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To think Wes Streeting would make a good PM?

63 replies

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 15:28

I’ve been thinking about this on and off for a while and was surprised when my mum turned around and said the same thing to me the other day so it’s made me wonder if others feel the same way. For what it’s worth I tend to vote Conservative but almost voted Labour at the last election. So you could say I’m a potential swing voter. My mum is the same as me in that respect.

I’ve been really disappointed with Starmer as PM since Labour took power last year. I think Streeting comes across as more relatable and passionate than Starmer. His background growing up in poverty and overcoming cancer makes him feel much more grounded and human. He’s also a much stronger communicator, especially under pressure, and isn’t afraid to say what he really thinks, even when it goes against his own party. I like that he talks openly about reforming the NHS rather than just promising more money. It feels more honest and realistic. Compared to Starmer, he just seems a bit sharper, more instinctive politically, and more willing to take risks. I think he could appeal to people across the political spectrum, especially those who want change but are put off by extremes. Anyone else feel the same?

I think if Labour don’t make some drastic changes soon then they are opening the door for a Reform win when we next have a general election.

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ScholesPanda · 06/07/2025 16:30

He is certainly one of the better performing cabinet ministers, and he comes across as relatable to me.

I do wonder if the fact that he is gay would mean he's ripped apart by some types though. It certainly wouldn't bother me and I wouldn't have thought that mattered even 18 months ago, but I'm less sure now.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 16:27

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 16:03

Just curious, if you disagree with me, who do you think would be the best leader of the Labour Party?

No one associated with Labour currently, unfortunately. They are low calibre people who have no real life experience of doing anything meaningful.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 16:26

JazzyJelly · 06/07/2025 16:05

I respect a politician who can look at evidence and change their mind. He's ambitious too, I can certainly see him making a bid for leadership if Starmer takes another big hit.

Though I do agree the current Labour cabinet is uninspiring, so there's not a huge amount of competition.

What? Did he magically find some hitherto unknown evidence that to be a woman, you need two X chromosomes? and then he changed his mind that men can’t be women.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 16:24

LovelyVase · 06/07/2025 16:09

I have a lot if time for Wes Streeting but I really want Yvette Cooper as PM and Wes can be deputy. Sorry Kier. You were like the Theresa May after Brexit, inheriting a shit situation and a thoughtful, capable manager but more of a caretaker. Excellent on a very challenging world stage. Steady pair of hands at home, which is good, but not a future-looking, centrist, inspiring type of grown up PM that will be needed in these polarised times.

You are kidding, right? May was an absolute disaster.

LlynTegid · 06/07/2025 16:22

If Keir Starmer retires in 2028 or so, which I think is possible, then I think that Wes Streeting could well become next leader and Prime Minister.

Motnight · 06/07/2025 16:17

I wouldn't trust Wes Streeting to sort anything out. He's made the decision to close NHS England and cut the number of staff needed in half. Huge headlines, lots of applause. Now admits there's no plans how to do this and can't even be arsed to attend the staff meetings he used to turn up smirking at.

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 16:15

LovelyVase · 06/07/2025 16:09

I have a lot if time for Wes Streeting but I really want Yvette Cooper as PM and Wes can be deputy. Sorry Kier. You were like the Theresa May after Brexit, inheriting a shit situation and a thoughtful, capable manager but more of a caretaker. Excellent on a very challenging world stage. Steady pair of hands at home, which is good, but not a future-looking, centrist, inspiring type of grown up PM that will be needed in these polarised times.

I quite like Yvette but in my ideal world it would be Wes as leader and Yvette as deputy.

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Shetlands · 06/07/2025 16:15

Yvette Cooper for Prime Minister and Wes as Deputy, failing that I'd happily have Wes in the top job. He's bright, passionate about social justice and a pragmatic politician. I've rated him highly for years and I also loved his autobiography.

ohfourfoxache · 06/07/2025 16:10

Best leader for Labour - Yvette Cooper or, in an ideal world, Andy Burnham

ohfourfoxache · 06/07/2025 16:10

He is a detestable little turd

He is currently completely and utterly fucking up the NHS, huge swathes are being made redundant, safety systems are being dismantled, and we are on the cusp of returning to conditions that allowed Mid Staffs to occur. All whilst prancing around saying that he’s got everything to work so brilliantly

Could cheerfully slap him with a wet haddock

LovelyVase · 06/07/2025 16:09

I have a lot if time for Wes Streeting but I really want Yvette Cooper as PM and Wes can be deputy. Sorry Kier. You were like the Theresa May after Brexit, inheriting a shit situation and a thoughtful, capable manager but more of a caretaker. Excellent on a very challenging world stage. Steady pair of hands at home, which is good, but not a future-looking, centrist, inspiring type of grown up PM that will be needed in these polarised times.

