To think we don’t know how lucky we are under Starmer.

I think some of the posts on here do come across as “Im so smart and they are so gullible” actually. I do agree we are all under the influence though.

Maybe because he can actually see the problems the ever expanding welfare budget causes and dares to try to tackle it to the disgust of the left wing of the party

We are all falling under the influence. I don’t think anyone is holding themselves as especially above it all. It’s not a sneery we’re so smart and you’re not argument. That’s precisely why it’s effective and alarming.

Exactly. Brexit all over again. Putin laughing all the way to the bank.

If not him, then crypto / oil / private equity are laughing all the way to their big off shore Cayman Island bank.

Yeah but they are not explaining why everyone else falls under the influence but they are the only ones who can see the light.

Starmer has undoubtedly made numerous mistakes and errors of judgement. But I’d rather he stayed in place , the alternatives seem worse. That might be a low bar …

Christ alive. Demand more.

Further facts:

@TeenagersAngst Since you asked, no, British Steel was not renationalised earlier. HMG had invested to keep it open, but Jingye retained ownership. Nationalisation (UK government ownership) is only happening now.

The only evidence we have been given so far about the lurid Harriet Harmon claims links to a story at the BBC website. However that story only discusses a tenuous link between an ancestor organisation to Liberty, which Harmon represented as legal officer, and a (I can hardly bear to write this) paedo rights group insufficiently condemned by this Liberty precursor.

Guess what the only reference for the BBC article is? That’s right, the Daily Fail.

I expect they’re referring to things like this:

Anti-Labour misinformation on YouTube - who is funding it?https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/13/fake-anti-labour-video-billion-views-youtube-2025

The New World’s investigation into GB News - some very alarming conclusions:
https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/gb-news-scandal/

Elon Musk, the owner of X, trying to directly interfere with UK politics and democracy; aswell as the spread of misinformation, referring to the UK has said, ‘civil war is inevitable’ and ‘you either fight back or die’.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m4rz0pvmno

And let’s not forget that the vast majority of our media is right-wing owned - Daily ‘Hurrah for the blackshirts!’ Mail, Telegraph, Express, etc. . The Independent and Evening Standard are both owned by Lebedev - he who Johnson made a Tory peer despite security warnings from both MI5 and MI6 - and his father, who is a former KGB agent.

It’s not as much that people believe they’re immune, but that they just recognise the daily onslaught from the right. If you want to see where and how this ends, just look at what is happening in the USA.

I agree, OP. Mostly. Starmer and his team have not properly publicised the substantial progress they’ve made, with immigration numbers, NHS improvements and others listed above.

Also, the Observer reported on Sunday that in 2025 the UK attracted over $500Bn of VC start up funds. The next highest European country was Germany with under $9Bn attracted. That’s a staggering success! It will take a little while to be felt, and let’s hope it is used responsibly so that the economic impacts are notable.

Some of the seeds for this funding may have been planted during the Sunak years, but on the whole this massive accomplishment belongs to Starmer and Reeves.*

Arent reform going to increase everyone’s personal allowance to £20k costing tens of billions? Around half the NHS budget?

I really like Keir. He has principles, he thinks of others, he listens, he’s calm, he doesn’t knee jerk react to the lunacy of DT.
I’m petrified of the insanity that will follow when Farage gets in (and unfortunately I think it is a case of when). As soon as reform realise that “stopping the boats” isn’t actually that simple then turn their hands to the other things on their agenda like implementing an American style healthcare system and removing people’s employment rights etc , stuff that is going to massively negatively impact many of the people who will vote for him, the country will have gone down an irreversible road to nightmare.

FFS. Every political party is rammed full with Mandelson type characters. Every political leader has connections to dodgy deals or dodgy characters. You’re pinning this one example on why Starmer must go?

He may have been ill advised in choosing Mandy as the Trump whisperer, but there is no one who will replace him that can be ‘trusted’. None of our politicians can be trusted. They are all humans with bias, character flaws, and prone to bouts of bad judgement. And connections to wealthy dodgy characters.

That is why we need checks and balances to political power. However, in this case, we are being badly let down by our media. It used to be Tory supporting British businessmen owning the 4th estate, but god knows who does now. No one with the UKs best interest in mind, that’s for sure. Maybe the FT.

I mean the bar is on the floor…

Im still puzzled as to why several posters on this thread are magically immune from the media (both mainstream and social) influence that they claim the rest of us are falling for.

It’s such an arrogant way of defending your beliefs.

Could you link to this please? I am not clear what the 0.45% is?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/04/25/starmer-broke-ministerial-code-with-mandelson-meeting/

In recent years we’ve had fucking mental PMs and it didn’t work out for us. Our turnover of PMs is embarrassing, really. Starmer has his faults, of course he does, but I agree with PPs. This is a social media and right wing MSM campaign to turf him out. John Major, way back when, was boring and not charismatic but he did a lot of good and his era is mostly looked up favourably now.

Right wing parties and media are still peddling the idea we are being overrun with immigration when the statistics, previously quoted by the OP, don’t back it up.

And @chargingdockI think the publics appetite for 5 (especially the 10 KS has been talking about) year economic plans is low. This is what we should care about, but no. I'm in Scotland where the SNP leader, Sturgeon, was arrested for stealing oxalic donations (apparently it was just her husband, also head of party, & she didn't know). 19 years of financial disaster, Scottish economy in far more debt than English, yet just voted in fir another 4 years. I despair.
No, should be 'public' not 'oxalic'.

Agreed. Somehow, led by recent experience & SM, rhe public seem to prefer 'personality' PM's over dull plodder who get the job done. KS is nationalising steel, transforming renters rights, childcare, improving the NHS, & prior to Iran war doing well on inflation & interest rates. He is excellent internationally & has kept us out of a ruinous war & is building bridges in Europe where he is respected.
Why chuck rhat away because he is dull?
Madness. We will live to regret it imo.

This thread really sums up how I am feeling. I am disappointed KS hasn’t been more dynamic but I am filled with dread about what comes next if/when he goes. I’m ok with keeping dull and earnest for a while. Mid-term PMs often feel pressure to call a GE early which is likely to herald a whole raft of problems and unrest.

Please do provide evidence of your claims? It literally sounds like the pizza gate conspiracy.

As the previous poster said so many people have been radicalised online by social media. They're prepared to believe any drivel because they saw it on X, Facebook or Tiktok.

Most councils were not up for election!

Labour suffered a massive electoral blow on Thursday - denial doesn't mean it didn't happen!