Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU

Ret'd clinical psychologist & Hon Research Fellow, Philosophy Dept, Nottingham University. PhD. Anti-Tory. Lib Dem. Can be sweary and blunt #KTTO #FBPE

[Michael Crick @MichaelLCrick]

In old days, PMs who resigned mid-Parliament usually stayed at least til next election. Churchill lasted til the third election after his resignation. But now we've had 3 PMs in 20 years - Blair, Cameron & Starmer - who've quit as MP within weeks.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

One notable difference between Burnham and Starmer. Almost as soon as he became PM, Burnham talked strongly about his determination to put and end to rough sleeping and he's repeated that promise.
I don't recall Starmer ever talking in those terms.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@Azhae985 Yes

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @SteveSmith_cam It looks like you've still misunderstood what I was actually saying in my earlier tweet.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@TedUrchin @topcat_terry @UKLabour Labour has real problems in knowing how to replace its leader. Tories have a clearer system - letters to the chair of the 1922 c'ttee etc. Labour has nothing similar. Too many MPs needed to support any challenger to Burnham due to Starmer's rule change. It needs to sort that out.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @SteveSmith_cam Politicians are allowed to change their minds. In Starmer's case, he changed it amazingly quickly.

But I think you misunderstood my tweet. I wasn't saying he shouldn't change his mind. I was just offering an opinion as to why others are criticising him. I hope that clarifies it.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @lmharpin I'm not going to argue with you about that.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @lmharpin It wasn't PMQs, so there was no obligation on him to do so. But from the parts I saw, he did answer some questions.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@Anna_Firth @andyburnham @KemiBadenoch I think you obviously watched a different session in Parliament than the rest of us, Anna! 🤣

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@mbroschools @David__Osland It was only about two months ago that he promised to stay on as an MP until the next election. I don't think his house has been fire-bombed since then, has it?? 🤔

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@steverichards14 It is the truth, and also refreshing because no other prime minister has said it so clearly. I don't recall Starmer ever making that point at all.

[steve richards @steverichards14]

I know Andy Burnham has made the point repeatedly in recent months.. but still refreshing to hear a prime minister in the Commons route UK’s problems in the 1980s (he also rightly cited Brexit)..refreshing because it’s the truth.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@AngelaYorks @PeterStefanovi2 Is that REALLY the best you can come up with? He's just given a very strong speech in the Commons and run rings round Badenoch, yet all you can do is nitpick about him not mentioning Starmer by name! 🤦‍♂️

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@oldishbird1 @ChillaxBcn Or alternatively...
https://t.co/mNj3CNI5fO

[Annette Dittert  @annettedittert]

Starmers timing - creating a tricky by election on the day Burnham takes his seat in the Commons - smacks of petty revenge.
He prob never was the kind of decent guy he tried to paint himself as.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@HughEdw31897368 @Keir_Starmer Or alternatively...
https://t.co/mNj3CNI5fO

[Annette Dittert  @annettedittert]

Starmers timing - creating a tricky by election on the day Burnham takes his seat in the Commons - smacks of petty revenge.
He prob never was the kind of decent guy he tried to paint himself as.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @oldishbird1 Sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about now.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@oldishbird1 I expect him to want the Labour government to succeed and to avoid creating any unnecessary distractions.

That matters to me, not because I'm a Labour member (I'm not), but because the alternative is too grim to contemplate. And we were beginning to contemplate it back in May.

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

A lot of people on this platform currently seem to think that politics ought to be like a gentlemen's cricket match, not the rough old business it actually is. But as President Harry Truman once memorably said "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"!

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@timetoshine1234 @oldishbird1 Depends on how much he wants to see the new Labour prime minister succeed in conveying his message for the country without any distraction, I suppose. I assume he still supports the Labour government. 🤔

[Richard Hassall @rhassall.bsky.social 🔶 #RejoinEU @RHHassall]

@garygilligan @color4d Well it is hard to disagree with that even it's from him, isn't it! 😎