[Politics] Sir Keir Starmer’s route to Number 10

[Bob!]

Indeed. This country is not mentally prepared for coalition government, and rather than generate a happy middle, with sensible concensus, with PR we'd end up with the tories in coalition with the Ulster Pope-burners and the latest incarnation of UKip, with Farage busking his way through a ministerial job. A bit like Israel. Or with Labour held to ransom and led to ruin by the SWP with Gorgeous George as minister for Islamic affairs. With a new 'popular' constitution. Like Venezuela.

f*** that.

Or more likely Labour as either a Majority Govt, or in coalition with a combination of some or all of Plaid / SNP / Green / Lib Dem.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Or more likely Labour as either a Majority Govt, or in coalition with a combination of some or all of Plaid / SNP / Green / Lib Dem.

You're really selling it to us.

On the subject of the SNP, politics in this country might be quite different if they'd won a vaguely proportional number of seats in the last 3 elections rather than almost all of the Scottish seats in 2015 and 2019.

 

[WATFORD zero]

You're really selling it to us.

On the subject of the SNP, politics in this country might be quite different if they'd won a vaguely proportional number of seats in the last 3 elections rather than almost all of the Scottish seats in 2015 and 2019.

But that is one of the biggest problems with FPTP.

It doesn't reflect the voting intentions of the country and it encourages ridiculous coalitions (Starmer/Corbyn), (Stewart/Sunak) in single parties all in the pursuit of the absolute power FPTP is built to enable. In a sensible mature political climate, both of the only two parties you really get to choose, would consist of a number of different parties

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

But that is one of the many problems with FPTP

You may recall (or might not, I've no particular expectation of anybody reading the shite I post on here and even less of anybody remembering any of it) that I'm in favour of STV (so not PR but a fair step in that direction while avoiding many of the obvious objections).

That doesn't mean I can't say that a coalition made up of a bunch of nationalists isn't exactly appealing.

It's obviously vitally important at this stage that we ignore the fact that there have been lots of elections where FPTP has delivered a government dependent on the DUP, Lib Dems or SNP. FPTP only delivers strong majority governments that GET THINGS DONE. We don't need any of that wishy washy European "discussion" and "compromise" nonsense in our Parliament thank you very much.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Israel, Venezuela ? What a load of old Bolleux, H

Far more likely we would end up with a Government very similar to the all the other European countries that don't have FPTP, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Andorra, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
But our brilliant system gets us the choice of Johnson or Corbyn which brings us to where we are now

I rest my case

That case. Is it made of leatherette? Is that a urine stain on the side? (channeling Red Dwarf there)

Look. We are Great Britain. Not one of those namby-pamby surrender monkey so-called nations on your list. Most of them repeatedly conquered by the Germans, the Russians, the Visigoths, the Vulcans, the Daleks and the English over the centuries. Grateful for a vote, and content with whatever.

This nation is different. We once had the biggest empire known to the universe (except The Borg. Let's forget about The Borg for the moment (looks around furtively, hoping not overheard)) .

We don't do 'pissing about'. Biggest number of seats. Winner. Bosh.

I think you owe me a cup of tea. But we'll leave the knickers aside. Obviously don't leave them aside. That would be off-putting

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

You may recall (or might not, I've no particular expectation of anybody reading the shite I post on here and even less of anybody remembering any of it) that I'm in favour of STV (so not PR but a fair step in that direction while avoiding many of the obvious objections).

That doesn't mean I can't say that a coalition made up of a bunch of nationalists isn't exactly appealing.

It's obviously vitally important at this stage that we ignore the fact that there have been lots of elections where FPTP has delivered a government dependent on the DUP, Lib Dems or SNP. FPTP only delivers strong majority governments that GET THINGS DONE. We don't need any of that wishy washy European "discussion" and "compromise" nonsense in our Parliament thank you very much.

Precisely. f*** me. I don't know what would be worse: turning Belgian, or finding that my neighbours have all turned Belgian. Scenes.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Or more likely Labour as either a Majority Govt, or in coalition with a combination of some or all of Plaid / SNP / Green / Lib Dem.

1. I like it
2. I don't like it. I'm not f***ing eating daffodils. Or deep fried mars bars. Or greens.

(Look, I'm prepared to support any system that delivers me what I want. A labour government. There I said it. PR? Bring it on if it brings me socialism. I'm not proud).

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I have no desire to see Starmer at Number 10. A vacillating impostor with a rictus grin and zero personality. Trouble is, what’s the alternative? I struggle to remember who the LibDem leader is, they’re so anonymous. Same with the Greens. For many of us, there’s no one. In the automation era, maybe that’s Starmer’s destiny — to be our first android PM. But I agree that the US election is far more critical. Whether it’s Trump’s hubris or Biden's senility, we seem doomed to become a victim of one or the other. This is why football has become so important to me. It's an escape from all this shit.

…and the reason we know most of the current government is because of lies, corruption, picking fights and woeful policies. Give me anonymity any day.

 

[Bodian]

The sooner we get away from individuals and personalities the better.

I won't be voting to get 'Starmer In'. I will be voting to ensure that there is a group of level-headed, non venal, relatively honest, competent, non-corrupt people leading our country - instead of the shit-show we have now. Even when Thatcher was in power I hated what she/they did - but I could recognise that she was backed up and surrounded by serious politicians instead of this gimmicky 'personality' cult we (and America) have now.

Blair as well - he wouldn't have done it on his own. Without Brown and others, they wouldn't have lasted just on his 'charisma'.

