Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Starmer has shot himself in the foot.

289 replies

TheQuickRobin · 13/05/2025 20:17

This isn’t about my own opinion but political strategy.

So he does this Island of strangers thing wanting to appeal to Labour heartlands who have gone to Reform. But.

I just think Reform voters won’t believe him?

Tories hate him becaus he’s Labour.

Middle class Labour lefties will be put off by the message.

Who does he think he’s winning over?

Anyone on here had their opinion of him changed?

IABU - I thought he was a prat now I think he’s on my team

IANBU - EITHER I thought he was a prat, still think he’s a prat OR I liked him now think he’s a prat.

Very unscientific poll here!

OP posts:
IveGotAnUnusuallyLargePelvisISwear · 13/05/2025 22:05

I agree- he won’t win over reform or Tory voters and as someone who’s always voted labour I am so disappointed and unless there’s a massive U-turn before the next GE I doubt I’ll vote for Labour again. Not sure I’m the type of person they want voting for them mind you. I was already wavering after the crackdown on the sick and disabled benefits and PIP. This is the last straw.

I don’t disagree that immigration should be controlled in some way but the “island of strangers” message feels sinister. Only this week the UK marked 80 years since VE Day. We wouldn’t have any kind of victory if it wasn’t for people who were not born here in Britain helping us during and after the war to rebuild. Whether we like it or not, this country has massively benefited from immigration for generations. We need people to come here and to work.

cantForget · 13/05/2025 22:05

He’s an idiot and he’s thrown it all away. This country was desperate for change and voted for Labour values and policies. Unfortunately it seems Labour is no longer the party we thought it was. No idea what’s going on with Starmer he seemed to swiftly take a Tory turn and now thinks that he can swerve into a bit of reactive Reform type behaviour? It’s definitely not the Labour we thought we knew.

Such a shame when he had so much support and the opportunity to really bring about positive change .

UndermyShoeJoe · 13/05/2025 22:10

QuaintShaker · 13/05/2025 21:52

I really do think Starmer is in a shit spot on most issues but I also this he's hampered by relatively short-term thinking (albeit, Ukraine and Trump have rather demanded a lot of attention and resources).

Population decline is one of the big issues on the UK's horizon. Without net positive migration, and unless we can reverse our ailing birth rate, we have a huge economic and demographic crisis looming (as South Korea and Japan are facing now). Exponentially increasing net migration is not a long term solution (though it has assisted as a temporary sticking plaster).

We need to ween ourselves off high net migration, but can only do that if having larger families become more common.

I would like to politicians talk more openly and seriously about the issue and, in Labour's case, they should be advocating for economic and social policies that promote (or at least enable) people having larger families (scrapping the 2 child benefit cap would be a start). No developed country has solved the issue and it seems likely to be more complex than simply throwing at people to have kids, but I dare say that addressing the cost of living through a meaningful redistribution of wealth must be a part of the solution (well, unless we want to go down the forced breeding route, which I doubt).

I agree with her on very little, but do afford some kudos to Suella Braverman who is one of the few politicians I've seen speak about the issue, including specifically advocating for the scrapping of the benefit cap.

I'd like to see Starmer/Labour draw a link between the issues (cost of living, birth rate and immigration), and I'd prefer that the rhetorical focus was on maintaining a society/economy that is viable in the long term, rather than othering immigrants (and, though he was somewhat balanced, I don't like the use of "Strangers" in his speech).

If rents were cheaper people would be having more babies. But when rent is so high and 100% mortgage disappeared and you are fighting agasint migrants for the few
rentals ever increasing in price you have less babies and anger toward those “coming in”. Add in all the HMO taking away family
homes.

Also the more and more babies every year would never be truly sustainable we would always hit a point where elderly out number younger. We insist in keeping people alive living in worse conditions than dogs because it’s life at all costs rather than quality. Neglect and abuse for a dog, daily life for an elderly person with dementia and possibly other health issues in a home.

Noshowlomo · 13/05/2025 22:12

The only way labour stand a chance in the GE is if starmer steps down, the new labour leader is a working class, honest and charismatic person, someone who doesn’t go back on what they say (he got the trans vote, lost it, got the GC vote, then lost it).
Please make it happen, Reform will be horrendous.

