Labour can't win

[verdantverdure]

Unless absolutely SHEDLOADS of people who voted Conservative in 2019 vote Labour this time.

That's right, isn't it?

Then you lack reading skills

That doesn’t say it’s authorised, probably because it isn’t…

It isn't.

"The former journalist turned spin doctor Tom Baldwin is at pains to insist this isn’t an authorised biography, but it doesn’t seem entirely unauthorised either"

www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/21/keir-starmer-the-biography-by-tom-baldwin-review-steady-as-he-goes

This is not an “authorised” biography in the usual sense of the word, because the Labour leader has neither handed over boxes of private papers for examination, nor had control over the contents of the book.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/25/keir-starmer-the-biography-tom-baldwin-review-labour-cant-win-to-cant-lose-making-of-a-labour-leader

I'm anticipating Clav declaring she has to go out now...

Well, ok - but you've missed a bit;

This is not an “authorised” biography in the usual sense of the word, because the Labour leader has neither handed over boxes of private papers for examination, nor had control over the contents of the book. What Baldwin has had is the benefit of extensive time with Starmer, his friends and members of his family.

The author himself says it is not an authorised biography.

Anything to say about the bit you missed from the Guardian interview Clavinova?

No - the bit I'm confused about is this;

When I suggest that makes Victoria Jewish, and his children, too, Starmer demurs. “No, no, they’re not Jewish for reasons I won’t bore you with. Bernard’s dad’s family didn’t accept that.

I repeat, Clav. The rest of that part of the article you quoted makes it clear that it his children he is referring to as not being Jewish, not his wife. It says:

The family occasionally attend a liberal synagogue. “Pretty much every week” there’s a challah and they say kiddush with Bernard, or sometimes with Victoria’s sister on Zoom. Their Jewish heritage is important, he says. “And we’re very keen for the children to know about it, to understand it. Half of the family are Jewish, they’re either here or in Israel.” No one was directly affected by 7 October. “Thank God,” he says. But they’ve been affected by the war. “No doubt about that.”

Clav knows very well, she is just being careful

It's not clear about his wife - that's why I'm confused.

This is really grubby and unedifying. I'm not engaging further.

Yes, it’s turned really quite nasty.

The family occasionally attend a liberal synagogue

Previously we were led to believe that the family regularly attended a synagogue and that his children were being brought up in the Jewish faith. It's as though Starmer's Jewish connections were exaggerated when he wanted to distance himself from Corbyn.

Remember during Covid, the Conservatives scheduled 'Wine-time Fridays' between 4pm-7pm, every week, for staff in Number 10.

Speaking on the campaign trail on Tuesday, Starmer said: “They’re just in this negative desperate loop. And it is really desperate. My family’s really important to me as they will be to every single person watching this. And I just think it’s increasing desperation, bordering on hysterical now.”

Remember this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-625467

With Keir Starmer on holiday, Labour treads water on cost of living.

Gordon Brown, Martin Lewis and Ed Davey are the voices being heard, as the opposition is left with the same policy as Sunak.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/10/as-cost-of-living-crisis-hits-politicians-take-a-long-break-to-recharge

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/16/afghanistan-crisis-pm-boris-johnson-ended-summer-holiday

Johnson had gone to Somerset [on Saturday] - having already chaired a Cobra meeting;

Johnson returned from Somerset and chaired his second Cobra meeting on Afghanistan in three days on Sunday afternoon, as well as speaking to Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, and the UN secretary general, António Guterres, about the Taliban takeover.

Is this “discussion” actually achieving anything?

Nah, just filling the thread (and my time waiting for a parcel delivery)

Whatabout Johnson is neverending

I think you need to read up clav. Being Jewish (as I understand it) involves amcestry as well as religion, you cam convert to the religion but only be truly Jewish if your mother is. Its a matrilineal inheritance, unusually.

I think the Starmers want their children to feel connected to their culture. But frankly I wouldn't care if Friday evening was Starmer Pizza Night. Its up to him how he lives his life.

Good point