To not get the visceral levels of hatred people have for Keir Starmer

[LastChristmasigaveyousomesocks]

I’m not suggesting he’s the greatest prime minister ever. I’m not even suggesting he’s good at all. But some people really, really passionately hate him.

He is a bit insipid and doesn’t have much charisma but overall he seems like a decent enough bloke who perhaps lacks the political skill and acumen he needs. He’s out of his depth basically.

But that’s not a reason to actually despise someone is it?

When did we get to a point where we can’t just disagree without painting the other person as the devil incarnate?

I know. It’s seriously bizarre.

The problem is human beings are naturally visceral these days. Like snakes seething venom. Ready to bite. Hissssss

I think everyone was so fed up and were expecting miracles overnight. Which is never going to happen regardless of who is in charge.

There’s a bit an attitude that an incoming government should sort out all perceived issues from outgoing government immediately. There’s no awareness of spending plans and being tied into things.
Even if he was the greatest PM making change takes years.

I completely agree. To my mind the worst thing about his government is that they haven't done as much as they could by now so things aren't that much different from how they would have been had the Tories still been in. However they inherited a truly shit situation and they've still not been in that long, so the diatribes you see accusing them of being responsible for all the ills of the world do seem ill-informed, if not downright unhinged.

I like him - nice to have a sensible boring grown up in charge for once.

Agreed.

I completely agree. I believe he is a decent and sensible man. He isn't flashy and doesn't come across as rash. Unfortunately for him, he's the PM at the same time that the world appears to be in freefall.

I think people forget the series of PMs we had before him and what could potentially be coming next.

People truly believed that voting in labour was going to suddenly, magically fix all our problems. Weirdly that’s not actually the case and was never going to be possible. Sadly that has made a lot of people angry despite that fact that so much of what is wrong is not within the control of one person or even one party or country..

It’s all the right wing tabloids badmouthing him and anyone from labour
personally I think he’s a silver fox
and a human rights lawyer to boot !

I completely agree OP. He's not amazing but he's perfectly OK. I honestly don't understand why people seem to hate him so much.

I like this thread so far - everyone's saying what I think

I know people who know from his barrister work. Has lots of charisma in real life but somehow not as PM, perhaps too busy sticky to the party line and not wanting to be a Boris.

I'm not the greatest fan. There's plenty I think he's doing wrong. But I'll take sensible level-headed leadership from someone who knows which way is up over, well, take your pick from the most recent bunch of PMs, not to mention would-be future PMs. I think anyone would have a tough time turning things around, and I don't even blame the Tories for all of that. Not altogether anyway.

Same. I saw a clip of him congratulating a newly engaged woman and asking to seethe ring etc- just really normal and making a newly engaged excited woman feel special. The comments were all about him being the worst PM of all time😭 this man could rescue a bag of kittens and he’d be wrong

Really? I find that astonishing. He has broken every manifesto promise and introduced serious policies like removing juries, which he has no mandate for.
He has sold Britain down the river to the globalists in Davos.
You must have a very superficial understanding of politics, OP.

I am more disappointed in him than I can articulate. Hate him though, no.

There are a few on my Facebook, not many handful of that who I see like posts that Nigel Farage is the only solution. It’s like watching a repeat of history. I’m not sure Farage is the solution but if anyone wants to give me a good explanation as to why they think he’ll be a good thing for Britain, I’m all ears.

My theory is the anxiety related to the role has made him much more controlling and rehearsed. You can see the frequency with which he clenches his jaw or blinks rapidly were he’s holding back his natural reaction

I agree. When he's out in the world at least he's not a national embarrassment like Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and the rest.

I agree. I think he’s competent but the anger and entitlement of the public is what’s stopping any kind of proper change - so long as they want to cling to their benefits and not accept any personal responsibility, we’re doomed

I like him, as do many I know.
Trouble is confirmation bias. Someone on MN starts a thread, others pile on, and it seems like most people don’t like him. It’s really not true in the world outside. MN has a particular demographic that perhaps is more middle class - look at the constant threads on private schools loosing their VAT exemption…

It is people needing an outlet to their hatred
not saying I have any opinion about him
the same as people hate on Trump

This. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a government criticised this much.
The right wing papers want Farage in, so that their owners and the wealthy tax avoiders don’t get taxed and so that the nhs and any remaining public services can be sold off.

He just looks awkward, like a rabbit in the headlights and we want leaders to appear strong and confident.
I don't hate him he just makes me cringe with his rictus grins and dithering. I'd rather have Rachel or Wes, just as useless but at least they don't look scared of their own shadow.