SidekickSylvia · 13/05/2025 22:13

He seems to be more right wing than the last government, which I wasn't expecting.

Whammyyammy · 13/05/2025 22:28

Lonelycrab · 13/05/2025 20:28

I think you’re probably right OP

He's never going to out-Reform Reform and I think he’s alienated an awful lot of his actual voters with this.

This. Hes hated

SomewhereinSuberbia · 13/05/2025 22:29

I think that they are trying to acknowledge the fact that polling shows that over 70% of the population want less immigration and think that the issue has been handled badly when polled.
If they don't tackle this issue then they are handing Farage an open goal, and they know they'll be wiped out because of it.

Better to reduce migration, why not? If they reduce from 1.2million a year to 350 thousand that's still enough for the NHS and care work, it's the population of Coventry!. Immigration has been running at a very high rate since lockdown, so why not knock it down a bit?

Nichebitch · 13/05/2025 22:32

Why can’t we just get the good Miliband this time please

WallaceinAnderland · 13/05/2025 22:43

Is he left, is he right, is he far right?

No one knows. That's his problem.

SalfordQuays · 13/05/2025 22:50

The bottom line is that Starmer has to get immigration figures down, otherwise Reform will win the next general election. It’s as simple as that.

ChipsAhoye · 13/05/2025 22:53

Miley23 · 13/05/2025 21:44

You are wrong. the plan ( if it goes through) is to make PIP harder to claim by changing the criteria needed for an award of daily living. The worst case estimates are that it could affect 90% of claimants currently receiving the daily living element. LCWRA element of Universal credit will be linked to the daily living element of PIP so some unfortunate people could be set to lose up to £1000 a month overnight.

Show quote history

I'm one of those people

I get daily living and mobility, both standard.

I have 11 points on my daily living award but made up from 2 and 3 points, so no 4 points to make me 'safe'

So under the new rules my next review i will lose my PIP (£450) my LWRCA if connected (£400) my son will lose his carers element as he looks after me (200) and i will lose £80 of my housing benefit for having a non dependant living with me (my carer son) as if you get PIP that doesn't get deducted.

So my household will be £1130 worse off.
My son will have to work but I don't know how I will cope being alone.
I don't understand how it will work at all.

And its causing so much stress it all being so unknown

I feel like if they announced this they should have told us the whole plan because ive spent weeks in a state not knowing what my future holds.

CranfordScones · 13/05/2025 22:57

The problem was cast on day one. Starmer has a massive majority on a very small vote share. In other words his support is very broad but also very shallow. Very few people voted for this government, they were voting against the Tories and Labour were the best option at the time in most constituencies. Policy considerations came a distant second in most voters' minds. So he still has a lot of work to do in order to win over voters.

Controlling immigration (difficult) and keeping the economy on track (not Labour's strong suit) will be key factors. It's possible that he could still become Mr. Popular, but he's never going to be Mr. Populist. Make of that what you will...

WallaceinAnderland · 13/05/2025 22:59

People voted for Starmer because they didn't like the existing government...

Circumferences · 13/05/2025 23:04

Your choices are indeed unscientific

Is Keir Starmer a cunt?

Yes or no.

My answer is yes. This is not down to my demographic location or socioeconomic position in society. It's because he's the biggest disappointment the world has ever seen.

User32459 · 13/05/2025 23:04

First decent thing he's done.

Lonelycrab · 13/05/2025 23:07

Well as this govt and all of us have got 4 more years until the next election..

The proof of the pudding is going to be the thing that makes a difference. Will this direction and policies make a difference?

What actually do reform have to offer?
After the summer of last year I fear race riots. Worse, the next time.

What’s the actual answer?

User32459 · 13/05/2025 23:08

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 13/05/2025 21:55

Yanbu, and I've written to my local Labour MP to say the same. They won't win over the right and they will totally alienate the left.

I don't know who's advising him but they have totally fucked up.

Who even are the left anymore?

