Keir Starmer: can we just voice train him ourselves?

[Stripeyzebraz]

Nobody has done anything about Keir Starmer’s voice yet. And maybe Labour don’t have the expertise among their staff.

There must be Lamda and elocution people on here. Can Mumsnet just train him via a thread (I am sure he would read it and take our advice).

What could we tell him to do? Gargle with whisky?

What's wrong with his voice?!

His voice doesn't bother me. His overall weakness and nothing substantial about him does. What exactly does he stand for. Is he keeping it a secret?

I don’t want to be mean and get into using actual adjectives … but it’s a given that his vocalisation is a bit of a drawback, isn’t it?

I'm more interested in his integrity tbh, which is unquestionable.

I have no idea what you’re talking about, OP. Starmer’s delivery may be a bit monotone & plodding but his diction & clarity are fine.

If I helped train him he'd end up with a very Northern twang. So no I really don't think there is anything wrong with the way he speaks. I don't speak the Queen's English and I'm fairly sure the vast majority of people in typical Labour voting areas don't either!

Another one mystified. There are many thing about Starmer that don't spark joy - he's about as charismatic as the Pillsbury dough man - but his voice is totally unremarkable. He's also not a lying, heartless sack of shit, which is a huge plus.

Or maybe people are actually smart enough to focus on what is being said by the Labour leader rather than concerning themselves with his supposedly problematic voice, which no one but you seems to have an issue with.

Is that all you have ? I can't believe this.

This is a big part of what I do for a living. His voice is slightly constricted and nasal, and doesn't sit in an authoritative place. Rishi and Ed Miliband are similar in many ways. He would benefit hugely from voice coaching.

I don't doubt his integrity though, and would still far rather have him, slightly silly voice and all, than any of the sold souls of the recent Tory leadership contest.

I find it fascinating that some people don't notice it/aren't bothered by it, and would venture that it does actually register with many of those people on a subconscious level.

@windthatbobbin that’s a good point about Rishi Sunak - although he has more range than Keir Starmer and is improving.

It is surely without question that Rishi Sunak will be getting voice coaching. And why should Keir Starmer not, also?

And what would you tell him to do @windthatbobbin ?

His voice is very nasal, I think he's sound more engaging if he was speaking from lower down.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with his voice.

And if he did for some reason undergo elocution, he'd be ripped apart for not being authentic.

I like the fact his voice is untrained and authentic. More politicians should take a leaf out of his book.

I don’t want to be mean

Yes you do. You started a thread about it, don't be coy.

Nothing wrong with Keir. If it wasn't for him, the Conservatives wouldn't stand a chance in the next election.

The idea that Keir Starmer does not sound like a Prime Minister is widely and regularly discussed in the press. A quick Google brings up Glenda Jackson saying exactly this a couple of weeks ago.

I am not the only one to have noticed the voice issue @Whitehorsegirl but I certainly don’t have a personal issue with it … unless it stops him winning a general election (… against Liz Truss).

Margaret Thatcher got voice coaching. It isn’t unusual.

I don’t want to be mean and get into using actual adjectives

No, you want everyone else to. I feel like we’re in ringleader of the tormentors territory here.

I changed my username after Boris's final PMQT. 😂

This.

Fly my pretties fly!

Not noticed anything about his voice. I have noticed on occasions whilst watching live coverage from Parliament that on occasions both sides of the house have shut up to listen carefully to what he was saying which was quite interesting to watch and I found a bit unexpected.

I agree with everyone who could care less how he sounds and cares more about his policy and character. Yes not being a lying heartless sack of shit helps quite a lot too.

@windthatbobbin fascinating. What do you do for a living? George Osborne’s voice changed considerably in the run up to 2010. What would have been done to change that?

I’ve met Kier in a more relaxed environment. He was quite sharply funny, and oddly enough didn’t sound as nasal as on the tele box.

I've been wondering why no-one in Team Truss has told her that she she must simply never smile in public again.

could = couldn’t 🤦‍♀️