General British politics discussion thread

The man has done more to fight against antisemitism and all forms of racism than you'll ever manage. He was out fighting the likes of the National Front before many on here were even born.

He's probably now wondering what the point of it all was now that he's undone by lies from both within his own party and front the right wing and their client press, who now cynically parade around pretending to be friends of the Jews when it's that side of the political aisle that despises them the most.

Corbyn lost not because he's a "bad" politician, or antisemitic or any other bullshit. He lost because of an orchestrated campaign of lies about him and the PLP that tried to make them out to be a bunch of rabid antisemites to a man. A campaign he had no way of fighting successfully, no matter what he did.

Poly Tonybee would be a classic pro centre Labour journalist. Her Guardian piece here, indicates it's all about being brave. Many of the things to be done aren't about finance, reform the voting system and the House of Lords would indicate a fresh start. But I don't see that happening under Starmer.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/08/morgan-mcsweeney-keir-starmer-cabinet

Every political leader has that problem. When elected make the tough decisions early. Hit the ground running. Starmer/Reeves simply got the Inheritance Tax wrong in catching ordinary farmers in the net. Should have looked at the Irish model. Look also at our use of Citizens Assemblies to inform change.

Who do you actually define as an 'ordinary farmer'?

You can keep saying crap like this, but he's genuinely one of the most honest and decent politicians in the UK regardless of how one feels about him, regardless of his failures.

I would rather more people in politics like Jeremy Corbyn than the alternative.

All the papers asking how long more..

If they wanted to get away from the far left student politics of Corbyn, that was fine, but the pivot to the right by Starmer and McSweeney has been insane given the party's history and voting base - they are almost occupying the same space as both the Tories and Reform on some issues.

I've seen Starmer described as "arrogant and inept". He's a very strange kettle of fish with his lack of background or interest in politics and only joining the Labour Party in his 50s - he could just as easily have joined the Conservatives.

As you say, McSweeney did an excellent job of making the party electable and getting them into power, but they don't seem to stand for anything except being in government. It's little wonder they have been found out and are so unpopular.

Starmer's Labour were "electable" not because of anything they did, but because the Tories had reached (I would say went beyond) their nadir. Labour showed absolutely nothing that suggested that they were worthy of being elected to run the country. They said nothing and they did nothing. They just floated in in the wake of a Tory sinking ship. A sinking ship that took a long time to go down it has to be said.

But now Starmer's Labour is in power and they look all at sea themselves.

As for Keir Starmer being "arrogant and inept", I don't know. But he's certainly not a natural leader of a political party and that reality is being played out daily. One of the issues that many people had with him before he got into power was that nobody actually knew what it was that he stood for and, remarkably, that is still the case today. He's also a dreadful communicator and has real trouble getting any of his points across.

I honestly cannot see him lasting out the year as leader. But there's that prick Streeting waiting in the wings and he's certainly no better.

He won't last the week let alone the year but it won't be Streeting that succeeds (too close to Mandelson for a start).

Just to note that the election referred to above is for Scottish parliament in May

Has Sarwar been played? No one else coming through the door