To like Keir Starmer?

[Emmanuelll]

Unlike Tony Blair, he comes from a working class background - his siblings would still call themselves working class.

As a very bright lawyer, he could have sought a path which made him rich quickly but instead chose human rights which isn’t an easy route to take and he’s defended ‘the little guy’ against corporations. He’s also anti-death penalty.

Ok, he’s a Sir, and I’ve heard people (perhaps not unreasonably) question why the leader of the Labour Party would have a title like that. But he earned it through work for the criminal justice system.

On the face of it, it seems as though he deserves a chance.

I would much rather have him as PM than a former Bullingdon club member who used to burn money in front of homeless people for the fun of it.

YANBU

Yep

My partners biggest issue is that he is a bit boring which I don't disagree with but I far prefer a bit boring to the " charasmatic" Boris

I like him.

He seems like a proper grown up who is committed to doing the right thing in service of the nation rather than just lying, stealing and blathering on like Bojo and chums. Definitely growing on me!

Not to mention his background, intelligence and experience is extremely reassuring.

Agree on all counts, OP.

Amen!

the irony is it's okay that he has managed to do well in life an make lots of money but now he is in power he is going after people who do the same saying they should pay more tax, let's tax their savings,.people.shoild be allowed to have more.

He of course could voluntary pay more tax if he really believed in what he is says

I wasn't aware any changes to taxation had been announced!

Take it the election didn’t go the way you wanted. Nice bit of prospective drama llama on tax there.

He seems like a sane, well qualified, considered man. Relishing the boredom.

YABU.

YANBU.

Have found all his briefings so far refreshingly action focused, clear and free of party dogma.

How does one "voluntarily pay extra tax"?

Do you have a source for this? Other than VAT on private school fees, and clarifying no planned changes to income tax, national insurance or VAT, he's said nothing further on taxation as far as I can see.

I agree, op. I've always liked him, and I trust him as a safe pair of hands after the past 14 tumultuous years. Good to see the grown ups in charge again, finally.

It’ll be interesting to see how much of his alleged £7.5 million net worth he’s prepared to give up when taxes and other financial decisions start to affect the ‘general population’.

YABVU. I think it's very dangerous to get warm and fuzzies for politicians, especially in this country.

Keep a cold and rational mind.

He will have earned his "likes" in 4 years' time. Or not, as the case may be.

You mean it will be interesting for your finances! Give over and get over it assuming you weren’t happy with the election.

Charisma is overrated. Not that Boris actually has any, so far as I could ever see.

Well when I say 'like' I don't mean literally of course - I don't know the man. It's just a thread title.

Your first paragraph judges him by his class. Albeit you have made a favourable judgement - but judging by class is absolutely unacceptable.

I wasn't judging him by class. 🙄 I often see people say that Tony Blair, although a socialist at university came from a very privileged background that would have given him more opportunities and confidence.

Talking about working class in this context is about what that person had to do to succeed.

There's no irony there unless he has his money stashed away somewhere he won't pay tax himself.

Thinking "I could afford to pay more tax and would willingly do so to improve public services," then taking steps to make it happen, is not ironic.

It's simply a sign that you lack the imagination to think anyone might not vote solely in their own best interests.

That’s a bit of an assumption by yourself. They can’t take what I haven’t got.

Meh, his flip flopping over womens rights was truly pathetic to behold. So tbh no don’t particularly trust him.

Aside from that I would never put any politician on a pedestal. Corbyn’s little cult of personality was mind blowing to me (bit like the insane loyalty Trump commands, I don’t get it). Even the first day people were praising him for just naming his cabinet. I totally believe the country needed a change but he’s not done anything yet so I’ll reserve judgement.

Totally agree, there is nothing remotely ironic about higher earners saying that they and people like them could pay more tax to make it a fairer society.