Starmer inherited a CPS that had failed in some grooming cases; under his leadership the CPS revisited the Rochdale failure, prosecuted the perpetrators, acknowledged systemic problems, and changed its guidance and prosecution practices concerning child sexual exploitation.

With a qualification:

One qualification is important

It would be too generous to portray Starmer as the person who discovered the grooming-gang scandal and solved it. He didn't. Journalists, victims, campaigners, individual police officers and social workers had been raising the issue for years, and some police and CPS decisions were disastrously wrong.*

(*CPS decisions made before Starmer became head of the CPS)

Nor did his reforms suddenly solve the problem. The Rotherham Jay Inquiry, published in 2014, exposed the extraordinary scale of the continuing failure.

Having watched Burnham’s extremely confident performance in the Commons this afternoon, I don’t think he needs any help other than from his own team.

Badenoch is going to have to find a different strategy for trying to wrong foot him than her usual sarcasm.

He paid tribute to the work Starmer has done and is planning to build on much of that. He very firmly put Richard Tice in his place over renewables. By this time Farage has scarpered and was doing an interview for GBNews saying his doesn’t care about investigations and throws the paperwork in the bin. Just hours after being sworn in.

The different between a serious politician on top of his game who genuinely wants to do good and someone engaged in cosplay.

More debate on the Representation of the People Bill tomorrow which ought to interest Reform. I wonder of they will turn up as their oddly scheduled conference starts on Thursday.

The by-election.

David Miliband had ruled himself out and says he will remain in New York. It’s looking like Zack Polanski may stand.

I’m still hoping David Miliband will return one day, he would be a huge asset.

It’ll be an extremely interesting “battle”

I thought AB’s opening speech was outstanding, long may it last and please may his actions match his words, for the good of ALL people.

I thought his speech was very wooden. Great orator he is not. But I have to admit, because I always try to give credit where it is due, that he was outstanding when it came to answering all the questions.

youtu.be/gXhxBoFEorU?si=1SisR1rC1UbOlqyG

Investigation into Starmer and the grooming gangs

Timing eh?
Sticking the knife in Burnham his first proper day on the job! Mean spirited.
He wanted to steal his thunder. Could’ve waited a few days but oh no, had to be today.

I agree with Casdon, it is the right choice for him and his family. It would be very hard and dispiriting to adapt to the MP role after being PM. He was treated, unexpectedly poorly and that would be a hard pill to swallow. And if his heart isn't in it, it would be unfair to his constituents. I think he has the integrity to know that.

I sort of thought that at first FGM. But then I thought, you can't really blame him for that.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Timing eh?
Sticking the knife in Burnham his first proper day on the job! Mean spirited.
He wanted to steal his thunder. Could’ve waited a few days but oh no, had to be today.

Not nearly as mean spirited as AB plotting for at least a year to overthrow him.

I think Burnham wins in the backstabbing stakes!

I am sure they discussed it before today FGT2, and agreed that the first sitting after the recess was mutually acceptable. You could tell by Burnham’s thanks that it wasn’t sprung on him.

Apologies FGT....typo