Keir Starmer: Friends Say He Desperately Needs a Break

[Social Media]

 

Sir Keir Starmer, the newly appointed Prime Minister, is grappling with the "relentless strain" of the role, according to close friends. They claim he is in dire need of a holiday to recover from what has been a bruising start to his premiership. His first months in office have seen a sharp drop in his personal approval ratings, with one friend revealing, “He needs a lot of soothing and a lot of buoying up at the moment.”  

 

While Downing Street maintains that Sir Keir’s morale remains high, others close to him suggest the challenges have taken a toll. “He talks a good game about needing to take the unpopular decisions now, and expecting this resistance,” said a friend. “But I don’t think he realized quite how unpopular they—or he—would be.” To recharge, the Prime Minister is reportedly planning his first holiday since the general election, intending to take a break over the New Year.  

 

Despite commanding a parliamentary majority of 165 seats, the government has struggled to maintain control over its agenda, sparking questions about the demands of modern leadership. Some observers wonder whether Sir Keir will endure the full electoral term under such pressure.  

 

A senior Downing Street official offered a glimpse into the constant demands of the role, comparing today’s challenges to those faced by former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. “Thatcher and Blair managed to last a decade, but they were in a different league—and the world was a different place,” the official said. “Thatcher had to worry about the BBC, ITV, and a handful of national newspapers. Blair had a few more outlets to contend with. Now, with social media, it’s a constant game of whack-a-mole to prevent storms erupting.”  

 

The official went on to describe the frenetic pace of modern governance: “At any one time, you can be simultaneously deciding whether to authorize an attack on a terrorist target by studying live drone footage, while welcoming the Girl Guide Association to a reception at No. 10 and clearing a statement of tribute to a dead celebrity. Every minute of every day is like that.”  

 

One of the reasons Sir Keir reportedly resisted dismissing Sue Gray, his Chief of Staff, was her ability to manage his workload by controlling access to him. This decision highlights the immense pressures he faces as he navigates the early days of his premiership.  

 

The challenges for Sir Keir intensified shortly after the election when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the end of universal winter fuel payments. This unpopular move contributed to a decline in public support, leaving Sir Keir’s ratings comparable to those of Jeremy Corbyn at the end of his tenure as Labour leader.  

 

As the Prime Minister prepares for a much-needed holiday, the pressure to stabilize his leadership and regain public trust looms large. Whether he can withstand the relentless demands of the role remains to be seen.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-12-23

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Shouldn't that be

Keir Starmer: Friends Say the country Desperately Needs a Break

[JonnyF]

I'd fully support  Keir having a break.

 

May I suggest 3 decades as a suitable period?

[mdr224]

Must take a toll being so deeply unpopular with the people you are serving

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

Must take a toll being so deeply unpopular with the people you are serving

 

Serving?

 

Screwing might be more accurate. 

[metisdead]

A post with an image containing vulgar language has been removed @quake:

• You will not post vulgarities, obscenities or profanities.

[BarBoy]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Sir Keir Starmer, the newly appointed Prime Minister, is grappling with the "relentless strain" of the role, according to close friends.

Quit then, Keir.

 

Give the job to someone who can hack it!

 

You are a dreadful PM, btw. The worst in living memory by far and that is saying something!

 

Merry Christmas!

[hotandsticky]

7 minutes ago, BarBoy said:

Quit then, Keir.

 

Give the job to someone who can hack it!

 

You are a dreadful PM, btw. The worst in living memory by far and that is saying something!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Dreadful PMs have been a feature of British politics for the last 8 years.

[BarBoy]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Dreadful PMs have been a feature of British politics for the last 8 years.

Yep.

 

A Syrian style revolution would be nice to see for a change...

 

All the old wood needs removing, Lords n all!

[The Cyclist]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Sir Keir Starmer, the newly appointed Prime Minister, is grappling with the "relentless strain" of the role

 

The ' Strain ' hasn't even started yet.

 

Unless there is a quick U-Turn on the workers rights Bill, millions of part time workers are going to be unemployed.

 

Unless there is a quick U-Turn on the employers NI rises, millions of other workers are going to be unemployed.

 

Wealth creators already fleeing Socialist Paradise.

 

Double digit inflation and interest rates to follow.

 

Tax rises to follow  that.

 

Nothing to see here, move along now.

[quake]

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Dreadful PMs have been a feature of British politics for the last 8 years.

 

Think you could go back to 1997, and this disgraceful specimen.

he set the ball roiling down the toilet.

 

[BarBoy]

2 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Think you could go back to 1997, and this disgraceful specimen.

he set the ball roiling down the toilet.

 

Maybe.

 

But Cameron/May/Boris/Truss/Sunak sure as hell flushed it!!

[The Cyclist]

2 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Think you could go back to 1997, and this disgraceful specimen.

he set the ball roiling down the toilet.

 

 

You could go back further, to the Grey man ousting Thatcher.

 

Black Wednesday and Edwina Currie being his notable achievements.

[quake]

9 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

You could go back further, to the Grey man ousting Thatcher.

 

Black Wednesday and Edwina Currie being his notable achievements.

 

Yes, if ever there was a time the uk needed another  Maggie Thatcher,  it's right now.

