Holmes_and_Watson

We are not! Just the sort of thing a sea snail would say which is why we're better off without....oh.... That awkward moment in cabinet, where you're sitting in the chair of the person just back stabbed, looking at all the people who were responsible for it, and pretending it couldn't happen again.

Ah, the innocent days before Prawn Cocktail quavers, when I really had to up my game to get some....fake article....I knew that....

No, I spontaneously combusted earlier this morning, just by opening the curtains.

What?! Since when has the guidance changed?!

He probably doesn't. But not having any backbone to take a stand, to challenge his own party from a position of strength and to follow through on any of the things he said he wouldn't put up with is exactly the bit he never got. Not being an actual leader, with personal responsibility, is exactly one of the bits he got wrong.

Politically - He, McSweeney and Mandelson moved the party to a place where they were just about electable. However, there were still a lot of people to the left of that. A combination of a lot of policies being unpopular with those groups, never listening to the wider elected party, and going against the unions that paid for him to be there. Public image - They had months of planning. Despite that they rarely controlled their image. From u-turns to dreadful policy launched and various rebrands. Winter fuel, 2 child cap, responses to Southport seriously damaged them. Scandal - They were the grown ups in the room. Straight into a freebies scandal while Lord Ali wandered around government. An anti corruption minister linked to corruption; a chancellor fibbing on the financial background and misconduct; A transport secretary gone over fraud; housing secretary gone over housing tax. Then McSweeney turned out to be running a campaign to get shot of the left, hire Mandelson who wasn't on the list, and front a dodgy organisation that would then target journalists. Starmer back in regular contact with McSweeney before the end. On each of these, more, and Mandelson, Starmer failed to stand up and take responsibility. Like all the people he criticised in opposition, he was dragged screaming at every turn. Policy - People are not seeing an improved economy. They are not seeing improvements in health care or education. They see a cost of living crisis. They see a government happy to pay to unions and one with no control over immigration. Smash the gangs Keir. They see a country that can't defend itself with a soaring welfare bill. Perception or not, and ignoring some good work, those are broad views. Obviously used by their opponents as sticks to hit them with. Based on Burnham's positions, look forward to a lot of that seeming to be worse. Tax hikes to pay for more welfare and union pay hikes, seems to be the clamour from backers.

Starmer vows to fight on saying it's his duty to lead the country. He said that he was elected to do it, and he's not going to let the country fall into chaos. Oh wait, that was from a week ago. He's going. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckger03mrl0t

He's been bad, but could sadly never be B.A.D.

But...but...that would make her a hypocrite! As shocked as I am that Starmer is doing a final U-turn, I am stunned that another politician is caught being an inconsistent liar. Mandelson.

The wagon of Snake Oil Martin and the Cult of High Energy rolls into another town. 🙂 I sure hope the players give everything, absolutely everything, in attack and in defence, all the time. If not, Martin has already set them up to be the problem.

Farage is still getting his head round the focal point of Muslim culture that the man attacked. The pizzeria. Soon, he will be linking it up with WWII attacks that locals made on ice cream parlours, due to the proprietor's Italian connections. "Bloomin' Muslim Catholics. We didn't want them or their amazing cuisine in the 1930s and we don't want their fascinating cultures going into the 2030s!"

I knew I wasn't alone.

Card

What an astounding surprise to hear that Starmer is now considering "what's best for the country." I'm astonished and would never, ever have thought he'd not put up a leadership fight. Almost as if he's been dragged kicking, and screaming to this position after months of offering all sorts to people to stop it happening.

He's not in the same class as a politician. Though I was immediately reminded of Paddy Pantsdown. Kennedy's issues resulted in him stepping down. Ed's got the highest number of Lib Dem seats too (I double checked that)