Keir Starmer's time is up

[Wilf]

TBH I wouldn't be surprised if 'strong action on dog poo' is what emerges when he finally decides he needs a big idea.

Personally, I try to avoid having a 'stance' on dog poo.

 

[two sheds]

Yes now that I no longer have a dog I find the stuff disgusting

 

[Wilf]

So, we've had 2 weeks of Labour leads, leads the tories are entirely responsible for with, I'm guessing, not one ounce of pro-Labour sentiment in there. Labour are ahead for no other reason than they are 'the other party'.

 

[MickiQ]

So, we've had 2 weeks of Labour leads, leads the tories are entirely responsible for with, I'm guessing, not one ounce of pro-Labour sentiment in there. Labour are ahead for no other reason than they are 'the other party'.

In order to have any chance of winning the next election, Labour have to completely re-invent themselves and probably need the LibDems to do the same, All the Tories have to do to increase their chances is get shut of Boris and replace him with someone else. This is the early 1980's all over again, I expect the Tories to be in power until well into the 2030's at least. I'm 65 next year in my more depessing moments it seems to me that there will likely be a Tory government for the rest of my life.

 

[Wilf]

In order to have any chance of winning the next election, Labour have to completely re-invent themselves and probably need the LibDems to do the same, All the Tories have to do to increase their chances is get shut of Boris and replace him with someone else. This is the early 1980's all over again, I expect the Tories to be in power until well into the 2030's at least. I'm 65 next year in my more depessing moments it seems to me that there will likely be a Tory government for the rest of my life.

Certainly some parallels to the early 80s, though Starmer is neither loved nor hated, just inert (so I'm not sure which party leader, Lab or Con, he resembles from recent decades). But Labour's bigger problem is they don't have a political 'project'. Their recent history and emergence from the Corbyn/Momentum era means that at the very time a confident, social democratic, redistributionist model is the one thing that would work, it's the very thing they won't promote.

But yeah, I'm 60 and I'm not convinced I'll see another Labour government. Having said that, whilst I'm absolutely confident we won't see Labour in power before 2029, it's not a good idea to even do guestimates beyond that.

 

[brogdale]

Certainly some parallels to the early 80s, though Starmer is neither loved nor hated, just inert (so I'm not sure which party leader, Lab or Con, he resembles from recent decades). But Labour's bigger problem is they don't have a political 'project'. Their recent history and emergence from the Corbyn/Momentum era means that at the very time a confident, social democratic, redistributionist model is the one thing that would work, it's the very thing they won't promote.

But yeah, I'm 60 and I'm not convinced I'll see another Labour government. Having said that, whilst I'm absolutely confident we won't see Labour in power before 2029, it's not a good idea to even do guestimates beyond that.

Looks like Starmer is pinning his hopes on leading some sort of "progressive rainbow alliance" government.

 

[Wilf]

Looks like Starmer is pinning his hopes on leading some sort of "progressive rainbow alliance" government.

What worries me is that there's now just about no conceivable scenario under which kieth gets replaced before 2024. Even the proverbial going under a bus wouldn't make much difference as he has about the same political impact, even now, as someone flattened by a Routemaster.

 

[brogdale]

Despite obviously being influenced by seasonal goodwill, Tom makes an astute political point:

 

[two sheds]

Incisive piece by Polly "he's got one last chance" Toynbee I felt (sorry I've not read it, just commenting on the headline)

Starmer has scotched Labour’s negatives, now bring on the positives | Polly Toynbee

With the opposition leader ahead in the polls, it’s mission half-accomplished, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

www.theguardian.com

by "scotched Labour's negatives" I presume she actually means any semblance of left-wing democratic socialist policies.

 

[elbows]

By positives she probably means positive coronavirus tests due to Labours feeble pandemic stance.

 

[two sheds]

I note you didn't read it either

 

[tommers]

I read it. I wouldn't.

 

[tommers]

Actually can't even remember what it said.

 

[Sue]

Actually can't even remember what it said.

I haven't read it but I reckon a progressive alliance with the Lib Dems is the way forward

 

[two sheds]

And that it's Labour's last chance.

 

[MickiQ]

I read it, to describe it as a triumph of blind optimism over cold hard reality is being generous.
As others have mentioned any Labour gains are entirely due to people finally starting to rumble Boris for the useless fuckwit that he is. Kicking him out and replacing him with someone else (probably Sunak) and their poll numbers will soar again.

 

[Chilli.s]

The country needs a few years of non tory coalitions. hopefully after a while having to agree with other people to get stuff done people will see things a bit less them and us and a bit more we.

 

[TopCat]

I haven't read it but I reckon a progressive alliance with the Lib Dems is the way forward

Like the tories but with no racism and that?

 

[TopCat]

The country needs a few years of non tory coalitions. hopefully after a while having to agree with other people to get stuff done people will see things a bit less them and us and a bit more we.

Hohoho!

 

[Sue]

Like the tories but with no racism and that?

Like the SDP

 

[TopCat]

Like the SDP

Exactly

 

[steeplejack]

He looks like he's apologising for a damp and eggy fart without actually mentioning it

 

[two sheds]

The woman next to him is withstanding it stoically

 

[Dom Traynor]

Like the tories but with no racism and that?

No just a softer kinder racism

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Flowery woman may not have got the memo on the dress code for Starmer's new top team, but the writing is very much on the wall

 

[Sue]

Flowery woman may not have got the memo on the dress code for Starmer's new top team, but the writing is very much on the wall

Navy blue kind of sums the whole thing up.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I read it, to describe it as a triumph of blind optimism over cold hard reality is being generous.

The weird thing about Toynbee's mad optimism is that it's with such an incredibly mediocre end in mind. I mean if you're going down that route surely you can come up with better than a nicer haircut and competent management as the fruits of the promised land.

 

[SpookyFrank]

The weird thing about Toynbee's mad optimism is that it's with such an incredibly mediocre end in mind. I mean if you're going down that route surely you can come up with better than a nicer haircut and competent management as the fruits of the promised land.

Remember these are the opinions of someone who is doing just fine for themselves as it is. Someone for whom the current tory misrule is only a problem for aesthetic reasons and does not represent an existential threat in the same way it does to so many people.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Toynbee is full of shit.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Looks like Starmer is pinning his hopes on leading some sort of "progressive rainbow alliance" government.