 

 

 

 

 

[The Cyclist]

10 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Yes, if ever there was a time the uk needed another  Maggie Thatcher,  it's right now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right now, the  UK needs something that is 100 times more potent and effective than Maggie Thatcher.

[quake]

1 minute ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Right now, the  UK needs something that is 100 times more potent and effective than Maggie Thatcher.

 

What you got in mind. . 

 

 

[The Cyclist]

4 minutes ago, quake said:

 

What you got in mind. . 

 

 

 

Doesn't really matter what I have in mind, I doubt that their is anyone with the swingers to impliment it.

 

And even if there was, there is not a snowballs chance in hell of it getting through the HoC, the HoL and the ECHR.

 

They would need to be the first 3 things defeated.

[hotandsticky]

32 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Think you could go back to 1997, and this disgraceful specimen.

he set the ball roiling down the toilet.

 

 

 

Best conservative PM that Labour ever had.

 

IMO Cameron was the last real statesman.

[thaibeachlovers]

34 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Think you could go back to 1997, and this disgraceful specimen.

he set the ball roiling down the toilet.

 

It's amazing that he manged to fool so many for so long. Diabolical little man. Gordon wasn't much better.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Best conservative PM that Labour ever had.

 

IMO Cameron was the last real statesman.

Cameron! Thou jest assuredly.

 

While not confined to the UK, I can't remember the last decent PM/ president of a western country, though JFK came close.

[mokwit]

40 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

You could go back further, to the Grey man ousting Thatcher.

 

Black Wednesday and Edwina Currie being his notable achievements.

Major was a very nasty man. I really don't think he ousted Thatcher, there were other people who did that and put their puppet in. It was time to dump the Nationalism and get right down to Globalism. Funny how we never knew his background, seems he was brought up in a family of trapeze artists in Brixton, and then there is nothing about his adult career because he was working for Standard Chartered Bank in Africa.

 

He walked into a Savile Row tailors when I was there, I really considered whether I should go over to him and smack him in the mouth.

[mokwit]

It must be quite a strain being beholden to Israel whilst at the same time having to pander to the Muslim vote.

[IvorBiggun2]

Worst Labour PM ever:- James Callaghan. IMO

[connda]

Tough - quit!

[actonion]

The only break that Pillock needs  is his neck

[The Cyclist]

9 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Major was a very nasty man. I really don't think he ousted Thatcher, there were other people who did that and put their puppet in.

 

For sure, the europhiles were sharpening the  knives as soon as she made her 1988 Brugge speech, but Major was one of them.

 

15 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Funny how we never knew his background,

 

Cannot say I agree with this. He had been involved with the Tory Party since he was 16 years old and elected as a Councillor when he was about 25 and then a Tory MP when he was about 35.

[mokwit]

4 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

For sure, the europhiles were sharpening the  knives as soon as she made her 1988 Brugge speech, but Major was one of them.

 

 

Cannot say I agree with this. He had been involved with the Tory Party since he was 16 years old and elected as a Councillor when he was about 25 and then a Tory MP when he was about 35.

Ok perhaps you information or memory on this is better than mine.

[The Cyclist]

15 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Ok perhaps you information or memory on this is better than mine.

 

Elected to Lambeth Council in 1968 after nearly a decade in the Tory Party Youth Wing. The rest of his political career is quite straightforward.

 

What he was doing during those Youth Wing  years, I have no idea.

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The ' Strain ' hasn't even started yet.

 

Unless there is a quick U-Turn on the workers rights Bill, millions of part time workers are going to be unemployed.

 

Unless there is a quick U-Turn on the employers NI rises, millions of other workers are going to be unemployed.

 

Wealth creators already fleeing Socialist Paradise.

 

Double digit inflation and interest rates to follow.

 

Tax rises to follow  that.

 

Nothing to see here, move along now.

 

Do you have any data to back up these claims?  I am no fan of the Labour fiscal policies, but Labour was given a mandate to manage the  economy as per the Labour economic platform which was well documented as being what I would term as F-ed up craziness.

 

Who are the wealth creators who have fled and how much has it actually cost the UK economy. I offer that there are not many and that most if not all were already  engaged in an aggressive tax minimization strategy. 

 

Maybe the UK needs to get really bad before it can get better because the UK electorate are so stupid and selfish that unless they feel real pain they won't think things through. Most of the loudest complainers are financial parasites.  The UK is a nation of mob rule where taking  a handout is the norm. In FYE 2023, 52.6% of all UK individuals were net recipients (living in households receiving more in benefits than they paid in taxes). That's a rather disgusting statistic and a rather grim reality for the UK. Laziness and ineptitude is rewarded.

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/19/more-than-half-of-britain-receives-more-in-benefits/

 

[Patong2021]

1 hour ago, mokwit said:

It must be quite a strain being beholden to Israel whilst at the same time having to pander to the Muslim vote.

 

If you hate Israel, just say that. No need to try and cover with nonsensical claims of being beholden to Israel. It is a well documented fact that the UK has more money invested in the Arab world than it does in Israel, and that the UK financial system, particularly its London bankers' prosperity is very much dependent upon Gulf financial interests.