How does Kier Starmer do it?!

[sausageupanalley]

I am a similar age to him and am constantly knackered and am just utterly impressed by how the politicians such as Kier Starmer do it?!

Just looking at his last few days, on Weds/Thurs he flew to America and back for possibly one of the most important meetings there has been for the UK in a very long time. Then he flies back and meets Zelensky on Saturday which after what happened in the oval office was also an unbelievably diplomatically sensitive meeting. Then today he's just been on the Laura Kunsberg show and has left and is about to go and meet/host a meeting for European leaders!
He must be having to hold all sorts of other high level diplomatic discussions in between as well as keeping up to date on other briefings and then not to mention getting some sleep, if possible with all that going on and trying to see his family too. I have so much respect for it as it must be unbelievably stressful and tiring. I know your legacy would be part of history but they don't get paid that much, just wondering how on earth they do it!

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Having been a FT working mum in a very demanding role with a DH that travelled overseas for extended periods, I'm used to being incredibly busy, but it's laughable to suggest that it's comparable to juggling what the PM has to juggle.

Yes, he no doubt has the practical aspects of his life taken care of, but do you not think that running a country and navigating your way through an international crisis might be a tad more demanding than making sure you've done the online shop and that your dc have clean clothes for school? FFS!

No caring duties and everything done for him. He’s not up all night looking after kids, seniors, others needing 24/7 care. He doesn’t have to shop, cook, clear up, drive his family around etc. He has enough cash to not be living day to day. His travel is all organised with comfort - he’s not in a queue for hours, he can sleep on the plane. All the luxuries that give him time and energy.

Most of them just look a bit older

Absolutely hate to say it because I admire him greatly and hated to see him treated as he was but I couldn’t help but wonder if VZ was on something. I watched it back and he is doing a lot of sniffing up and did seem a little hyper 😬

What?!
I think his facial ticks were probably in response to the situation that he was in. English is his 3rd language. He was ambushed by arrogant bullies, in front of the world's media.

I've heard political journalists explain that all PMs do more in a day than the rest of us accomplish in a week. This is why they need helicopters.

I’ve heard that too. And that the press pack is utterly exhausted just trying to keep up.

Zelensky being a coke head is one of the slurs flung around by Putin fans. You'll be on about Florida mansions next.

Exactly. Whether you like them or not, whether you voted for that party or not, the job takes its toll on them.

Don’t be ridiculous.

'English is his third language. He was ambushed by arrogant bullies........'

I thought that the 'playing your cards' idiom was probably confusing for him.

I also thought 'What a pair of shit-heaps.'

No, this isn't a deeply intellectual post.

Sniffing or other repetitive actions are common in stressful situations, as are rapid/tense movements.

lol at comparing the PM's absence of housekeeping/parenting mental load as equal to the mental load of the future of Europe's military security and the UK's trade relations with the US post-Brexit 😂. I'd be quite happy to sort out his washing and grocery shopping if he can sort out my DC not being conscripted and a brighter economic future for us all 👍🏼

In reply to OP's question, I think like many of us at times in our lives when you wonder how much more you can take, you just do it when you have no choice. It's adrenaline, absolute discipline with time management, a solid support structure at work and at home. I think that can sustain a person for months at a time. Having a positive press and knowing the nation is largely behind you probably means not just one less fire to fight but also a better disposition and swimming with the tide rather than against. Helps conserve energy for the battles that truly matter ie Trump.

We were just saying watching him on the BBC this morning how glad we are that he's PM at the moment and not any of the recent numpties! (Even my mum who is a Tory agreed!)

He did look knackered though!

Dear god. Imagine if it was Truss or Johnson, or that fool Cameron.

That's true. Sometimes we sniff to inhale quickly in stressful situations. I think this poster's implications are not well intentioned.

Also, I've no idea what Trump meant by "Biden gave you sheets, I gave you spears" what sheets? I'd be thrown and English is my 1st language!

This is exactly why I much prefer someone “boring” in charge, instead of the clown that was Boris Johnson, who made ALL his decisions based on what would be best for Boris Johnson.

I (unfortunately) have known a lot of coke heads in my time and I really didn't get that vibe at all

It's just an attempt to smear Zelensky.

This. DH and I watched The Darkest Hour last night and I said exactly the same thing about Churchill - yes, it was clearly a stressful and busy time, but he didn't have to do anything other than govern.

Absolutely everything else was taken care of for him.

I want to bring Zelenskyy home with me, let him have a bath and a meal and 12 hours sleep with a cat on his bed then send him out to face the world again....

I was confused by this too. Apparently sheets were actually blankets and things like that. One of Laura Kuenssberg's guests repeated the clean with different language this morning. And spears are javelins which are weapons. Apparently.

Even worse...imagine if it was Farage!

He genuinely believed that the UK would be invaded and that was a very, very dark time. It was very clear what a Nazi invasion would mean. The only person he confided in was the King. That's why he and the Queen slept with loaded pistols.