@Natasha_Jay the more I see and hear Starmer the more I detest him. Can stand his whiny voice and his complete ignorance of economics. Goes without saying I detest Sunak too
The Critic (UK): "The Conservatives deserve to be taught a lesson"
"Bad behaviour has to come with consequences"
"... let me offer a different counterargument: it would be very good for our democracy for the Conservative Party to suffer a crushing defeat. The Conservatives have behaved terribly in government, and politicians, like children, need to know that their actions have consequences"
"I want the Conservative Party from 2015 to 2024 to be a cautionary tale that politics professors whisper to terrify their students. Because if you can govern this badly, behave this badly, without any consequences, that would bode very ill indeed for our democracy"
@Natasha_Jay The problem with that article is that while it's true that in 2019 the country was offered 2 people unfit to run the country, it's also being offered 2 people unfit to run the country this time.
Starmer appears to have no shred of actual political belief beyond "it's buggins turn now", and I don't believe he'll change much (and the few things he will change, such as LGBT+ rights, will be for the worse).
No PR, no EU, no investment in public services. Just more managed decline.
I'm struggling to remember the Conservative position on the 2011 referendum to abolish FPTP which awards a disproportionate number of seats to the leading party.
@Natasha_Jay If the central thrust of the Tories campaign was to play up their reputation for economic competence then putting Sunak front and centre to showcase his boring but competent finance bro aspects does make sense.
Unfortunately people aren’t feeling any economic recovery and Sunak’s shown himself to be… less than competent.
Nothing says “change” more than checks notes a grey image of a sixty-something white professional man in a shirt and tie with his sleeves rolled up very slightly, with an expression that suggests you’re parking in the spot he usually parks in, which tbf is not a designated parking spot, but he usually parks there and everyone around here knows that, and he accepts that you’re new here, but maybe next time you could remember that, by the way do you follow the football. #ukpol#labour
No horrible surprises in the Labour manifesto, but slightly evasive language in places; full ban on conversion practices, simplified GRC process (how?) but no self-id, maintaining Equality Act and SSE, but "will work to implement" Cass for (but which reading?).
Some laughable noises about recognition, acceptance, dignity and high-quality care, and they appear to confuse legal process and medical pathway, but hey.
I wonder if Badenoch damaged her LOTO leadership chances after not being able to answer basic questions on her proposed single biological sex spaces. And appearing arrogant, though that's probably factored in
@Natasha_Jay It’s been said that the Tory party members will not vote for someone seen to be disloyal, so it may well be that most of those seeking the leadership are just keeping busy trying to shore up their constituency vote rather than go on record as either supporting Rish! or actively criticising the glorious leader.
Not to mention that it’s looking like there’s no such thing as a safe seat for the Tories right now.
@Natasha_Jay I’m not so sure. Daisy is very good on the various media, and lots of people see that Labour are just continuity Tory. Ditching some excellent Labour politicians for arbitrary reasons isn’t playing well either. People want to vote for some kind of change. I hope we get a hung parliament, so Labour must listen to reason on several subjects. The Greens are putting up a lot of sensible concepts also.
@harriettmb
I can see a hung parliament but not this term. Lib Dems were on for 35-40 seats but more now with a Reform squeeze. The more the better for balance imho, as I think the Tories will swing further right - like after 1997
Yup #Sunak is toast…there is no return from these depths of political ineptitude. Whoever is advising him is going to struggle to work in politics again.
@Natasha_Jay things have got so dire that a reset back to the 2000s seems agreeable
but Starmer has alienated most of the progressive talent from the past two decades
he's a uniting force for centrist dads, power hungry neo-liberals, and center-right guys that can only ever vote for a male leader who serves the establishment
but I don't see him bridging any political divides exacerbated by social media. how can he when he doesn't even understand them properly?