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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To like Keir Starmer?

556 replies

Emmanuelll · 09/07/2024 09:02

Unlike Tony Blair, he comes from a working class background - his siblings would still call themselves working class.

As a very bright lawyer, he could have sought a path which made him rich quickly but instead chose human rights which isn’t an easy route to take and he’s defended ‘the little guy’ against corporations. He’s also anti-death penalty.

Ok, he’s a Sir, and I’ve heard people (perhaps not unreasonably) question why the leader of the Labour Party would have a title like that. But he earned it through work for the criminal justice system.

On the face of it, it seems as though he deserves a chance.

I would much rather have him as PM than a former Bullingdon club member who used to burn money in front of homeless people for the fun of it.

OP posts:
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FinalCeleryScheme · 09/07/2024 09:58

If you read MN, Starmer can walk on water. And the Apostles in the cabinet are all shining beacons of rectitude, selflessness and humility.

The truth of it is that he and Labour generally are no better and no worse than any other ambitious politicians. I hope he’ll be sensible. And I hope he’ll admit his mistakes and failures. But that’s rare in any politician so it seems unlikely.

Eastie77Returns · 09/07/2024 09:57

He seemed to grow massively in confidence overnight after winning the election. Before his speech on the morning of the 5th I didn’t think he seemed particularly statesman like. It’s good to look at Downing Street and see grownups in the room after the debacle of Johnson, Truss etc. I’m quietly hopeful.

I wonder if those commenting on his net worth were equally concerned about Rishi’s hundreds of millions, his town house in Kensington, the huge house in California and the mansion in Yorkshire? The tax avoidance he and his wife carefully constructed?

lovelysunshine22 · 09/07/2024 09:55

As someone who has met him quite a few times in a non political area i would say that you would be very mistaken to think the nice, self effacing, mild man you see on TV is what he's really like! No one gets to the top without being prepared to tread on the heads of whoever they need to to get there!

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:54

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 09/07/2024 09:37

How does one "voluntarily pay extra tax"?

There is a link on the government website thay allows you to

Turkeyhen · 09/07/2024 09:54

Roseyjane · 09/07/2024 09:51

I like him too but he is rich and he didn’t come from a working class background no matter how much he downplays it, his father was a factory owner. He is middle class through and through and now very wealthy.

Not true. Unless you count his dad setting up his own workshop as being a factory owner.

Roseyjane · 09/07/2024 09:51

I like him too but he is rich and he didn’t come from a working class background no matter how much he downplays it, his father was a factory owner. He is middle class through and through and now very wealthy.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/07/2024 09:50

LittleLittleRex · 09/07/2024 09:49

There's no irony there unless he has his money stashed away somewhere he won't pay tax himself.

Thinking "I could afford to pay more tax and would willingly do so to improve public services," then taking steps to make it happen, is not ironic.

It's simply a sign that you lack the imagination to think anyone might not vote solely in their own best interests.

Totally agree, there is nothing remotely ironic about higher earners saying that they and people like them could pay more tax to make it a fairer society.

Chickenuggetsticks · 09/07/2024 09:50

Meh, his flip flopping over womens rights was truly pathetic to behold. So tbh no don’t particularly trust him.

Aside from that I would never put any politician on a pedestal. Corbyn’s little cult of personality was mind blowing to me (bit like the insane loyalty Trump commands, I don’t get it). Even the first day people were praising him for just naming his cabinet. I totally believe the country needed a change but he’s not done anything yet so I’ll reserve judgement.

Toetouchingtitties · 09/07/2024 09:49

Champagnesocialismo · 09/07/2024 09:41

You mean it will be interesting for your finances! Give over and get over it assuming you weren’t happy with the election.

That’s a bit of an assumption by yourself. They can’t take what I haven’t got.

LittleLittleRex · 09/07/2024 09:49

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

There's no irony there unless he has his money stashed away somewhere he won't pay tax himself.

Thinking "I could afford to pay more tax and would willingly do so to improve public services," then taking steps to make it happen, is not ironic.

It's simply a sign that you lack the imagination to think anyone might not vote solely in their own best interests.

Emmanuelll · 09/07/2024 09:47

I wasn't judging him by class. 🙄 I often see people say that Tony Blair, although a socialist at university came from a very privileged background that would have given him more opportunities and confidence.

Talking about working class in this context is about what that person had to do to succeed.

OP posts:
Iffx · 09/07/2024 09:44

Your first paragraph judges him by his class. Albeit you have made a favourable judgement - but judging by class is absolutely unacceptable.

Emmanuelll · 09/07/2024 09:43

SlothOnARope · 09/07/2024 09:40

YABVU. I think it's very dangerous to get warm and fuzzies for politicians, especially in this country.

Keep a cold and rational mind.

He will have earned his "likes" in 4 years' time. Or not, as the case may be.

Well when I say 'like' I don't mean literally of course - I don't know the man. It's just a thread title.

OP posts:
MyBirthdayMonth · 09/07/2024 09:41

Caffeineneedednow · 09/07/2024 09:10

Yep

My partners biggest issue is that he is a bit boring which I don't disagree with but I far prefer a bit boring to the " charasmatic" Boris

Charisma is overrated. Not that Boris actually has any, so far as I could ever see.

Champagnesocialismo · 09/07/2024 09:41

Toetouchingtitties · 09/07/2024 09:39

It’ll be interesting to see how much of his alleged £7.5 million net worth he’s prepared to give up when taxes and other financial decisions start to affect the ‘general population’.

You mean it will be interesting for your finances! Give over and get over it assuming you weren’t happy with the election.

SlothOnARope · 09/07/2024 09:40

YABVU. I think it's very dangerous to get warm and fuzzies for politicians, especially in this country.

Keep a cold and rational mind.

He will have earned his "likes" in 4 years' time. Or not, as the case may be.

Toetouchingtitties · 09/07/2024 09:39

It’ll be interesting to see how much of his alleged £7.5 million net worth he’s prepared to give up when taxes and other financial decisions start to affect the ‘general population’.

Whatafustercluck · 09/07/2024 09:38

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

Do you have a source for this? Other than VAT on private school fees, and clarifying no planned changes to income tax, national insurance or VAT, he's said nothing further on taxation as far as I can see.

I agree, op. I've always liked him, and I trust him as a safe pair of hands after the past 14 tumultuous years. Good to see the grown ups in charge again, finally.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 09/07/2024 09:37

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

How does one "voluntarily pay extra tax"?

Icanwalkintheroom · 09/07/2024 09:37

YANBU.

Have found all his briefings so far refreshingly action focused, clear and free of party dogma.

kirbykirby · 09/07/2024 09:35

YABU.

Champagnesocialismo · 09/07/2024 09:31

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

Take it the election didn’t go the way you wanted. Nice bit of prospective drama llama on tax there.

He seems like a sane, well qualified, considered man. Relishing the boredom.

FineDining · 09/07/2024 09:28

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

I wasn't aware any changes to taxation had been announced!

LumiB · 09/07/2024 09:23

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

Thebaldprimadonna · 09/07/2024 09:21

Amen!