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Politics is a rung on the ladder of his career, it is more important for him to be leader than to transform and improve the lives of the population, their hopes and futures.
it is the reverse of this though isn't it which lots of Labour members don't seem to get. His current stance of winning is more important than unity is the correct one, no one gets lifted out of poverty by them being focussed on uniting rather than winning and he can't win only appealing to traditional Labour voters, they don't have the numbers, they have to win back the traditional seats, Scotland and a bunch of centre right swing voters
His current stance of winning is more important than unity is the correct one
It's fine as long as his plan is to get in power then ignore all the dumb austerity stuff etc they are putting out now - like the way he lied in his leadership election but the other way round.
If he's not, then god help us...
It’s fine as long as his plan is to get in power then ignore all the dumb austerity stuff etc they are putting out now – like the way he lied in his leadership election but the other way round.
If he’s not, then god help us…
Does this sound like a return to austerity?
https://twitter.com/rachelreevesmp/status/1442007958611652608
Everybody ready for some stirring inspiring stuff?
I wonder if he'll get heckled by Piers Corbyn?
So what are the chances of this speech being destroyed by lefty hecklers? Quite high I would think, so I hope he's prepared. Probably what he and Mandelson wants though if the last 12 months is anything to go by. The news will all be about Starmer vs Lefties, rather than anything about what he's going to do to beat Boris.
Good start. Turn the bloody music off! 😂
so I hope he’s prepared
Well, he was.
Well, he was.
By calling them tories?
The news will all be about Starmer vs Lefties
Hopefully.
Who's the script writer? They're very good. He's not even fluffing it that much. A bit stumbly, not entirely natural, a bit flat... but not awful.
Hopefully.
Yeah, perhaps he should put a monty python picture up on the screen. 🙄
I don't think it's even required
The justice part of this speech is brilliant. It feels like he wrote this bit himself.
I don’t think it’s even required
I just despair that people 'on the left' are ridiculed and hated so much by those in the centre. If you and others put half as much energy into attacking the tories as you do 'lefties' then we'd be a lot better off. Instead we've got to the point where people who believe in equality and justice are branded as 'soft' or 'loonies', and then wonder how we ended up with things like brexit. We get what we deserve.
Yeah, it's Binners' fault that people are heckling what might be the only Labour leader's speech before an election.
🤷🏻
Perhaps if those on 'the left' want top be taken seriously, maybe they should consider not acting like the walking cliche of a bunch of student protestors?
Just a thought
Exactly what do they hope to achieve by heckling the leader of the labour party at his first party conference?
As has already been noted, I doubt its a juxtaposition that will do him much harm outside the common room
Yeah, it’s Binners fault that people are heckling what might be the only Labour leader’s speech
If you start a fight with people, chances are they'll retaliate. He's (Starmer not binners) fighting the wrong people. The people on the left are not enemies, they're natural allies, the people who will get the vote out and bypass the tory press. Instead he ridicules them and feeds into the culture war that props up Boris. It's self-defeating.
Instead we’ve got to the point where people who believe in equality and justice are branded as ‘soft’ or ‘loonies’,
Not here they are not and in the wider public the people who always felt that still do, evidenced by continual Tory governments - it is what those people actually want.
The people on the left are not enemies, they’re natural allies, the people who will get the vote out and bypass the tory press.
Not if they don't like Starmer and are still in a world where Corbyn is leader they won't.
Natural allies?
Daz.... These people aren't trying to make a political point. They're singing "Ooooooo Jeremy Corbyn"
Seriously... the very embodiment of sixth form level lefty idiots
You couldn't make it up
This part on care, the NHS, ageing population, prevention, mental health, support for schools, recruitment... also spot on.
[ his talk about a Robot has me picturing him as Kryten though... free gift for the satirists there ]
Not if they don’t like Starmer
Most of them voted for Starmer. He could have done this speech with unanimous support and momentum behind him by simply sticking to his promises. Instead he chose to fight his own party. It may look good in the papers and provide some drama for the political soap opera, but it won't win him an election.
He says Labour would “shift the priority in the NHS away from emergency care, towards prevention”.
The Lansley reforms of 2012 had this embedded in them, and they were roundly ignored. I like the sound of it, but in reality I think that folks won't take kindly to "intrusive" health interventions
Let him have his time in the scripted spotlight.
(Ian Dunt tweeting all the best bits of Starmer's scipt, like some sort of excited Liberal interpreter.)
https://twitter.com/IanDunt/status/1443178702729355269?s=20
Clue: Boris Johnson is a bad man.
Starmer is a fundamentally dishonest polictian who's incapable of delivering anything that the electorate actually want. Nothing about his speech changes this.
The same people who get excited about PMQs will get aroused by this.
Move along nothing to see.
Instead he chose to fight his own party.
Well, it's all out in the open now isn't it? He's said it himself, winning is more important that unity to him. So will those who find his ideologies less appealing form their own party d'you think?
So will those who find his ideologies less appealing form their own party d’you think?
Of course they won't. Why would they give their party up to someone who doesn't believe in its core principles?
I see he's just guaranteed every school kid will have access to a career advisor. Radical stuff!
Agree about his focus on technology as regards eduction.
[ but I am picturing Kryten again ]
[ or maybe Jen from the IT Crowd ]
Move along nothing to see.
Got to love an open mind.
What's wrong with the "showman with nothing left to show" line? It's exactly the message the voters need to be thinking about. Yes, Johnson was fun, a breath of fresh air, but what exactly is the clown doing for us right now?
Clue: Boris Johnson is a bad man.
Yes, he is. But rather then tell the voters who voted for him that they are fools, poor judges of character, that they are part of the problem, rather than let them conclude that you think they are bad people.... tell them that Johnson isn't working out for them, that in office he is flailing around, his time is up already, and try and persuade them that you are the better option for the future.
Yeah, it’s Binners’ fault that people are heckling what might be the only Labour leader’s speech before an election.
If this was happening to Corbyn I don't doubt for a moment that you and binners would be furiously victim-blaming him for 'failing to bring the party with him' or something.
Reading this you would think the whole hall is heckling but its a couple of noisy people and most of the hall applauding him, he got a standing ovation when he came on, he is not lacking support
"My father was a toolmaker -I suppose you could say the same about Boris Johnson dad."
Genius!!!!
Christ he's endorsing Lexit now.
Yeah, it’s Binners’ fault that people are heckling what might be the only Labour leader’s speech before an election.
If this was happening to Corbyn I don’t doubt for a moment that you and binners would be furiously victim-blaming him for ‘failing to bring the party with him’ or something.
Hey, I was out there trying to persuade people to vote Labour under Corbyn, having never voted for Labour myself before he became leader. But, yeah, Labour conference attendees heckling their leader at their first, and maybe only, conference speech is a great chance to have a dig at me, rather than blame anyone other than the hecklers. There are days of debates at conference, but the leader's speech is a rare opportunity to set the political news agenda in Labour's favour.
He's doing ok, better than I expected. Still not convinced.
He’s doing ok, better than I expected. Still not convinced.
My summary also.
I think if he hadn't done the leadership election changes he wouldn't be getting heckled.
However I do think don't bother heckling. BUT a lot of this speech is bolx. eg He had the chance to show his appreciation to nurses by calling for a bigger pay rise.
Labour conference attendees heckling their leader at their first
And it was completely unnecessary. This is what I'm most depressed about. I don't actually disagree with anything he's said, and the green investment stuff is great (even if not nearly enough in the long run), but he goes and wrecks it by picking a fight with the lefties to impress the tory press.
I can only hope that when all said and done it's just a PR strategy. I can swallow a fight with the left if it results in a labour govt which does all the things they're supposed to do once in power. But if like Blair it results in a labour govt that is too scared to change things in the interests of working people, then it's pointless.
The hecklers are making themselves look bad that is for sure.
Long standing ovation again, he has really turned the members against him...
Uh oh, he's listing things Labour did in government. I mean, it probably needs doing, but there is no easier way to drive a wedge between Labour's different supporters.
I think if he hadn’t done the leadership election changes he wouldn’t be getting heckled.
There were lots of "£15" heckles.. the artificial division that was created only this week to use as a rallying call. He was going to get heckled come what may.
And BTW this is going on far too long. He's in danger of being called Fidel Starmer at this rate.
lol at all the Blair cultists wetting themselves when he goes into raptures about the 90s.
I think slagging off the SNP is counter-productive TBH.
The applause is starting to seem really staged and creepy now.
Uh oh, he’s listing things Labour did in government.
No humility about the Iraq war, PFI, demonising immigrants etc though eh.
'we did do some good stuff, as long as you forget about destroying a country to steal their oil and kill hundreds of thousands of people'
And BTW this is going on far too long.
His first, and perhaps only, leader's speech to conference. He needs people to come away thinking "too much", rather than "why didn't he address X".
No humility about the Iraq war, PFI, demonising immigrants etc though eh.
Rule one if you are trying to get people behind the Labour party today... DON'T MENTION THE WAR.
"WEEE ARRREEEEE PATRIOTS"
Okkkkkkk, switching off now.
It is painful. Horrible to listen to. But people really did say "Labour are against the British" when I talked to them in 2019 about voting Labour. Our seat went to the Tories again. Many voters need their view of Labour resetting. It does make me cringe though.
