Quote Originally Posted by Geoff Parkstone View Post
Its interesting to see the Starmer / Labour voters gleefully mocking Refrom for only finishing second yet seemingly unconcerned that they themselves lost about half of their own vote and finished third, losing a seat that had been staunchly labour for 100 years or more.

They should be concerned about their own performance and particularly the popularity of their own leadership rather than rejoicing in the failure of one party who currently have but a few MPs despite their recent naming of a "shadow cabinet".

As is probably vaguely known to some here I'm no fan of Starmer and once again here we see his ability to alienate both left and right. To come third to two parties with a collective handful of standing MPs in a staunch labour consituency surely must be another nail in his personal coffin - the party may have a substantial parliamentary majority but must take note of what the ;ocal electorate think of the performance of "top management". Its clearly not all about immigration (which a large Reform win would have suggested) but its a disaffection with hapless leadership. To use an rA favoured phrase their reaction is all about deflection by labour

Now despite all that I dont think it would be good for the country if KS were to stand down at this point - this may lead to another Truss type moment which cost the country dear. Labour strategy must be to drift left to seek to recover support back from the green protest vote: its not going to drift right to gain some of the reform support. Can Starmer manage that? Its a conflict for sure - the party may need a left drift but Im not sure that the country do: but will the party come first?
Have they been gleefully mocking? I thought they’d been berating Starmer and it’s been staunchly Labour for 95 years.

Of course Labour should be concerned, but you have to see it in the context of RUK seeing themselves as the next ‘big thing’ when actually the new girl on the block has thrashed them so that they actually won less than 29% of the vote, albeit probably with the help of tactical voting.

I don’t recall ever using the phrase ‘defection by Labour’, but while I personally may welcome a realistic shift to the left, Starmer has to try and balance things in the interest of, eventually, having a broader appeal at the next election.