Keir Starmer Labour Leader

Ibi Dreams

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Sometimes I get excited about the Tories imploding, then I remember this bunch of pricks is the alternative. Grim
 

Bwuk

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If I'm not mistaken, they were fairly pathetic in their stance towards the rail strikes too.
I can't speak for NHS England, but within Scotland if the pay rise doesn't come within NHS Scotland will fall apart. We can't recruit as is - and I think Scotlands NHS wages are slightly better than counterparts in England despite probably lower costs of living.
 

largelyworried

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I can't speak for NHS England, but within Scotland if the pay rise doesn't come within NHS Scotland will fall apart. We can't recruit as is - and I think Scotlands NHS wages are slightly better than counterparts in England despite probably lower costs of living.
To be fair, I don't really see that many options for Labour on the table if/when they take over. Bear in mind that anything less than a 10% payrise is a real terms cut since inflation is so high right now. Borrowing extensively is probably out for a long time due to the Truss debacle. That will significantly limit their ability to invest in things like green infrastructure that would bring down bills and create jobs. A windfall tax only goes so far.

They can and should increase taxes on the rich and honestly may as well just rip up the tax system and start again with a better one that allows more flexibility to tax high earners and also taxes wealth and land not just income. However the cost of living crisis means this will probably have to be offset by taking less tax from lower earners, so this is no panacea.

Unfortunately Labour's only real solution is simply to run the country well for a change, investing in the most pressing areas of need first and growing the economy to the point that more money becomes available to sort all the rest of the problems out in time. This is an exceptionally hard sell, given that many people are so angry right now and just how badly the Tories have starved the country for the last decade. People want immediate solutions to all the big problems, but Im not sure there are any.
 

Sweet Square

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The thing is, the question of cuts versus investment is not even some kind of left-wing idea. There are plenty of orthodox economists and centre-left economists who have explained how and why it can work. If Labour get into power and pursue austerity it will be because of politics, not economics.

Mariana Mazzucato could be a good example of this point of view: https://socialeurope.eu/toward-a-progressive-economic-agenda
Yeah agree with this. The issues for progressives so far has been winning elections and gaining power, the Tories exploding solves this for Starmer. If the cuts come with his government then it’s as you said purely a political choice.

Although on side note, imo the problems would really start if progressive win political office. Their policies while doable for the most part(Although it doesn’t solve the issue of overall declining profits)undermine the current class structures. Which would see them attack by all corners of the economy(What happened with the mini budget, something similar would have happened had Corbyn won the last election)

I was going to highlight this point because I knew it would crop up but couldn't be arsed because I had ice cream at the time... So my counter point is this;
Oh ice cream all year round, sounds like someone is doing well for themselves!


The Tories never stopped Austerity. They used it as a prop to strip national and public services, so they were never going to build it back up no matter how much the economy improved. Labour will have to balance realistic borrowing/spending in an equitable financial situation and improve it when the growth follows, otherwise they'll be fecked (ie they can say goodbye to Union donations like mine).

Starmer isn't the ideal candidate for me - Corbyn always will be. But I appreciate that Starmer is an intelligent, forceful presence in the Labour party who isn't nearly half the cnut he's protrayed to be. Plus if he has people like Cooper and Miliband around him in cabinet roles (and the fecking whip is returned to Corbyn if he wants it - come on, enough is enough) then I'd trust Labour to do their duty to the country more than the insular, silver spooned Tory cnuts who will hopefully be in third place to my trusted SNP party*.
I hope your right and if it the outcome of the next election is the destruction of the Tory party, then that’s something.

Ok I'm done, goodnight. That means you too, Sweet Square. I can't remember if you're from Dunfy or Glasgow but either way you're still a cnut because I'm from the proper East and 'mon Gogsy Brown...
:lol:
 

Sweet Square

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Tbh the chaos with Ed Miliband meme isn’t going to hit the same when it’s the Labour Party cutting benefits.
 

Badunk

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Let's face it, Labour under Starmer are just the compassionate Conservatives that Blair mocked all those years ago. They won't do anything for you but they'll be very sad about it.
 

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They need a Cooper & Rayner ticket to steamroll all the gremlins, up and down the nation.
 

