[Politics] Keir Starmer getting constantly heckled in his keynote conference speech

[Nobby Cybergoat]

What some appear to overlook is that the "loonies", the "trolls" as some have described them are the ones that keep the party ticking over. It is them out leafletting, canvasing, campaigning etc. The "left" are the foot soldiers of the Labour Party and always have been. Alienating the core support who turn out and work so hard for the party is not a clever move.

With all the issues we have in this country, the fact that Starmer is focussed on a Putinesque purge to rid the party of opposition, through an undemocratic process, to preserve his position is a travesty. He is not worthy to lead a party that is supposed to represent the interests and concerns of the underprivileged and poor.

It's a totally fair point that Labour can't win without it's footsoldiers

But Labour also can't win with a socialist manifesto. Rightly or not it can't win with a leader who is as susceptible to constant attack as Corbyn was.

Starmer isn't purging. Nobody is being thrown out of the party (who should be in it, a few who have made terrible comments have been).

Labour now needs to present a unified front. It can't be permanently battling itself. Starmer needs to listen to the members and give them some policies they feel like they canvass for in the next election. The members who support Corbyn must recognise that their dream of a socialist government isn't going to happen anytime soon and if they don't get behind the next best option then they'll get another half decade of Johnson, Patel and Rees Mogg

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Funny that elderly people who have witnessed both Labour and Conservative governments over their long lives choose unreservedly to return the Conservatives. Bit of a message there.

Don't generalise. I am elderly and know many pensioners, who think this government are appalling.


As for Brexit, I think it will be small steps. Renegotiate the deal by rejoining the Single Market (introduced by Margaret Thatcher, so must be a good thing, eh?) and cooperate to get the best for this country.
Nobody is advocating ditching the Brexit deal, but it can be changed.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Funny that elderly people who have witnessed both Labour and Conservative governments over their long lives choose unreservedly to return the Conservatives. Bit of a message there.

A recent study shows that 0.34 people per year move from Labour to Conservative. This has been consistent over a long period of time. Priorities and outlook change as you get older I suppose.

I'd sooner die than vote Tory, but maybe the intense bitterness I hold towards them and the sense that they represent everything that I find repellent might mellow at some point. Or maybe not.

 

[zefarelly]

If we got PR you could see the labour and tory parties splitting and like Germany we'd have decades of hung parliaments, but at least we may actually get the proportional representation we deserve and all vote for. both main parties are divided within, labour are just no good at rallying to win an election and give themselves the opportunity to actually carry out any of their plans and ideas.

 

[Uncle C]

Don't generalise. I am elderly and know many pensioners, who think this government are appalling.

Thanks for pointing that out, but I think you are clever enough to understand my point.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

The only Labour MPs with an ounce of common sense are those who most of the Labour Party members don’t want. Labour are on a hiding to nothing all the time the unions hold the purse strings. There are some nasty folk out there.

 

[HH Brighton]

As Benjamin Franklin famously said: "In this world, nothing is certain except death, taxes and the Labour Party finding new ways to implode."

Well it not imploding is it? Its a party conference, not everyone agrees, different factions from all parties disagree. He will need to go through this if he wants to take Labour in a new direction, it will hard for him though. Lets just hope politics in this country can get back to talking about policies rather than listening to endless boring Etonian twaddle coming from the current government.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Don't generalise. I am elderly and know many pensioners, who think this government are appalling.


As for Brexit, I think it will be small steps. Renegotiate the deal by rejoining the Single Market (introduced by Margaret Thatcher, so must be a good thing, eh?) and cooperate to get the best for this country.
Nobody is advocating ditching the Brexit deal, but it can be changed.

Absolutely, I was only pointing out that I have met many elderly people who fit the criteria, but I have met many more that hate this Government and Johnson.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Funny that elderly people who have witnessed both Labour and Conservative governments over their long lives choose unreservedly to return the Conservatives. Bit of a message there.

The message being they’re senile?

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

The only Labour MPs with an ounce of common sense are those who most of the Labour Party members don’t want. Labour are on a hiding to nothing all the time the unions hold the purse strings. There are some nasty folk out there.

You have a point but we have a Government that seems to be in the pocket of billionaires, millionaires, rich company owners, tax exiles and rich friends.

 

[A1X]

If we got PR you could see the labour and tory parties splitting and like Germany we'd have decades of hung parliaments, but at least we may actually get the proportional representation we deserve and all vote for. both main parties are divided within, labour are just no good at rallying to win an election and give themselves the opportunity to actually carry out any of their plans and ideas.

Essentially both Labour and Conservative parties are already in themselves coalitions. There is no way if it were not for FPTP that the likes of Alastair Campbell and John McDonnell would be in the same party, nor would Rory Stewart and Jacob Rees-Mogg. But the fact if they split it'd be electoral suicide they cling together and look for reasons to do so without finding so many they have to split apart.

 

[nicko31]

You have a point but we have a Government that seems to be in the pocket of billionaires, millionaires, rich company owners, tax exiles and rich friends.

And numerous opaquely funded think tanks....

 

[Uncle C]

The message being they’re senile?

Lets examine this shall we.

Old people who blindly vote Tory are senile, but young people including Students who blindly vote Labour are enlightened.

 

[kentgully]

Lets examine this shall we.

Old people who blindly vote Tory are senile, but young people including Students who blindly vote Labour are enlightened.

What's old, 60 + or Biden old ?

 

[Bozza]

Labour now needs to present a unified front.

How are they going to do that when Starmer himself said himself, this very week, that winning an election is more important than party unity?

Now you could say, probably quite legitimately, that winning an election IS more important than party unity.

So the question is whether Labour can win an election when they are unable "to present a unified front".

 

[A1X]

Funny that elderly people who have witnessed both Labour and Conservative governments over their long lives choose unreservedly to return the Conservatives. Bit of a message there.

That people of older generations vote tribally rather than reading what the parties have to offer? Isn't that being quite disrespectful of the older generation?

 

[Bozza]

Lets examine this shall we.

Old people who blindly vote Tory are senile, but young people including Students who blindly vote Labour are enlightened.

I'd not go quite that far.

But we have plenty on here who were cheerleaders for Corbyn who are now cheerleaders for Starmer, despite the fact that they really couldn't be more different.

It's simply the case that as there are those who would vote for the pig with a blue rosette, there are many who'd vote for one with a red rosette.

"Anyone but Labour"

"Anyone but Tory"

It's all a bit dull.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

How are they going to do that when Starmer himself said himself, this very week, that winning an election is more important than party unity?

Now you could say, probably quite legitimately, that winning an election IS more important than party unity.

So the question is whether Labour can win an election when they are unable "to present a unified front".

It's possible and I think it will happen.

When we get to the white heat of a campaign, enough Labour members will read between the lines of what Starmer is saying, think about the alternatives, hold their noses and go and campaign for him.

Of course many never will. But like with Blair before he won, I think perception of party progress is key. If labour members see progress in the polls and the chance to oust the hated tories enough will come into line to make the ones that don't look like an irrelevant fringe.

 

[A1X]

How are they going to do that when Starmer himself said himself, this very week, that winning an election is more important than party unity?

Now you could say, probably quite legitimately, that winning an election IS more important than party unity.

So the question is whether Labour can win an election when they are unable "to present a unified front".

Even Blair never managed party unity, the Corbyn-esque crank gang were still there trying to make trouble for him. But because he was good enough as a leader it didn't matter.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

And numerous opaquely funded think tanks....

Taxpayers Alliance
ERG (any evidence they actually did any research)
The Spartans

to name but a few. All Tory and all publicly funded.