Best Of

I see Mr Burnham has just promised to compensate the waspi women… it’s so easy spending other people’s money…

Surely it's their money?

No, it’s not.

The government clearly communicated a change in policy over a long period of time (I think the report said 1994-2005) but said that they should have written individually to each of the women after 2005.

At some point there needs to be a limit of what is reasonable communication about a well telegraphed changed in government policy.

This was not an error, or covering something up or a scandal. It is a difference in judgement of reasonable efforts. And the WASPI women are demanding a manifest unfairness - that women should be paid pensions earlier than men.

It’s a simple transfer of wealth from the taxpayer to some greedy individuals

I see Mr Burnham has just promised to compensate the waspi women… it’s so easy spending other people’s money…

Surely it's their money?

No, it’s not.

The government clearly communicated a change in policy over a long period of time (I think the report said 1994-2005) but said that they should have written individually to each of the women after 2005.

At some point there needs to be a limit of what is reasonable communication about a well telegraphed changed in government policy.

This was not an error, or covering something up or a scandal. It is a difference in judgement of reasonable efforts. And the WASPI women are demanding a manifest unfairness - that women should be paid pensions earlier than men.

It’s a simple transfer of wealth from the taxpayer to some greedy individuals

Robert Colville nails it, and the ombudsman report found there was no obligation to write to them (I’ve had no letter about my state pension age increase) but once they said they would they should have done.

Anyway, this is bang on

https://x.com/rcolvile/status/2064956662247551168?s=61

First?

Do be so hesitant; you're an advocate.

Okay I will be clearer. The majority of the population don't like Farage and therefore disapprove of pretty much everything he says and does. And this majority will not be able to stop Farage from being our next PM unless there are really, really unlikely levels of tactical voting as @TSE hints at in the header because, as our current PM shows all too well, just over 30% is enough.

Farage: "Reform is now the party of workers."

There are only 8 Reform MPs and they have a combined wealth of over £70,000,000.

They have consistently voted against every single improvement to workers rights and plan to scrap legal protections left right and centre..
https://x.com/Heccles94/status/2064381145442046058

I completely fail to see why Labour have not talked about that every day, and rammed it back down Farage's throat.

Again ... lacking in comms and political skills.

They should use this: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5091/registeredinterests

£15k an hour for some of his 'jobs'. Not being bought off by oligarchs, oh no, not at all.

I see Mr Burnham has just promised to compensate the waspi women… it’s so easy spending other people’s money…

Surely it's their money?

No, it’s not their money.

It’s taxpayers money and only advisory recommendation not obligatory. It’s a transfer of wealth from younger people to entitled boomers.

A less deserving cohort of money grabbers it is hard to imagine. This was first mooted in 93, passed into law in 95. The compo is for a 28 month delay in sending a letter they were under no obligation to send anyway. It is nuts giving them a penny

All women affected by equality of pension age are now retired.

My pension age has gone up twice. Where’s my compo ?

A shortish history of by-elections

TLDR: He'll be lucky to win it but if he goes, he'll join Churchill, Bevin and Benn


https://consoc.org.uk/markerfield-by-election/

The stuff is literate but who is it aimed at? As an exercise in stating what the likely readers already know it is exemplary. It contains for example the illuminating words:

If Burnham loses, it would be another blow to Labour and a further boost for Reform, yet if he wins, it will present a direct challenge to the Prime Minister’s leadership.


which I think even Daily Express readers know.

If the sun is up it is usually daytime but if it is down it's probably night.

Doesn’t really work at this time of year. 4.00am and the sun is streaming in. That’s still “night” in my book.

On topic (remarkably), Farage is imo planting some landmines for his future image.

Ref UK have let one of their suspended Councillors back in, and said the matter is now resolved; he stands for things that imo they need to reject. It highlights the tensions they have in their support coalition.

The chap is Cllr Ben Rowe, in Plymouth. and his beyond-the-pale comments are very recent, and disparage both Jewish people and Muslims. The two reports:

Commenting beneath a YouTube video in February of this year, he accused "the Jews" of "creating division by forcing other races on our societies".

Elsewhere he described immigrants to the UK of "breeding like rats", posted blackface memes and labelled Islam "a cancer". It’s also reported that Rowe reposted content that suggested Covid had a “Hebrew” source.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/reform-uk-councillor-suspended-just-10961028

His case was investigated by the National Discipline Committee of Reform UK.

Leader of the Plymouth Reform UK group Cllr Steve Ricketts (Drake) said the committee “gave weight to his apology and to the fact that the publicity surrounding these matters has plainly been a serious personal lesson.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/suspended-plymouth-reform-uk-councillor-11004505

That does not sound very resolved.