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Without sounding like an apologist for what I agree has not been a storming tenure to date I think it’s unfair to run a narrative that they/he has done nothing. It’s pretty challenging to reverse the kind of shambles that 14 years of austerity and an ideological destruction of the state bring about. Add to that the adversity of Trumpian influence and it’s a difficult environment to perform in. Despite these economic head winds, they have put in place a number of things that are designed to have impact over a longer period - support for working people, youth apprenticeships, rebuilding public services, NHS waiting time reductions, creation of wealth funds, green energy initiatives, investment led growth etc etc. Our media will never focus on these things as they aren’t interested in talking about the bureaucratic, administrative corrections and longer term solutions. They want to amplify the missteps, and there’s been a few, to tear down the personality etc etc. I hate the fact that the measure of a good politician is all about their charisma and ability to spin a story (increasingly to just lie) but it’s where we are. Good work gets ignored and written off as not changing anything because it doesn’t take immediate hold. Economic growth forecasts have improved despite Trump and NHS waiting lists are reducing you say? Yeah but what about……

You have just described the “PM” here in NZ, who if you hadn’t known (heavily laden with sarcasm as I’m sure reekie could attest to), was ceo of an airline He even described himself as ceo of the country during an interview on TV, which he rightly got hammered for. Only been in parliament for 5-6 years. How he got voted is beyond me. A wannabe religious zealot (aren’t all fundy christian’s?). He’ll disappear into obscurity once he gets kicked out at the next election as he’s got PM on his cv, and he won’t care as, and I quote: “I’m wealthy and I’m sorted”.

To be fair to Joe Public, we’ve been fairly patient under austerity measures since 2010, while watching millionaires become squillionaires. Everyone knows what needs done. The political will isn’t there to do it. Currently, that’s entirely his fault

Emmanuel Fernandez.

Think thats a bit harsh on Molloy myself. I think he has potential as a left sided CB in a back 3

Ouch . Think I’ll take it over the absolute cluster fuck that is Kemi Farage.

Haha, I tried to qualify it as I’m no fan but clearly failed miserably. Reading it back it definitely is heavy on the defence me lud. I’m trying really hard to be measured and balanced about this Labour govt as it’s frankly too depressing to give up completely. That said I’m fucking furious about their Isreal stance.

When Dabbagh scored all I felt was relief we didn't have to win a pen shoot out against Craig Gordon if I'm totally honest.

I get my away tickets from Jute in the pub. FOC. Although there is often a human cost to us collectively moaning for 3 hours while drinking lager.

It will get forgotten about in all the fall out but at the very beginning of this story, there was a competent woman already in the job

If Burnham had stood in the Gorton by-election, the outcome would have been different. The Labour vote would have held up on the day and he would now be their MP. I understand why it didn't happen, but suspect Burnham will be Labour leader at some point soon, or at least be back as an MP.

Alarm bells should have been ringing all around Westminster if Farage agreed with the appointment of Mandelson. It was very poor judgement though, and Starmer shouldn't be in his job, as he was ball deep in an appointment that was only ever going to end one way.

Out of the frying pan, into the absolute cunt, as they say.

And we thought Trump and Netanyahu were the tyrants

And Billy Corgan had me believing it is a vampire

But that fundamentally ignores the state of the world. The existing system will collapse, it won't be removed by a bunch of socialist teenagers that mature into politicians. There simply isn't the freely available energy to create the future of global equity and equality. Predicting what the young will do when they are even further shafted is impossible. A world based on economic growth cannot continue (for much longer) whether it be capitalist, socialist, socially democratic, nationalist, fifteen minute citiest or whatever prescribed system is chosen. The kids and their kids are gearing up for life after globalism. What you're particular town chooses beyond that will likely depend on the devastation of their collapse.

I think the entire idea of a prime minister, president, nation or even representative democracy is an abstract pile of pish, which only "works" if you ignore the overwhelming evidence that shows it doesn't. Starmer is exactly the nothing character (nothing-over-substance?) that the system required at this particular stage in its cycle, and I expect that the next guy will be the style type as you suggest. It's the equivalent of the young/experienced/foreign manager search in fitba. It makes no odds really. The economic, consumption, parasitic juggernaut will drag them all down eventually. Probably a lot sooner than we expect. Then, perhaps, we can get rid of the entire charade.

I've never seen someone outwith politics defend Keir Starmer in the wild, good for you. I think I could write a computer program more effective at being a human than the guy. I'd be curious to know what anyone thinks his reason in life is? How do you know he's a decent man? He doesn't seem that decent. Nor does he seem the opposite. I struggle to form an opinion on the guy. He's impressive in his nothingness. I wouldn't be surprised if I one day came across him in my recycling bin, having thrown him out three days earlier without noticing. He's just an empty bottle.

Well, since you ask.... which election in recent times should I have given a fuck about? Really, I mean? Not just pretendy attachment of importance to make it sound like I care. Are any of us really going to know the difference between Orban being in power in Hungary, or his counterpart? The last UK election was "fought" on the inspiring idea of giving the incumbent party a bloody nose for a decade. Which nation and its shining example should make me, or anyone else, think that representative democracy is a successful system (trite, reductive Churchill quotes aside)? Even the Scottish elections, more egalitarian and closer to home as they are, hold about the importance of this season's player of the year if we're being honest about it.

They were voted in though to be better than what the tories were and have failed miserably. Not one policy has made a difference in their near two years in office. Everything they touch turns to shit. As Mason has said, we have had over 16 years of shit thrown at us, people just want to see some positive change. Until people see some positives, idiots like Farage will just become more popular, as people are that desperate for something to cling to.

That's what they need more than anything. Starmer has zero charisma and you need that by the bucketful in politics, regardless of how palatable you find it.