Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I’m heartily sick of the endless anticipation of the imminent demise of Keir Starmer’s premiership. And the attendant speculation of who is on manoeuvres- Angela, Wes, Andy, and Whodafuck.

It’s bollocks, and actually offensive.

And - to me at any rate - it makes no sense. Aside from the should be obvious folly of deposing the UK’s Prime Minister at a time of grave international crises (all of which Starmer is handling fantastically well), the principal reason why it makes zero sense is that it is far from apparent that any alternative leader/PM would improve matters at all. . Why ditch the best PM this country has had in at least twenty years?

Nah. Stick it out. Ride the storm. Fuck the begrudgers. And keep on just getting the job done, quietly .

The media obviously got so addicted to the constant Tory psycho-drama in the years following Brexit they just can't hack that Labour aren't providing it. All they've got is bad polling and Starmer's unpopularity.

"I'm getting on with the job" does sound like Theresa May but look what happened when her party ousted her. The UK ceased to be taken seriously and will do again if any of the ridiculous gobshite populist opposition leaders are given the keys to No 10.

Dalem Lake wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 4:07 am The media obviously got so addicted to the constant Tory psycho-drama in the years following Brexit they just can't hack that Labour aren't providing it. All they've got is bad polling and Starmer's unpopularity.

I've been saying this for a while now. Gossip merchants cosplaying at journalism who have decided that manufacturing the news is far more entertaining than merely reporting it.

And the less said about the Manc Mafia surrounding Burnham and their shit-stirring the better, whilst those pushing Rayner really ought to see she's dead in the water.

A few months ago, David Aaronovitch said

“the problem is that once you’ve both confidently predicted something and advocated it, you have a real interest in it coming true”.

. Hence why they're so interested in seeing Starmer gone, it makes them look all wise and knowing, rather than the glorified gossip columnists that they are.

https://markurban.substack.com/p/did-th ... he-starmer

Boiler wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 9:49 am

Dalem Lake wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 4:07 am The media obviously got so addicted to the constant Tory psycho-drama in the years following Brexit they just can't hack that Labour aren't providing it. All they've got is bad polling and Starmer's unpopularity.

I've been saying this for a while now. Gossip merchants cosplaying at journalism who have decided that manufacturing the news is far more entertaining than merely reporting it.

And the less said about the Manc Mafia surrounding Burnham and their shit-stirring the better, whilst those pushing Rayner really ought to see she's dead in the water.

You quickly become soiled goods in politics (apart from Farage becuase he's never run anything or even stepped up to a committee).
Darren Jones is the man to watch quietly lining up his ducks, soldiers or whatever the metaphor is.

Youngian wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:55 pm You quickly become soiled goods in politics (apart from Farage becuase he's never run anything or even stepped up to a committee).
Darren Jones is the man to watch quietly lining up his ducks, soldiers or whatever the metaphor is.

I'm quite a Darren Jones fanboy, he's not disappointed me yet. The other person I think is one to watch for the future is Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who has impressed me whenever I've seen him interviewed, I'd be interested to hear the views of our Brummie correspondents who probably know more about him than I do.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:07 pm

Youngian wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:55 pm You quickly become soiled goods in politics (apart from Farage becuase he's never run anything or even stepped up to a committee).
Darren Jones is the man to watch quietly lining up his ducks, soldiers or whatever the metaphor is.

I'm quite a Darren Jones fanboy, he's not disappointed me yet. The other person I think is one to watch for the future is Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who has impressed me whenever I've seen him interviewed, I'd be interested to hear the views of our Brummie correspondents who probably know more about him than I do.

I've never really noticed him.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:07 pm

Youngian wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:55 pm You quickly become soiled goods in politics (apart from Farage becuase he's never run anything or even stepped up to a committee).
Darren Jones is the man to watch quietly lining up his ducks, soldiers or whatever the metaphor is.

I'm quite a Darren Jones fanboy, he's not disappointed me yet. The other person I think is one to watch for the future is Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who has impressed me whenever I've seen him interviewed, I'd be interested to hear the views of our Brummie correspondents who probably know more about him than I do.

They'll attack him on the basis of his marriage.
Wife is a Net-zero consultant - which in the paper's opinion is worse than taking funding form hostile states / criminal entities.

At last, someone's said it:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -must-stop

Labour MPs are calling for a close to the “endless drama” of leadership speculation, as Downing Street begins a fightback against predictions of an imminent challenge to Keir Starmer.

Some backbenchers warned that repeated briefings about how and when the prime minister could be toppled were putting off voters, who similarly had disliked the Conservatives’ repeated shuffling of leaders when in power.

“All people want is a government which works, and not the endless drama,” one MP said. “We are in a very tricky global situation, and to have this never-ending conversation about who might have a certain number of supporters feels extremely self-indulgent.”

About fucking time.

Quite.

Agreed. If these leadership challenge rumours continue I can see Burnham, Rayner and Streeting doing considerable damage to their own political popularity both within and without the Party. Plus, given the current series of international crises, which one would do a better job than Starmer?
Then there's the question of who the fuck would want the job?