Labour used to be about the working class and the working class are at the end of their tether with uncontrolled mass immigration and all its consequences and are turning their backs on Labour in the droves and will vote for anyone who pledges to sort it out (Reform leading all polls).

Middle class lefties in their pretty villages or suburbia are immune to all this. Let them vote Green or Lib Dem.

Viviennemary · 13/05/2025 23:10

He is coming across as a complete twit. For or against he is talking total nonsense.

lavenderlou · 13/05/2025 23:13

He should leave the Tories and Reform to split the immigrant haters between them and maybe try to do something for those of us who have other priorities. I voted Labour at the last election but I guess it's back to the Lib Dems.

lavenderlou · 13/05/2025 23:16

What actually do reform have to offer?

Nigel Farage. Let the smug, lazy git who can barely be bothered to set foot in his constituency retire (probably abroad!) before the next election and Reform will wither and die like UKIP before it.

mumda · 13/05/2025 23:20

Deeds not words. He's got time to show what he's going to do. That's what people will judge him on

Further and faster was his gut reaction though. More cuts for those who don't vote for him?

Rivypike · 13/05/2025 23:21

cantForget · 13/05/2025 22:05

He’s an idiot and he’s thrown it all away. This country was desperate for change and voted for Labour values and policies. Unfortunately it seems Labour is no longer the party we thought it was. No idea what’s going on with Starmer he seemed to swiftly take a Tory turn and now thinks that he can swerve into a bit of reactive Reform type behaviour? It’s definitely not the Labour we thought we knew.

Such a shame when he had so much support and the opportunity to really bring about positive change .

The country really didn’t vote for ‘Labour’ values tbh. Like it or not Farage and the Tories would win an election if they merged. Reform came second in many constituencies which tells me that people rightly or wrongly want right wing policies. They’re happy to accept losing the NHS, seeing benefits cut as long as immigration gets reduced/sorted out. And to say he had so much support is ludicrous, what percentage of the vote did he win ? Typical MN echo chamber, living in nice leafy suburbs and haven’t got a clue how left behind parts of the country are.
He’s been lambasted from day one, despite actually doing some decent stuff. He’s attacked from the right and from salty vocal Corbynites who’ve never got over Jezza losing. There’s positive legislation in the pipeline but it’s never good enough and folk are too lazy to do any research.

Rivypike · 13/05/2025 23:24

IveGotAnUnusuallyLargePelvisISwear · 13/05/2025 22:05

I agree- he won’t win over reform or Tory voters and as someone who’s always voted labour I am so disappointed and unless there’s a massive U-turn before the next GE I doubt I’ll vote for Labour again. Not sure I’m the type of person they want voting for them mind you. I was already wavering after the crackdown on the sick and disabled benefits and PIP. This is the last straw.

I don’t disagree that immigration should be controlled in some way but the “island of strangers” message feels sinister. Only this week the UK marked 80 years since VE Day. We wouldn’t have any kind of victory if it wasn’t for people who were not born here in Britain helping us during and after the war to rebuild. Whether we like it or not, this country has massively benefited from immigration for generations. We need people to come here and to work.

Lol you need to visit Oldham or Rochdale. I’m a lefty but even I can see that there are issues regards immigration and ignoring it will only lead to Farage.

Livelovebehappy · 14/05/2025 00:35

TheFastTraybake · 13/05/2025 21:22

He is cutting PIP though. People with quite serious physical disabilities are terrified.

Show quote history

The cuts aren’t aimed at people with serious physical disabilities though. They’ll be absolutely fine. His target is the people who are very much the lower end of relying on PIP. I think we can all agree that the system needs to be reviewed.

Livelovebehappy · 14/05/2025 00:39

lavenderlou · 13/05/2025 23:16

What actually do reform have to offer?

Nigel Farage. Let the smug, lazy git who can barely be bothered to set foot in his constituency retire (probably abroad!) before the next election and Reform will wither and die like UKIP before it.

And its attitudes and quotes like this which will allow the country to walk into a Reform majority come the next election. During the recent local elections, people were sending out a clear message. Yet we still have people refusing to believe it can be a reality and ignoring the message.