Why is Keir Starmer so disliked (before the Mandelson scandal?)

[JacquesHarlow]

AIBU to ask this? Why was he so vehemently, fundamentally disliked by the British public, even before the Mandelson saga and the (admittedly awful) lack of judgement?

I have seen worse PMs in the last decade alone. I have seen venal, self-serving, arrogant liars hold the office in that time. I have seen hapless, posh types. We’ve all seen the one who couldn’t outlast a lettuce.

So why does Keir Starmer get so much vitriolic hate in comments sections, despite having only held the office for such a short time?

Is it his perceived lack of communication skills? I’ve seen some people criticise him for not being strident, positive, energised, chummy or any of the things we often see in modern politics.

Is it his lack of identifiable policies or political strategy, where people find they can’t get behind him because they don’t know what he (personally) believes in?

Is it ageism (yep I said it!) in that he comes across as formal and correct, in a time where we’re used to seeing other personalities on the world stage?

Or is it that thing I long suspected, that the country is by default Tory in nature, and that despite a heavy frustration at the last five years of Tory incompetence, they can’t bring themselves to accept this party, and are keen to take him down any which way?

The recent saga of the last week is awful. As a woman I can’t stand to see people like the former US ambassador be enabled.

However the hate for Keir long pre dates this.

so why?? Why do people “hate” him?!

P.S I do not work for Ipsos MORI, or Labour HQ, I am not a bot or a troll or whatever people accuse others of when they don’t like the question.

Why do you like Starmer a lot?

The public does not vote for a particular PM. It votes for a party.

The public did not vote for Truss or Sunak to be PM. Or even Johnson before 2019.

The Jimmy Saville story is a lie, made up by Boris Johnson.

Why do people keep repeating this lie? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/60213975

Your point is right. So why did Labour call for this when they were in opposition? Were they just fucking about? Fancied the LOLs?

Did you jump to defend the constitutional position of the Tory government?

I’ve already said there’s no cause for a GE now or when Starmer goes in the next week or so. I just want to know why the left are such disgraceful hypocrites.

Was he head of the CPS? That's all I need to know. It might not have been documented, but he presided over the organisation

That's politics, isn't it? A lot of sound and fury. It would be better for us if it wasn't that way.

It might not have been documented

So the thing you are accusing Starmer of conveniently wasn't documented?

God help us.

We don't vote for a party. We vote for our local MP.

Most people vote for that MP on the basis of who the party leader is.

Yes we vote for a party. Doesn’t stop sitting MPs suddenly defecting to another party of their choice. This makes me so angry.

Reversing most of his policy announcements (after they have caused upset) and saying he won't raise taxes - then raising taxes destroying business confidence - I doubt that will be a shining example in history.

You might do. Not everyone does.

Blinding naivety to believe informal conversations don't take place, especially when it concerns sensitive matters like this. Who needs PR with a public this gullible

Unfortunately for Starmer it’s the opposite, those who still like him on mn are in the minority.

His net favourability is at -57 the lowest of any PM and approval rating at 11%. And that’s before the last week and the Mandelson / Epstein affair.

I certainly didn't call for a general election every time the Tories shit the bed.

Well Labour are certainly shitting the bed now as you lovingly put it. So let’s see what happens.

People on the left dislike him because he's not left wing enough; people on the right dislike him because he's too left wing.

He seems to have piss poor judgment, eg appointing Mandelson as US ambassador, and is a complete charisma vacuum.

The current crop of Labour MPs are generally a pretty dismal bunch. I'm ancient, so can remember ministers like Barbara Castle, Denis Healey, Tony Crosland and Richard Crossman. Blair had people like like Mo Mowlem, Robin Cook, Gordon Brown and David Blunkett. The current lot seem like minnows by comparison.

I was going to give up my Labour party membership, but now there might be a leadership election in the offing, I'll hang on to it for a while.

That's all we can do.

Good. But my question was whether you jumped to the defence of the constitutional position when Labour called for a GE under the Tories. Did you?

It was also his decision not to prosecute the police who publicly executed Charles de Menezes. And the same people who at the time supported this decision are now very concerned with ICE tactics in the US.

Why didn't Johnson take action against Starmer about Savile? He could have brought him down easily if the accusation was true.

The gullible people are those who buy into conspiracy theories.

Because he is never to blame.
Has he ever said, "Sorry I got it wrong"

Are you going to stand?!

For me, above anything else, it's the hypocrisy of Labour and he is the man at the helm.
The party have spent the past 13 years carping about Tory sleaze, freebies and percieved wrongdoing. Then all the voters who expected something different have been left disappointed.
He swerved being head of the CPS at the time of both the Jimmy Savile and phone-hacking scandals and wriggled out of being spotted sharing a beer with his team during Covid, so i have no doubt he will survive Mandelson too.
His relentless cheerleaders on here brushing aside and justifying everyhing because 'it's not as bad as the Tories' are a turn-off for me too (although that's starting to wear a bit thin these days)

Sue Gray sends her deepest sympathies to Mr McSweeney, I’m sure.

I really hope she is enjoying her evening.🥂