Oboogie wrote: ↑Mon May 04, 2026 1:59 pm Plus, given the current series of international crises, which one would do a better job than Starmer?

Answer = "none of the above".

Boiler wrote: ↑Mon May 04, 2026 2:04 pm

Oboogie wrote: ↑Mon May 04, 2026 1:59 pm Plus, given the current series of international crises, which one would do a better job than Starmer?

Answer = "none of the above".

That's certainly my belief, they each have their virtues, but those demanding Starmer must go need to convince me there's someone who would do better if they want my support.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:07 pm The other person I think is one to watch for the future is Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who has impressed me whenever I've seen him interviewed, I'd be interested to hear the views of our Brummie correspondents who probably know more about him than I do.

Brummie correspondent here. Al Carns, another Scotsman, was dropped into the Birmingham Selly Oak seat just before the 2024 General Election completely out of the blue when Steve McCabe, the incumbent MP, got shifted up to the House of Lords after the deadline for new applicants for the seat. A stitch-up, obviously, but clearly somebody with influence wanted him in parliament. He’s a bit of an all-action hard man hero, running marathons for fun and such like, and had a distinguished military career. I’ve not met him yet, so don’t really know much about him beyond that, and I’m not quite sure why some folk see him as a future Prime Minister.

I tipped Bridget Phillipson as a future Labour Leader during the Corbyn years, and I still think she could be Labour’s first woman PM.

This interested me: UK should not keep changing prime ministers, warns John Major

Britain must not keep changing prime ministers, Sir John Major has warned in a broadside at those who treat politics as a "game show" while leaving big problems to the next generation.

The former Conservative prime minister accused today's focus-group obsessed politicians of thinking their job was to "provide fodder for the media and project your own career" while delaying action on complex issues like healthcare, pensions and climate change.

In an interview for BBC Radio 5 Live and Newsnight, he said: "The best aphrodisiac in politics is hope. If people can see a change, there's a change in atmosphere."

Abernathy wrote: ↑Mon May 04, 2026 3:10 pm

Oboogie wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:07 pm The other person I think is one to watch for the future is Al Carns, MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who has impressed me whenever I've seen him interviewed, I'd be interested to hear the views of our Brummie correspondents who probably know more about him than I do.

Brummie correspondent here. Al Carns, another Scotsman, was dropped into the Birmingham Selly Oak seat just before the 2024 General Election completely out of the blue when Steve McCabe, the incumbent MP, got shifted up to the House of Lords after the deadline for new applicants for the seat. A stitch-up, obviously, but clearly somebody with influence wanted him in parliament. He’s a bit of an all-action hard man hero, running marathons for fun and such like, and had a distinguished military career. I’ve not met him yet, so don’t really know much about him beyond that, and I’m not quite sure why some folk see him as a future Prime Minister.

I tipped Bridget Phillipson as a future Labour Leader during the Corbyn years, and I still think she could be Labour’s first woman PM.

I saw Al Carns interviewed by, I think, James O'Brien a few months back.
Part of his appeal to me is his extraordinary military career - DSO,MC and an OBE, served in both the Marines and Paras presenting quite a tough challenge to any right-winger who tries to portray him as an unpatriotic, bedwetting Lefty snowflake.
That aside, I like his style; he's direct and succinct and can recall the facts and figures to support his assertions. He'd be a bugger to face across the despatch box.

"The unelected are telling us what to do"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g73jr1v7po

And I think the new 2024 intake have got a fucking cheek.

Maybe the 5-6 of them can join Reform after all they are doing Nigel’s job for him.

Oboogie wrote: ↑Mon May 04, 2026 7:14 pm I saw Al Carns interviewed by, I think, James O'Brien a few months back.
Part of his appeal to me is his extraordinary military career - DSO,MC and an OBE, served in both the Marines and Paras presenting quite a tough challenge to any right-winger who tries to portray him as an unpatriotic, bedwetting Lefty snowflake.
That aside, I like his style; he's direct and succinct and can recall the facts and figures to support his assertions. He'd be a bugger to face across the despatch box.

Wouldn't put too much stock on the 'sport are troops' brigade choosing a war hero over their chosen one. A coward in the pay of the Kremlin is more likely to deliver performative cruelty and bullying of the 'other.' We thought Keir's DPP role would bullet proof him but the task of bringing down a Labour PM begins on Day One and carries on 24/7.
Mr Carns certainly comes across as confident and on top of his brief but could only find clips of him in his comfort zone (the defence brief). Successful leadership in other areas doesn't guarantee it will be replicated in politics (does it Keir).
Learned two interesting things about Carns, Starmer fast tracked him very late in the day to ensure Carns would be part of the 2024 intake.
And during the parliamentary recess Al ascended Everest on a sponsored charity climb. The weather was so bad the sherpas turned back but Carns was made of sterner stuff and made to the summit with his small team. Then rushed home to make it for a parliamentary vote.
A solid backstory like that could sustain a honeymoon period before a squatting PM goes to the polls. Like what I see so far unlike the prospect of Rayner, Burnham, Miliband or Streeting in No 10.