JazzyJelly · 06/07/2025 16:05

I respect a politician who can look at evidence and change their mind. He's ambitious too, I can certainly see him making a bid for leadership if Starmer takes another big hit.

Though I do agree the current Labour cabinet is uninspiring, so there's not a huge amount of competition.

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 16:03

Just curious, if you disagree with me, who do you think would be the best leader of the Labour Party?

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Dbank · 06/07/2025 16:00

I agree that WS might engage better with the electorate, but he'll have the same problem with the back benchers unless he agrees to tax, borrow and spend till the deficit and lack of growth kills the economy and blames someone else.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 15:59

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 15:57

But Starmer’s just not cutting it. He’s too cautious and doesn’t seem to have any real drive. At least Wes is talking about actually reforming the NHS and isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even if it ruffles feathers. Sure, he’s shifted on some issues, but so has Starmer who done 180s on loads of things. We need someone who actually wants to lead, not someone just playing it safe.

Agree about Starmer. But that bar is so low, the measuring other people against it will not dig us out of the hole we’re in.

The only think Streeting is good for is to keep Angela ‘oi scum’ Rayner from no.10. Because that apocalyptic scenario is just not worth thinking about.

Sesma · 06/07/2025 15:59

Of course he is talking about reforming the NHS, that's his job

WestwardHo1 · 06/07/2025 15:59

Maybe he'd be better but it's a pretty low bar isn't it?

"Best of a really awful crop"

MorningLarkEchoes · 06/07/2025 15:57

Jennps · 06/07/2025 15:52

Why do you think that?

What has he actually achieved that points to his credentials in government. You could give a donkey a couple of hundred billion £ and they would make a decent job of pissing it up the wall. It’s not hard when taxpayer money is being thrown around like confetti at the NHS to look like you’re good. Good would be to improve the bloated system and make it more efficient.

If ‘all fur coat and no knickers’ had a face, it would be Wes Streeting.

And let’s not forget that he comes from the same school as Two Tier on ‘if you don’t like my principles, I have these other ones’. He believes in nothing, is capable of nothing and will say whatever he needs to get into power. Remember he used to think that men could be women. Changed his tune pretty fast when he realised that the direction of political wind had changed.

Edited

But Starmer’s just not cutting it. He’s too cautious and doesn’t seem to have any real drive. At least Wes is talking about actually reforming the NHS and isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even if it ruffles feathers. Sure, he’s shifted on some issues, but so has Starmer who done 180s on loads of things. We need someone who actually wants to lead, not someone just playing it safe.

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Jennps · 06/07/2025 15:57

uncomfortablydumb60 · 06/07/2025 15:56

I’ve actually just bought it from world of books!

Sorry you got mugged paying for tat.

Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 06/07/2025 15:56

That is what he wants you to think

uncomfortablydumb60 · 06/07/2025 15:56

I’ve actually just bought it from world of books!

Sesma · 06/07/2025 15:56

He has that Labour way of speaking, quite slow, similar to the RR and BP, have they maybe all had the same speech training, though I haven't noticed so much with him lately.

Jennps · 06/07/2025 15:54

MidnightPatrol · 06/07/2025 15:32

He does seem able to call a spade a spade, which is a rarity among modern politicians.

Well, he was calling men women, not so long ago. So a spade is not a spade to this guy when it comes to human biology. And they put him on charge of the health service.

Satire is writing itself.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 06/07/2025 15:54

I agree He is warm and compassionate and has good ideas about reorganising the NHS
Maybe because he had kidney cancer himself
He also grew up in a deprived background of abuse and I admire how far he’s come
He has written an autobiography which I would be interested in reading too

LavenderBlue19 · 06/07/2025 15:54

I agree, but I still like Starmer. I just think he needed a much, much better PR team. He was possibly too arrogant to think it was necessary.