Tibs

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If Rishi wins the race this week, he'll wipe the floor with Starmer.
 

Frosty

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The thing you don't realise is that if there is nothing between the two main parties, then millions will vote for the much needed alternative to this Government.
 

TheLiverBird

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If Rishi wins the race this week, he'll wipe the floor with Starmer.
For Rishi to do that, he’s got a hell of job on his hands

To wipe the floor with Starmer, Rishi would need too get rid of all those at the top in the conservatives, they are all tainted with huge huge amounts of baggage with what theyve done over the last 12 years, even that probably won’t be enough

the lies, the scandal, which all governments of course take part in, but this Tory party have taken it too a hole new level

and I believe the majority, judging by the polls have decided a change is needed, even if Labour aren’t exactly the knight in shiny armour we need and deserve, it’s better than sticking with this Tory Mob that are all over the place

a few years of Boris Johnson, the biggest chopper in parliament….until They replaced him with Truss, they voted for her!!! She came in smashed the place up rocketing interest rates meaning folks who had to remortgage are now on insane rates for years too come, all done within 4 weeks of her Premiership, and now Rishi, who is so far away from being relatable to the British public amongst other things he’s said and done

Rishi wiping the floor with Starmer at the moment is 1 million miles away, and I say that with gritted teeth because Starmer doesn’t shine out too me
 

Maticmaker

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Starmer's making all the right noises about bringing Labour home.... "it's coming home... Labour's coming home" :)
 

RedSky

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Jailing protestors ffs

Unless he commits to getting rid of FPTP voting system, I fail to see how he gets my vote. He’s a Tory.
This is how Tories win every election though. You have left leaning people like yourself (and me in the past) who turn up their noses at voting Labour and spread out the vote gifting the Tories an easy win. At this point, if you really do hate the Tories then we all have to just accept that Starmer is a bit of a twat but still a better twat than the Tory evil despicable cnut twats. I can't stand him myself but will vote for Labour.

A lot of the things he's saying is trying to appeal to Tory fence sitters and sway them to switch their vote. That's my hope anyway.
 

Sweet Square

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This is how Tories win every election though. You have left leaning people like yourself (and me in the past) who turn up their noses at voting Labour and spread out the vote gifting the Tories an easy win. At this point, if you really do hate the Tories then we all have to just accept that Starmer is a bit of a twat but still a better twat than the Tory evil despicable cnut twats. I can't stand him myself but will vote for Labour.
Your post will cause 10 pages of arguing why it's important to vote your beliefs or why it's the job of political parties to win over voter, etc, etc. But the reality is random online left wing people not voting Labour isn't the reason why the Tories have pretty much won every election since 2010. Labour aren't 30+ points ahead in the polls because progressives have decided to accept voting for a right winger, really any unity between left or progressive groups has very little impact on elections results of the Labour party.
 

sun_tzu

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Your post will cause 10 pages of arguing why it's important to vote your beliefs or why it's the job of political parties to win over voter, etc, etc. But the reality is random online left wing people not voting Labour isn't the reason why the Tories have pretty much won every election since 2010. Labour aren't 30+ points ahead in the polls because progressives have decided to accept voting for a right winger, really any unity between left or progressive groups has very little impact on elections results of the Labour party.
True centrists not voting labour was the far bigger issue as there are more people in the centre than on the left so Corbyn was responsible for two of the defeats
 

The Corinthian

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Well, if Keir gets into power, it'll be refreshing criticising a PM for his policies and direction of government only for a change.
 

711

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Wouldn't blocking that road cause big traffic jams which would harm the environment?
The problem is that they are targeting ordinary people, trying to earn a living, on their way to work in schools and hospitals, many with all sorts of problems that need help in their lives not more problems.

Contrast with the suffragettes, now they quite deliberately attacked those in power and with influence, quite different.
 

Smores

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The problem is that they are targeting ordinary people, trying to earn a living, on their way to work in schools and hospitals, many with all sorts of problems that need help in their lives not more problems.

Contrast with the suffragettes, now they quite deliberately attacked those in power and with influence, quite different.
You think the suffragettes never went as far as blocking roads? :lol:

Apart from the obvious they attacked art and disrupted theatre. You don't get change by only annoying those who have the power to just say no and ignore you.

