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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

307 replies

JacquesHarlow · 08/02/2026 10:36

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.

OP posts:
Flomingho · 09/02/2026 02:34

I didn't dislike him prior to him being PM but he is a weak leader and lacks backbone. The constant backtracking is infuriating. If you make a decision own it! The Mandelson scandal is the icing on the cake. People are tired of it all.

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 06:36

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 01:26

What's his voice tone got to do with his effectiveness as PM? That's like arguing that someone has a northern accent and they can't be taken seriously.

Voice coach here. His voice is stuck in his pharynx - the back of his throat, and it is incredibly constricted (muscles of his throat are tight). He also has a lot less range and resonance than his voice is capable of.

it makes him sound simultaneously up tight, uncertain and also completely without conviction. Of itself, it shouldn’t affect his ability to govern. But it’s almost as if his constricted, trapped, lacking-in-conviction voice reflects his style of government.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 07:08

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 01:26

What's his voice tone got to do with his effectiveness as PM? That's like arguing that someone has a northern accent and they can't be taken seriously.

No, it’s nothing like that.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:00

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 07:08

No, it’s nothing like that.

How is it not- you are belittling him based on something he can't change? How is it different?

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:01

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 06:36

Voice coach here. His voice is stuck in his pharynx - the back of his throat, and it is incredibly constricted (muscles of his throat are tight). He also has a lot less range and resonance than his voice is capable of.

it makes him sound simultaneously up tight, uncertain and also completely without conviction. Of itself, it shouldn’t affect his ability to govern. But it’s almost as if his constricted, trapped, lacking-in-conviction voice reflects his style of government.

Edited

That's an interesting explanation but it still doesn't make it relevant.

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:02

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:01

That's an interesting explanation but it still doesn't make it relevant.

We‘ll agree to differ.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:05

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:00

How is it not- you are belittling him based on something he can't change? How is it different?

And isn't that his accent, he's from Surrey isn't he, IME an original Surrey accent is like that, not people who have moved there.

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:07

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:05

And isn't that his accent, he's from Surrey isn't he, IME an original Surrey accent is like that, not people who have moved there.

He CAN change the factors I have spoken about. Work with a voice coach definitely could change it. This is what voice training for actors does.

Why are you mentioning his accent? I never once mentioned his accent.

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:11

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:07

He CAN change the factors I have spoken about. Work with a voice coach definitely could change it. This is what voice training for actors does.

Why are you mentioning his accent? I never once mentioned his accent.

Just looking this up to check he did work with someone but reading more it was more about softening up and attempt at connection rather than just the voice.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:21

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:07

He CAN change the factors I have spoken about. Work with a voice coach definitely could change it. This is what voice training for actors does.

Why are you mentioning his accent? I never once mentioned his accent.

Because it is a criticism of his accent, why should he change it? Would the same criticism be acceptable at a PM with a Brummie accent or a Geordie accent?

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:22

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:11

Just looking this up to check he did work with someone but reading more it was more about softening up and attempt at connection rather than just the voice.

It's clear that people on this thread think it is justifiable to not like someone based upon their accent.

dottiehens · 09/02/2026 08:23

I am not a fan of Starmer but for sure dislike Raynor, Lammy, Reeves and Phillipson much more. Labour would not have won if he was not the leader. We would have to suck it up and see what the people want for the next elections. However, his own party would take him out before. I always thought this was the plan. This the answer is part of the campaign to kick him out. Making him look unpopular.

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:24

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:22

It's clear that people on this thread think it is justifiable to not like someone based upon their accent.

I don’t think so. But politicians do use coaches as to try to connect better.

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:24

You clearly do not understand the technical features of a voice which comprise accent. I have said it once already but I will say it again. The features I have spoken about are not accent. Changing would demand changing his vowels (maybe some consonants).

The features I am speaking about are about vocal QUALITY. His accent would remain the same.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:26

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:24

I don’t think so. But politicians do use coaches as to try to connect better.

