Can Sir Keir Starmer revive the Labour Party? (Vol. 2)

Can Sir Keir Starmer revive the Labour Party? (Vol. 2)

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Discussion

cheesejunkie

4,781 posts

32 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
Wombat3 said:
BigMon said:
Whoever gets elected will probably not make a great deal of difference either way. We are stuck in a general malaise as a nation and I've not seen anyone give concrete ideas about how we get out.
Nail on head & anyone expecting or hoping that any government of any colour is going to dig us out of our hole is in for a long wait and a great deal of disappointment.
Good excuse for not voting Tory.

I don’t agree with the pessimism. I think we need realism.

Any government needs to choose what it prioritises.

We’ve had years of boosterism and underspending on services. All mouth and no trousers.

It can’t continue without revolt. Arguably for some a labour vote is a revolt but that’s a bit silly.

But the days of the tories claiming they’re spending on public services when their users are unable to avail of them seem to have reached a critical mass of bullst detection.

It’s not that they’re unaffordable, it’s that the money goes elsewhere.

AstonZagato

13,378 posts

225 months

Monday 6th May 2024
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hidetheelephants said:
AstonZagato said:
S600BSB said:
But wouldn’t it be so wonderful if they would undo Brexit! Admit the huge mistake , suck it up and make you feel proud to be British again.
I’m no fan of Brexit but that was the result of a democratic vote. Labour lost the Red Wall because it tried to frustrate the will of the British people. So no, it would not be wonderful unless they had another referendum (and I dislike referenda too).

Do the British people have the appetite for another referendum and an outcome that would mean losing the Pound? I’m not sure they do at the moment. Another 10 years maybe.
Why would it need a referendum? A party standing at a GE with it as a manifesto policy is enough. As it is the agreement cobbled together by the feckless Johnson govt is damaging the UK economy and that of Ireland as well, seeking to renegotiate that doesn't mean rejoining the EU.
Technically, you are right. Parliament is sovereign (though not quite so sovereign under the EU). I'm not here to argue for Brexit, far from it. However, it was a referendum that got us here and I believe that it will take a referendum to get us back in. The last time the British public were asked what they wanted, a clear majority wanted to leave. I think you ignore that at your peril. Indeed it led to Johnson getting a huge majority, which went well...

A party getting a majority in parliament do not win a majority of the votes cast (the Tories won a landslide with 43% of the votes in 2019). People vote for other issues in a general election - NHS, tax, benefits, defence, etc. To conflate votes cast on multiple issues as a clear mandate to overthrow a democratic majority decision is a terrible idea, IMHO. Arguably Brexit became an open sore in large part because large swathes of the British public across different political persuasions felt they had never been properly asked (combine that with politicians of every stripe using the EU as a convenient scapegoat and the EU acting in a high-handed manner at times). To unwind it without directly asking the question once more only will seed another possibly larger sore.

Therefore, crazy though it may sound, if one wants to unwind Brexit, one first has to ask the British people to vote solely on that issue.

Randy Winkman

18,945 posts

204 months

Monday 6th May 2024
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MC Bodge said:
turbobloke said:
MC Bodge said:
Braverman appears to be widely regarded as an embarrassing politician with some weird, and very unpleasant, views.
On the BBC, in The Guardian, the Mirror and from social media posts by government detractors, yes, but that's not Mr Mondeo Man or Ms Wolseley Woman. What's widely regarded needs to be something going beyond the right-on echo chamber.

Some people disagree with Braverman's views for sure, that's a different matter and isn't the same as the vilification seen even in this thread. Responding to different viewpoints with intolerance is a curious phenomenon over on the 'tolerant Left' and might just be thst baseless sense of moral superiority shining through.
I'm glad that you are able to speak for men from the 1990s and women from, er, the 1950s?

I would suggest that Nadine Dorries, Priti Patel and Braverman are amongst that rare breed of non-PM (sort of) female politicians that have become known in the mainstream, but not for good reasons.
And they certainly don't exemplify tolerance.

markh1973

2,392 posts

183 months

Monday 6th May 2024
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[redacted]

biggbn

27,174 posts

235 months

Monday 6th May 2024
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Blue62 said:
Sadly in your case it’s a matter of unmitigated bias. Someone mentioned earlier that there’s little to choose between the two main parties when in power and up to 2016 I would agree with that. But if you’re seriously trying to claim that Labour have a monopoly on mismanaging the economy, dodgy honours lists and leaving no money in the pot then you need to educate yourself.

