Arrogantly complacent leaflet from Labour written as though Starmer is running for President

[IwantToRetire]

So far I have only had one leaflet re GE. It was from Tory candidate who set out how they thought they could represent the constituency.

But today I got a hand delivered (but addressed to me) a leaflet about voting fot Starmer.

Nothing why I should vote for the Labour candidate.

Nothing about the constituency, nothing about the work the candidate (former MP) has done locally.

Just a long list of Starmer's Labour superiority over the Tories, and how saint Starmer has saved the Labour party.

And then loathsome US style garbage about "service" and country.

It is obviously a standard leaflet that they have just mail merged the candidate's name and constituency name into, although stuck to the safe option of referring to the candidate as they.

Not sure who this is meant to appeal to. Or are they assuming everyone is on social media and geting information elsewhere. Not heard of any hustings.

I had heard that Labour had got trillions more donations than Tories for their election campaign, and cant think why they have used this to churn out such a non credible "why you should vote for me" leafleting.

Not forgetting I dispise him anyway, but genuinely cant think who thought this was a way to encourage people to vote for them.

Vince Cable used to be my MP and periodically we'd get a two page letter telling us how wonderful he was and how much he'd done for the constituency. I didn't vote for him out of sheer irritation at the self-regard of the man.

Well at least he was talking about himself and the what he said he had done for the constituency.

This leaflet had nothing about the area and issue.

Was just about Saint Starmer.

Of course it may be that the Labour candidate is a woman, and Starmer assumes she will need his support to reassure us we should vote for her.

And of course because what we really want is for him to be "Our Leader".

I am convinced the vast majority of people who will vote Labour are doing so to vote the Tories out. It is not that they want KS in power.

Self congratulatory leaflets will only make people feel less inclined to vote for the puffed up person.

Every local election the Lib Dems (in power for the last two elections) write to everyone saying 'Thank you for voting for us.' I just write 'I didn't' and send it back.

That’s not how the Labour leaflets work in my constituency. Where are you? I’ve been campaigning in general elections since forever and Labour don’t send out generic leaflets like the one you describe.

My son got one yesterday.

Inner London. Rock solid labour.

Maybe they (you?) only bother in possible swing constituencies.

But did wonder how this type of leafleting would work with those new to the area. (Quite a lot of incomers, as many former residents being pushed out.)

And also on reflection sad that the former MP has apparently accepted this as the way to reach out to voters.

I thought her better than that.

I’m in SE London and have got a couple of these in the mail too. The MP candidate’s name was there in smaller print, but it was mostly Starmer.

Don't know about them bothering in swing constituencies.

I'm in one. Conservative but might go Labour. No door knockers and so far no leaflets except one from the Conservative candidate. Nothing from Labour, or any of the other party candidates.

Bit pissed off actually. Feels like none of the candidates are that bothered about my constituency. Despite it apparently being a marginal seat this time.

I agree with you btw @IwantToRetire I wouldn't be impressed with the leaflet you had. But then I like to consider voting for a good constituency MP (regardless of their party) because an MP who's there for their local constituents is as important as national party imo (especially valuable, I'd say, in an area like yours where local residents are being forced out).

We are in London and DS got one too (first time voter).

I wonder if you're in my constituency, op. I got the same thing and I'm baffled.

I'm a floating voter and I'd be inclined to vote tory in general [this time I mean - I've previously voted labour] but my Labour mp in my constituency seems really sound and she has done a lot of good work for children and families, which is the main thing i care about. So I'm a bit torn but will try and "vote for the candidate not the party".

Hence my amazement when I got this silly leaflet that, as you say, just mail merged the candidate's name on,but was all about Starmer. Not one word about the MP's great work in the area and on policy. I'm no Starmer fan. So it's gone towards putting me off and I'm undecided all over again.

For the 2 others (or was it 3?) PP who say they or one of their children got a similar leaflet what was their response?

Maybe in fact for newer residents it works. They are more likely to know about Starmer than someone local.

Its just feels like apart from on here (and hysterical reporting on tv news) I feel there is an information vaccuum.

But maybe that's because I am used to something different, and this is an approach that will work with younger voters?

I've probably had about six leaflets from Labour. Several general ones and a couple addressed to me personally from Kier Starmer and from Rachel Reeves. My MP is Tory and Labour look to be the only ones likely to unseat him. I've also had leaflets from Lib Dems, Tories, Greens, SDP and ADF. No door knockers though.

My son dropped it straight in the recycling bin.

Maybe in fact for newer residents it works. They are more likely to know about Starmer than someone local.

But surely that's one of the main reasons for a leaflet? To let the potential voter know about their local candidate (whichever party)?

Lots of MPs are standing down in this election so many people including in constituencies with less transient population won't know their candidates. The leaflets are a chance for candidates to tell voters about themselves and what they'd offer the local community.

My dh said one Labour door knocker did come but he was busy working from home (I was out, either working or with the kids, dh can't remember when).

I'm gutted because I'd have had a useful conversation, as I'm genuinely a floating voter. I wonder if they'll come back.

A woman canvassing on behalf of the Labour candidate knocked on our door in November,nothing since then.

The next time we see anyone will be on polling day when it gets to 8 o'clock at night and they realise we haven't voted.

It'll be the Labour lot wanting to know if we need a lift.

Nothing about the constituency, nothing about the work the candidate (former MP) has done locally.

Just a long list of Starmer's Labour superiority over the Tories, and how saint Starmer has saved the Labour party.

I imagine they have focus groups etc that show that this is what people vote on.

Similarly for the Tories, some leaflets barely mention the word conservative, presumably because they have polling that suggests that that's for the best. Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns had a leaflet without the word conservative on it, and with a prominent picture of bloody Nigel Farage!

Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns had a leaflet without the word conservative on it, and with a prominent picture of bloody Nigel Farage!

Is that because at the time it was printed she thought he was going to join the Tories or some subliminal message to voters that they should really vote Reform?

Sometimes I feel I have very little in common with what is happening IRL .

I had one today. I agree it doesn't come over well. The only other leaflet with such a focus on the party leader rather than the candidate was Reform.

I'm in Wales, which made it even worse as it's so generic it talks about policies that wouldn't apply to Wales (e.g. education, which is devolved).

I got that leaflet today, in a 99% safe Labour seat with a great female MP I really want to vote for. But Starmer's smug face puts me right off!

Most annoying line in the leaflet from Keir: "I know that <insert MP's name here> will stand up for you and for <insert region here>". So generic with no local details, which is a shame as locally my MP is amazing (why she's so popular). If I could vote for her without voting for Starmer I'd be happy. Still not sure what I'll do yet.

What’s wrong with wanting to serve your country? Really.

@MrsSkylerWhite MPs are (supposed to be) servants of the public, true. However they're also meant to serve their local constituents. Stand up for their constituency in parliament and be available for constituents with individual problems or concerns.

Nothing - but this isn't a Presidential election.

This is about reaching out to potential voters to ask them to vote for their local MP, in the first instance.

If they had included something about them being committed to "serving" the community or anything vaguely relating to why I might want candidate mailmerge to be my representative in Parliament.

And even if we had some sort of voting system that meant the Party with the biggest number of individual votes became the Government, some quasi religious type comment, copied from US maudlin nationalistic myth, it would still be fatuous.

We need to know what they can do and what they are committed to, and how they hope to achieve it.

Not some brazen virtue signalling.

Politics in the UK has just become a joke.

Exactly.

Couldn't find the words myself, and actually think it is because I haven't heard this expressed for so long, I could quite drag it out of the recesses of my mind!