Forum Topic

Starmer~ When Will He Resign?

Instead of the wagons circling him, the sharks are circling to attack him.   He will be gone by the end of next week, I reckon he will fall on his sword tomorrow.   What do you think?   Please God his successor isn't the Ginger Chav🙏🏻

Sue Hammond ● 4d51 Comments

Mr Brigo'fact that Johnson and the entire Conservative Cabinet knew what Pincher was like but still went ahead with his appointment says all you need to know about this Government’s standards'Chris Pincher groped two men at London's political Carlton Club.Mandelson is a proven confident of a paedophile and is apparently being investigated for passing details of confidential Government economic policy to him.'oops. Double standards anyone?'Not to you obviously as you seem to see both sets of actions in the same light.As Harry Hill might have said - "paedophilia or homosexual behaviour amongst adult males. Which is worse ?There's only one way to find out - FIGHT".

John Hawkes ● 2d

Ms Grant 'considering the shambles left over from Brexit and the pandemic'Brexit was ten years ago and the pandemic six.True Labour has only had c.2 years to fix the consequences of its political inheritance.It would deserve being shown some leeway for not making any progress if it were not for the fact that it has spent all of its political effort and time in intra-Party argument over policy and careerist ambition.

John Hawkes ● 2d

Mr Ixer'Trump now seems ahain to be endorsing the Chagos Islands deal'Who cares ?Do you recall a programme on TV called 'Family Fortunes' ?If around today and "100 people were asked where are the Chargos Islands and would you want to go there ?" the answer would be "No idea, don't care and anyway I am going to the Canary Islands with Tui"

John Hawkes ● 2d

Ms Grant' Do be careful what you wish for. As a country we desperately need stability.'But do we though ?Perhaps what we really need is a good economic shake up.Tax policies that encourage business investment and hiring and welfare policies that force people to get 'off their arses" and look for paid employment and not depend on handouts based on their claims that 'mental health issues' prevent them working. 

John Hawkes ● 2d

"I say again the fact that Johnson and the entire Conservative Cabinet knew what Pincher was like but still went ahead with his appointment says all you need to know about this Government’s standards"oops. Double standards anyone?

Michael Brigo ● 2d

I agree, Robert.  Reeves is horrific.But what I was trying to say, of the last 8 years or so, labour has been in government for 20% of the time......

Ivonne Holliday ● 3d

Be careful for what you wish for Reeves hasn’t finished her chaotic handling of our finances yet.  We deserve a better standard of Government not this fractured infighting.

Robert Wheeler ● 3d

Hello Robert,I agree with Lucille.  We need stability and we need it desperately.As Lucille said in her message, "the shambles left over from Brexit and the pandemic" are an enormous, if not monumental, mountain to climb. It is funny that you say:  "..I find it amusing they cannot find anyone to take on the role of PM if Starmer steps down who isn’t compromised...".  Somebody like Liz Truss for example?Sadly, this government is far from perfect.  Golly, we have been saying this for the past 8 years at least!!!  Thinking about it...... Hmmmmmm

Ivonne Holliday ● 3d

How long now before the next mistake by Starmer.  Things definitely have not improved if you run a business of any kind or trying to get a job there are no sunlit horizons.  I say again the fact that Starmer and the entire Labour Cabinet knew what Mandelson was like but still went ahead with his appointment says all you need to know about this Government’s standards.Yes we need stability as a country but not at this cost.  Personally I find it amusing they cannot find anyone to take on the role of PM if Starmer steps down who isn’t compromised and they say other parties are suspect.

Robert Wheeler ● 3d

Hallo,MichaaelI think Larry would be "top of my list" for PM!!!!!

carole madeleine tanner ● 3d

Well Sue, considering the shambles left over from Brexit and the pandemic I'd say things have improved, but only minutely so far. We do not need a change of PM at this moment in time, nor a change of Government. Maybe some changes within the Cabinet is in order but nothing else. Stability is paramount imo.

Lucille Grant ● 3d

@LucilleWell the wagons have circled around Starmer at the last moment and he is safe…..for now.  Do you really think the country has experienced any kind of stability since he became PM (almost by default) 18 months ago?