He needs people to come away thinking “too much”
Oh give over, it's self indulgent narcissism. How long before he says 'and I'll tell you another thing...' whilst waving his finger? 😄
Which section would you have cut? Obviously plenty of it wasn't aimed at you, or me, or conference attendees.
No humility about the Iraq war
That war the tories voted for too you mean?
And BTW this is going on far too long.
It's not though is it, the only people watching it in full are party supporters or political pundits. Everyone else will get a soundbite on the news or social media and he has created a lot of those to be posted for days to come
So many people complained not knowing what he stood for, well it is all laid out now if people want to go and listen. If it was shorted, he would get attacked for lacking substance.
Okkkkkkk, switching off now.
You were right to. It went where you expected... British Values (as he lists values that citizens of any country should hold dear).
If it was shorted, he would get attacked for lacking substance.
This. He had to touch every policy area he did, and make each one connect to people and to make it personal to him. He's long been seen as impersonal, and he had to change that, not in the abstract but connected to how Labour would govern differently to the Conservatives. Will any of it stick? Who knows. His delivery probably still lacked the warmth and charm needed.
He’s doing ok, better than I expected. Still not convinced.
Still thinking this.
Well it was never going to be sweeping oratory, but overall I think that a was pretty good conference speech. It does seem like something has definitely clicked in the last couple of days. Hopefully it's a sign of more to come and taking the gloves off with going on the offensive against this bunch of clowns.
The mental health funding is a big one as well as the £28 billion a year green commitment
His delivery probably still lacked the warmth and charm needed.
Agreed but not everyone can be charismatic unfortunately.
He covered all the big topics and not really sure there was much the general public would disagree with
20% more charisma and he'd win the next election. He still might.
The problem for us lefties is even if he does win will he do anything worthwhile? This speech suggests no.
Also SKS doesn't have to apologise for Iraq. It's ages ago. 3 or 4 wars since!
(People celebrating Blair need to hear about Iraq though)
I think slagging off the SNP is counter-productive TBH.
Why? their records on drug death and education is woeful, they can't get handed a free pass just because they're not the Tories. Labour need to win back Scottish seats
He covered all the big topics and not really sure there was much the general public would disagree with
Aye, utterly vacuous and banal.
Just making the noise of a politician.
We don't need another charismatic clown do we? Competence and common sense please, down the middle of politics. Merkel was no orator or charismatic leader, but I'd have her over our bunch.
The problem for us lefties is even if he does win will he do anything worthwhile?
Well, reversing the destruction of children’s mental health services, especially support for schools, was one specific worthwhile thing he mentioned that I can recall straight away. But that’s an area close to me heart, so I would remember it. They’ll be plenty of analysis and questioning over the next few days that’ll highlight others, I suspect.
even if he does win will he do anything worthwhile? This speech suggests no.
Green New Deal not worthwhile?
I enjoyed how he stumbled slightly when clearly avoiding saying Andy Burnham's name. 😆
Also SKS doesn’t have to apologise for Iraq. It’s ages ago.
I'm not saying he has to apologise for it but the triumphalism about new labour is a bit tasteless, imo. I'm not denying they did do some good things but there was a lot of bad too.
Why? their records on drug death and education is woeful
The SNP are far from perfect and do get an easy ride in Scotland but slagging off another centre-left party that has a lot of support just comes across as churlish imo.
Same here Kelvin. I've got two teenage daughters and this one really stuck out for me. Theres been a huge increase in mental health issues in this age group after the last couple of years that they've endured and this government frankly couldn't give a toss. It was great to hear that this is a serious (and funded) priority
And again it highlights that they're prepared to address areas that the Torys would like to pretend don't even exist
Green New Deal not worthwhile?
As he talked for almost 1hr 30mins and it was one of the only policies he vaguely hinted at - can you explain what it is?
but slagging off another centre-left party that has a lot of support just comes across as churlish imo.
Again, politically he has no choice, how else are you going to get Scottish Labour back on it's feet and fighting? In a world with PR (in which we'll likely never see a Labour majority govt ever again, buts that's another argument I guess) maybe you don't, but in a FTPT system Labour need those SNP seats. It's that simple
As he talked for almost 1hr 30mins and it was one of the only policies he vaguely hinted at – can you explain what it is?
28 billion pound investment a year, for 8 years, in green investment. Thats a proper commitment, not some vague noises like the waffle about kermit the frog we had from Johnson at the UN last week. Rachel Reeves actually announced it a couple of days ago
Rule one if you are trying to get people behind the Labour party today… DON’T MENTION THE WAR.
Or the Brexit.
28 billion pound investment a year, for 8 years, in green investment.
Whats that mean? Investment in what?
Summary briefed to the press just now…
The next Labour government will launch a “national mission” to make every home in the country warm, well insulated and cheaper to heat within a decade, Keir Starmer announced today.
