To not want yet another new Prime Minister right now.

[paddleboardingmum]

I'm not a massive Starmer fan, but at least he's doing okay on the international stuff. What with the war, Trump and everything I feel like we just need some stability and the thought of a whole leadership contest and yet another change of PM just seems like too much. Fed up with the constant drama of the news.

I am with you on this.

Do I like Starmer? No. I think he’s a liar and just as corrupt as the rest of them.

But there are no better options within the party, it’d take them forever and a day to pick their new leader, and the last thing we need right now is even more disruption.

We won't tbe getting one, so you are worrying for nothing Pretty unreasonable I would say

Inclined to agree. I worry that, if he stands down, the political focus will switch from cost of living and Iran to in fighting and leadership contests.

I’m with you. Six PMs in 16 years is lunacy. We definitely don’t need a seventh.

YANBU. He’s handled this badly. Should have admitted that Mandelson was slimy but would be good to handle Trump (also slimy).

The possible alternatives are awful.

Agreed. If he goes, the "people" will be asking for the next one to go too in a couple of months.

I also think he is doing well internationally and am happy with that (for another while anyway)

I agree. I’m not a huge fan but he feels like a safe pair of hands. And the prospect of Lammy stepping up fills me with horror.

A new PM would likely make very little difference to most people’s lives. Starmer has done ok to avoid plunging us into Trump’s insane war but he’s a lame duck elsewhere. His fence sitting has worked marvellously for the Iran situation.

The issues that really matter to people like CoL, Health, Education, Immigration & Jobs will still be a problem for the next PM.

The reality is that most PMs are essentially useless to fix these problems in an increasingly complex, market driven world with rampant consumerism at the centre. The war in Iran is just another example of how vulnerable the UK (and other countries) are to the turbulence in other parts of the world.

I think a significant chunk of our economic mess is a result of Brexit but they won't say it. But yes, it just feels like another change would either be worse or the same not an improvement. Plus the upheaval comes at a cost as pp said where all the focus shifts to the contest itself rather than on the country.

He’s handled this badly. Should have admitted that Mandelson was slimy but would be good to handle Trump (also slimy).

Completely agree with this. But can see how it would have been awkward/impossible for him to say that. I do think at the time he was probably focussed on trying to get a decent trade deal for the UK.

I agree and I’m fed up with the press preempting his resignation. Just let him serve his term.

Yes some of the media seem absolutely desperate. While not great, it's nowhere near what Boris Johnson did, for example. All PMs mess up somehow or other.

I agree and was discussing this with DH and friends and we all agree.

Completely agree. I’m not a Starmer fan but this is all manufactured outrage to try and get him out. Most people I speak to about this don’t give a shit. I can’t see how ousting him is good for the country when we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and the fallout from the war on Iran. We have bigger fish to fry.

Thanks @paddleboardingmum some common sense - at last!

It's a really sad state of affairs when the best option is to keep the guy who is the less worse option as the competition is poor.

Kier is a terrible PM and I'm no conservative fan after their time in power but Kemi is a much stronger leader then he could ever be.

Regarding Mandelson, yes it has been blown out of proportion but it was so obvious he was a real slimeball right from the early days. To bring him back into a job like that was madness and shows kiers lack of judgement

Yanbu. I agree that Kemi would be a much better PM, but the option is Kier or Badger so better to have continuity I think.

Keep Kier!

No-one wants it and yet here we are. What a mess of their own doing. When even the left wing press turns you know the game is up

I think he'll stay until the May elections. After that, I can't see how he'll survive.

I think he’s going to limp on until after the May elections and give the next person a clean slate.
If they want him out something will on the trial next week of the three Ukrainian men who come to trial next week.

What's this about the Ukrainian men @PeachOctopus ?

I'm sure it will get worse for him after the elections. Unless they go better than expected. There's no obvious other leader and even more fighting and divisions and uncertainty wouldn't be good for us as a country right now.

I remember thinking that Theresa May was intolerable and had to go and then we ended up with Boris Johnson. No guarantee the next PM will be any better, and they could be horrendously worse so it’s not something I’m going to cheer on.

I completely agree. As much as I don’t rate him, he’s stable and has a stable team around him. The country needs that. The back benchers are challenging unpopular policies and succeeding in firing u-turns. Yes it shouldn’t need to happen like that but I’m just grateful there was a u-turn on the winter fuel allowance. I hate how toxic and divisive politics is right now. Changing PM will further fuel this.

Do PMs ever resign because they've had a disastrous set of council election results? I thought they just said something about understanding people's dissatisfaction because times are tough, but they are working to turn things around.

I don't think Starmer should go yet as he's more sensible and stable than many of the alternatives. But I don't admire his approach to dealing with scandals i.e. grab a hapless colleague and chuck him or her under the bus.

This!

What's this about the Ukrainian men @PeachOctopus ?

Right wing conspiracy theory.