Sue Hammond ● 3d

Yes, I agree; when one looks at the alternatives, Starmer continuing seems to be the least worst. It seems a bit shaky at times but he does seem to have a way of getting along with Trump.Interestingly, Trump now seems ahain to be endorsing the Chagos Islands deal! And, although Trump distanced himself from Epstein, he didn't blow the whistle on what he surely must have known what JE was up to? So, if he can continue, why not Starmer who had no direct contact with Epstein, unlike both Mandelson and Trump? (OK, I know the political dynamics and structures are different in the US but ...)

Michael Ixer ● 3d

I agree with you very much indeed, Lucille.

Ivonne Holliday ● 3d

Let's hope he doesn't Sue. We really don't need the musical chairs we suffered under the Conservatives. I really don't understand the hate whipped up by the media. It's as is they can't wait for Farage' to take over. Do be careful what you wish for. As a country we desperately need stability.

Lucille Grant ● 3d

Back to StarmerHis cabinet meeting is due to start at 6 pm and he’s on his way now.  Let’s hope he announces his resignation!

Sue Hammond ● 3d

I'm pretty sure that Larry has far more voting sense than many who just put their cross in the same place out of the habit of only considering themselves or just because they thought someone promised this or that without actually checking for themselves. I bet he knows where and how to to find his dinner even if he doesn't know exactly where it comes from.

Philippa Bond ● 3d

@RW 14.58Starmer may be ‘in power’ as PM but this power is in name only as he doesn’t have any real power bc most of his backbenchers do not back him.  Remember their collective rebellion over the WFA which forced the first of Starmer’s many u-turns.  They are now covertly conspiring to unseat him because they know that Starmer is so unpopular the Party has no chance of winning the next GE if he remains as PM.  Labour will not win it anyway regardless of who is their Leader but it will not stop the government from playing political musical chairs.  The Ginger Chav is apparently the bookies’ favourite but can you imagine how embarrassing we would look on the world stage with her yelling like a gobby fishwife?  Her crass behaviour is embedded and she will not be able to change her demeanour now, in my opinion.  You can put lipstick on a pig but it’s still a pig.

Sue Hammond ● 3d

Surely, the easiest solution to the PM question is for Larry to select who he wants as his senior member of staff in #10? 🐺

Michael Ixer ● 3d

Shouldn't that be "Peter Mordor-Darkness", Jonathan? :-)

Michael Ixer ● 3d

On the R4 News Quiz prog last Friday there was a great line that Mandelson will be stripped of his title “The Prince of Darkness” and will henceforth be known as Peter Mountbatten-Darkness. Well, I thought it was amusing.

Jonathan Callaway ● 3d

And from BBC's rolling news at 15:45hs:"We have just heard from Labour's ex-deputy leader Angela Rayner, who says Starmer has her "full support".Rayner, who has been touted as a potential successor to the Labour leadership says in a post on X: "I urge all my colleagues to come together, remember our values and put them into practice as a team."The Prime Minister has my full support in leading us to that end.""

Ivonne Holliday ● 3d

Mr Wheeler'Meanwhile in camp Rayner she has had her hair done and a makeover so watch this space. 'Boudica sets forth !As Mrs Thatcher proved, the hairstyle of a female Party leader can be a potent political symbol.And conversely Neil Kinnock's barnet did him no favours !

John Hawkes ● 3d

How can you stick with Starmer as you say “irrespective of the bad Mandelson judgement”.  Starmer was told clearly by his own vetting the issues with Mandelson as was the vast majority of his Cabinet as they are now saying Mandelson shouldn’t have been appointed.  I struggle to find anyone in Starmer’s Cabinet that doesn’t use double standards and is not tainted by personal scandal.Who on earth wants a leader who has shown he cannot lead.  Meanwhile in camp Rayner she has had her hair done and a makeover so watch this space.  Lord help us what a mess.

Robert Wheeler ● 3d

Mr Hawkes. I'm not sure he will be a saviour, but he has cabinet experience under Gordon Brown, seems to be ok as Mayor of Manchester, isn't - as far as I know - tainted with any close association with Mandelson (any candidate is likely to have known Mandelson to some degree?), and hasn't been involved in any personal scandal - financial, sexual, etc - to my knowledge; he also seems to be quite a good speaker and left leaning which might attract many Labour members to him? I guess he's sort of "satisfactory and sufficient ", if not "optimum"? But maybe there's better candidates I'm not aware of. I used him as an example as some seem keen on him and his attempt to get back into parliament was blocked. I think my main point was, if there's no one better to become PM, is it better to stick with Starmer for the time being irrespective of the bad Mandelson judgement? Or do you think Rayner would be better; a LinkedIn in post I saw seemed to show she was a bookies leading candidate ...

