To think Keir Starmer is looking more ridiculous by the day

[Viviennemary]

I've just seen an interview with Keir Starmer talking in riddles. If he knew then what he knew now then this mess wouldn't have happened. Three hour debate about it tomorrow in Parliament. Surely his time is up. But if a lefty takes over it might be worse.

In plain terms the Tories were awful, Labour were voted in because they were so bad. Labour are proving to be just as awful. Why would anyone vote for either mainstream party?

Well you are as you are implying that it is Labour's lack of talent that will be the reason for a Reform win. So basically not based upon the merits of Reform.

When you say no do you mean agree. The pp is correct on who Labour should be worried about. Noticeably they seem terribly stuck on the tories as messaging and it shows in support for Reform.

I think Reform in picking up Danny Krueger have done quite well. He is actually skilled. He led Jenrick’s leadership campaign.

The others from the Conservatives have been less impressive. Exception being the founder of ConservativeHome which was a sign Reform are neither a joke nor a flash in the pan.

Labour’s 'lack of talent' will be the reason if there's a Reform win. It's not rocket science.

Unfortunatly I think it all fits into a rather narrow disinterested view he has about women

He was awful to Rosie duffield (sp), didn't get behind the Rotherham scandal until forced to, wasn't pro womens rights v trans rights until he realised it was a major voting issue and now mandarin and Epstein !

Sorry ladies we are just not on this man's radar

So it won't be based upon the merits of Reform then- a default and sloppy win!

The reason Reform win is not because the Labour Party are talentless. When you look at where the Reform vote is growing it is from
the Conservative Party. These people are not Labour people yet.

However the voting patterns in the UK are changing in intent. Here is an excellent way of representing these changes.

Much like the last Labour win.

Good chart @bombastix .

As it was in 2024.

It is because Labour are a disappointment and mucking it up. People seem unaware of why they’re losing support.

If you think that, why would you want the same all over again?

So why do you want Reform to be voted in for the same reasons?

@NebulousWhistler they are both fantastic descriptions

So you think that Reform are not a threat to Labour? What about the red wall?

@randomchap - "... Johnson suspended parliament during critical period of the Brexit debate. Where parliament was meant to be able to debate and discuss, and eventually vote on how the country would try to Brexit. Essentially by proroguing parliament, he took away the chance for our elected representatives to actually represent us.

It deepened mistrust in government, damaged faith in our political system, and increased polarisation... "

I have a somewhat different take on that.

The Labour opposition - together with those Conservatives who wanted to remain in the EU - had repeatedly blocked every attempt Theresa May had made to get the most acceptable deal from Brussels. They weren't blocking those potential deals because they were bad deals, but because they were desperate to stay in the EU at all costs and were fighting for a second referendum - even if that meant the result of the referendum was ignored and the UK got a worse deal.

I think at one point even Peter Mandelson - who also had wanted a second vote - recognised that the actions of the Labour opposition and the Tory remainers had stemmed from a refusal to accept the results of a democratic vote and had effectively tied the hands of those negotiating with Brussels, and that they should not have done it.

That's why Johnson thought he had no choice but to prorogue Parliament - because he saw the opposition to be defying the will of the people.

As it happens I disagree with what he did, but I understand why he did it.

And I don't think it caused any more harm than the remainers blocking of the previous PM's attempts to get the best deal she thought she could get

Starmer has pledged to halve violence against women and girls.

They've brought in exclusion zones around abortion clinics

Raneem's law has been brought in to put domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-domestic-abuse-specialists-embedded-in-999-control-rooms

They are putting additional staff in CPS's Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Units

Whereas Farage has voted against protections for women and girls.

https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025/08/nigel-farages-hollow-dangerous-concern-for-women

Yes it’s really interesting. Starmer’s coalition is literally fraying off to Lib Dem but many more don’t knows.

The transfer between Reform and the Conservatives is solid. And Reform are the only party picking up “don’t knows”. So you can see why Reform are doing well; but also, the danger they represent to the Conservative Party.

Everyone knows this though. It just seems to be Labour focusing on them.

After the car crash of BJ and Truss, when it was already clear the UK would vote for a change in 2024, Labour failed to prepare seriously for office, and are now failing on all fronts. Their own backbenchers are mutinous, and the only serious looking contender for PM isn't currently an MP.

Good question. Are they the don’t knows in the chart? There seems very small stream between Labour and Reform. Ideologically that makes sense to me.

I absolutely do not want the same. I want the leadership in both mainstream parties to improve and inspire. I want better quality candidates standing for election (although I understand why people dont want to stand). I want to get out of this cycle of one shit Government headed by poor leaders after another another shit Government.

Mandelson is clearly a lying creep but given the state of US politics and the need to keep them onside with the risk that Russia is imposing on Europe, it was a smart appointment. He already had relationships with many of the players and how to handle them.

Starmer has been excellent on the world stage from his relationship building with our European neighbours and Canada to his brilliant handling of Trump.

Anyone who says he has been an embarrassment internationally is either intentionally trolling or really has no understanding of international politics.

I do wish Starmer hadn't gone down the usual route of "I have full confidence..." with Mandelson - I mean, we all know that actually means they'll be gone in the next two days, but it would have been nice from the perspective of reducing violence against women and girls for him to have said he was fired outright.

However, the confidence line is a well worn trope for when someone is getting fired and the story could not have broken at a more inconvenient time with the drone incursion on Poland. The timing is more than a little co-incidental!

Domestically, Labour have been disappointing. Instead of using their supermajority to put in place some real change, the leadership have continued to run scared of Reform, with policies being insipid, edged right and reactive.

The rank and file MPs have behaved exactly how the left always do, kicking off and forcing the Starmer and the leadership to change direction and U-turn on key policy decisions so only the most watered down policies get through.

This is why the right are so much more successful in getting what they want than the left - the left are happy to compromise with everyone except eachother whereas the right will back the horse they think is going to win, even if its not wearing their particular colours.

You only have to look at how MAGA has captured the US and the British equivalent Tufton Street / ERG lot and Reform have captured the UK while the Democrats and Labour flounder to see it at work.

The left really need to get on board with the idea that political change is a bus journey. It may not get you to exactly where you want to go, but as long as it gets you a bit closer, its better than going in the opposite direction!

Part of their strategy to halve VAWG is to exclude girls.
https://news.sky.com/story/alarm-over-exclusion-of-child-sexual-exploitation-from-strategy-to-tackle-violence-against-women-and-girls-13415353