In the wake of Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as prime minister after two years in power, readers have weighed in on whether the public needs to be more patient with their leaders. Starmer was the sixth PM in ten years, prompting a debate about the role of the electorate in political instability.
Patience and Long-Term Thinking
Tony Howarth from London argued that the problem lies with voters, not just politicians. 'If a problem isn’t solved faster than a cup of water heating in the microwave, we turn on them,' he wrote. He questioned what happened to giving governments time, noting that governing should be about long-term thinking. 'We put them in office for a fixed period to do a job, yet we rarely give them the time to do it. Then we blame them when things don’t improve quickly enough,' he added. Howarth concluded that democracy reflects not just the quality of politicians but also the quality of our choices and willingness to live with them.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Lorraine from Barking pointed out that Starmer had warned before his election that improvements would take time. She criticized ministers who resigned when they didn't get their way, comparing them to children throwing toys out of the pram. She referenced Margaret Thatcher's mantra 'The lady's not for turning,' noting that Thatcher sacked ministers who disagreed with her. Lorraine called for a general election to determine who is fit to be the next democratically elected PM, warning readers to 'be careful who you wish for.'
Trump's Business Acumen and Iran Deal
R Walker from Glasgow shifted focus to international affairs, praising President Trump's business acumen after a deal with Iran. Walker claimed Trump expended billions of dollars using armaments to destroy much of Iran, paid for by American taxpayers, and that Iran is now set to receive $300 billion worth of reconstruction, presumably by US companies or their associates. He called Trump 'a true business genius.'
Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Trevor from Bromley commented on the proposed UK social media ban for under-16s, arguing it will not work, similar to Australia's experience. He warned that children will access social media via adult accounts, the dark web, or dangerous VPNs, where they will see content 'a million times worse' than current social media. He acknowledged problems with social media but said a ban is not the solution.
Royal Mail Stamp Prices
Eric from York questioned whether the cost of second-class stamps will drop from 91p to 45p, given that Royal Mail now delivers second-class mail on alternate weekdays instead of six days a week. He noted the company will make huge savings on its postal staff wage bill, as they will work 20 hours a week instead of 40.
In a lighter note, Jeff from Nuneaton shared a pun: 'When I first met my wife, I knew she was a keeper. It was the massive gloves she wore.'
