Uk politicians position about the war

@stormy4319trevor I think he had enormous conviction - it's why he was so successful in the early days.

@SharonEllis I know he could work a room in the early days, but this is not a sign of integrity or conviction.

@stormy4319trevor I'm surprised by you. Characterising Blair in this way. He was an incredible communicator, warm, engaging, charismatic, intelligent, completely on top of his brief & quick on his feet. I saw him live several times in unslick community environments- he had everyone eating out of his hand. The New Labour operation was slick but its a mischaracterisation of Blair to say he was.

@SharonEllis No. I'm only going on speeches and interviews he has given. Perhaps he comes across differently in person. I'm starting to feel bad about criticising him so much when there are many other politicians I feel the same way about! But I feel it was a style that came in with Blair, this shiny, slick salesman with the moral rigour of blancmange. I wonder if it's my age. But I maintain that a PM , who will be making many speeches and giving interviews, needs a bit more oomph than him or Sunak. Fact I can hardly tell the difference between them.

Have you been to see him speak in person? Ave you been out canvassing with him? It's the nature of media coverage that most of it is based on occasions with pre-prepared scripts.

@Offwiththecircus Exactly. I find him lacking in mental agility, unable to depart from a pre prepared script or deal with the unexpected - he's even flustered by it. To me that means he has no real convictions, no heart in his politics. But he's not the only one. I'm finding most politicians seem superficial, vacuous and lightweight. Maybe it's the new style.

I was not aware there was any outrage in Scotland about Humza Yousafs support of Gaza? Have I missed something?

if there an issue with him supporting Gaza?

I don't want to get into an argument but please be more careful with how you phrase things going forward. You've made it sound as though Starmer's wife being Jewish is one of the reasons people won't vote for him.

I assume you only mentioned his wife's religion to explain why he has relatives in Israel but the wording makes it sound like the reason people won't vote for him is because of his wife's religion... and since we're specifically talking about him losing the Muslim vote, it therefore sounds like you're saying Muslims are antisemitic. I'm pretty sure that's not something you believe or want to be implying!

Government has stopped sending aid to UNRWA because that aid is being used by Hamas.
Why would an MP be expected to represent Gaza?

The SNP like to think of themselves as similar to Palestinians, ie occupied by an evil and powerful neighbour.

I don't think the SNP is supposed to have its own foreign policy. I also don't think they consider Israel evil, any more than England, but they probably think it plays well with their voters to pretend both are oppressors.

Starmer did visit the NW recently, though noticeably didn't visit Burnley where several councillors left the party. Starmer seems to me to very much favour engineered appearances where he can give bland speeches to closed venue audiences while reading from his teleprompter.
Max Headroom (who he rather reminds me of) had more personality and ability to speak off the cuff.

somewhat presumptious on the large parliamentary majority. Taking folk for granted perhaps.

To be honest, surely labour is worried about this demographic and the other, but.... aren't this people meant to be politicians? So to have a political belief of some sort and a strategy? A plan? That comes from the core of their ethics, socio-economic model beliefs? And then adapt that to the current circumstances?
I am more than fed up of them saying whatever they think will get them votes. That is not real politics, it is utter shite. And the main reason why we are in this mess. The international crisis on leadership is too much. We need real leaders that believe in what they say and speak their mind. Otherwise, we can name the lettuce that competed against Truss as PM and it will not make an ounce of difference.

The SNP think Israel is evil? Are they ready to be on the world stage do you think?

The SNP like to think of themselves as similar to Palestinians, ie occupied by an evil and powerful neighbour.

Those suggesting this conflict is going to lose Muslim votes are suggesting a split along religious lines....

I'm not aware of Keir Starmer sending money to Gaza though, OP

The SNP issue is not just about the family, it's about prioritising and funding

You're probably right, based on my experience of their voters

@hogmanayhoolie

"I think the stance taken by our first minister who has in laws in Gaza has turned a lot of people OFF the SNP"

I feel like the type of people turned off by that wouldn't have voted SNP in the first place.

Folk on this thread are clearly not representative of mainstream opinion when you look at the opinion polls.

Labour are landing in the right place on the right issues to build a big enough centre left coalition to secure large parliamentary majority.

@hogmanayhoolie Yes, Sturgeon is an issue too. I'm not a fan of the Tories, especially since Covid, brexit, austerity, but seems like none of us have much choice of party. Well, I wish Scotland the very best - it's a beautiful place with lovely people.

Yes it always does influence votes although we've already had our "once in a generation" referendum

The core manifesto of the SNP is for independence but unfortunately they are inept at actually running a country

Add in the current outrage over Hume's Yousef's personal involvement in Gaza (and the covid enquiry with Sturgeon) is turning many people off them