I think Wes Streeting is the fresh direction Labour needs now

[WesStreetingForPM]

Name changed because we are at a pivotal point in our lifetimes, and my focus now needs to be on this.

I do think Starmer is a decent man, but Labour risks being wiped out entirely if he stays in charge. I see this in my own family and community.

We need a change of direction and a fresh face who can actually connect and get things done. For me, and I feel for those around me, that person is Wes Streeting.

He’s done a solid job as Health Secretary in tough circumstances. He’s pragmatic, articulate and not afraid of reform where it’s needed (which is exactly what the NHS requires). He comes from a genuine working-class background - council estate and free school meals - so he understands real life in a way some career politicians don’t. He can talk about aspiration, responsibility and actually winning elections in a way most career politicians simply cannot.

And yes, I’ll say it - the fact that he’s an openly gay man is a massive positive. It shows progress and that someone can reach the top on merit while being open about who they are. Representation matters!

Wes feels like the candidate who could actually win the next election and deliver.

I would love to see Mumsnet unite behind Wes - who I think would make a fantastic Prime Minister.

You think reform voters are afraid of gays? And if they could get over this fear, they'd then vote Labour? 😂

Sleuthing aside, Jess Philips’s and Shabana Mahmood went to the same grammar school in Birmingham, and are virtually the same age.

Are you a parody account 😳

Reform voters are ignorant

No. Are you?

Actual LOL at this.

As a lifetime Labour voter I think the only person who has a snowballs chance in Hell of being elected next time and actually turning things around in the meantime is Andy Burnham (and I say that as old Bennite Left)

What we are seeing at the moment is people scurrying to get or retain power, without thought for the party, let alone the country. It says everything about them.

ETA I will also say that someone being a man or a woman, gay or straight, black, white, Muslim or Jewish or anything else has no effect on whether I would vote for them or not.

If the rumours tonight are true - that Wes doesn't have the numbers and the plotters are rallying behind Burnham, and will give Starmer three months until he announces his resignation, then today is a very dark day for democracy

No, it would be realpolitik and show that Labour has woken up.

Can’t help thinking about Jeremy Vine’s quote on Sunday’s Laura Kuenssgerg prog:

‘’ having a new leader would be like like soiling your pants and changing your hat’’ 😆

😂

I really hope OP was either kidding or on glue. Love the song, OP, but it might be jumping the shark 😂

Wes Streeting is the Michael Gove of Labour - betrays everyone, then thinks others will be loyal enough to make him PM and that he’d. Fuck off, Wes “deluded backbiting asshat” Streeting 🙄

Wes has NONE of those things.

It needs to be either a woman or someone from an ethnic minority. Or both. Sadiq Kahn would get my vote.

Why? Surely their politics and drive and commitment to the job are more important ?

PM Streeting Lord help us !!

He's awful. Absolutely awful. Just watch some of his performances in the chamber. His disdain for the female opposition politicians is disgusting.

The party is rallying behind Andy Burnham.

I'm a big fan of Burnham so am OK with this - but can the country, and the economy, really cope with three or even four more months of this?

This. I don’t work in the NHS but my sister is a fairly senior manager in NHSE. Wes told them at the first joint briefing with DHSC that he will make decisions based on politics rather than what the nhs needs. He then decided to abolish her employer because of duplication which, over a year later no one can identify. He’s bitched about nhs managers publicly and dismissed their concerns in internal meetings. There is no plan for this merger and despite what is leaked to the press, NHSE staff do a lot of work towards improving patient outcomes yet are constantly vilified because it is a cheap way of getting support. The voluntary redundancy schemes have cost millions which could have been used to actually help patients and reduce waiting lists which apparently isn’t happening despite Wes’s pronouncements of success. So yeah, fab guy, great health Secretary.

No

Totally agree with this as I work closely with NHSE and have for over a decade. Never mind the proposal was for DHSC staff to take on NHSE work while also reducing headcount I believe. A trend of wanting more from less, blood from a stone in the public sector 🫠

After Wes being all bolshy saying it had been 'abolished' they quietly announced that the merger won't be finished until April 2027 www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/dhsc-details-timeline-for-completion-of-nhs-england-merger

And April 2027 is optimistic as they still have to get a bill though parliament. He has caused one giant cluster fuck basically.

According to Wikipedia, Zack Polanski is Jewish, gay & a vegan.

It doesn't matter who they get in. The only chance this country has is if it can extricate itself from this managed decline. This goes for any leader and any party.

Was he not a mate of Mandelson, who went out on the campaign trail with him. No thanks.