I get you’re in a tribe and appreciate how difficult that must make things for you right now, especially as English doesn’t appear to be your first language, but take a step back and try to see things as others do. The Tories are just as culpable and given they’ve been in power more often and for longer their record is just as woeful, if not more so.
TB always trots out the no money left one, a tradition started many years earlier by Tory treasurer Reggie Maudlin....and then has the gall to talk of tribalists.... I'm no Starmer fan and feel politically homeless but they've never provided a party I feel is deserving of my vote yet, so nae change for me...

Vanden Saab

16,128 posts

89 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
S600BSB said:
Be even more disappointed if they lose Womble! I have said many times on these threads that the sheer scale of the mess the country is in after 14 years of this government means that there is no quick fix - going to take several parliaments and some super difficult decisions. But more of the same incompetence and dishonesty is simply not an option.
Say 14 years?

carlo996

6,815 posts

36 months

Monday 6th May 2024
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bhstewie said:
Never hear a peep from you about the filth on the Abbott or Rayner threads do we Turbo.

Grow a pair and call some of that out and I might have a bit more time for all that word salad about poor misunderstood Braverman.
From your lofty position of chief commentator of politics on a motoring forum? Really rofl

Mr Penguin

3,456 posts

54 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
S600BSB said:
Presumably the LDs will be taking a close look at her constituency? Must be a strong candidate for some election night champagne corks to pop!
A lot of us on the right would be happy to lose a major headache too. Like taking a paracetamol.

hidetheelephants

30,250 posts

208 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
AstonZagato said:
Technically, you are right. Parliament is sovereign (though not quite so sovereign under the EU). I'm not here to argue for Brexit, far from it. However, it was a referendum that got us here and I believe that it will take a referendum to get us back in. The last time the British public were asked what they wanted, a clear majority wanted to leave. I think you ignore that at your peril. Indeed it led to Johnson getting a huge majority, which went well...

A party getting a majority in parliament do not win a majority of the votes cast (the Tories won a landslide with 43% of the votes in 2019). People vote for other issues in a general election - NHS, tax, benefits, defence, etc. To conflate votes cast on multiple issues as a clear mandate to overthrow a democratic majority decision is a terrible idea, IMHO. Arguably Brexit became an open sore in large part because large swathes of the British public across different political persuasions felt they had never been properly asked (combine that with politicians of every stripe using the EU as a convenient scapegoat and the EU acting in a high-handed manner at times). To unwind it without directly asking the question once more only will seed another possibly larger sore.

Therefore, crazy though it may sound, if one wants to unwind Brexit, one first has to ask the British people to vote solely on that issue.
Seeking to renegotiate a stty agreement doesn't mean rejoining the EU so there is no issue.

AstonZagato

13,378 posts

225 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
AstonZagato said:
Technically, you are right. Parliament is sovereign (though not quite so sovereign under the EU). I'm not here to argue for Brexit, far from it. However, it was a referendum that got us here and I believe that it will take a referendum to get us back in. The last time the British public were asked what they wanted, a clear majority wanted to leave. I think you ignore that at your peril. Indeed it led to Johnson getting a huge majority, which went well...

A party getting a majority in parliament do not win a majority of the votes cast (the Tories won a landslide with 43% of the votes in 2019). People vote for other issues in a general election - NHS, tax, benefits, defence, etc. To conflate votes cast on multiple issues as a clear mandate to overthrow a democratic majority decision is a terrible idea, IMHO. Arguably Brexit became an open sore in large part because large swathes of the British public across different political persuasions felt they had never been properly asked (combine that with politicians of every stripe using the EU as a convenient scapegoat and the EU acting in a high-handed manner at times). To unwind it without directly asking the question once more only will seed another possibly larger sore.