Michael Ixer ● 3d

Scots Labour leader 'to call for PM to go' in 2.30pm press conference after ANOTHER No10 chief quitsKeir Starmer faces another huge blow today as he begs for more time in No10 after suffering two major resignations.In a potentially explosive development, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has convened a press conference for 2.30pm. He is set to call for the PM to go over the Mandelson scandal, having already told him to stay away from Scotland because he is politically toxic. Sir Keir told his remaining Downing Street staff this morning that he was determined to 'go forward' after comms chief Tim Allan said he was 'standing down to allow a new No10 team to be built'. The former Tony Blair adviser had only been in the post since September. He had pledged to help Sir Keir 'turn the corner' with a reset but senior Labour sources accused him of being ‘completely useless' and 'embarrassing'.Grim-faced ministers marched into Westminster this morning, maintaining a deafening silence about the premier's prospects of survival. And The PM - who has now lost four communications directors in just 18 months - is holed up in Downing Street with no plans for any public engagements today. Trying to quell speculation Sir Keir could simply walk away from his premiership, the PM's spokesman insisted he is 'upbeat and confident' and 'concentrating on the job in hand'.

Sue Hammond ● 3d

Mr Ainsworth'Are you suggesting that Mandelson was somehow involved with underage girls? Have you seen any suggestions of this? I haven't.'I don't think young girls are his cup of camomile tea.It's just rich paedophiles who are so involved that he seems to have been happy to cuddle up to (figuratively of course). As it is claimed he said in his own defence against accusations of being a friend of the paedophile Epstein, this relationship was not one based on shared sexual proclivities. "Epstein kept me 'separate' from his sexual side because I'm gay, Mandelson tells BBC".

John Hawkes ● 3d

Mr Brigo'I'm not defending Labour but 'worse than the conservatives'? don't make me laugh.'Too true.Labour did not eat cake in the gardens of number 10 during lockdown.However from the Mail Online 5 May 2022 - "Pressure rises for Durham police to probe Sir Keir's curry night after Labour leader CHANGES his story to describe a buffet feast with colleagues... despite them being BANNED at the time"Police are now facing renewed pressure to investigate 'Beergate'  Keir Starmer admitted sharing a lockdown curry with up to 30 Labour officialsA former chief constable yesterday said Durham police should 'reconsider' their initial dismissal of the case in the light of 'new information'

John Hawkes ● 3d

Mr Ixer'Perhaps Labour will have to play the long game and keep going with Starmer until there's a safe by-election to slip Andy Burnham back into the Commons?'Can you or anyone else explain the political attraction of Burnham and why he is seen as Labour's great white hope (no racist intent meant here) waiting to ride to their rescue ?What does he stand for that Starmer, Ginger Ange ("luv the hair ducks") and Streeting do not ?Is he not just simply a Blairite re-tread ? As Tony Benn might have said what are the ishooes in all of this brouhaha ?

John Hawkes ● 3d

Too many "ifs". Too many contingencies. Desperate. It is not as if people did not know that Mandelson was untrustworthy. He had been known as the Prince of Darkness for 30 years or more. How could they think that things would be different this time? "Remember Starmer’s cringemaking tribute when Mandelson was appointed: “You can sense that there’s a new leader. He’s a true one-off, a pioneer in business, in politics. Many people love him. Others love to hate him. But to us, he’s just … Peter.”Yet everybody knew that Mandelson was a liar and a cheat."https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/epstein-files-mandelson-scandal-indicts-entire-british-establishment

David Ainsworth ● 3d

Not an excuse, but a reminder of a bit of the context surrounding the Mandelson appointment; possibly the main reason Starmer chose Mandy was that Trump was the President. He probably thought that Mandelson could manage Trump in ways that would benefit the UK. It is not an unreasonable or crazy assumption. I am sure Starmer knew there were huge risks attached to Mandelson, but there are huge risks with whoever is UK ambassador to the US while Trump is in charge.Had Biden still been President, or if Kamal Harris won, Mandelson would have been nowhere near Washington.

