To think Wes Streeting would make a good PM?

[MorningLarkEchoes]

I’ve been thinking about this on and off for a while and was surprised when my mum turned around and said the same thing to me the other day so it’s made me wonder if others feel the same way. For what it’s worth I tend to vote Conservative but almost voted Labour at the last election. So you could say I’m a potential swing voter. My mum is the same as me in that respect.

I’ve been really disappointed with Starmer as PM since Labour took power last year. I think Streeting comes across as more relatable and passionate than Starmer. His background growing up in poverty and overcoming cancer makes him feel much more grounded and human. He’s also a much stronger communicator, especially under pressure, and isn’t afraid to say what he really thinks, even when it goes against his own party. I like that he talks openly about reforming the NHS rather than just promising more money. It feels more honest and realistic. Compared to Starmer, he just seems a bit sharper, more instinctive politically, and more willing to take risks. I think he could appeal to people across the political spectrum, especially those who want change but are put off by extremes. Anyone else feel the same?

I think if Labour don’t make some drastic changes soon then they are opening the door for a Reform win when we next have a general election.

As you said in your OP, he talks a lot. Don't see what he's achieved though.
The NHS is in the worst state it's ever been, in spite of the lies we're being told.

He comes to mind as he does interviews. John Healey. Defence. has far more experience.

And this.

I agree with Streeting on most issues. He’s basically a Blairite, which is also pretty much where I am politically. His background (council flat & bog standard comp to Cambridge) is similar to my own, although I was at a non-Oxbridge RG university. He’s also a brilliant media performer, unlike Starmer.

The problem is that he is a 42 year old career politician who started out in student politics, has never done anything else and has never actually run anything or built anything or achieved anything outside politics. At least Starmer ran the CPS and Sunak was a successful financier.

Why is Labour the only major party not to have had a female leader? At this point, it's embarrassing. Every time women are put forward as candidates for leadership they get knocked out. Why? They have large numbers of female MPs. The Left have alwsys had a problem with women but they like to tell people how much they love equality.

I quite like him. He was in the wrong place on assisted dying but other than that, I’d probably vote for him. Not sure he’d do any better at controlling the shit show that is the parliamentary Labour Party at the moment though.

Your last sentence answers your question!

I've been a Labour member all my adult life and over the years I've witnessed a culture of men doing the important stuff and women doing the support roles (and making the tea). It's not as bad as it was of course but culture change can take decades.

Given his decisions on NHS reorganisation appear to have been made with no thought as to how they can actually be executed and instead were a reflex action with no thoughts as to the consequences, it's a no from me.

I completely agree

I don't know but I don't think it's fair to blame the union. I do think trade unions have, in many cases, pushed for more women in leadership—especially in the Labour movement. They're far from perfect (the GMB reports don't make for edifying reading). But at the same time, both Unison and Unite currently have female General Secretaries. And historically, unions gave some women leadership platforms—people like Audrey Wise in USDAW and Joan Maynard.

Andy Burnham

As recent UK prime ministers include Johnson and Truss, and as the likes of Badenoch and Farage head up two parliamentary parties, I think people - or at least a good portion of them - don't actually want leadership at all. They want to be distracted and entertained by people who anyone ought to see are simply incompetent.

Johnson won a landslide for saying "oven ready". This was after he hid in a fridge.

Agreed. Andy has done an excellent job in Greater Manchester.