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Politics

Anyone else think Starmer leaving just creates more turmoil?

133 replies

CambridgeCats · 09/02/2026 15:22

Not impressed by the communications and mishaps but honestly don’t understand how anyone (other than those who just want a general election / Reform etc) would think that his stepping down is going to help anyone?! The country doesn’t need more turmoil!!!! Ffs!

I appreciate there have been mishaps but why do they think anyone else would do better, especially in foreign policy where he has been the adult in the room. There are no clear standout candidates lining up- all are problematic. Why waste this massive majority?! A new leader would then really have to call a GE, and then they would lose possibly to Reform!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!

OP posts:
Theolittle · 09/02/2026 16:04

PiskiePenaluna · 09/02/2026 15:24

I agree, no desirable alternative.

Agree. In any political party. I suspect Lib Dem might be best for the country but I’ve never voted for them (yet) and they don’t seem to have a chance in hell. We need sensible leaders not divisive drivel and kier Starmer is the nearest thing to sensible of any of them, despite his flaws

Lynxforthewild · 09/02/2026 16:01

CrackersMalackers · 09/02/2026 15:54

100%, it's just the rightwing press trying to get rid of him so they can get Farage in.

Absolutely this. All the press and politicians commentators and in heaven with all this drama. You hear in snd read it - they love it and with most press being to the right it’s a gift for them. MPs are paid to work for their constituents and I’m sick of the wastage of this current call for the PM to go.

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 16:00

CrackersMalackers · 09/02/2026 15:58

I suspect a lot of it is rightwing/Russian bots. Often on facebook the people comenting saying things like 'Starmer Out' have pictures of some moronic skinhead and a name like 'Iloveourcountry!' So it's either a Russian bot or, more alarmingly, someone with an IQ the same as their footsize who has found their way online

Edited

I think voting in May will show it’s not just bots. That’s another issue incoming for Starmer.

CrackersMalackers · 09/02/2026 15:58

GrethaGreen · 09/02/2026 15:56

Yes agree. I don’t understand the Starmer hatred anyway.

I suspect a lot of it is rightwing/Russian bots. Often on facebook the people comenting saying things like 'Starmer Out' have pictures of some moronic skinhead and a name like 'Iloveourcountry!' So it's either a Russian bot or, more alarmingly, someone with an IQ the same as their footsize who has found their way online

HappyFace2025 · 09/02/2026 15:56

senua · 09/02/2026 15:51

This. "He's the best of a bad bunch" is a really pathetic reason to keep him.
Is there really nobody else suitable in the Labour Party?Shock

No.

GrethaGreen · 09/02/2026 15:56

Yes agree. I don’t understand the Starmer hatred anyway.

SomedayIllBeSaturdayNight · 09/02/2026 15:55

LadyFriend · 09/02/2026 15:35

I would rather he was left alone to get on with the job. There is no one better anyway. Maybe if we stopped changing leaders every five minutes things could actually get done.

Totally agree! I don't know what they're playing at!
I'm so cross with Labour at the moment, I don't know what Rayner and co are doing!

rubyslippers · 09/02/2026 15:54

senua · 09/02/2026 15:51

This. "He's the best of a bad bunch" is a really pathetic reason to keep him.
Is there really nobody else suitable in the Labour Party?Shock

There is no one else
they all factional and self interested
that’s the issue

Lynxforthewild · 09/02/2026 15:54

I agree OP. Now we have Anas Sarwar calling for Starmer to go. I feel that if you asked most people who voted Labour, perhaps lending their vote, if they would want someone else, it would be a resounding no. I think there’s a massive gap between what the press are whipping up, compared to the man and woman in the street voter.

I am so sick of it all. I’m not a huge Starmer fan. But he was (a) chosen by his party and (b) led the last GE victory. Starmer has apologised for the misjudgement on Mandelson.

I think they should have got behind Starmer. I also believe that if a pm resigns for anything other than illness or similar, there should be a general election. I feel Starmer going would just open all that again and hey Farage and co must be rubbing their hands.

Quite interesting I was listening to lBC earlier and Shelagh Fogarty said that many more texts from listeners were supportive of Starmer staying. Even whilst imperfect. Which supports my view that I’m convinced there’s a huge gulf between the Westminster lot and the press and the public that votes them in.

CrackersMalackers · 09/02/2026 15:54

CambridgeCats · 09/02/2026 15:22

Not impressed by the communications and mishaps but honestly don’t understand how anyone (other than those who just want a general election / Reform etc) would think that his stepping down is going to help anyone?! The country doesn’t need more turmoil!!!! Ffs!

I appreciate there have been mishaps but why do they think anyone else would do better, especially in foreign policy where he has been the adult in the room. There are no clear standout candidates lining up- all are problematic. Why waste this massive majority?! A new leader would then really have to call a GE, and then they would lose possibly to Reform!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!

100%, it's just the rightwing press trying to get rid of him so they can get Farage in.

