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I wonder whether Starmer has started packing yet? Will things get better under Burnham? No - I think they will get worse until this government is gone. Can’t see useless Reeves surviving though if Burnham gets in unless they need a cleaner!
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Hi Al, trust you and you're are still having a great time in the US!Originally posted by baggieal View Post
As mentioned before, I have some reservations about Burnham myself but Starmer-despite having overseen the turn around in Labour's fortunes at the last election (yes, I know it was also due to the Conservatives own self destruction )-has proven a poor leader. I do actually believe that he has good intentions and is certainly not as self interested as Boris was for example, but aside from some avoidable U-turns and the grave mistake with the 2% NI burden he put on businesses, I don't think that he has done too badly in other areas given the global economic situation and the raft of problems Labour inherited.
The problem for Labour however is as much Starmer's personality failings as a leader as it is their policies. Aside from his lack of judgement ( e.g. Mandelson!) and inability to "read the room" and better listen to others, he lacks the decisiveness and passion needed for the position. Moreover, I'm sure that this has led to many people not really knowing what Labour stand for any more. Burnham will likely possess far better leadership qualities and the manner in which he won the by-election clearly shows, I believe, that he might well be able.to translate that onto the national stage and win over many previous Labour voters who had been seduced by the false promises of Reform/ Restore.
What will be interesting to see is whether Starmer will consider stepping down. I don't think he will. Despite his perceived lack of strength as a leader, I think he firmly believes in the things he is doing and the path he wants to be on and that he will stubbornly want to continue on that road. There may, indeed, be a bit of self interest here in him not wanting to lose his job as PM, but I personally believe that any unwillingness to relinquish the reigns is primarily because he sincerely believes in what he is doing.
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Hi OmegOriginally posted by Omegstrat6 View Post
Here until the end of June. Visited some beautiful places ie Naples and Anna Maria Island where the beaches are stunning and there’s no Brits.
Starmer will not go until he’s dragged out screaming and that’s his narcissist personality. For sure he will be stabbed in the back soon because Burnham who I wouldn’t trust with a barge pole will be secretly plotting now. Labour will never get the majority on their side until they end illegal immigration, hugely cut welfare benefits, and help businesses with investment and growth. They also need to turn upside down the judicial system which is shocking - so many cases of three years imprisonment for throwing bottles at the Police and the same or lesser sentences for violent attacks on innocent girls.
Reform made a huge error in Makerfield by appointing a candidate that had baggage and was thicker than concrete.
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Hi Al-had to Google both those places. Always thought Naples was in Italy but turns out this one is known as the Golf Capital of the World? Don't play the game myself but maybe you might see my mate Donny thereOriginally posted by baggieal View Post
. Anna Maria Island looks pretty stunning but surprised no Brits amongst the tourists. Anyhow, enjoy your last week-though by the time you come back the current heatwave will probably be over and we'll be back to our normal variable British Summer.
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Looks like Starmer may actually be re-considering his position. We will see. Whatever happens, any replacement PM will continue to be under huge financial constraints due to huge national debt and borrowing levels. This means that you cannot please everyone when it comes to budgets/ funding. Burnham has committed to keeping within the fiscal guidelines and not increase borrowing so if his promise to better fund defence, for example, is followed through on, he is going to upset those he takes it from to pay for this. Will it be from the welfare pot though I wonder?
Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to put out the same old clap trap about them being the only party who can properly control our borrowing. Really? The national debt as a percentage of GDP in 2010 was 74%, (it had risen from previously lower percentages as a result of the 2008 financial crash) by 2024 it had risen to over 98%. Obviously, Covid and the war in Ukraine had an impact but even so, that is a massive rise. The current percentage is about the same, though until Trumps little "excursion" into Iran, it had come down to around 95% under Labour. In today's global economy, international events like this do impact on the UK.
The Conservatives (rightly) label Reform's fiscal policies as "fantasy economics", but in truth, ANY party would struggle in today's climate and it is certainly very disingenuous for anyone to say that we should forget all the stuff about Labour's on-going claims around them inheriting a bad situation and it is down to them to fix it. The simple fact is that they did inherit a country in dire economic straits. That, of course, should not prevent criticisms of Labour-and particularly of Starmer and Reeves-for the choices they have made and, after all, they did promise the electorate that they would make things better but the harsh reality is that there are no easy fixes and there are no quick fixes.
Could be an interesting week ahead, though the uncertainty of a leadership battle won't help the markets or, by extension, the country.Comment
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