AMA with Tom Baldwin: author of "Keir Starmer: The Biography" - the Sunday Times bestselling biography of the Labour Leader

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi there,

We're pleased to announce that with just a few days to go until the General Election, Tom Baldwin, former Labour advisor and author of "Keir Starmer: The Biography" - the Sunday Times bestselling biography of the Labour Leader will be joining us for an AMA on Sunday evening.

Tom's biography of the man who looks set to be the next Prime Minister has been described as "the first serious and consistently readable biography of Starmer" (Patrick Maguire, the Times) and "absolutely riveting and very timely" (Amol Rajan). You can join him live on this thread from 7.30pm on Sunday, or post your questions in advance below.

Thanks,
MNHQ

OP said it very well … does Keir actually not feel worried about his stance on women’s safe spaces .. ? Its a Pandora’s box

Does Keir know what a woman is?

It's a frustration for everyone who knows Keir that his public image is so different to the one they see on TV.

I think it goes beyond being a bit stiff on TV. He resists pressure to be a typical politician because he doesn't want to let everyone in to every aspect of his life. That's not just about protecting his family's privacy, it's about protecting the "batteries" which power his sense of self. For someone who doesn't define himself on an ideological spectrum, that's probably more imprtant than for most politicians.

Hi @TomBaldwin66

really disappointed at the lack of mention to wome in the manifesto specifically what Labour will do to make life easier for working mums and improve maternity pay packages. Some of my friends HUSBANDS have better parental leave packages than me (six months full pay) whereas I’m on six weeks full pay then on statutory, how is that fair?

childcare costs are astronomical to the point where once I have my second child later this year, I will have no choice but to give up my career because I earn less than we can afford to pay in childcare fees!

why have parents been ignored in this manifesto?

I don't think he's got any problem on the biological definition of a woman or on protecting safe spaces. His language on this, which I know has sometimes caused pain and anger, is more about trying to ensure people who are trans are treated with dignity rather than be kicked around as political footballs. That's not a bad motive.

It's a great question and I don't know the answer. Barbara Castle, Harriet Harman, Margaret Beckett and many more have been huge figures in the party. Rachel Reeves may be the first woman Chancellor in a few days. I'd be surprised if the next leader isn't female but I've said that before...

He's set out his Five Missions which a lot of people have dismissed or ignored. They're probably the best guide.

Interested in what you said about Keir not defining himself on an ideological spectrum. If he doesn’t really subscribe to ideology, is he just a pure pragmatist? And what are the positives/negatives of that approach?

I'm almost certain it will make zero difference

F

You can only beat the opponent in front of you. He's had to adapt to three already and I suspect he's about to face a fourth. To keep his nerve in pretty tumultuous times, while simultaneously changing his party so it's in position to win, is not just luck. Sunak has shown in this election campaign that Not Screwing Up is an under-rated skill.

It's not just pragmatism but about "values" rather than some ideology or any "ism". Values are hard to codify but "you-know-'em-when-you-see-'em". Most PMs are defined by what they do in office. And Keir, who likes a football metaphor, says he'll do his talking on the pitch.

I agree. But it remains to be seen whether his slightly underwhelming political performative skills will mean the huge challenges facing an incoming government overwhelm him. One thing I would say is that he's made a habit of defying conventional wisdom in his success so far so I wouldn't write him off.

Hi Tom. Keir coped pretty well at the CPS in the face of serious budget cuts. Do you think he’ll have a similar methodical approach to the economy given the likely choice between tax rises or service cuts?

On a less political note, was a young Keir indeed the inspiration for Bridget Jones’ human rights lawyer love interest Mr Darcy?

Having seen up close the differences between Ed M as leader (v traditional path as Spad, MP, Minister etc) and Keir who came to politics much later in his life - do you think that’s given KS an advantage? Do you think it would be better for politics if more MPs had taken the Keir route, rather than the Ed one?

Can Keir protect single sex spaces or is he only able to talk about safe spaces?
will he repeal the GRA

So the only way to solve dignity in mixed sex spaces is for privacy to overide health and safety.

Given that all spaces will be mixed sex spaces, that has practical implications for all of us. For example, privacy becomes all important so designs for public toilet cubicles and changing rooms become more enclosed. When you have private cubicles in mixed sex public spaces the incidence of assaults, deaths and injuries goes up and hygiene goes down. There is lots of evidence for this.

Do you think Keir understands ensuring safety comes first is what is driving this?

trying to ensure people who are trans are treated with dignity rather than be kicked around as political footballs.
What about the dignity of women? We don't seem to be on his radar at all, despite many years of #LabourLosingWomen.

Thanks so much for reading it!

I've tried not to go down the "admiration" route but show how he's a complicated person in the way that most politicians are not allowed to be. I think that's good because the problems facing this country are complicated and so are the solutions. Rather than drive straight lines through the people of this country, he seems to recognise that ambiguity and nuance are opportunities for progress rather than things that need to be ironed flat. On top of that, he has a certain relentlessness and focus, along with some everyday decency, that mark him out from a lot of politicians I've known over the years.

At what pint did Keir and the Labour Party realise that women have the vote?
when did they realise that women's rights are almost as important as a football match?

He will want to avoid both cuts and tax rises. He insists a Labour government can get past the short term fiscal nightmare facing it by getting faster-than-expected growth. Maybe they will. But it will be a bumpy first couple of years.

And no, I'm pretty sure he wasn't Darcy (Helen Fielding says as much) even though a bit of him wishes he was.

Does Kier recognise there is a serious child safeguarding scandal happening right now? Is he aware of the NSPCC's handling of James Makings and Munroe Bergdorf, and if so, what would his government do to ensure the NSPCC has made the necessary changes following that incident?

Does he think sex education materials need to be age appropriate, based on facts, and open to all parents to view? Would his government ensure we can, and that children are not taught they're born in the wrong body? If not why not?

TIA

It's both a strength and a weakness. Not coming from within politics has allowed him to move fast to change the party rather than being weighed down by factional baggage. But politics is like it is for a reason. In my book, Angela Rayner says he's one of the least political people she knows. She tries to fill in some of those gaps for him.

What are Keir's thoughts on the grooming gangs which we're allowed free access to young girls whilst he was DPP?
edited for spelling and to add
does he have any plans for ensuring that political correctness does not fail victims ?

What's your opinion on the threat that Reform and Nigel Farage pose to the landscape of British politics over the next 5 years?