If Starmer was clever he'd just propose charging them with community service and pitch it to right wing idiots as 'let them actually do something useful'. Morons and Guido folk get to feel smug and protesters will be more than happy to do community service.
 
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711

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You think the suffragettes never went as far as blocking roads? :lol:

Apart from the obvious they attacked art and disrupted theatre. You don't get change by only annoying those who have the power to just say no and ignore you.

If Starmer was clever he'd just propose charging them with community service and pitch it to right wing idiots as 'let them actually do something useful'. Morons and Guido folk get to feel smug and protesters will be more than happy to do community service.
I like that idea. Shame about the imbecile smiles, morons and guido shite, whatever that is, but credit to you, community service would be a good move.
 

711

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You think the suffragettes never went as far as blocking roads? :lol:
Just for interest this is something that stuck in my mind, locals say she burned it down the night before the king was due to be there.

“I want to ask Sir William Lever whether he thinks his property on Rivington Pike is more valuable as one of his superfluous homes occasionally to be opened to the people, or as a beacon lighted for King and Country, to see that here are some intolerable grievances for women.”

https://www.rivingtonterracedgardens.org.uk/what-to-see-and-do/the-bungalow/
 

villain

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This is how Tories win every election though. You have left leaning people like yourself (and me in the past) who turn up their noses at voting Labour and spread out the vote gifting the Tories an easy win. At this point, if you really do hate the Tories then we all have to just accept that Starmer is a bit of a twat but still a better twat than the Tory evil despicable cnut twats. I can't stand him myself but will vote for Labour.

A lot of the things he's saying is trying to appeal to Tory fence sitters and sway them to switch their vote. That's my hope anyway.
Right now he's admitted that "tough choices" (austerity) will have to be made on the economy, his immigration policy isn't much different to the Tories and he's in favour of locking people up for longer periods of time, for protesting completely unprovoked.
Add onto the Al Jazeera investigation that found anti-blackness & Islamaphobia within the Labour party: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022...-discrimination-and-racism-in-uk-labour-party

Why would that appeal to someone like me, who is anti-austerity, anti-xenophobic & eugenic-based immigration, loves a protest - and is a black woman?

Like I said, the only saving grace I can see right now is if he actually endorses alternate voting systems that would ensure the Tories don't win future elections.
Without that, I'm struggling to see why I should vote for him.
 

Offsideagain

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Ah the multi millionaire Socialist Sir Kier Starmer that can’t give a description of a woman or endorse Eddie Izzard standing as a woman in as a Labour candidate. His head will fall off one day when he speaking and pecking like a chicken. He had the opportunity to absolutely demolish Sunak at PMQ but failed to deliver a killer blow. Richard Burgon the droning Leftie is a millionaire as I guess a few of the Labour bunch are but bang on about ‘taxing the rich’ to pay for everything. That won’t raise the £30bn we need just to balance the books. Everybody will have to contribute is we are to pay public sector workers what they are worth. The NHS is a money pit. £60m spent on translators last year. £60,000,000.00 folks. £7,000,000.00 a day keeping illegal migrants feed and warm in Hotels. We are being taken for fools as usual, the Woke brigade are costing us billions.
 

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Ah the multi millionaire Socialist Sir Kier Starmer that can’t give a description of a woman or endorse Eddie Izzard standing as a woman in as a Labour candidate. His head will fall off one day when he speaking and pecking like a chicken. He had the opportunity to absolutely demolish Sunak at PMQ but failed to deliver a killer blow. Richard Burgon the droning Leftie is a millionaire as I guess a few of the Labour bunch are but bang on about ‘taxing the rich’ to pay for everything. That won’t raise the £30bn we need just to balance the books. Everybody will have to contribute is we are to pay public sector workers what they are worth. The NHS is a money pit. £60m spent on translators last year. £60,000,000.00 folks. £7,000,000.00 a day keeping illegal migrants feed and warm in Hotels. We are being taken for fools as usual, the Woke brigade are costing us billions.
I think it's great that someone rich would advocate for themselves being taxed. Shows selflessness.

As for the rest of your post. Hah.