Let's get back to proper politics and vote for a party to deliver all round - not a person. We are not a presidential set-up here.

 

[Gwylan]

That said, one of those sliding doors moments is what if his brother had been elected instead. Frankly I think David would have got Labour over the line in 2015 and things might have been very different.

I keep seeing this and yet there is no evidence for such a claim.I actually think the reverse, that the defeat would have been much heavier. Labour were hammered in Scotland and took a hit in the north of England, because Labour was seen as both too metropolitan, too pro-Europea and (in Scotland) not left enough, David M would have lost them more seats. The Tories also gained a lot of seats from the LibDems in the west country and rural areas, having David instead of Ed would have made no difference there. Labour did relatively well in London and gained a few seats - that's thanks to a more leftward leaning electorate. David may have made a difference in the home counties but Ed's environmental concerns would have stood him in good stead,

The most damning evidence against David is that an opinion poll of voters put him way behind Ed as to who the best Labour leader was - Harman, Cooper and Burnham were too great either. It wasn't all good news for Ed though, the clear pacesetter for Labour leader was Alan Johnson. It would probably have been a different story if he'd stood.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Back to square one for the right wing media.

Stories about candidates who criticise Israel then get axed by Starmer are clearly not moving the dial. The non-dom billionaires need another way to gaslight voters because the Tories are still be slaughtered in by electrons. Glorious.

 

[Titanic]

Wellingborough and Kingswood by-elections: Job not done despite huge wins, says Starmer

The Labour leader says voters want change but Rishi Sunak argues his plan is "starting to deliver".

www.bbc.co.uk

John Curtice: By-election results leave Tories with mountain to climb

Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice says the party will be worried by the scale of its defeats by Labour.

www.bbc.co.uk

It will be a coronation.

 

[A1X]

I don’t get it, all week we’ve been hearing about how the Labour Party is now screwed?

 

[Weststander]

The closer it gets to the GE, it's clearer than ever imho that housing and the NHS are the THE biggest issues to resolve.

Housing - literally millions of social sector homes are required. Whilst the next income bracket above that invariably can only see a lifetime of private renting ahead. Not convinced? Listen to the callers on this (fast forward past JO'B if you loath him). includes a couple of callers from Brighton.
https://www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/uk/episodes/BUqBMvfwsTkkdxSMBKvtkhJ3d/

NHS - we were at the RSCH A&E on Monday evening, as ever a warzone everywhere. The elderly and other vulnerable patients waiting in corridors, etc. In addition, mental health services need to be expanded significantly.

I'd love Starmer and Reeves to spell out now, tangibly, how exactly they will change that. To use the US phrase, starting with "the first 100 days".

To me that will be litmus test of their first term, and if they're doing a sound job a second term too.

 

[WATFORD zero]

The closer it gets to the GE, it's clearer than ever imho that housing and the NHS are the THE biggest issues to resolve.

Housing - literally millions of social sector homes are required. Whilst the next income bracket above that invariably can only see a lifetime of private renting ahead. Not convinced? Listen to the callers on this (fast forward past JO'B if you loath him). includes a couple of callers from Brighton.
https://www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/uk/episodes/BUqBMvfwsTkkdxSMBKvtkhJ3d/

NHS - we were at the RSCH A&E on Monday evening, as ever a warzone everywhere. The elderly and other vulnerable patients waiting in corridors, etc. In addition, mental health services need to be expanded significantly.

I'd love Starmer and Reeves to spell out now, tangibly, how exactly they will change that. To use the US phrase, starting with "the first 100 days".

To me that will be litmus test of their first term, and if they're doing a sound job a second term too.

Agree completely

Unfortunately, in order to do that, whatever else they do, they will need to invest more in housing and the NHS.

They will be unable to do that with the economy as it currently stands and the direction it is currently heading. They'll need to get us out of recession, grow the economy, get inflation down, stop business bleeding out of the city to other financial centres, lessen costs for businesses operating in the UK, find workers for industries that now can't recruit sufficient staff and get them working and paying more tax etc etc.

Now I have an idea of the biggest simplest way to do that but we're only supposed to discuss that on one thread and it's not this one

 

[beorhthelm]

I'd love Starmer and Reeves to spell out now, tangibly, how exactly they will change that. To use the US phrase, starting with "the first 100 days".

To me that will be litmus test of their first term, and if they're doing a sound job a second term too.

if they dont repeal the restrictions on local authority house building, overhaul planning and do something to shake up health in the first 100 days, they wont ever. it'll turn into a series of peicemeal tweeks that go nowhere much same as last decade(s). everything else can wait, legislatively.

 

[The Clamp]

I fear people are going to expect miracles straight out of the trap.

The Tory’s are salting the ground and are going to leave a heck of a mess for anyone to tidy up.

Patience will be required.

 

[sparkie]

Back to square one for the right wing media.

Stories about candidates who criticise Israel then get axed by Starmer are clearly not moving the dial. The non-dom billionaires need another way to gaslight voters because the Tories are still be slaughtered in by electrons. Glorious.

There's only one game changer left to the Tories now.

A policy to rejoin the Single Market would wrong foot Labour and put the cat amongst the pigeons... Lol.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

There's only one game changer left to the Tories now.

A policy to rejoin the Single Market would wrong foot Labour and put the cat amongst the pigeons... Lol.

I think they're too busy shouting at the London Underground name changes.

 

[Chicken Run]

I fear people are going to expect miracles straight out of the trap.

The Tory’s are salting the ground and are going to leave a heck of a mess for anyone to tidy up.

Patience will be required.

Agreed, probably take more than 10 years