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Original poster

Media pushing Starmer to war

137 replies

Indigosky37 · 03/03/2026 05:32

Daily mails headline is “Keir Starmer accused of hand wringing and pearl clutching” and Kemi Badenoch saying he’s “scared”. Then a comment section full of “he’s a coward” “ he’s a chicken” “incompetent idiot” “an embarrassment”.

So are the media pushing Kier Starmer to take us to war then? Is that what they want, because if he did the headlines would be about how we don’t want a war. The man can’t win. But pushing for war and making out Kier to be weak for not doing it is worrying.

OP posts:
Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:59

Isekaied · 03/03/2026 09:36

Lots of bots and fake news around.

I would want to know exactly how the poll was carried out.

Show quote history

Well I agree, so why would it be on the 10 o'clock news and also on the BBC website?
Are they fooled by bots and fake news then?

Unfortunately it's meant to be our most unbiased source of news, and it isn't;
It seems there's nowhere to turn for careful analysis.

MissAustenMadeAQuilt · 03/03/2026 09:57

Mischance · 03/03/2026 07:42

More incompetent than Liz Truss? Or Boris Johnson? Nah.
Well quite ......

At least we now have a sensible and thoughtful PM with a good grasp of the law, all of which he will bring to bear on this situation.

You do not have to agree with all his policies but it is good to know that neither Johnsin nor Truss are at the helm at this critical moment.

He is neither sensible or thoughtful but on this issue he is correct.

PandoraSocks · 03/03/2026 09:54

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 09:49

Starmer threads on mn aren’t going to match the public.

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There are lots of posters on this thread who are anti-Starmer but support him in this.

What's your stance?

Parrlorwarrior · 03/03/2026 09:53

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 09:49

Starmer threads on mn aren’t going to match the public.

Show quote history

It could be the higher proportion of women on here.

DuncinToffee · 03/03/2026 09:50

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

This is from his BBC article

An opinion poll by YouGov, external suggests far more people in Britain oppose the US's actions than support them and far more oppose the UK allowing the US to use British airbases than support that decision.

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 09:49

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

Starmer threads on mn aren’t going to match the public.

anniegun · 03/03/2026 09:47

Tories, Reform and the Daily Mail or wanting us to jump into another Middle East war. How predictable

Notmymarmosets · 03/03/2026 09:45

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

Mumsnet is much more left leaning than the population in general.

Parrlorwarrior · 03/03/2026 09:43

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

That’s actually quite scary.

TheBoldOtter · 03/03/2026 09:41

I thoroughly dislike Starmer but he showed he was a decent man in his support to Ukraine some years back, that is when his human rights lawyer side came out. I hope that in this situation that side will also win out.

Parrlorwarrior · 03/03/2026 09:38

My respect for the PM has increased since he declared we’re not joining in. He’s taken the least bad way forward by allowing our bases to be used by the US.

Isekaied · 03/03/2026 09:36

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

Lots of bots and fake news around.

I would want to know exactly how the poll was carried out.

VickyEadieofThigh · 03/03/2026 09:33

BendoftheBeginning · 03/03/2026 07:01

These are likely the same people who wanted the Iraq war so very much, then immediately flipped and have called Tony Blair a war criminal ever since.

CORRECT.

PinkChaires · 03/03/2026 09:31

Can i ask( genuinely, not trying to defend him) what Starmer has done so have people hate him so much? I dont think that hes more incompetant than Boris or Rishi for example, but people seem to think hes worse than them

BIossomtoes · 03/03/2026 09:27

BendoftheBeginning · 03/03/2026 07:01

These are likely the same people who wanted the Iraq war so very much, then immediately flipped and have called Tony Blair a war criminal ever since.

Without a shadow of a doubt. Basically Starmer can’t win in this instance whatever he does.

BurntBroccoli · 03/03/2026 09:23

zurigo · 03/03/2026 09:11

And this is, I suspect, a major reason why he's trying to tread a fine line between not supporting the war and not falling out with unpredictable Trump. Starmer is many things, but he's not an idiot, and he remembers the Iraq war and how Blair following Bush into Iraq not only brought Blair's premiership to an end, but it tarnished his reputation forever. It's more than 20 years since Blair became Bush's 'poodle' and he's still not allowed to forget it.

Show quote history

He is.

Starmer: "I want to be very clear: we all remember the mistakes of Iraq. And we have learned those lessons. We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran… and we will not join offensive action now."

Greenwitchart · 03/03/2026 09:13

I think Starmer is a dreadful leader but in this instance he is perfectly right not to get us involved in a conflict that was only started to distract from the Epstein files and to pander to Israel.

Some of us are old enough to remember what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan...

Bagsintheboot · 03/03/2026 09:13

LoudSnoringDog · 03/03/2026 06:34

Short memories of the aftermath following Blair taking us into Iraq on a whim (again a the behest of the USA). I don’t agree with Starmer on much but hope he holds his resolve here.
If he does take us into Israel and the USAs war with Iran, you can bet your house he will be hung out to dry once the first UK serviceman/woman is killed in action.

Pretty much.

It will flip over from "coward shirking his responsibilities" to "warmonger with blood on his hands" faster than you can blink.

zurigo · 03/03/2026 09:11

DeftGoldHedgehog · 03/03/2026 09:02

If he went to war, they'd say he is Trump's puppet.

And this is, I suspect, a major reason why he's trying to tread a fine line between not supporting the war and not falling out with unpredictable Trump. Starmer is many things, but he's not an idiot, and he remembers the Iraq war and how Blair following Bush into Iraq not only brought Blair's premiership to an end, but it tarnished his reputation forever. It's more than 20 years since Blair became Bush's 'poodle' and he's still not allowed to forget it.

Erin1975 · 03/03/2026 09:09

Well the media do love a war.

Myoldbear · 03/03/2026 09:08

It's strange;

just like this thread the majority of people I've spoken to, or read about on other forums, think Starmer is right on this occasion.

However, Chris Mason said that a poll of public opinion had found that a substantial majority of people wanted us to join the war.

It's on the BBC website.

Something isn't right.

Seaitoverthere · 03/03/2026 09:06

StopWindingBobStopWinding · 03/03/2026 08:56

It is pragmatic. Treading a fine line when the incumbent in the White House is volatile and not bothered about the rule of law, but maintaining visible support for a Western ally. I can’t see what else could be done to balance international relations at a time like this.

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I agree but is seems that pragmatism is an alien concept for a chunk of the population. In a way they aren’t to blame as we have all been clearly encouraged into division since Brexit which carried on into Covid and I think is starting to become a bit entrenched as part of the national psyche now.

BurntBroccoli · 03/03/2026 09:02

Every right wing newspaper is clamouring for war this morning as are Tories and Reform supporters (the same who always mention Blair in his role for Iraq).
Starmer is acutely aware that he needs to stay out of this US war and I agree completely.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 03/03/2026 09:02

If he went to war, they'd say he is Trump's puppet.

zurigo · 03/03/2026 09:00

The right wing media and political parties are all pro-America and this war, so the DM is just toeing the party line. If you listened to the comments in the HoC yesterday, they were split along the same lines - right wing in favour, left wing not. I hope dithering Starmer holds his line. The UK has no dog in this fight and should stay the hell out of it.

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