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Why is Keir Starmer so disliked (before the Mandelson scandal?)

307 replies

JacquesHarlow · 08/02/2026 10:36

AIBU to ask this? Why was he so vehemently, fundamentally disliked by the British public, even before the Mandelson saga and the (admittedly awful) lack of judgement?

I have seen worse PMs in the last decade alone. I have seen venal, self-serving, arrogant liars hold the office in that time. I have seen hapless, posh types. We’ve all seen the one who couldn’t outlast a lettuce.

So why does Keir Starmer get so much vitriolic hate in comments sections, despite having only held the office for such a short time?

Is it his perceived lack of communication skills? I’ve seen some people criticise him for not being strident, positive, energised, chummy or any of the things we often see in modern politics.

Is it his lack of identifiable policies or political strategy, where people find they can’t get behind him because they don’t know what he (personally) believes in?

Is it ageism (yep I said it!) in that he comes across as formal and correct, in a time where we’re used to seeing other personalities on the world stage?

Or is it that thing I long suspected, that the country is by default Tory in nature, and that despite a heavy frustration at the last five years of Tory incompetence, they can’t bring themselves to accept this party, and are keen to take him down any which way?

The recent saga of the last week is awful. As a woman I can’t stand to see people like the former US ambassador be enabled.

However the hate for Keir long pre dates this.

so why?? Why do people “hate” him?!

P.S I do not work for Ipsos MORI, or Labour HQ, I am not a bot or a troll or whatever people accuse others of when they don’t like the question.

OP posts:
DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 18:16

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 18:12

Your last paragraph doesn't really make any sense dear. Did you mean would rather than could?

It’s obvious what I said, and it’s very clear.

You just don’t want to answer.

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 18:12

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 18:03

Fair enough. I’m jumping to defend Labour’s natural and proper right to change leaders after 18 months without a GE.

I doubt you could never have volunteered the same view on MN when the Tories were in. But you may have been glued to the chicken keepers or prepper boards for all those years. 🤷‍♀️

Your last paragraph doesn't really make any sense dear. Did you mean would rather than could?

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 18:03

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:58

I would always defend the right of any party who had been given a mandate to govern

I can't remember a specific situation where I was personally required to do so whilst the Tories were in power.

Fair enough. I’m jumping to defend Labour’s natural and proper right to change leaders after 18 months without a GE.

I doubt you could never have volunteered the same view on MN when the Tories were in. But you may have been glued to the chicken keepers or prepper boards for all those years. 🤷‍♀️

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 18:00

Georgiepud · 08/02/2026 17:36

Because he is never to blame.
Has he ever said, "Sorry I got it wrong"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp37v4kyv3eo

EasternStandard · 08/02/2026 18:00

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 17:56

Sue Gray sends her deepest sympathies to Mr McSweeney, I’m sure.

Oh yes she took the political hit for Starmer over freebies right? And now McSweeney for the Mandelson affair. Perhaps it’s not them that’s the problem it’s Starmer.

HesseWeisseSchokolade · 08/02/2026 18:00

MunicipalDarwinism · 08/02/2026 17:33

Why didn't Johnson take action against Starmer about Savile? He could have brought him down easily if the accusation was true.

The gullible people are those who buy into conspiracy theories.

Edited

Ah yes, world history has been totally devoid of conspiracies apparently... Such as well connected paedophiles with links to foreign intelligence services and high-positioned clients?

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:58

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 17:32

Good. But my question was whether you jumped to the defence of the constitutional position when Labour called for a GE under the Tories. Did you?

I would always defend the right of any party who had been given a mandate to govern

I can't remember a specific situation where I was personally required to do so whilst the Tories were in power.

MunicipalDarwinism · 08/02/2026 17:57

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 17:56

Sue Gray sends her deepest sympathies to Mr McSweeney, I’m sure.

I really hope she is enjoying her evening.🥂

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 17:56

Sue Gray sends her deepest sympathies to Mr McSweeney, I’m sure.

Katypp · 08/02/2026 17:52

For me, above anything else, it's the hypocrisy of Labour and he is the man at the helm.
The party have spent the past 13 years carping about Tory sleaze, freebies and percieved wrongdoing. Then all the voters who expected something different have been left disappointed.
He swerved being head of the CPS at the time of both the Jimmy Savile and phone-hacking scandals and wriggled out of being spotted sharing a beer with his team during Covid, so i have no doubt he will survive Mandelson too.
His relentless cheerleaders on here brushing aside and justifying everyhing because 'it's not as bad as the Tories' are a turn-off for me too (although that's starting to wear a bit thin these days)

Ablondiebutagoody · 08/02/2026 17:38

LakieLady · 08/02/2026 17:23

People on the left dislike him because he's not left wing enough; people on the right dislike him because he's too left wing.

He seems to have piss poor judgment, eg appointing Mandelson as US ambassador, and is a complete charisma vacuum.

