| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live 19:00 - Sep 18 with 3248 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
And I have to say, Starmer conducted himself very well.
He had a bit of a wobble when asked if the UK would call antifa groups terrorists, but other than that I thought he spoke superbly, very statesman-like, kept Trump onside without bowing down to him, and fielded the rest of the questions really well.
I felt proud to be British!
Trump fielded the questions well as well, but he did wander off on some bizarre rants (particularly having lots of pops at Biden, which left Starmer looking a bit awkward).
Whatever one thinks of Starmer and/or this government, he did a well in what could've been a very difficult/tricky situation. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:12 - Sep 18 with 3186 views | J2BLUE |
Starmer has consistently proven himself on the world stage.
Getting it right at home is the bit they are struggling with. I think he would do well to cut Reeves loose now and get someone new in for the budget. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:34 - Sep 18 with 3053 views | NthQldITFC |
Yup, fair dos. I want him out and a proper Labour PM in. Or a Green/Lib Dem coalition as Dubbers' authoritative poll here the other day showed is possible. But he did a good job in that press conference and didn't kowtow to the c***. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:38 - Sep 18 with 3036 views | Swansea_Blue |
I had the start of it on the radio as I was trying to work out how to get two teenagers at places 5 miles apart at the same time in Swansea traffic (I failed).
I can only think of one word to sum up what I heard. Politics. It was theatre for the masses to consume. There’s some good stuff for UK Plc, but still. Fawning over each other felt so fake  .
I agree that this is Starmer’s forte. Seemingly having no principles (or at least not making them clear) allows you to be very flexible and appeal to those you negotiate with, as you can easily bend to meet them and they can’t pigeon hole you. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 with 3021 views | EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |  | | |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 with 3004 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:34 - Sep 18 by NthQldITFC |
Yup, fair dos. I want him out and a proper Labour PM in. Or a Green/Lib Dem coalition as Dubbers' authoritative poll here the other day showed is possible. But he did a good job in that press conference and didn't kowtow to the c***. |
Maybe he could move across to be US Ambassador lol | |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:44 - Sep 18 with 2993 views | SomethingBlue |
Starmer is on the whole a very good statesman indeed, much as the entire spectacle made me want to smash the TV in. As others have said the issue is mostly his handling of domestic matters/the voices he listens to when doing so. Though I would caveat by saying it's usually overlooked that most of the media were labelling his government a disaster within literally two weeks of him taking office – the course we are on now, and especially the narrative that exists around it, was entirely predetermined and will not move an inch until Farage is in. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:58 - Sep 18 with 2894 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:44 - Sep 18 by SomethingBlue |
Starmer is on the whole a very good statesman indeed, much as the entire spectacle made me want to smash the TV in. As others have said the issue is mostly his handling of domestic matters/the voices he listens to when doing so. Though I would caveat by saying it's usually overlooked that most of the media were labelling his government a disaster within literally two weeks of him taking office – the course we are on now, and especially the narrative that exists around it, was entirely predetermined and will not move an inch until Farage is in. |
I think there's been plenty of missteps, but also lots of good stuff. Unfortunately the good stuff has been on the smaller side of the scale, largely not highlighted in the press, and the press like to make a banquet of the bad stuff.
If everything were reported equally, Starmer and this government wouldn't have anywhere near the low ratings. [Post edited 18 Sep 19:59]
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:13 - Sep 18 with 2777 views | SitfcB |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
Yes.
It’s still mental how he got to become ‘one of the most powerful people in the world’ when you was just an ordinary businessman who had a TV show as well haha.
I remember when he first ran for presidency and it was all a bit of a joke and how people said he’d never actually get in…  |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:15 - Sep 18 with 2766 views | iamatractorboy |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
It's an utterly mystery to me how he has become the leader of a cult with millions of followers. He has all the charisma of an overcooked cabbage. | | | |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:24 - Sep 18 with 2680 views | Guthrum |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
He doesn't need to be a good public speaker (Boris Johnson wasn't either). He's not trying to persuade wavering electors to back his ideas using reason. He's welcoming a bunch of people who are projecting their desires onto him, safe in the knowlege that nearly half of the USA will vote Republican come what may (and nearly half Democrat, also).
Indeed, the word salad may actually help. By not making clear and precise statements, he leaves a lot of room for listeners to read into things whatever they want - especially as they are desperate for anyone who will promise to fulfil their desires.
