How has Starmer got to this point? Readers discuss

Readers discuss Starmer’s political future, Brexit and the legacy of the Tories (Picture: Source: AFP) Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments Why are people so quick to get rid of leaders when things go wrong? Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political survival after Labour’s dramatic losses in the local elections (Metro, Thu). But why are people so quick to get rid of leaders when things go wrong? What happened to team loyalty? And would any of the wannabe prime ministers have stood up to Donald Trump like Sir Keir and refuse to get us involved in the Iran war? Elaine, Islington Life imitating art? In a recent episode of TV hit Daredevil: Born Again, the villainous mayor Fisk was told to resign. Refusing, his response was, ‘There’s a process for what you propose. I suggest you start that up.’ Keir Starmer has been asked to resign. Refusing, his response was, ‘The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.’ Life imitating art? Owen, London ‘The Tories failed to deal with massive legal and illegal immigration’ TG (MetroTalk, Wed) says ‘it doesn’t matter what Labour or Keir Starmer do, it’ll never be enough to tempt back those who have blindly voted for Reform’. TG doesn’t understand why ‘ungrateful’ voters have turned to Reform despite, for instance, Starmer nationalising British Steel and saving thousands of jobs –and thinks it’s time ‘for Labour to forget these voters and concentrate on the majority of the people of the UK’ who want to overturn Brexit. The trouble is the majority of voters in Britain – the white, working-class men and women who voted Conservative in 2019 and then shifted to Reform and Labour in 2024 – did so largely because the Tories failed to deal with massive legal and illegal immigration and a burgeoning welfare bill. Labour have equally failed to tackle these issues and consequently most of the working class and many middle-class voters have now moved to Reform. Maurice Glasman of Blue Labour has argued this point forcefully but to no avail. This shift to the right primarily as a response to mass migration is prevalent throughout Europe and indeed in America. I agree with TG that leaving the EU was a disaster but that was the decision of the majority of voters and doesn’t assist Labour in clawing back its lost voters. Chris Shepherd, London People are having too many kids Nick (MetroTalk, Thu) says concerns over too much traffic and too few houses fail to address the real problem – that people are having too many kids. I have one question for you, Nick. Who will pay for your pension and public services if the young working and tax-paying population reduces? Pedro, Hammersmith Dating now is ‘hard work’ Regarding Siena Hocking’s account of ‘flirting’, ‘ghosting’ and ‘negging’ as she looks for a boyfriend online (Metro, Wed) – dating in the digital age sounds like hard work and not much fun. Sara, Cheltenham ‘The heck, TfL?’ I got an email from Transport for London with the subject line, ‘Get out and enjoy the sunshine, Ersire’ encouraging me to enjoy the day and use public transport. Amazing. Then I received an email saying, ‘The next transport strike will be on Tuesday to Friday.’ The heck, TfL? Ersire, London Resident joker… The answerphone at SeaWorld said, ‘Please leave a message after the tone and it will be used for training porpoises.’ Jeff, Nuneaton Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments Arrow MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables Arrow MORE: Kurt Geiger’s new Cabana collection is the ultimate summer wardrobe upgrade Arrow MORE: I tried the Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs – it pleasantly surprised me Puzzles Newsletter Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!