‎Sir Keir Starmer QC, KCB. for Labour leader

Activists are urging the new MP, former Director of Public Prosecutions, who said of why he became a lawyer “I wanted to be a human rights lawyer to change things for individuals who most needed my legal help and assistance,” to stand as Leader. That's thinking outside the box and would frighten the life out of Cameron.

Well yes, because he sounds like an ordinary sort of chap who would understand all about ordinary working people, what with him being a "Sir" and all that.

it's all academic as Len McClusky is choosing the next labour leader just like he chose the last one.

Raggamuffin wrote:Well yes, because he sounds like an ordinary sort of chap who would understand all about ordinary working people, what with him being a "Sir" and all that.

Oh dear Rags, can't you tell the difference between a Lord and a 'Sir' which has been earned by services to the country?

Starmer was the second of four children. He was named after former Labour Party leader and socialist Keir Hardie.[3] He passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School,[3] then a voluntary aided school. He graduated with a 1st class degree as Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and, after pursuing postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxon) in 1986.[4]
Legal career

Starmer became a barrister in 1987, appointed Queen's Counsel in 2002, and was joint head of his chambers, Doughty Street Chambers.

Acting in several appeals to the Privy Council for defendants who had been sentenced to death in Caribbean countries, his legal submissions led to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in those countries. He worked with lawyers in African countries towards the same end. In 2005 he persuaded the House of Lords that evidence obtained by torture should be inadmissible in court. In 2007 he represented two alleged terrorists in a case in the House of Lords in which he successfully challenged their control orders on human rights grounds. He has also acted in 15 other cases in the House of Lords since 1999, including two cases about the conduct of British soldiers in Iraq, and representing David Shayler in his appeal against conviction for breaching the Official Secrets Act 1989. He gave free legal advice to the defendants in the "McLibel" case,[5] and was interviewed twice — ten years apart — in Franny Armstrong's 2005 documentary, McLibel.

He was a human rights advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers. He is a member of the Foreign Secretary's Death Penalty Advisory Panel. In 2007 he was named "QC of the Year"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer

risingsun wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Well yes, because he sounds like an ordinary sort of chap who would understand all about ordinary working people, what with him being a "Sir" and all that.

Oh dear Rags, can't you tell the difference between a Lord and a 'Sir' which has been earned by services to the country?

Starmer was the second of four children. He was named after former Labour Party leader and socialist Keir Hardie.[3] He passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School,[3] then a voluntary aided school. He graduated with a 1st class degree as Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and, after pursuing postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxon) in 1986.[4]
Legal career

Starmer became a barrister in 1987, appointed Queen's Counsel in 2002, and was joint head of his chambers, Doughty Street Chambers.

Acting in several appeals to the Privy Council for defendants who had been sentenced to death in Caribbean countries, his legal submissions led to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in those countries. He worked with lawyers in African countries towards the same end. In 2005 he persuaded the House of Lords that evidence obtained by torture should be inadmissible in court. In 2007 he represented two alleged terrorists in a case in the House of Lords in which he successfully challenged their control orders on human rights grounds. He has also acted in 15 other cases in the House of Lords since 1999, including two cases about the conduct of British soldiers in Iraq, and representing David Shayler in his appeal against conviction for breaching the Official Secrets Act 1989. He gave free legal advice to the defendants in the "McLibel" case,[5] and was interviewed twice — ten years apart — in Franny Armstrong's 2005 documentary, McLibel.

He was a human rights advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers. He is a member of the Foreign Secretary's Death Penalty Advisory Panel. In 2007 he was named "QC of the Year"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer

It's still all a bit "establishment" isn't it? He has an "honorary degree" and an "honorary doctorate" as well - I'm not a fan of those either.

Being a Lord isn't necessarily hereditary anyway - think of Lord Archer

The son of a Toolmaker and Nurse, and worked his way up.  Actually “I wanted to be a human rights lawyer to change things for individuals who most needed my legal help and assistance,” is very anti establishment and that is the way he has stayed.  Just hope he agrees to run, petition to him gaining pace.

The 'honouries' are extra in recognising his work, they are his qualifications - He graduated with a 1st class degree as Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and, after pursuing postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxon) in 1986.[4]

risingsun wrote:The son of a Toolmaker and Nurse, and worked his way up.  Actually “I wanted to be a human rights lawyer to change things for individuals who most needed my legal help and assistance,” is very anti establishment and that is the way he has stayed.  Just hope he agrees to run, petition to him gaining pace.

The 'honouries' are extra in recognising his work, they are his qualifications - He graduated with a 1st class degree as Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and, after pursuing postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxon) in 1986.[4]

I just think that anyone who is awarded a degree should have done the work for it.

Raggamuffin wrote:

risingsun wrote:The son of a Toolmaker and Nurse, and worked his way up.  Actually “I wanted to be a human rights lawyer to change things for individuals who most needed my legal help and assistance,” is very anti establishment and that is the way he has stayed.  Just hope he agrees to run, petition to him gaining pace.

The 'honouries' are extra in recognising his work, they are his qualifications - He graduated with a 1st class degree as Bachelor of Laws from the University of Leeds in 1985 and, after pursuing postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (Oxon) in 1986.[4]

I just think that anyone who is awarded a degree should have done the work for it.

They usually have, and then some. Honorary degrees are for life achievements.

Original Quill wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just think that anyone who is awarded a degree should have done the work for it.

They usually have, and then some.  Honorary degrees are for life achievements.

Not always, not over here anyway. They are often given to celebrities. My Uni awarded Rolf Harris an Honorary

Original Quill wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just think that anyone who is awarded a degree should have done the work for it.

They usually have, and then some.  Honorary degrees are for life achievements.

I mean work for the actual degree.

Rolf Harris received two honorary doctorates, one from your university. Both degrees have been rescinded...presumably also for life achievements, but not so honorable.

Raggamuffin wrote:Well yes, because he sounds like an ordinary sort of chap who would understand all about ordinary working people, what with him being a "Sir" and all that.

Raggs,he's an all out loonie leftie who believes in the human rights for the likes of ISIS.

He's useless.

Shady wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Well yes, because he sounds like an ordinary sort of chap who would understand all about ordinary working people, what with him being a "Sir" and all that.

Raggs,he's an all out loonie leftie who believes in the human rights for the likes of ISIS.

He's useless.

Does he indeed?

I must confess I know very little about him, but if he's going to be leader of the Labour party, no doubt a lot will be said in the press.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Shady wrote:

Raggs,he's an all out loonie leftie who believes in the human rights for the likes of ISIS.

He's useless.

Does he indeed?

I must confess I know very little about him, but if he's going to be leader of the Labour party, no doubt a lot will be said in the press.

He's the ultimate human rights fanatic.

He constantly use politically correct speech & reminds me very much of the way David Milliband speaks.....Says lots of words but doesn't actually say anything.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

They usually have, and then some.  Honorary degrees are for life achievements.

I mean work for the actual degree.

I know.  And having two doctorates, so perhaps I should be arguing the other side.  However...

An academic doctorate degree is conferred for unique, original work in a discipline.  That is what the doctoral dissertation is intended to be.  There are also professional doctorate degrees, such as medical degrees, which do not require original work.  The professional doctorate has watered down the original meaning of the academic doctor degree.

Universities are now even conferring degrees for life experience.  The honorary degree was originally intended in that vein, except that notoriety was usually an accompaniment.  Universities usually conferred them in order to share in the limelight.  Now, it will suffice if a sizable contribution is made to the university.

Original Quill wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I mean work for the actual degree.

I know.  And having two doctorates, so perhaps I should be arguing the other side.  However...

An academic doctorate degree is conferred for unique, original work in a discipline.  That is what the doctoral dissertation is intended to be.  There are also professional doctorate degrees, such as medical degrees, which do not require original work.  The professional doctorate has watered down the original meaning of the academic degree.

Universities are now even conferring degrees for life experience.  The honorary degree was originally intended in that vein, except that notoriety was usually an accompaniment.  Universities usually conferred them in order to share in the limelight.  Now, it will suffice if a sizable contribution is made to the university.

Well I don't think they should confer degrees for life experience. If someone wants to get a degree, they should do one properly.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Shady wrote:

Raggs,he's an all out loonie leftie who believes in the human rights for the likes of ISIS.

He's useless.

Does he indeed?

I must confess I know very little about him, but if he's going to be leader of the Labour party, no doubt a lot will be said in the press.

Good grief, you didn't actually believe that did you? No wonder the papers find it so easy to manipulate people.

risingsun wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Does he indeed?

I must confess I know very little about him, but if he's going to be leader of the Labour party, no doubt a lot will be said in the press.

Good grief, you didn't actually believe that did you?  No wonder the papers find it so easy to manipulate people.

I didn't read it in the papers, I read it on here.

Since we're on that subject, I would say that you're the one who automatically believes what you read - if it suits you to do so. I generally like to see both sides of a story. Look at all the articles you've posted which have been very one sided, and I've rarely seen you question any of them - you just go with what you've read and get outraged.