On the business side, Trump has always had large organisation doing most of the leg-work for him. Then he gets to sit down with the other head honchos and sign off on the deals which have been negotiated. He's never had to interview for his position, to present a clear vision of his plans to a critical audience. He inherited it all from his father. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 with 2628 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:44 - Sep 18 by SomethingBlue |
Starmer is on the whole a very good statesman indeed, much as the entire spectacle made me want to smash the TV in. As others have said the issue is mostly his handling of domestic matters/the voices he listens to when doing so. Though I would caveat by saying it's usually overlooked that most of the media were labelling his government a disaster within literally two weeks of him taking office – the course we are on now, and especially the narrative that exists around it, was entirely predetermined and will not move an inch until Farage is in. |
We’re certainly being pushed towards Farage. I’d like to think it’s not inevitable (maybe naively). The obvious and overriding argument against Reform is that Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off. Just those three issues alone have cost the UK tens of billions in lost tax revenue a year, led to many job losses, left our public services floundering and limited what the current government can do about it. He wants to increase that pain so he can get one over the establishment and his backers can take more money out of our economy.
None of that is refutable. It’s all proven by independent and official bodies and is in the public domain. I’d like to think people aren’t daft enough to ignore all that. But then we’ve been here with Brexit, so never underestimate our predilection towards self harm for tribal reasons. My answer to that would be if Brexit and immigration controls were the answer to why people feel abandoned, they shouldn’t feel abandoned any more as we have those things! Brexit has been implemented and immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago. Labour have even continued on the austerity path for you.
So we are already doing the things Reform wants. Does anyone still feel hard done by or that they can’t get a GP appointment the same day, or their disposable income is shrinking? If so, Reform can’t be the answer as we’ve tried their approach. More of it won’t work, it’ll just make everything you currently dislike even worse. At some point it would be worth asking, has Farage maybe lied to us?
I don’t know what the answer is btw. I only know what the answer isn’t, so this is only half of the story. | |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 with 2625 views | Edmundo |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
Trump inherited a fortune, lost it, then bailed himself out through contacts who knew he was a "useful idiot" who might make President one day. Some of those contacts were Russian mafia in the 90s. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:50 - Sep 18 with 2516 views | BlueNomad |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 by Swansea_Blue |
We’re certainly being pushed towards Farage. I’d like to think it’s not inevitable (maybe naively). The obvious and overriding argument against Reform is that Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off. Just those three issues alone have cost the UK tens of billions in lost tax revenue a year, led to many job losses, left our public services floundering and limited what the current government can do about it. He wants to increase that pain so he can get one over the establishment and his backers can take more money out of our economy.
None of that is refutable. It’s all proven by independent and official bodies and is in the public domain. I’d like to think people aren’t daft enough to ignore all that. But then we’ve been here with Brexit, so never underestimate our predilection towards self harm for tribal reasons. My answer to that would be if Brexit and immigration controls were the answer to why people feel abandoned, they shouldn’t feel abandoned any more as we have those things! Brexit has been implemented and immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago. Labour have even continued on the austerity path for you.
So we are already doing the things Reform wants. Does anyone still feel hard done by or that they can’t get a GP appointment the same day, or their disposable income is shrinking? If so, Reform can’t be the answer as we’ve tried their approach. More of it won’t work, it’ll just make everything you currently dislike even worse. At some point it would be worth asking, has Farage maybe lied to us?
I don’t know what the answer is btw. I only know what the answer isn’t, so this is only half of the story. |
Excellent summary.
The problem is that many people look know further than thinking “Nige will sort it.” They cannot articulate Reform policies, almost an impossibility anyway, but have no interest in thinking deeply about the issues that affect us. Your critique of Farage has too many big words in for many of them; they don’t fit on tik tok.
I fear for the future. |  | | |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:52 - Sep 18 with 2496 views | Illinoisblue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 by Swansea_Blue |
We’re certainly being pushed towards Farage. I’d like to think it’s not inevitable (maybe naively). The obvious and overriding argument against Reform is that Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off. Just those three issues alone have cost the UK tens of billions in lost tax revenue a year, led to many job losses, left our public services floundering and limited what the current government can do about it. He wants to increase that pain so he can get one over the establishment and his backers can take more money out of our economy.
None of that is refutable. It’s all proven by independent and official bodies and is in the public domain. I’d like to think people aren’t daft enough to ignore all that. But then we’ve been here with Brexit, so never underestimate our predilection towards self harm for tribal reasons. My answer to that would be if Brexit and immigration controls were the answer to why people feel abandoned, they shouldn’t feel abandoned any more as we have those things! Brexit has been implemented and immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago. Labour have even continued on the austerity path for you.
