As the Starmer/ Reeves Dream Team thread was locked, thought I'd start a new one in response to Rowley comment on the Mandelson thread... Interesting, I'm a Labour member, with everything going on at present, Starmer needs a very big rabbit to pull out of the bag. I'm still prepared to give him another couple of years, but then, if Starmer fails to deliver, it will be too late for Labour at the next GE.
Starmer has disappointed no doubt. I listened to Jeremy Hunt on the Andrew Marr show last night, and he was quite magnanimous towards Starmer, saying that he's probably just not considered the level of scrutiny you come under in government as opposed to opposition. I'll give him another couple of years too, barring any disaster in the meantime. As I posted on the other thread, that's partly down to there not being a credible successor waiting in the wings.
For Starmer, I'd say it is already too late. Vast amounts of political capital have been expended on issues which have completely alienated normal, apolitcal people. It is near impossible to get most of that back. He won't fight the next GE as leader IMO, and probably not as an MP. Back to churning the easy money on the Human Rights gravy train for him I imagine.
Hunt can **** off mind. His completely unfunded, unaffordable tax cut just prior to the election is a big contributor to the straitjacket that Labour find themselves in. Granted its primarily of their own making, but Hunt knew that the tax cut was unfunded - and knew that an incoming Labour government's obsession with avoiding tax and spend labels would mean it left them with even less room to manoeuvre. Playing politics with the country - just as they did with their deliberate exacerbation of the boats issue.
I never really understood why Labour didn't reverse that on the grounds it was not their policy and it had virtually had no impact at the time
Truth be told, it's because they operate in the society they operate in. The voting public would be led by the nose by the press into hounding them for their spending. I guess the big miscalculation by Starmer et al is that they are just being led by the nose on other issues instead (eg two tier justice) so they might as well have done the one that allowed them to actually generate some funds with which they could make some improvements!
perhaps not giving away billions in freebies would have helped manage the economy like the 22 billion for Miliband's nonsense, 43 billion on the Chagos deal, Perhaps not having half his cabinate piss Trump off after his USA deal which will probably fall through now, giving the EU 12 year free fishing deal at cost to our Fishermen, Pissing off the Farmers didn't help neither did Pissing the pensioner off as well only to have to reinstall it. Armed forces recruitment decimated due to silly decisions. Yes on reflection all down to himself and silly choices, Mind Rachel from accounts didn't help, did no one check her lies on her CV
the 2 massive pay settlements to the unions without anything in return was really stupid now the wolves are at the door again for more
Latest opinion poll The only way Labour win the next election is if Reform completely fook up. There’s a decent enough chance of that happening, though. They’re hardly a party of professionals.
Hunt was indeed useless as most chancellors have been for too long. But by a gazillion miles, the biggest drag anchor on the economy is the £450bn borrowed and spent on letting people stay at home on and off for about a year overall. Plus the £60bn+ on fuel subsidies after Putin's war caused the massive hike in gas prices. No one demurred at this spending at the time. In fact Starmer wanted more of it. He called, in the HOC, for more lockdowns, longer lockdowns, earlier lockdowns and stricter lockdowns. He also wanted greater subsidy of fuel prices. Odd that this is never mentioned. It is this gigantic debt that weighs the economy down. Last year, UK PLC borrowed just over £150bn. Over £100bn of that borrowing was to meet interest payments on previous debts issued. Anyone can see that this is an untenable situation. The UK cannot tax it's way out of this position, just as you cannot borrow your way out of debt. Spending has to be brought under control. The bills are coming in for excessive government spending over the last twenty five years or so. That's the problem, and it won't go away.
[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-ne...LiOGDEJgqZG0MGB55n_aem_QHtaSQZXwHsLp1n--AX6-Q I trust this absolute shyster even less than Boris
Labour MP Clive Lewis has said Sir Keir Starmer "doesn't seem up to the job" as anger grows over Peter Mandelson's appointment as an ambassador and the handling of his sacking. Mandelson was fired over links to convicted *****phile Jeffrey Epstein. The men's friendship had been known about at the time of his appointment but No 10 said new information about their relationship only came to light this week.
I like Clive Lewis. He cuts through a lot of bullshit to do what he thinks is right. For some time I’ve thought Starmer isn’t clear enough or strong enough in his mission not to be owned by advisors.