The Labour leader’s plans would cut carbon emissions, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and save families over £400 a year on energy bills, easing the burden on working families.
This “national mission” would mean upgrading 19m homes in a decade, requiring £6bn annual investment.
The plan will provide security to working families, helping to ensure the lights don’t go out and making households less vulnerable to surges in energy prices.
Upgrading the energy efficiency of Britain’s housing is critical to putting the country on track to tackle the climate emergency.
The government’s own Committee on Climate Change has said all buildings need to be to a high energy-efficiency standard over the next 10-15 years, but two in every three homes in England currently fall below that standard.
I guess that’s a major chunk of it.
As he talked for almost 1hr 30mins and it was one of the only policies he vaguely hinted at – can you explain what it is?
"So it will be Labour’s national mission over the next decade, to fit out every home that needs it, to make sure it is warm, well-insulated and costs less to heat and we will create thousands of jobs in the process.
"I can also pledge that we will also introduce a Clean Air Act and everything we do in government will have to meet a “net zero” test to ensure that the prosperity we enjoy does not come at the cost of the climate."
Upgrading 19 million homes in a decade, costing £6bn a year from the £26bn pot announced by Rachel Reeves
-Upgrading 19 million homes so that they reach a minimum energy efficiency of EPC Band C
-Providing grants to low-income households and low interest loans to those able to pay to cover the cost of retrofitting
-Supporting up to 500,000 jobs
-Working with local and combined authorities, and the private sector, to recruit and train staff to upgrade housing
-Fitting homes with insulation, double glazing, upgraded home heating systems, and other renewable technologies
Any of that you disagree with or see as vacuous?
Or the Brexit.
He didn’t address this in the way I’d like, but he did use the “B” word, and probably handled it in a way more people can get behind (my way would just annoy far too many voters, obviously).
Home insulation isn't a big issue for me.
I don't own a home and most people I know can't and never will be able to afford one.
Might have been good to tackle something like that.
What did he say about Brexit?
Might have been good to tackle something like that.
He did mention that rising rent was one of the biggest issues facing people.
Even if you rent, you still live in a building. That building probably needs to be made more energy efficient. It’s not just home owners who pay energy bills to heat poorly insulated buildings.
Home insulation isn’t a big issue for me.
I don’t own a home and most people I know can’t and never will be able to afford one.
Might have been good to tackle something like that.
So you don't have energy bills?
Don't think 500k new jobs is beneficial?
Don't think accelerating the path to net zero is important?
Don't think tackling one of the major causes of fuel poverty matters?
Just, it doesn't help me so I don't care about the rest of society?
What did he say about Brexit?
I’ll leave someone else to tell you that, I’ll just be off on one of my rants if I try to!
But he didn’t avoid the word.
Home insulation isn’t a big issue for me.
Rent? Want lower energy bills?
There's a report this morning that says that the UK domestic gas boilers emit No2 and Co2 at levels that mean they probably need to become illegal in the next couple of years if we're to meet our climate change obligations, that needs to be both affordable and enforceable. Green energy and it's associated environmental issues is going to be the Brexit of the next 10 years. Do you want the Tories to "get it done" for you?
So you don’t have energy bills?
Don’t think 500k new jobs is beneficial?
Don’t think accelerating the path to net zero is important?Just, it doesn’t help me so I don’t care about the rest of society?
I don't personally care about saving £30 or so on heating.
It's generally a good thing but it's a sticker plaster policy.
It doesn't tackle the root of any problem - energy ownership, housing, rent, work, benefits etc
Agree with Copa. What's this insulation made of? Where is it coming from? Who gets rich off it? Can you imagine the Tories doing it?
NB this is not strictly anti Keir it's more anti the short sightedness of most green measures. Subsidies for power stations that burn wood ffs!
Energy efficiency in new houses should be the priority.
Old houses were not designed to be insulated to the gunnels. My house had cavity wall insulation- it was a disaster, we had to get it removed.
BTW renationalisation of water would cost £14.5 billion.
I’ve got two teenage daughters and this one really stuck out for me.
Don't disagree, I've got a 17 year old with problems caused by the pandemic. But lets be honest, if all a labour govt achieves is a marginal improvement in mental health provision (and that's all it will be) then that would be a massive failure in a time where almost revolutionary change needs to occur to combat climate change and other problems. They need to think much bigger, and I get little sense that Starmer or any of the labour front bench (apart from Ed Miliband maybe) understand that.
Energy efficiency in new houses should be the priority.
He pointed out in his speech that when Labour left power they had in place regulations that all new homes would be low carbon, it was the Tories that got rid of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Labour put in place what you want previously, why don't you think they would again? Housing stock turns over too slowly in this country to ignore retrofits