Is Starmer seriously going to resign???

[Swayingpalmtrees]

I have been waiting for a thread to come up about this, but I can't see one to date. I can't believe Keir Starmer has now said he will resign (and Angela Rayner as well) Potentially leaving the Labour party with no leader at all!

Looking at the 'evidence' that is well known and has been published, it appears the Indian takeaway was pre ordered (due to its size) and pre planned according to the staff at the Indian and the leaked memo, it did include quite a number of people and bottles of beer etc and drinking. It was late into the night, so not work related, and no one is suggesting anyone continued to work afterwards as it was so late. I don't see how this is any different to the No10 arrangements! So how on earth will they avoid a fine??

Sir Keir's speech was so wobbly I actually thought he was resigning there and then, and although I appreciate the sentiments of integrity and honour, where on earth does that leave the LP with under two years to the election or less?

Who would replace him? Do we have any thoughts on a plan of any kind?

I am kind of aghast, we are in the middle of a European war, on the cusp of potentially WW3, I am not sure this is a responsible action given the seriousness of our predicament with Russia whom are threatening us on a weekly basis with nuclear war. At the very very least, we need a firm hand on the tiller, so to speak, we do not have time to be squabbling over beer and cheese.
AIBU?

Starmzy 😆

Well I am back, I had to do some actual work!!
Minus the beer or vodka sadly.

Any updates on Ange and Starm resigning yet? I haven't had a chance to check.

Do you seriously believe the Labour Party would have announced that it had compiled this dossier if it didn't exist?

It is a handful of Whatsapp messages from aides, this can not, in my humble opinion be called a 'dossier' by anyone's standards - although I am sure they would lead you to believe there are A4 folders stretching far and wide of evidence. If it exists we have yet to hear about it.

Can I just say once and or all, I am NOT a tory. If I was, I would say, as I have nothing to hide but I am not. I am a swing voter, and if I added up all of the parties I have voted for, Labour would win hands down. I don't find Lisa Nandy remotely professional. I find Cooper very professional and Emily Thornberry. You have to possess gravitas and authority in a leadership position, and I don't see that in Lisa Nandy or Wes Streeting. It comes with experience and maturity, but maybe one day it will happen but not this time. How about the return of Jezza?

I think shit is going to hit the fan in Labour HQ regardless, at best this is going to seem like a close escape that has damaged their chances at the election, and worst case it will be two resignations (at least) and an empty chair in the opposition as they waste months slogging it out in a leadership contest.

I love the fact the same posters that minimise beer and curry were literally frothing at the mouth about cake and cheese at No10.

The hypocrisy clearly extends beyond the political parties.

However, OP’s arguments are ones even tbe most green arrowed readers’ comments don’t agree with. OP would be an outlier even among DM readers
Edit

A swing voter in so far as you waver between rabid anti-lockdown, pro-Brexit Tufton Street & tolerating Brexit-friendly Johnson, perhaps?

Given the overwhelming evidence of this thread, I don't see much evidence of you doing much other than try and discredit Labour.

(Yes, I saw the wholly unconvincing performance of Luke-warm endorsement of Yvette Cooper. Sure you're a swing voter.)

I get it now! You're working for Durham police! It's the only way I can explain the way you know so exactly what evidence Labour have handed over.

The rule broken was "sharing food". Which they both did.

He is unfortunately hoist on his own petard. He and his cronies have pursued Boris to be fined and then..... He stated publicly Boris should resign for committing the offence....that he himself also committed.

*sharing food with someone not in your household bubble.

"The rule broken was "sharing food". "

Please do elaborate @DuchessofAnkh22

That is not accurate.

The relevant rule was a prohibition against gathering indoors with people from outside your household or support bubble.

There were, however, exemptions fro
the rule for those gathering for work purposes, or if the gathering was reasonably necessary for campaigning for an election.

