Keir starmer - not too bad eh?

[flamegame]

Anybody else feeling a little optimistic labour might be in with a chance with Keir starmer? I was pessimistic during the leadership elections due to abject state of the party and left labour about 3 years ago but starting to think there may be hope, based on evidence so far.

I'm uncertain, but anyone is better than Bojo the Clown.

My DP saw Starmer on the telly and said he'd make a better PM than Johnson. While I generally agree I also think I could put a bowtie on the cat and she'd be a more effective PM.

His mishandling of Brexit is continuing, with a refusal to support extending the transition period. He's not interested in damage limitation at all, and only wants to be able to say "I told you so" when the dire consequences of Brexit actually happen. Like Corbyn, he seems to assume that his own role in the debacle will escape scrutiny.

I would agree that he seems personally likeable, and good at PMQs. I wanted to vote for Rebecca Long-Bailey but she wouldn't have stood a chance against any reasonably articulate opponent. There's a real lack of talent on the left, and I don't see that changing.

I don’t think he has to change a lot of labour policies unless they can’t be afforded now, just a more rational plan for delivery.

No vulnerable people will be hurt by dropping all the renationalisations or commitment to free university tuition. Could have some better more targeted policies for tuition fee relief.

Ed, and let’s hope Dave Milliband too, unless he’s too comfortable in America.

I'm waiting to see if he knows what a woman is and if he is prepared to protect sex based rights. If momentum are pissed off that's a good sign, they have wrecked the LP
The socialist workers are just as bad imo. Ignoring accusations of sexual harassment. I have friends who are SW and they are as woke as momentum. Middle class woke bros. By men for men
Its time the LP started sticking up for the working classes they are supposed to represent

KS has to accept brexit - we do have to move past it to achieve power, the constituencies that swung to the tories need to swing back - much as it’s bloody awful we do have to move on.

Starmer has made a good start. He looks and sounds the part for a start, which we all know shouldn’t matter so much, but the reality is that unless your name is Boris, it does. The more he counters Johnson’s bluster & waffle with facts & evidence, the more credible he will appear.

As a former Labour activist who left the party when Corbyn became leader, I look forward to being able to vote for my old party again.

Labour need someone in power who can appeal to the less than morally pure, people whose socialism isn’t perfect

This is so true. I am optimistic about KS and his forensic approach in the HOC. He won’t let BJ wriggle away from difficult questions, while being courteous. This is much needed.

I'm pleased to see Ed Miliband back too. I think he was treated very shabbily. I'd like to see what he has to offer.

He might have been useful against the vexatious accusations of antisemitism, or on Brexit. But he wasn't.

I have friends who are SW and they are as woke as momentum. Middle class woke bros. By men for men

Yes. Bunch of weirdos. I think I lasted one university term in the SWP (felt like longer) before I had to throw in the towel. I was looking forward to joining Labour when the Blairite project ended, but it's all gone horribly wrong.

Labour need someone in power who can appeal to the less than morally pure, people whose socialism isn’t perfect That's definitely us - compared to my SWP friend, I feel evil 😈She is a much nicer person than I am.

Corbyn came across as a pitiless purist, even the labour slogans at the last election played to division - you could never be sure you weren’t going to form part of ‘the few’.

Maybe those missing Blair or happy to tolerate Cameron did feel part of the few.

I’m not sure it was just them that rejected that slogan - it fell harder than that. Slogans should be uplifting and not dividing society up.

I watched his speech. I wasn’t impressed. He had obviously been on a “Hand gestures for wannabe statesmen” course. I suspect Starmer is of the “If you don’t like my principles, I have others” ilk.

His speech was about demanding answers to questions that don’t have answers yet I.e. “When can people see their families again?”

It’s a no from me.

Keir Starmer was at the sharp end under the CPS who decided to not pursue Saville so he’s not exactly covered in glory in my opinion

Society is divided, that is the problem. Its partly why Brexit happened.

All the more reason not to play on that division.

Yep, agree. Proper sexy....

Ooops....yeah and he seems really professional and competent too.

Probably best to avoid words like purist if you dont wish to cause division.

sigh - my impression is one thing, labour’s main slogan in an election where they’ve already been heavily criticised for not being inclusive is another.

You mean it didnt pander exclusively to the wants of middle class centrists? That's why the remain movement failed. It spoke largely for one group of people.

While he sticks with the same old policies, he has no chance of winning.

Agree that the remain group didn’t believe they could lose - they failed to understand not everyone has gained from free markets and that the losers have not been protected. Corbyn did have that right. But a campaign that doesn’t take everyone it can along can’t win either. Making people feel good about their choices is better than making them feel guilty.

Yes, I agree. Funny watching Boris squirm when faced with a barrister too, completely different to Corbyn.

Funny watching Boris squirm when faced with a barrister too, completely different to Corbyn.

Boris has run away from debate frequently...so far he's pulled it off and his followers haven't been that bothered,

The Tory press is already sharpening the knife for Johnson's back.

His senior cabinet have been put in front of the public so they can be seen to be incapable.

Murdoch has always wanted Gove.