So we are already doing the things Reform wants. Does anyone still feel hard done by or that they can’t get a GP appointment the same day, or their disposable income is shrinking? If so, Reform can’t be the answer as we’ve tried their approach. More of it won’t work, it’ll just make everything you currently dislike even worse. At some point it would be worth asking, has Farage maybe lied to us?
I don’t know what the answer is btw. I only know what the answer isn’t, so this is only half of the story. |
Is “man of the people” Nigel still banking at Coutts? Forget how that story ended. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 21:08 - Sep 18 with 2409 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:52 - Sep 18 by Illinoisblue |
Is “man of the people” Nigel still banking at Coutts? Forget how that story ended. |
I think so. That sort of stuff does’t cut through for some reason. Apparently a photo op with pint in hand weighs a lot more than being a multi-millionaire. | |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 21:10 - Sep 18 with 2391 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:50 - Sep 18 by BlueNomad |
Excellent summary.
The problem is that many people look know further than thinking “Nige will sort it.” They cannot articulate Reform policies, almost an impossibility anyway, but have no interest in thinking deeply about the issues that affect us. Your critique of Farage has too many big words in for many of them; they don’t fit on tik tok.
I fear for the future. |
I’m sure it could be condensed onto a short slogan somehow. Bottom line is that the things he wanted have happened and it’s made us all poorer.
Ah, not all of us. His buddies who profiteered off Brexit and he himself have got a lot richer.
Hmm, maybe it’s not so easy to fit into a good slogan. A good point though. Anything that requires reading is not going to cut through. [Post edited 18 Sep 21:12]
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 21:19 - Sep 18 with 2331 views | DJR |
It is clearly in the foreign affairs field that Starmer excels. It probably suits both his lawyerly skills and his experience of running a government department: James Landell on the BBC was saying, for example, that he ran a very tight press conference today. It also appears to be the case that he is more clubbable (in the sense of charming people like Trump) than his public persona might suggest.
On the more grubby domestic front, it strikes me that his main failing may well be a lack of the sort of political nous that comes with involvement in politics for a lot longer period than he has had. But he has inherited a bad hand, and does seem to be getting flack for failing to solve the mess of the 14 years of a Tory government. [Post edited 19 Sep 8:59]
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 22:38 - Sep 18 with 2040 views | ITFC_Forever |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 by Swansea_Blue |
We’re certainly being pushed towards Farage. I’d like to think it’s not inevitable (maybe naively). The obvious and overriding argument against Reform is that Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off. Just those three issues alone have cost the UK tens of billions in lost tax revenue a year, led to many job losses, left our public services floundering and limited what the current government can do about it. He wants to increase that pain so he can get one over the establishment and his backers can take more money out of our economy.
None of that is refutable. It’s all proven by independent and official bodies and is in the public domain. I’d like to think people aren’t daft enough to ignore all that. But then we’ve been here with Brexit, so never underestimate our predilection towards self harm for tribal reasons. My answer to that would be if Brexit and immigration controls were the answer to why people feel abandoned, they shouldn’t feel abandoned any more as we have those things! Brexit has been implemented and immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago. Labour have even continued on the austerity path for you.
So we are already doing the things Reform wants. Does anyone still feel hard done by or that they can’t get a GP appointment the same day, or their disposable income is shrinking? If so, Reform can’t be the answer as we’ve tried their approach. More of it won’t work, it’ll just make everything you currently dislike even worse. At some point it would be worth asking, has Farage maybe lied to us?
I don’t know what the answer is btw. I only know what the answer isn’t, so this is only half of the story. |
But the average bellend in the street doesn’t care for anything other sensationalist headlines and the garbage the vocal minority shout about.
They’d have stopped using any kind of rational thinking at the Brexit referendum. That divided our country so much, that most who voted for it can’t be seen to be wrong and have therefore doubled down on supporting it and all the polices that come with it so as not to lose face.
Unfortunately Starmer has fallen into the trap of trying to appeal and appease people he’ll never win over rather than concentrating on those he can.
By trying to please his supporters and those on the other side, he is caught in the middle and pleasing neither. |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 22:52 - Sep 18 with 1964 views | lowhouseblue |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 20:30 - Sep 18 by Swansea_Blue |
We’re certainly being pushed towards Farage. I’d like to think it’s not inevitable (maybe naively). The obvious and overriding argument against Reform is that Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off. Just those three issues alone have cost the UK tens of billions in lost tax revenue a year, led to many job losses, left our public services floundering and limited what the current government can do about it. He wants to increase that pain so he can get one over the establishment and his backers can take more money out of our economy.
None of that is refutable. It’s all proven by independent and official bodies and is in the public domain. I’d like to think people aren’t daft enough to ignore all that. But then we’ve been here with Brexit, so never underestimate our predilection towards self harm for tribal reasons. My answer to that would be if Brexit and immigration controls were the answer to why people feel abandoned, they shouldn’t feel abandoned any more as we have those things! Brexit has been implemented and immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago. Labour have even continued on the austerity path for you.
So we are already doing the things Reform wants. Does anyone still feel hard done by or that they can’t get a GP appointment the same day, or their disposable income is shrinking? If so, Reform can’t be the answer as we’ve tried their approach. More of it won’t work, it’ll just make everything you currently dislike even worse. At some point it would be worth asking, has Farage maybe lied to us?
I don’t know what the answer is btw. I only know what the answer isn’t, so this is only half of the story. |
"Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off."
how has farage's position on immigration led to us being worse off? farage has argued to reduce immigration but it has remained at record levels. how has his position on immigration "led to us being worse off" when his views haven't been implemented?
"immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago"
2024 - net migration = approx 700,000
2014 - net migration = approx 300,000
source ons
i'm not defending farage - i'm just pointing out that what you've written makes no sense. |  |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 23:44 - Sep 18 with 1789 views | vinceg |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:12 - Sep 18 by J2BLUE |
Starmer has consistently proven himself on the world stage.
Getting it right at home is the bit they are struggling with. I think he would do well to cut Reeves loose now and get someone new in for the budget. |
I'm a lifelong Tory voter (although God knows what I'm going to do at the next general election tbh). But I'm one of those rare Tories who is magnanimous enough to recognise when politicians from other parties are genuinely decent people, are doing things well, and trying to stick to their principles, rather than compromising them to win votes. Hell, I even went to An Evening with Tony Benn at the Gaumont back in the day.
I think your summary of the PM is where I am too. In every meeting so far Starmer has handled The Orange One perfectly, and the surprise letter from the King in the White House was a masterstroke.
I'm not sure Starmer is quite yet the international statesman and let's not forget, Mrs Thatcher was still widely revered abroad at the time of her dismissal, so respect on the world stage is no guarantee of continuity in office. The home affairs that are testing him currently may yet be his undoing especially with the lamentable Reeves in tow, I agree |  | | |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 01:14 - Sep 19 with 1577 views | Vic |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
sorry, fat fingers - meant to uppie! |  |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 01:23 - Sep 19 with 1566 views | Vic |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 22:52 - Sep 18 by lowhouseblue |
"Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off."
how has farage's position on immigration led to us being worse off? farage has argued to reduce immigration but it has remained at record levels. how has his position on immigration "led to us being worse off" when his views haven't been implemented?
"immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago"
2024 - net migration = approx 700,000
2014 - net migration = approx 300,000
source ons
i'm not defending farage - i'm just pointing out that what you've written makes no sense. |
He argued for Brexit (an immigration issue) - a decision which most economists accept has left us worse off. | |
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| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 07:07 - Sep 19 with 1060 views | DJR |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 22:52 - Sep 18 by lowhouseblue |
"Farage has argued and campaigned for every significant thing that has led to us being worse off than we would have been. Brexit: worse off. Immigration: worse off. Austerity: worse off."
how has farage's position on immigration led to us being worse off? farage has argued to reduce immigration but it has remained at record levels. how has his position on immigration "led to us being worse off" when his views haven't been implemented?
"immigration controls have been tightened beyond anything we could imagine 10 years ago"
2024 - net migration = approx 700,000
2014 - net migration = approx 300,000
source ons
i'm not defending farage - i'm just pointing out that what you've written makes no sense. |
For the avoidance of doubt, is something along the lines of your last paragraph going to appear more often in your future posts?  | | | |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 10:01 - Sep 19 with 629 views | Libero |
| I watched that Trump/Starmer press conference live on 19:42 - Sep 18 by EuanTown |
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how trump has got where he has, as I feel he is not a good orator. For a business man and politician he does seem quite poor. |
Not really, life isn't a meritocracy, he "took a small loan of a million dollars" from his wealthy family, crashed a million businesses to the ground- ran scams and met influential people.
But you won't be alone in your bemusement, I still meet adults who believe that how successful someone is, is a direct representation of how hard they've worked. [Post edited 19 Sep 10:01]
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