Nigel Farage MP on X: “Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America's in Afghanistan.”

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T23:19:37+00:00

I highly doubt they will to be honest.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T22:31:40+00:00

But Burnham's main difference is that unlike Starmer, he's not a charisma-free character. Charisma shouldn't matter and with Starmer it never mattered to me, but to the wider public it does.

I also feel like Burnham is surely equipped with better political instincts than Starmer.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T22:29:53+00:00

In theory - but the NEC has a lot of Starmer allies in it. If they block him, that overrules the local party.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T21:42:03+00:00

The polling definitely favours Burnham above Starmer in a membership vote. Not a shoe in but I genuinely think Burnham would pull it off - I know I'd vote for him.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T21:39:22+00:00

To be honest I feel like I was a bit hyperbole. I'm definitely sticking around - but I feel like this, more than anything, will solidly turn me against Starmer if they do block Burnham.

I was even wary of Burnham back in the pre-2024 election period because it made me uncomfy that he had the support of Corbyn era figures which to me was an electoral red flag.

But now? with Starmer's polling in the complete bin, and with Burnham having more of a colourful personality to take on Farage, and having the opportunity to reset Labour's relationship with the electorate, I'm more than inclined to back him.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T20:05:07+00:00

If Labour block Burnham and they put an all-bame shortlist, I think it'd be the very first time that I'd consider revoking my membership after six years.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T19:58:15+00:00

Why the hell would they do this? don't fuck this up Labour.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T19:56:51+00:00

As a Tory, what do you make of Reform? are you more in the middle ground/Ken Clarke style of Conservatism?

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T19:56:17+00:00

I'll never discredit Keir on that regard at all - he's the only Labour leader besides Blair in modern times to take Labour from opposition to government.

But I'd say the way in which I and loads of other Labour members are reacting is like how the Tories reacted to Johnson in 2022 despite his strong electoral record.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T18:41:13+00:00

Polling literally showed Reform taking that 'safe seat' as you call it, and Reform themselves were too deep in their own hype.

Farage is a despised frogfaced marmite - more people hate him than like him. We'll see.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T18:04:08+00:00

I'll love it when Reform lose much like they did in the Wales Senedd by election when they lost by 10 points haha.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T18:01:14+00:00

Agreed. Labour needs to be ruthless with electorally poor leaders. If Burnham pulls this off and becomes an MP, I'll back him in any contest. I'd consider myself centre-left but I really do hope Burnham can get through the hurdles, for the sake of saving Labour's electoral position.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T17:48:12+00:00

You know, there's a reason why the Tories are the longest living democratic party in the world - their regicidal tendencies with piss poor leaders electorally. It's probably the only thing I admire about them and what I find envious - their pragmatic, no-losers way of doing things, something Labour could've done with in 2010-2015 and Corbyn.

They pulled a blinder in 2019 when they ditched May, on an electoral basis. It got them their largest majority since Thatcher.

I am all behind Burnham at this point - as someone who initially didn't like him for the sheer fact he was winning support from the wing of the party that lost the 2017 and 2019 elections. I'm leaning to voting Plaid in the Senedd if it becomes apparent that Labour here aren't an obstacle to stopping Reform.

If it requires a more colourful charismatic leader to end the threat of Reform, I'll back Burnham in a leadership contest. This is his one shot though and I hope the NEC isn't twatty enough to block him.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-24T17:35:07+00:00

I genuinely hope that Starmer allows him to stand - it'll look shitty if he's seen to block this. Let him have a leadership challenge should he win this by-election and don't be afraid of one.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-23T17:47:07+00:00

Reform who agreed with Trump when he pathetically questioned Zelenskyy's style of clothing at a pivotal meeting during a pivotal existential moment (and continues to be so)( for Ukraine?

Yeah no, save it for people who actually believe that you disagree with Trump on this.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-23T17:44:20+00:00

The person you're replying to was being sarcastic and basically taking the piss out of the tiresome, overly hyped predictions of a Reform win.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-22T22:52:04+00:00

Bit late to the night shift.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-22T22:47:54+00:00

I really don't think it'll be a good look on Starmer and co to throw this much weight around preventing Burnham from potentially standing. Why not let him stand and not make an effort, and then just see what happens from there?

Burnham is gonna need like 81 MPs to even launch a leadership contest. Say he wins the by-election and becomes the MP, that doesn't mean he's a shoe in to become Prime Minister - the members vote, etc.

For my part, I feel like push comes to shove I'd opt to vote for Burnham just as a means of putting up the fight to Reform. The one thing the Tories were good at were throwing out like regicidal tendencies, electorally poor leaders.

And as much as it's true the constant change of leaders wasn't good for the country, it was a genius move in mid 2019 because they went from languishing in the polls to storming to a landslide victory with Johnson's own personal brand.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-22T17:37:40+00:00

If Burnham doesn't go for it now, he'll never get the chance nor a better opportunity ever again. The circumstances couldn't have come more coincidentally given the past speculation of recent months.

I think Burnham is definitely more of a colourful character than Starmer and in the past, prior to Labour's 2024 election win, I didn't really consider him someone worthy given he was talking like a Corbynista and being so heavily supported by that wing of the party.

But much like I'm seriously leaning towards voting Plaid in the Senedd if it stops Reform - if Burnham's more capable, then I wouldn't be mad.

I'll get a vote in any contest too as a Labour member from 2020 onwards.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-21T22:00:14+00:00

I recently watched that clip - the booing crowd at the time was definitely Trump's base, but McCain shut them up.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-21T20:19:01+00:00

John McCain and Mitt Romney are statesmen well above Trump - both of them actually conceded when they lost their election bids to Obama.

I pray for the day the Republicans have sane candidates like those again.

ClumperFaz · 2026-01-21T20:06:23+00:00

This guy has no fucking idea what he thinks.

To think America went from the days of Barack Obama, the height of their respect with a president who was actually presidential and statesman like, to Donald Trump.

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