Therefore, crazy though it may sound, if one wants to unwind Brexit, one first has to ask the British people to vote solely on that issue.
Seeking to renegotiate a stty agreement doesn't mean rejoining the EU so there is no issue.
I suppose it depends on your definition of ‘undoing Brexit’ (which is to what in SB’s I was replying). If you define it as renegotiating our trade arrangements with the EU, then I’d agree. If it is rejoining the EU (which is what I inferred from SB’s original post) then I’d vehemently disagree as that was the settled will of the British people.

cheesejunkie

4,781 posts

32 months

Monday 6th May 2024
quotequote all
biggbn said:
TB always trots out the no money left one, a tradition started many years earlier by Tory treasurer Reggie Maudlin....and then has the gall to talk of tribalists.... I'm no Starmer fan and feel politically homeless but they've never provided a party I feel is deserving of my vote yet, so nae change for me...
"deserving of my vote" interests me. What would it take and is it a realistic expectation given the current electoral system?

We all hold our noses and vote for the least worst evil sometimes. I've met the odd party zealot but they're a rarity in real life.

I have no problem with tactical voting given the current setup. I live in a so called safe seat with an MP I wouldn't vote for. I want them out. I've preferences for a no hoper. So do I just abstain or do I go to the booth?

I'll go to the booth and vote tactically. I'd recommend everyone goes to the booth no matter how they vote. There's a reason one party brought in voter ID, they don't want everyone to vote.

But I'm interested in your opinion.

JagLover

44,742 posts

250 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
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[redacted]

S600BSB

6,603 posts

121 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
Vanden Saab said:
S600BSB said:
Be even more disappointed if they lose Womble! I have said many times on these threads that the sheer scale of the mess the country is in after 14 years of this government means that there is no quick fix - going to take several parliaments and some super difficult decisions. But more of the same incompetence and dishonesty is simply not an option.
Say 14 years?
Tbh, given the scale of the mess this government is going to leave with public services all broken and the country itself broke, 14 years would be a result. Sooner Labour can get started the better.

turbobloke

111,875 posts

275 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
It's interesting that at this stage with an election imminent, the Tories are still reviving the Labour Party and Starmer is a spectator. Some people make things happen, some watch things happen and others wonder what happened. At least Starmer is still in the middle ground.

President Merkin

4,297 posts

34 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
turbobloke said:
It's interesting that at this stage with an election imminent, the Tories are still reviving the Labour Party and Starmer is a spectator. Some people make things happen, some watch things happen and others wonder what happened. At least Starmer is still in the middle ground.
A wiser take would be never interrupt your enemy when they're making a mistake & the Tories amount to a hill of Mr Beans.

turbobloke

111,875 posts

275 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
Labour with nothing to complain about as the Conservatives do Starmer's job, which with Labour elected wouldn't be available from 2025 on.

768

16,657 posts

111 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
turbobloke said:
Labour with nothing to complain about as the Conservatives do Starmer's job, which with Labour elected wouldn't be available from 2025 on.
The British electorate, claiming to seek sobriety, crosses back over the road to drink in the other pub to double check if that helps this time.

turbobloke

111,875 posts

275 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
'Punish the pub! Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him in!' apologies to WG.

tangerine_sedge

5,748 posts

233 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
quotequote all
768 said:
turbobloke said:
Labour with nothing to complain about as the Conservatives do Starmer's job, which with Labour elected wouldn't be available from 2025 on.
The British electorate, claiming to seek sobriety, crosses back over the road to drink in the other pub to double check if that helps this time.
Well, when one pub has hiked it's prices, short-changed the customers, watered down the beers and let a bunch of NF skinheads drink in the tap room, sensible customers will find an alternative drinking establishment.

beer


edited to add : if this is the Tory fan boy reaction after local elections, I can't wait for the absolute meltdown at the GE. hehe

272BHP

6,262 posts

251 months

Tuesday 7th May 2024
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tangerine_sedge said:
edited to add : if this is the Tory fan boy reaction after local elections, I can't wait for the absolute meltdown at the GE. hehe
Do you know any Tory fan boys?

Most people who vote Conservative, and I include myself only do so whilst holding their nose. Least worst option is always the strategy taken at election time.

We do not see this approach on the other side of the political fence though, it was not too long ago for example that festival crowds were chanting for Corbyn.