Did anyone watch ç4 Dispatches last night ? About the group of right-wing nutters calling itself Patriotic Alternative, I think, mentioning their role in distributing anti-vax, anti-lockdown, covid hoax misinformation. And other smears, slurs and distortions referring to leftish politicians, all in the guise of 'freedom' and witless tripe about the 'indigenous English', an invention of their own. Lies, smears, slurs, distortion. It's really not an example one can imagine any rational person embracing nor choosing to utilise in practice. Yet here we are.

I’ve seen it all now. Sharing food. If that was illegal my workplace broke the law every day from Sept 2020 onwards.

If he and Rayner both resign, Labour can just assign an Acting Leader until a proper leadership contest can be held - ideally someone who won't want to be considered for the perm position. Margaret Beckett, Ed Miliband, or Harriet Harmon could step in, as they have all served as leader or deputy leader in the past and are current MPs. A similar thing happened in May 2015, when both Miliband and Harman resigned over the lost election; Harman became Acting Leader until Corbyn and Watson were elected through the normal process.

It’s, unfortunately, what the right wing do now.

There’s always been spin in politics, but outright disinformation was usually rare enough that particular instances of it would be remembered for years.

Now, the right relies on spreading disinformation on a daily basis.

I used to disagree with Tories on political philosophy, but often thought them to be acting in good faith and doing what they thought was best for the country.

Now, it’s just a collaboration of those who wilfully and continually spread lies and those who are easily duped.

at best this is going to seem like a close escape that has damaged their chances at the election

Which is still two years away, lets see how the cost of living crisis pans out. The Conservatives have two very tricky years ahead of them and they have been in power such a long time now, its going to be difficult to make blaming anyone else stick.

Margaret Beckett would have been an outstanding leader. I was sad when she left, she reminded me of everything that was right with Labour, and how it has changed, and not for the better.

When we find out the results of the investigation then a decision will be made about the future of Labour, but I think the tussle has already begun, and its going to be very hard for Starmer to regain authority after introducing at least the idea in principle of his resignation, even if he is found not guilty.

Integrity? That creep who doesn't know that only a woman has a cervix? Don't make me laugh. And the growler woman? You've got to be joking.

I was sorry when Margaret Beckett didn't become the Labour leader. She presented as a decent person, at least.

None of the people at Keir's gathering seemed remotely concerned about catching CV. No distancing. No masks. Small office

When we find out the results of the investigation then a decision will be made about the future of Labour, but I think the tussle has already begun, and its going to be very hard for Starmer to regain authority after introducing at least the idea in principle of his resignation, even if he is found not guilty.
In your head, perhaps.

I’m a card-carrying Lib Dem and lukewarm on Starmer, but I entirely respect and agree with how he’s handled on this. I do not expect him to receive a FPN and I expect business as usual thereafter.

I think that your bias is so strong that it’s significantly clouding your perception of everything surrounding this - for example, I did not perceive his speech yesterday as remotely shaky. It was a strong speech by a leader with an obvious sense of integrity.

It was also a stark contrast with the bumbling, flustered, dishonest nonsense spewing from Johnson’s mouth every time he opens it.

I’m not convinced that Starmer is the right person to lead Labour back into power, but the way he has handled this is admirable.

How do you wear a mask while eating a curry?

None of the people at Keir's gathering seemed remotely concerned about catching CV. No distancing. No masks. Small office

Bit like the Downing street Christmas quiz ?

Masks have never been compulsory in offices. No one in my office ever wore one.

i don’t think there was much distancing in workplaces by that point either. It certainly wasn’t law that you had to.

Nothing like the appalling and insulting Downing Street Christmas jolly.

(You see: point of this thread = normalising Johnson's appalling behaviour by trying to confect a false parity.)

In fact, I'm just going to do this from now on,

💥 False parity claim!

💥 Normalization of appalling Johnson klaxon!

And they had probably texted prior to the meetings.

Someone posted pictures of the Miners' Hall upthread. A small office it is not.