The current crop of Labour MPs are generally a pretty dismal bunch. I'm ancient, so can remember ministers like Barbara Castle, Denis Healey, Tony Crosland and Richard Crossman. Blair had people like like Mo Mowlem, Robin Cook, Gordon Brown and David Blunkett. The current lot seem like minnows by comparison.

I was going to give up my Labour party membership, but now there might be a leadership election in the offing, I'll hang on to it for a while.

Are you going to stand?!

Georgiepud · 08/02/2026 17:36

Because he is never to blame.
Has he ever said, "Sorry I got it wrong"

MunicipalDarwinism · 08/02/2026 17:33

BlueJuniper94 · 08/02/2026 17:19

Blinding naivety to believe informal conversations don't take place, especially when it concerns sensitive matters like this. Who needs PR with a public this gullible

Why didn't Johnson take action against Starmer about Savile? He could have brought him down easily if the accusation was true.

The gullible people are those who buy into conspiracy theories.

HesseWeisseSchokolade · 08/02/2026 17:32

BlueJuniper94 · 08/02/2026 16:20

Was he head of the CPS? That's all I need to know. It might not have been documented, but he presided over the organisation

It was also his decision not to prosecute the police who publicly executed Charles de Menezes. And the same people who at the time supported this decision are now very concerned with ICE tactics in the US.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 17:32

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:20

I certainly didn't call for a general election every time the Tories shit the bed.

Good. But my question was whether you jumped to the defence of the constitutional position when Labour called for a GE under the Tories. Did you?

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:24

EasternStandard · 08/02/2026 17:21

Well Labour are certainly shitting the bed now as you lovingly put it. So let’s see what happens.

That's all we can do.

LakieLady · 08/02/2026 17:23

People on the left dislike him because he's not left wing enough; people on the right dislike him because he's too left wing.

He seems to have piss poor judgment, eg appointing Mandelson as US ambassador, and is a complete charisma vacuum.

The current crop of Labour MPs are generally a pretty dismal bunch. I'm ancient, so can remember ministers like Barbara Castle, Denis Healey, Tony Crosland and Richard Crossman. Blair had people like like Mo Mowlem, Robin Cook, Gordon Brown and David Blunkett. The current lot seem like minnows by comparison.

I was going to give up my Labour party membership, but now there might be a leadership election in the offing, I'll hang on to it for a while.

EasternStandard · 08/02/2026 17:21

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:20

I certainly didn't call for a general election every time the Tories shit the bed.

Well Labour are certainly shitting the bed now as you lovingly put it. So let’s see what happens.

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:20

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 08/02/2026 16:18

Your point is right. So why did Labour call for this when they were in opposition? Were they just fucking about? Fancied the LOLs?

Did you jump to defend the constitutional position of the Tory government?

I’ve already said there’s no cause for a GE now or when Starmer goes in the next week or so. I just want to know why the left are such disgraceful hypocrites.

I certainly didn't call for a general election every time the Tories shit the bed.

EasternStandard · 08/02/2026 17:19

TheSmallAssassin · 08/02/2026 11:16

I don't think he is "vehemently, fundamentally disliked by the British public". There's definitely a vocal section of people who seem to spend their spare time commenting on Facebook (and here) but I don't think the population as a whole feels so strongly about him.

Unfortunately for Starmer it’s the opposite, those who still like him on mn are in the minority.

His net favourability is at -57 the lowest of any PM and approval rating at 11%. And that’s before the last week and the Mandelson / Epstein affair.

BlueJuniper94 · 08/02/2026 17:19

MunicipalDarwinism · 08/02/2026 16:23

It might not have been documented

So the thing you are accusing Starmer of conveniently wasn't documented?

God help us.

Blinding naivety to believe informal conversations don't take place, especially when it concerns sensitive matters like this. Who needs PR with a public this gullible

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 17:16

HarryMaguireSlabHead · 08/02/2026 16:26

We don't vote for a party. We vote for our local MP.

Most people vote for that MP on the basis of who the party leader is.

You might do. Not everyone does.

Winter2020 · 08/02/2026 16:43

InveterateWineDrinker · 08/02/2026 14:21

But everyone said that about John Major, and Jimmy Carter 20 years before that: honest, decent people hamstrung by the hand they were dealt.

Sir Keir is like them - he will be a leader regarded better by history than by the present.

Reversing most of his policy announcements (after they have caused upset) and saying he won't raise taxes - then raising taxes destroying business confidence - I doubt that will be a shining example in history.

Bougainsillier · 08/02/2026 16:42

Yes we vote for a party. Doesn’t stop sitting MPs suddenly defecting to another party of their choice. This makes me so angry.

HarryMaguireSlabHead · 08/02/2026 16:26

Churchyard · 08/02/2026 16:11

We vote for a party, not the leader. The party can change the leader if they wish as the Conservatives proved repeatedly when they were in power.

Do you know anything about democracy, politics or history in the UK at all?

We don't vote for a party. We vote for our local MP.

Most people vote for that MP on the basis of who the party leader is.

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