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!

Well, watching the scenes of demonstrators against Vance when he arrived at the ski resort, he’s not having as much of a break as he thought he would.

I know! I wasn’t even slagging him off and in his position I’d do whatever got me through. It was merely an observation and idle wondering. I bloody love the guy.

You were idly wondering if Zekensky was drugged up at his Oval Office meeting? Really?
Just a random thought?

OP I think this everyday,, totally agree

Yes, I read this afternoon, on BBC text, that there have been some demos in the USA. Not huge, I expect, but quite nice to know that JDV had to shift resort. I've got to a point where I don't know if I can trust anything anyone says/reports, but if you've seen it on a screen and it didn't look staged, I'll believe it. 😀

I know - plucking up the energy to make a Dahl!

I think you are kind of right. My late husband had a high powered high pressure job that wasn't political. He was open about loving the job and what he achieved globally (international company) and could do the back to back meetings and flights, get off planes and go straight into negotiations....go for days on very little sleep and so on. He didn't love the jetting and the hotels but yes the big decisions and achievements, the satisfaction of a huge job done well against huge risks, absolutely.

It makes me remember Jacinta Ahearn as well. She famously stood down partly because of the pressures of the job and the conflict with raising a family and fair play to her.
The last couple of weeks in Europe have been something else though, unprecedented other than the run up to the other 2 World Wars unfortunately, but I do feel quite calm that we have Kier at the helm I have to say.

Me too. I'm just so glad it wasn't any of his predecessors since 2010.

Jacinda Ardern, sorry

I'm fucking impressed with our Prime Minister.. an actual grown adult human being in charge.. AT LAST !!

His emphatic support for Ukraine after the meeting was very impressive in both content and delivery. A coalition of the willing is a very diplomatic way of describing things.

I didn’t vote Labour but I’ve been really impressed by him in the last week. I can’t think of any of our other (many) recent PMs that could pull off this v tricky balancing act

Who is VZ?

Vlodomir Zelensky (sp?)

He’s had at least two holidays since the election that I know of. Sensibly he goes under the radar.

I’m very impressed with him.

He cancelled his holiday in the summer because of the riots and he didn't get much of a Christmas holiday because his brother died, so I hope he can have a break before too long, but this Ukrainian situation may preclude that.

"I expect somewhere he misses doing everyday stuff. Some of it anyway.
He wanted the job! "

I guess the thought that it's a temporary job, which brings lifetime financial security helps. Liz did it for a few days and now gets £125 every year...

I like KS, voted for him too. He's my type of person. I detested BJ.

So all they do really is sit down, walk, talk, work on a desk and keep straight face when they talk. They could be feelings hundreds of shitty emotions on the inside.

Agree to this. Not English and not voting but it is reassuring watching him talk

Yes, I agree. I always think it’s very interesting (and scary) to see how much our previous PMs have visibly aged during their time in the role. The stress definitely accelerates the ageing process!

I would absolutely hate to be the PM and have respect for anyone willing to do it, whether or not I agree with their politics.

I could never be even a backbench MP - I get paid more and my job is about a tenth of the hassle and stress.

This is all so true. I'm knackered just working from home and I'm really lazy doing that. I cannot imagine even doing one week in one of these politician's jobs. They should be advertising multi-vitamins.

They live for the thrill of being in the public eye and making big decisions. Also - all first class, the best of everything, and not a domestic worry to enter their heads. Lots of high powered lawyers/business people are the same. Nothing compared to 'our' lives at all.

Enjoying the adrenalin and dopamine hits is completely different to the physical and mental toll it takes on a person.

I've loved my (in the great scheme of things) insignificant jobs. But there comes a time when it doesn't matter how important it is, you aren't sleeping, as at best you're passing out from exhaustion, when you wake you feel as though you haven't slept for a month and your only concern is making it appear that you're fine.