A passive Prime Minister who prefers process over politics.

[TeenagersAngst]

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-news-agents/id1640878689?i=1000755128315

Quite the listen. A worrying review of Keir Starmer’s approach to being to the top man in the job.

Apologies. Correction. Doesn't read novels or history books. He's said it himself. There's a difference between technically reading stuff (like for work) and reading for pleasure (which he doesn't apparently do). That's what I would define as "reading".

I’ve just listened to it. It’s excellent.

The majority of people with busy jobs don’t read for pleasure, they don’t have time.

And? Some people don't enjoy reading fiction, it's hardly a crime. My partner doesn't enjoy fiction at all, but he's a highly intelligent man with a decent job and he reads constantly about stuff that does interest him.

Christ, I love reading fiction but I rarely do since I had a kid (7 years ago), because doing a full time job and bringing up a child and trying to fit in exercise and clubs and my other hobbies doesn't leave a huge amount of free time. I've been trying to read the same book since Christmas.

Im not only referring to fiction though. As the podcast says hes not very well read at all. How else would you learn about the world and history and human nature and relations outside your own circle and bubble? I do think those that don't read put themselves at a disadvantage (I include my own children in this who are transfixed by their phones and seldom read books) and Keir Starmer is Pm. Anyway thats just my own personal view.

But he seems to never have read much. Hes 62. Anyway Winston Churchill seemed to have found time for books. Most PMs do. Its surely must give you an advantage if youve read a bit of history?

Most PMs do.

Do they? Which ones in particular?

The Mandleson thing -he was given the role just as Trump was turning out to be a bullying nutter and who better to cosy up to him than Mandy with his similar sleazy background. And I think at that time the Epstein stuff had sort of slid from view. It’s only since Me Too ,imv, that the public agree dirty old men using 17 year olds for sex is wrong. The Epstein stuff had been ignored largely.

If you don't have a favourite book, it means you have never read about history?

All of them. I can't imagine any good PM would put themsleves forward for the office unless they had some view of history or human nature. Unless they were deluded. To not be able to name a favourite book they enjoyed is extraordinary. Even if you dont have onr favourite most people could name a few that influenced them or sparked their view of the world or politics. You're not Gen Z fixed to your phone. How did you get your left wing views other than just from your own narrow experience (by narrow I mean just from your own life, not being rude).

Are we now really arguing against the need to read? In a Pm?

Hes never read about history. Listen to the podcast.

Guido Fawkes had a go at Starmer for not having a favourite book last year.

According to the authors. Or has Starmer confirmed this?

Well I think his previous job and experience would give him a pretty good view of human nature, history, and the world outside his bubble.

I'm interested in history but rarely read history books. I love books (but don't have a favourite... I have probably 20 favourites), did an Eng Lit degree, my mum was a librarian... but books aren't the only way to learn about the world. Especially nowadays. KS not being widely read is no big deal. He may also, of course, be protecting his private life to some extent, and couldn't be arsed to think up a lie he'd probably forget later. (David Cameron made up the football team he supported and then forgot.)

They cite people who know him. Unlike all of us presumably. His lack of empathy and interest in the lives of others could be partly explained by his lack of imagination due to not reading actually. One explanation anyway.

Well I think his previous job and experience would give him a pretty good view of human nature, history, and the world outside his bubble

Well thats often not true for a start. Even if you wotk as a lawyer in the area of death or human misery it doesnt necessarily give you empathy. In fact empathy might be a disadvantage as you are dealing in facts and likelihood of the success of your case. Your clients end up just being work only which often protects the lawyer's mental health. Not saying KS is like that but just saying his job doesnt necessarily mean he knows about human nature other than in a forensic way.

I find it very difficult to believe he has never read about history during his education and previous career.

He likes reading about football, read Kafka's 'The Trial' and Kelman’s 'a Disaffection' according to previous interviews.

I for one think he’s doing a good job, he’s a listener and willing to make alterations if he’s given reason to. He is doing a great job with trump too, hence why trump doesn’t like him

How did you get your left wing views other than just from your own narrow experience (by narrow I mean just from your own life, not being rude).

You may not mean to be rude but you’re certainly managing it. My views don’t come from reading books, especially fiction. They come from the stories my parents told me about the inequality of society when they were children - my dad’s family were all miners. From an innate hatred of injustice and unearned privilege. From a love of fairness, equal opportunity and a wish to see a society in which all its members thrive. My paternal grandmother was a highly intelligent woman who was passionate about these things, she’d have been a brilliant MP had she been born at another time.

Ok, you are determined to dislike him and think the worst. That's cool. I feel the same about Farage, nothing he did could please me because I loathe him.

I just don't think that not reading books is a fatal flaw in the ability to be a Prime Minister. I do think being highly intelligent and even tempered are useful. And I'm no big fan of Starmer, I think he's doing a decent job (particularly with Trump) but he's also pissed me off a few times.

Yes it is hard to believe. But there we are.

It explains his reliance on procedure to take any decision. However bad the procedure is. Rather than conviction which he doesn't seem to possess.

I don't think that even you believes that he has never read about history, but there we are.

I'm not "determined to dislike him". I dislike him for his actions. I dislike his lies and venal behaviour. I dislike his hypocrisy and sanctimony. I dislike his sexism. I dislike his inability to stand up for what is right for the country. I dislike his claim he "takes responsibility " for things that go wrong but then throws subordinates under the bus rather than resigning himself.

That's just my own view of course and I appreciate 5 or 6 people in the country might love him as PM.

Who knows. But I bet he hasn't. As the podcast about people who actually know him says.

This is like those time wasting posts which insist that the Labour government has 'done nothing' which are simply blinkered rhetoric, show them https://whathaskeirdone.co.uk/results or https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/
and they have no answer because it's facts instead of fiction.

AI gave me this:
Nigel Farage has previously stated he has little time for reading, music, or television due to his political career, telling
The Telegraph in 2015 that he was "saving them up" for when he leaves politics. However, in a 2012 interview, he mentioned liking fiction and referenced liking the style of JM Coetzee, per The Guardian.
The Guardian +1

• Past Reading Preferences: In 2012, Farage listed Crime and Punishment, The Leopard, and Gabriel García Márquez’s Autumn of the Patriarch as favourite novels.
• Hobbies on Hold: In 2015, he noted he was too busy to read, but indicated a desire to read more and attend the theatre once his political career concluded.
• Media Consumption: In that same 2015 interview with The Telegraph, he stated, "I don't listen to music, I don't watch television, I don't read".
• The Guardian +1

Let's kick the shit out of Farage shall we? John Buchan, yeah well, out with flags on flagpole brigade. If I was PM I'd make damn sure I didn't let on what I read.

I know OP, tell us what you do and we can make a big fuss about how unqualified you are? Read fiction, which genre, dates, typical authors, what have you written? You haven't?? Failed.