Gerry Boyce ● 3d

Hello David,I have not seen any suggestion that Mandelson was involved in the trafficking of underage girls.  As he said, he is gay and is not interedted in girls.  But I have not seen or heard of any suggestion that he was involved in their trafficking.

Ivonne Holliday ● 4d

"I am not too sure that Mandelson was involved but I would not put my hands over fire on this."Are you suggesting that Mandelson was somehow involved with underage girls? Have you seen any suggestions of this? I haven't.

David Ainsworth ● 4d

"Which bit of known convicted peodophile that the Labour Cabinet knew about is acceptable to you?"The convicted paedophile was Epstein, not Mandelson."Who on earth would appoint anyone like that, what does that say about judgement of the Labour Government that none of them openly resigned and are still not resigning."The Labour Government did not appoint Epstein to anything as far as I know. They appointed Mandelson.

David Ainsworth ● 4d

I am sorry, Robert, but you misunderstood me or I did not make myself clear enough.  My apologies.Both the conservatives and labour as bad as each other!The issue of young victims is horrifying beyond belief.  I am not too sure that Mandelson was involved but I would not put my hands over fire on this.  As far as Andrew - no words....  The fact that this government has run its course, I would entirely agree.  This does not vindicate the conservatives though. If Starmer goes, would you be happy with Lammy in charge and Rayner returning?  Sadly, the quality of politicians currently available is beyond dire.  I really do dread the future.

Ivonne Holliday ● 4d

Sorry Ivonne but there are young victims involved in this both in the US and UK in this scandal.  Labour were elected to “clean up” public standards which was why they had such a huge majority.I take on board of course all the criticisms by the previous Government but this entire Government has run its course.  How many u-turns and mistakes can we afford to take as a country.

Robert Wheeler ● 4d

Excuse me for butting in Robert, but this scandal is worse than spending billions of pounds on PPE that was unfit for its purpose, endangering peoples lives as they had to be thrown away?They are two different types of scandals - but has the Mandelson scandal put the health of the country at risk?  I do not think so.  What is treason is both Mandelson and Andrew sharing confidential information with Epstein.

Ivonne Holliday ● 4d

I agree Robert.  Also let’s not forget the human trafficking.

Martine Guy ● 4d

Which bit of known convicted peodophile that the Labour Cabinet knew about is acceptable to you?  Who on earth would appoint anyone like that, what does that say about judgement of the Labour Government that none of them openly resigned and are still not resigning.You may dislike the Conservatives but this scandal takes the cake (pardon the pun).

Robert Wheeler ● 4d

I'm not defending Labour but 'worse than the conservatives'? don't make me laugh.

Michael Brigo ● 4d

I don’t think they have a cats hell in chance.  Starmer is desperate to hang on but Starmer has no one else to blame.  All of Labour are tainted by this scandal it is worse than the Conservatives previously.  They were elected on standards in public life - really?Apparently Starmer is speaking to the nation tomorrow - don’t hold your breath.

Robert Wheeler ● 4d

He might get the blame for all this rain. There must be an angle there. It shouldn't take much to tip him over the edge now.

David Ainsworth ● 4d

Perhaps Labour will have to play the long game and keep going with Starmer until there's a safe by-election to slip Andy Burnham back into the Commons?

Michael Ixer ● 4d

I don't think they have any funds to work on the software, Sue.

Michael Ixer ● 4d

It's about time this forum glitch was solved.   Add a poll option while they're at it. 

Sue Hammond ● 4d

Sorry it's McSweeney who has gone.  The obvious fall guy, but Starmer is still not safe in my opinion.

Sue Hammond ● 4d

No, just McSweeny.

Jonathan Callaway ● 4d

According to LBC he's resigned!

Sue Hammond ● 4d

Yeah, if you're using the new GUI interface it's easy to "bounce" the submit button, particularly on a phone. The old text interface checks and gives an error if one tries to resubmit accidentally. 

Michael Ixer ● 4d

I think that the duplication is an artefact of the site's software. Done at same time.

David Ainsworth ● 4d

Why have you started a second thread asking this Sue?

Lucille Grant ● 4d