HappyFace2025 · 09/02/2026 15:54

MsWilmottsGhost · 09/02/2026 15:32

I'm very disappointed. I hoped we would have some stability once the parade of interchangable Tories was over.

Starmer seemed to be developing a good reputation internationally, and TBH I'd rather keep him than the UK completely lose what little credibility it has left after the Brexit fiasco.

I don't want another procession of weak leaders, and there's no one better waiting in the wings.

Now is not the time. There's too much shite globally, we need to stop bickering and stick together.

I'm not convinced that the baying for Starmers blood isn't being stoked by overseas bad actors who want to weaken the UK further..

I agree.

rubyslippers · 09/02/2026 15:52

MsWilmottsGhost · 09/02/2026 15:48

Never get rid of something without thinking through the consequences.

Thinking well it can't get any worse is plain stupid.

Of course it can!

🤦

I didn’t say it couldn’t get any worse
I said I don’t know the answer

Tel12 · 09/02/2026 15:51

I'd quite like them to stop taking every opportunity to further their own faction/personal ambition and put a bit of time and effort into running the country. Having said that Starmer has been a big disappointment.

senua · 09/02/2026 15:51

rubyslippers · 09/02/2026 15:38

That’s not a reason to keep someone so ineffectual tho
I don’t know the answer, but a weak compromised prime minister isn’t

This. "He's the best of a bad bunch" is a really pathetic reason to keep him.
Is there really nobody else suitable in the Labour Party?Shock

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 15:50

MsWilmottsGhost · 09/02/2026 15:48

Never get rid of something without thinking through the consequences.

Thinking well it can't get any worse is plain stupid.

Of course it can!

🤦

It’s been getting worse since Harold Macmillan.

MsWilmottsGhost · 09/02/2026 15:48

rubyslippers · 09/02/2026 15:38

That’s not a reason to keep someone so ineffectual tho
I don’t know the answer, but a weak compromised prime minister isn’t

Never get rid of something without thinking through the consequences.

Thinking well it can't get any worse is plain stupid.

Of course it can!

🤦

CambridgeCats · 09/02/2026 15:48

Jbum · 09/02/2026 15:44

He is awful he needs to go and call a general election cos I cant see who would replace him who is qualified and would give me confidence

Utter shambles the moment they were voted in

Oh really, and who is a general election going to offer us who is so much better can I ask?

OP posts:
CambridgeCats · 09/02/2026 15:47

Ffs he so obviously disliked Mandleson and is the opposite of both him and Trump, but needed someone whom Trump would warm to - not an easy task! Trump got rid of our last ambassador and would not respond to a typical straight laced type so they went for the smarmy Mandelson. Do I think Starmer knew about the extent of his friendship and correspondence with Epstein such as the leaks ? No of course not.

If Starmer is forced out due to Epstein it will be a f*^vking joke- and all the while Trump stays!!

Voters / the electorate need to grow up instead of changing PM’s every 5 minutes. If he goes he will be the last centrist prime minister we have in a while, and the last adult.

If he goes then it will be open the floodgates to Bannon / Theil supported Reform, fuck Ukraine, fuck Europe, fuck equality and fuck public services for good.

OP posts:
Papyrophile · 09/02/2026 15:45

Well his Front Benchers are queuing up to declare support since Anas Sarwar sat down, but not with much conviction. FWIW, I reckon he'll survive for now, but there's likely to be a fresh round of recriminations after the May local elections. I'm not sure he'll be lucky twice. And at that point, I think it will be difficult to resist the inevitable call for a GE on whoever emerges as Labour leader.

Jbum · 09/02/2026 15:44

He is awful he needs to go and call a general election cos I cant see who would replace him who is qualified and would give me confidence

Utter shambles the moment they were voted in

Zhu · 09/02/2026 15:44

I think Liz Truss was such a disaster that there really was no alternative but to see her out, but we absolutely don’t need to be changing prime minister every five minutes. And the idea of Angela Rayner being a leading candidate is ridiculous. She’s only just been ousted as a minister for as yet unresolved financial misdealings.

Starmer is not my favourite (to put it mildly) but for god sake, let’s not roll the dice again. The alternatives are worse.

Nanda66 · 09/02/2026 15:42

I agree, I think it’s a really bad idea. We need stability.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 15:40

You have to love the Labour boosters. Were you all online supporting Johnson and Truss because it was just too “destabilising” to remove them?

Labour jokers.

JoyOfSpecs · 09/02/2026 15:38

LadyFriend · 09/02/2026 15:35

I would rather he was left alone to get on with the job. There is no one better anyway. Maybe if we stopped changing leaders every five minutes things could actually get done.

Agreed.

rubyslippers · 09/02/2026 15:38

HopSpringsEternal · 09/02/2026 15:24

Who would do better though?

That’s not a reason to keep someone so ineffectual tho
I don’t know the answer, but a weak compromised prime minister isn’t