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.

Any tax changes though he would probably be personally impacted by too. If he taxes savings (I assume you mean cgt which was mentioned around election time) then I’m pretty sure he’s be impacted.

I am not naive enough to think that everything will be perfect with Starmer at the helm. I am certain that there will be things that I disagree with. However, I do now get the sense that the grownups are in charge, which is just as well considering the problems we face.

I am very conscious that he avoided answering a number of questions during the election campaign and that he has changed his beliefs over time to suit his ambitions .

I will wait and judge him on his actions

🤣🤣🤣

I am not Starmer's biggest fan, but to say he is "not very clever" is, well, not very clever!

@FinalCeleryScheme? Not clever? Only the most gifted lawyers get appointed QC, arguably.

Mature response…

I agree, I am hopeful for this new government. I rejoined the Labour Party yesterday (left because of Corbyn) and have been politically homeless since then.

I thought he was wooden during the campaign, but he’s coming across well post the election.

I don't trust them, back in April this year Labour promised to protect any building of homes on greenbelt land. Now less than a week after being elected they are saying that the greenbelt rules need to be reviewed.

@Roseyjane it's factually incorrect to say that he came from a privileged background, that's why. You obviously haven't read much about him.

Being rich now does not change the origins of your background.

I like him. He seems much less divisive than other politicians. I enjoy the lack of drama.

I'm wary of his woman's rights views tbh....

I agree. Especially if Trump gets in again. I found it so depressing when both Trump and Boris were in charge at the same time.

Less divisive? Private school parents paying for more state teachers? That’s very divisive. Why not pay for the teachers with a new phone tax or a holiday tax? Why have people already failed by the state system got to pay?

I'm not bothered about his class but how he behaves as a person. Leading up to the election I wasn't impressed with how he dodged questions but I'm prepared to see how things evolve before I make any judgement. I'm wary though.

How is that ironic?

He will be paying the same tax on his earnings / savings.

I like him too. I feel like he is a really genuine and decent person.

I think anyone who thinks he's nice, self effacing and mild is very naive.

I also don't want a nice, self effacing and mild prime minister. I want someone who can stand their ground in an efficient and professional manner and who can get shit done. So far he's doing ok. His blandness has got him the top job.

You haven’t seen any Starmer love in? OK.

VAT on private school fees isn't divisive.

Most people appear to think it's a very good idea, if they even care at all. Only a small handful of people will be affected.

I am also relishing the "boring".

Too many showmen in Downing Street lately. That shouldn't be what it's about.

And he may not be boring. He just isn't the class clown like Boris.

We have no idea what he is like in his personal life, as it should be. He's doing a job, he doesn't need to be entertaining.

He seems like a responsible grown-up, which makes a refreshing change and I am here for it.

The truth of the pudding is in the eating, so will need to see what the next four years bring. But I, for one, feel optimistic.

4% of pupils go to private schools and their parents will have to pay slightly more for the luxury they have chosen. I'm sure some schools will find ways to keep the fee rises as small as they can.

Meanwhile, the remaining 96% of pupils are in schools with leaky roofs, lack of proper heating, only have basic equipment if teachers pay for it etc. the people being failed by the state system aren't the ones in private schools.

I'm absolutely sick of the whining on that issue to be honest. It's a small change that impacts a very small number of wealthy people, for a short period. The fact it makes headlines shows that we have too many privately educated people/people who send kids to private school in the media.

Burning money aside, YABU because whether you like KS or not appears to be strongly influenced by his background and if it was working class enough.
IMO someones background and where/how they were brought up shouldn't influence whether you like them or not.

No, what you're describing isn't divisive. What you're describing is a tax policy that you personally disagree with because it adversely affects you.

Not everyone in private school has been failed by the state system - a lot of them just want their children to have a more privileged existence.

Whatever tax they end up increasing it will lead to dissatisfaction by those affected.