Yes, they do because people are prejudice towards those with a strong accent. Angela Raynor had to endure this added prejudice whereas really it should not matter one jot!

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 08:27

That last post should have read “changing ACCENT would require…”

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:27

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:26

Yes, they do because people are prejudice towards those with a strong accent. Angela Raynor had to endure this added prejudice whereas really it should not matter one jot!

As @Piglet89says it’s not the accent she is looking at, she’s been clear on that.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:35

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 08:27

As @Piglet89says it’s not the accent she is looking at, she’s been clear on that.

I'm not directing my point at Piglet89 but it is the accent IME of people who are originally from Surrey.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 09:17

So people from Surrey talk like E.L. Wisty or Zippy from Rainbow? Sure. 🙄

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 09:55

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 09:17

So people from Surrey talk like E.L. Wisty or Zippy from Rainbow? Sure. 🙄

Again: the quality of KS’s voice that makes him sound like Zippy is not his accent. A voice is made up of many different features, accent being just one. Zippy and Starmer have a similar pharyngeal quality to the tone of their voices. Give Zippy an accent coach who coaches him to speak in RP rather than Essex (?), keep everything else the same and he’d sound a bit like Starmer.

NorthXNorthWest · 09/02/2026 09:58

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 08:22

It's clear that people on this thread think it is justifiable to not like someone based upon their accent.

Not all people, not even the majority.

Some people dislike him because of choices he has personally made - doing the right thing when you been caught out is not a badge of honour. Choices the Labour party have made to screw and blame the productive for failings of successive governments - Labour, The conservatives and Lib Dems.

IAxolotlQuestions · 09/02/2026 10:02

I was willing to give him (and Labour) the benefit of the doubt. The Tories needed to be kicked out and sit on the naughty step for at least 5 years (preferably 10) in order to sort themselves out. And Labour were the best of a bad lot.

However, once they got in, it was rapidly evident that they had no plan. Other than 'tax private schooling'. No plan. It took them 6 months to even start doing anything (which is insane when you have a majority) and even then, every time they tried to implement changes, their own proposals were gutted by their own people. So they have only implemented the 'tax more and more and more' parts, while failing to rein in the spending.

They are strangling our economy with their hubris. And it will only get worse because Starmer has no control over the crazy side of the party. So student politics (the kind that merrily ignores fiscal and other reality, including the way people actually behave and response to things) is ascendent.

HOWEVER - Labour doesn't actually have anyone else that could lead the party. So we may as well keep Starmer until we can kick the whole lot out.

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 10:02

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 09/02/2026 09:17

So people from Surrey talk like E.L. Wisty or Zippy from Rainbow? Sure. 🙄

Do you know anybody originally from Surrey so not people that moved DFL recently? Starmer's accent is definitely Surrey sounding and he felt the need to change it. Boris Johnson and Tony Blair didn't have any such criticisms, I wonder why!

Goldenbear · 09/02/2026 10:04

NorthXNorthWest · 09/02/2026 09:58

Not all people, not even the majority.

Some people dislike him because of choices he has personally made - doing the right thing when you been caught out is not a badge of honour. Choices the Labour party have made to screw and blame the productive for failings of successive governments - Labour, The conservatives and Lib Dems.

Yes to be fair, I should have posted, 'some'. For those who It does apply to though It is a frivolous justification.

EasternStandard · 09/02/2026 10:12

Piglet89 · 09/02/2026 09:55

Again: the quality of KS’s voice that makes him sound like Zippy is not his accent. A voice is made up of many different features, accent being just one. Zippy and Starmer have a similar pharyngeal quality to the tone of their voices. Give Zippy an accent coach who coaches him to speak in RP rather than Essex (?), keep everything else the same and he’d sound a bit like Starmer.

Aren’t you two agreeing? I don’t think anyone has mentioned his actual accent.