To think it's not a foregone conclusion that Labour will win the next election?

[flashbac]

I am seeing things here and there predicting Keir Starmer being our next prime minister etc, as if its already been decided.

I won't be voting for them under Keir that's for sure. Their stance on Gaza is the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't care if the Tories get in again. I am so disenfranchised I dont give a shit and at least with the Tories its "better the devil you know" and not Labour pretending they give a shit about people/human rights.

😂

He didn’t compliment her.

@Fieldofbrokenpromises I'm not going to be trying my luck or business skills elsewhere because DH and I are already 68. He created and built a business that is still keeping seven families in well paid skilled work. But people like us, who are only modestly successful, can choose to live overseas... we quite fancy Portugal or NW Spain... and are happy to deliver our tax payments to Spain or Portugal. A person is going to pay tax anywhere if they have sufficient income. Not looking for a tax-free zone.

Laugh all you like @Fieldofbrokenpromises . Our early evenings for the last 35 years have been dominated by conversation about DH's business and what would be best to do about this or that. Seriously, if it's your business, you never shut the conversation down.

Do you reckon he would be saying it if he had a real worry?

I think this is more about cleaning up seats in the South. The Tories ought to be worried. Some of the research on their vote indicates they have lost their red wall, the South doesn't want them either, and Scotland well they can't even pretend to be competitive.

Starmer is looking more sure of himself as time goes on, of course he is going to align himself with leaders who took control of their party and had vision

John Major is and was far more diplomatic and has become a respected statesman something that eluded Thatcher as she was too divisive but no one os going to be saying this about JM as he is so forgettable

Hope so not heard 1 good plan going forward they slate everything ( sometimes justified sometimes not) when asked what they would do no answer

they mouth off about polices that are totally impractical and wouldn’t come to fruition just people pleasing yes noises

and also all well get is not our fault blame the people before us which to be fair is pretty standard when you get a change of party

Anyone could have told him that bringing up Thatcher in the Telegraph would be afforded all the opportunity to provide context as saying bomb on a plane. But apparently it isn't a problem, despite the increasing queue of MPs lining up to say otherwise. Fear not, MN says it's fine.

Well it’s an issue for the far left MP’s as they are feeling bitter against Starmer for being sent back to the back benches where they belong to plan out their revolution against the establishment

meanwhile back in reality most voters are not so entrenched in their political views

And Starmer’s PR can use the far left’s frothing about a Thatcher remark to his advantage by distancing himself even more from them

Sure, the shadow cabinet will be out to support the sentiment in full, just not yet, maybe later?

That’s a really good point, I hadn’t thought of that.

It's an old Labour game

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/13/politicalnews.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-22073434

It's just Momentum being totally cloth eared. Either they are too young to know about their previous PMs, or they are really daft and imagine they have traction where they don't. Either way, they show themselves to be insular and ineffectual

I find it hard to believe that there is anyone out there who believes 5 more years of Tories is what this country needs. This iteration of Tories is so wicked and toxic that the thought of them being re-elected terrifies me. Another term of Tories could do unimaginable and irreversible damage to the country. The combination of corruption and greed will destroy everything. Starmer is treading maybe a bit too carefully for me, but I understand his reticence in making bold policy statements as for one the RW press will go for his throat, and two, who knows what financial mess this government will be leaving them. We cannot afford another Tory government, it is as simple as that. The alternative may not be to your liking, but my god if you vote for them in the next election they shame on you.

My memory is good enough to know that the Labour Party chasing to the right is not an election vote winner.

Well it worked very well for New Labour landslide and three consecutive wins

and chasing the left only vote in the last 40 years has left Labour in opposition

so I’m not sure what time you are thinking of marmaladeandpeanutbutter

My memory is good enough to know that the Labour Party chasing to the right is not an election vote winner.

What was Tony Blair?

It was in 1997.

Maybe it was the wrong people voting for Labour

those pesky centre and floating voters not real Labour voters

You must be quite young then.

Or knows very little about modern British politics

Without your 9 to 5 workers, you'd not have a business & if you think people who work for you or anyone else, don't talk or are concerned about the business, you are very much mistaken.

You ve made enough money out of your workers and the business to easily afford the resident financial requirements of Spain or Portugal, i doubt your employees have that luxury? You seem to think your business is some sort of charitable venture, instead of means to accumulate a lot of money for yourselves, fair play, i'm not knocking you but pls don't pretend it was all for your 7 skilled employees, who you would have made redundant had it suited.

Moving overseas at your age, is a huge upheaval, most people will have family commitments, grandkids perhaps, maybe you help out with childcare? friends, established community links, then there is the financial costs associated with moving to an EU country, not least the health insurance costs as you approach 70.

My wry smile wasn't addressed to the poster with their own small business - I and my Father have both run our own small businesses so I am well aware of that. I was smiling because that's the line trotted out about why Sir Bufton Tufton deserves his (and it is usually a he) £4million a year for running something (usually into the ground) and then getting a fat payout and a pension, all of which are more than most of us will ever earn. I'd gladly take a few million for a couple of years of long hours and "hard" decisions, but it's not on offer to me as I didn't go to the right school.

Oh well, praise Thatcher then 🤷🏾‍♀️. What an utter twat Starmer is. He has no policies. No presence. He just cares about getting in. It's really sad, and he should call his party something else, because it doesn't represent working people any more.

That said, I'll vote for him, as I see no alternative, the shit state politics is in.

those pesky centre and floating voters not real Labour voters

Always worth remembering that they aren't the whole electorate.