O/T:- The CV19 Legacy

[navypie]

Unfortunately I'm paid in Florist tickets so I can only spend my earnings in the smallest room.

Now that is unfortunate.

[SwalePie]

Now that is unfortunate.

Oh it's not so bad. At least I get a regular sing song. 'Always sit on the red side of the Trent etc., etc.' I think that's the lyric anyway.

[jackal2]

I am not affiliated to any party I tend to vote for the party I feel is best of a bad bunch at the time. I agree with you about Johnson and co and Corbyn etc. that is why I didn't vote in the last election no one was worth my vote imo. But I am not in the anti everything camp because I don't like a particular government.
I must admit I have been impressed with Starmer at present, he seems to be saying all the right things, only time will tell. Mind you my old dad would be turning in his grave if he knew the Labour leader was a lawyer and with a title also.

Aside from any connotations people read into his title and legal background, Keir Starmer's dilemma is that the more he seeks to present himself as constructive and moderate to appeal to floating voters such as yourself, the more he will antagonise the hard-line element of Labour's support.

For example, the other day Starmer tweeted regarding the COVID-19 response: 'We want to support the Government to get this right and that is why we need a national consensus on what happens next'.

On face value this is a constructive sentiment (albeit obviously designed to suit Labour's agenda) but many of the responses to that Tweet were extraordinarily hostile, and it wasn't particularly from Tories. The most venomous and numerous attacks came from the Corbynista element accusing him of being a Tory in disguise. One poster suggested his Tweet should have finished after the first six words!

When you look back at the early days of Tony Blair it's amazing that he somehow managed to keep a good portion of the Left on board whilst moving the Labour Party so far to the right, but that consensus broke down with the Iraq War, and the venom of Left-wingers who felt betrayed from those days is still directed today at any Labour politician seen as 'Blairite' or 'moderate'.

Labour's problem is that the hardline socialists in the party are not numerous enough on their own to win General Elections, but they remain a significant portion of Labour's core support and tend to be some of their most vocal and energetic campaigners. It would be difficult if not impossible for Starmer to win an election without their support, but I don't think the Left will ever again be hoodwinked into compliance or relative silence like they were in the early Blair years.

[BigFatPie]

Aside from any connotations people read into his title and legal background, Keir Starmer's dilemma is that the more he seeks to present himself as constructive and moderate to appeal to floating voters such as yourself, the more he will antagonise the hard-line element of Labour's support.

The far left are a noisy but relatively small and getting smaller part of the Labour Party. I know people who’ve quit the party because Starmer won the leadership. Corbyn getting the leadership was the result of an odd set of circumstances and hopefully never to be repeated.

Anyone with even half a brain knows to get into government Labour need to appeal to people who sometimes vote Liberal and Tory. Anyone who saw his quiet but precise dismantling of Johnson’s bluster today should be impressed.

[Elite_Pie]

For example, the other day Starmer tweeted regarding the COVID-19 response: 'We want to support the Government to get this right and that is why we need a national consensus on what happens next'.

On face value this is a constructive sentiment (albeit obviously designed to suit Labour's agenda) but many of the responses to that Tweet were extraordinarily hostile, and it wasn't particularly from Tories. The most venomous and numerous attacks came from the Corbynista element accusing him of being a Tory in disguise.

I see that as a good thing. The sooner the hard left element of the Labour party either resign or get kicked out the better. I've said it before, if Momentum want to pursue their extreme agenda they should do so as the Momentum party and not pollute the Labour party. Regarding Starmer, he has to perform a difficult balancing act at the current time. He needs to attack the numerous government failings, but without appearing to be point scoring or damaging the national interest.

I think he's done a reasonable job of it so far, but so he should against such weak opposition.

[jackal2]

I keep hearing these standard lines (from the Guardianista set) about 'bluster' and 'weak government', but then I look at the latest poll of polls which puts the Conservatives on 51%, seven points higher than when they won the General Election, while Labour are flat-lining around 32%.

If that's the outcome with the Government 'performing weakly'. while Labour is enjoying its 'new leader bounce' and seeking to exploit the current crisis, I think the Conservatives will be fairly happy with such 'failure'.

[BigFatPie]

I keep hearing these standard lines (from the Guardianista set) about 'bluster' and 'weak government', but then I look at the latest poll of polls which puts the Conservatives on 51%, seven points higher than when they won the General Election, while Labour are flat-lining around 32%.

If that's the outcome with the Government 'performing weakly'. while Labour is enjoying its 'new leader bounce' and seeking to exploit the current crisis, I think the Conservatives will be fairly happy with such 'failure'.

Oh right, opinion polls, ok. The Tories are good at lying, but as you’ve admitted, you don’t mind being lied to. Unfortunately that doesn’t often translate into being any good at government. Which results in people dying.

But yeah. Doing well at opinion polls. Well done them.

[legs77]

Never believe the polls they aren't always accurate see Brexit that thing nobody talks about now !

Being serious the government have done a terrible job and everyone knows it to say we are one of the richest countries in the world we have acted like a third world nation in planning, direction and PPE.

Boris Johnson can hide his mistakes to the public with his jokey nature how he is so popular is beyond me the bloke stated to the whole nation "I shook hands with covid patients today" whilst one of the medical advisors just looked down at the floor.

Only two who come away with clarity are Rushi & Gove who for all the stick he gets seems to know what he is talking about instead they seem to like wheeling out Hancock who is a horror show.

As for Starmer he seems ok he is saying the right things but at the minute he has to work with Boris for the good of the country the time for arguements are best saved for another day.

[jackal2]

Never believe the polls they aren't always accurate see Brexit that thing nobody talks about now !

Being serious the government have done a terrible job and everyone knows it to say we are one of the richest countries in the world we have acted like a third world nation in planning, direction and PPE.

Well, it's true that polls aren't always accurate, but that would be one hell of a margin of error the Labour Party are counting on. Even if you knock 10% off the Government's score, it still suggests 40% of those polled are either happy with the Government's handling of the crisis, or at least understand the difficulties it presents and do not necessarily blame the Government.

A poll by Sky News and YouGov a couple of weeks ago suggest that the public's greatest distrust is of TV journalists and the newspapers:

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-poll-11977655

[legs77]

If an election was held tomorrow then its clear The Tories would win I agree.

Whoever was in charge covid would still have killed thousands but we defo didnt close up quick enough you could argue when we did close the horse had already bolted.

None of us are experts on this and looking at China/Italy we had a 2-3 week headstart on strategy its too late moaning now the damage is done the real villians in this are China.