Olly Robbins has just nuked the premiership of Sir Keir Starmer

[ProudAmberTurtle]

What are the implications of Olly Robbins’s testimony for Starmer?

There was so much in his testimony that was damaging but surely the worst was that:

• He was instructed by No. 10 to find an ambassador's job for Starmer's then director of communications, Matthew Doyle
• He was told not to tell the foreign secretary about this
• Robbins considered leaving his role because this request was so unusual and inappropriate
• Doyle was then suspended from the Labour Party due to his links with a convicted paedophile (not Epstein).

And on Mandelson, he said there was "constant pressure" for him to fast-track the appointment, there was no interest in the vetting from the PM, concerns about the vetting were dismissed by No. 10 and Mandelson had already been given IT access that should only have been granted after the vetting process.

What can Starmer do now? Say Robbins was lying?

It doesn't matter if he stays or goes, whoever replaces him will get the same treatment from you and other posters who don't like Labour

And the media.

It wouldn't surprise me if nobody else in Labour actually wants the job. Even if Burnham somehow managed it, a hint of the onslaught he would face is already being slyly introduced on social media. I have seen it on MN too. It really makes one wonder about things more generally.

Why would you assume I worry about that? I came on this thread to see how Starmer was nuked and noticed the poll posts were a bit one sided.

Trump's Iran war is indeed a far bigger issue.

Labour / Starmer and allies brief against Burnham anyway. Look to the infighting there.

Even if Starmer went and his allies switched to Burnham, the struggle against manipulation in the media/on social media would be just as onerous for Burnham.

Any specifics on who the Labour/Starmer allies are who have briefed against Burnham and on what they have briefed against him?

That’s life. Labour got in off the back of media scrutiny and constant chat against the last gov.

The Tories had 14 years and the RW media only started backing Labour when it became clear that the change was inevitable

Now they seem to be backing Reform.

And that will be a disaster.

If only Labour could introduce state controlled media eh? and have people arrested for expressing ‘incorrect’ views on social media? Then people would realise that Labour are doing a great job,

The disaster is now, it’s here. It’s Labour.

Nothing wrong with media scrutiny. I am all for it. But it is the sly rumour mongering and the pushing of conspiracy theories that is an issue.

What is the conspiracy theory being pushed?

Yes. It takes some effort not to acknowledge that the majority of British media is owned by the right-wing and no surprise that the ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts!’ type media are supporting Farage.

She is pro benefits after her difficult childhood

I have some Voltarol gel to hand if you should need it for that stretch.

Im just pointing out that Starmer is not the most popular leader. Thats all.

She is also pro workers and womens rights

Do you not think it is admirable what she has achieved after her difficult childhood?

You sound a little extreme.

What does that even mean? Most people believe we should have a welfare system in some shape or form.

Labour are getting the same treatment as the last gov from partygate onwards. They benefited from that but so did the media so they won’t stop just because Labour are in.

But in my opinion I see Labour negatively along with most people polled. Why would I pretend otherwise? I think they are a hugely destructive government with hugely destructive policies.

You don’t notice the creep towards censorship and authoritarianism? Its common amongst socialist thinking. Why won’t people just be told what’s good for them?

Despite the Government failing on every metric, introducing highly disproportionate taxes for ideological reasons, lunging from crisis to crisis and constantly getting caught lieing….its because of billionaires and privately owned media that Labour are so despised.

No he isn't and neither is Badenoch, all party leaders have negative ratings

Its quite something though for Badenoch to see her party on just 17% support, 1 point above Labour on 16% (YouGov)

Opinium are even worse for Badenoch, Lab on 22%, Cons on 17%

Given the absolute dogs dinner Labour are in at the moment, it really takes some doing.

This is the trouble with her strategy, by constantly calling for Starmers resignation, she is always reminding the public of how terrible ALL politicians are (given her parties change of ministers and PM's)

Like posters on here, she needs to be more positive, tell us what she would do.... no one likes a Debbie Downer.

A ‘little extreme’…? Eh?

The facts are pretty well evidenced:

• The majority of British media are owned by organisations/individuals with longstanding right-wing political views.
• In the 1930s the Daily Mail infamously published a headline stating ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts!’ - the same Daily Mail who now seem to be supporting Reform.

Now wait until I tell you that the same Lebedev we discussed earlier - the one whose dad was a KGB agent and MI5/MI6 said was a security risk, but Johnson pushed through his Tory peerage anyway - owns The Standard and The Independent.

Despite the Government failing on every metric

pledgeprogress.co.uk/

introducing highly disproportionate taxes for ideological reasons

For example?

lunging from crisis to crisis and constantly getting caught lieing

Did you see the last lot?

Even during partygate, the right wing media defended Johnson. They even had curry gate.

It is almost as if the media is addicted to drama now and that is bad news for all sides.

This Mandelson issue is not ranking high amongst the public.

On the other hand, Reform is getting an easy ride from the majority of news outlets