Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

I see the quiet man has turned up the volume.

[Sheilbh]

Up to about 60 MPs calling for him to go and the start of junior ministers resigning.

I slightly wonder if the cabinet ministers not putting their head above the parapet may actually hurt them - basically a bit like Heath 75 (not the only possible parallel with an uncharismatic, technocratic PM with a strangled voice being regularly outmatched by reality - including a Middle Eastern oil shock...).

Edit: Also journalists noting there doesn't seem to be a Number 10 operation fighting back - this shows the absence of McSweeney and Mandelson perhaps. Eg apparently only in the last hour that Downing Street asking cabinet ministers to come out publicly supporting Starmer.

[Sheilbh]

And we're now at the stage of senior cabinet ministers (Cooper and Mahmood) apparently telling Starmer he should stand down with an orderly transition of power (strikingly both women), while others (Healey and Lammy) are telling him to consider his position.

[mongers]

Well it's over now, will there even be a cabinet meeting tomorrow morning? 

[Valmy]

Seem to me that they are mainly leaking from the left.

Anyway hopefully this will mark the bold new rebirth of Labour as the party to turn things around for Britain.

[Valmy]

I see the quiet man has turned up the volume.

Well...quiet in the local elections anyway.

We get horrendous turnout in local elections. In my town we had a massive election a week ago. A truly titanic struggle to keep MAGA out of city government. My family ralied and phone banked and knocked on doors. We spread flyers. The fight was real and we won. Decisvely. MAGA was beaten back. We swept every office in a very purple area, including a 30% win by the Democrat incumbent mayor over his MAGA challenger. The turnout to this titanic struggle that likely shaped the future of our town for the next decade? Less than 10%.

And this in a country where we supposedly all hate each other and are ripping each other apart because of politics and nobody bothers to even fucking show up. But hey our people did so good for us I guess.

[Tonitrus]

Starmer's situation feels a lot like in my previous life, when one of my students was failing in class and being considered for recycling back to an earlier stage (instead of being dropped altogether), they'd swear up and down what they'd do/do different (study more, get tutoring, etc.) if given another chance.  The common response question to that would be "why weren't you doing that already?"

[Josquius]

Mahmood turning against labour is a surprise given she embodies the main policy issues with him.

Seem to me that they are mainly leaking from the left.

Anyway hopefully this will mark the bold new rebirth of Labour as the party to turn things around for Britain.

Yes. Labours current strategy is targeting those leaking to reform. Though much bigger issues for them are.

1: Disaffected non voters being won over by reform.
2: Labour losing voters to the Greens.
3: tories switching to reform.

Dnv? Did not vote? (Serious question)

Yes.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Thanks.
That's a lot of non voters

[garbon]

Yes. Labours current strategy is targeting those leaking to reform.

To be fair to the PM, and possibly the last time(!), his pledges yesterday to get closer to the EU and to nationalise British steel feel more targeting the left than targeting Reform voters.

1: Disaffected non voters being won over by reform.

In theory, this could be a positive. Right the ship, so to speak, and those non voters might feel happy to sit on the sidelines again. Better than say they actually are in love with Reform.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Not sure if practically depoliticizing a large swath of the electorate is a proper course for a democracy, even if you don't like what they might vote for.

Politicians, of all stripes, like a passive and compliant electorate.  Means they can do what they want.

[garbon]

Not sure if practically depoliticizing a large swath of the electorate is a proper course for a democracy, even if you don't like what they might vote for.

Politicians, of all stripes, like a passive and compliant electorate.  Means they can do what they want.

They were already depoliticised. They only became active as they got off their apathetic assess to vote some sort of change as they decided their circumstances was poor.

Or as I said, I'd at least prefer that over they were really true, steady supporters of Reform. That way lies Trumpism.

[garbon]

Looks like he is remaining defiant

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt?post=asset%3A9ed341b5-60ff-4ba0-b1c5-61e873ebe4f5#post

The prime minister tells the cabinet he will get on with governing in the face of growing calls for him to resign.

He tells the cabinet:

"As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised.

"The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.

"The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.

"The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet."