Best Of

Good morning

Interesting take on Lucy Powell by Sky

https://news.sky.com/story/why-sacking-lucy-powell-might-come-back-to-haunt-starmer-13428131

It was straightforward for Labour to unite around Starmer, the burning desire to return to government after 4 defeats kept everyone (well nearly everyone) pulling in the same direction. But very tricky indeed to keep such a large parliamentary party placated with only so many jobs to go around.

Is there a unifying leader hiding in plain sight in there somewhere?

A good question and I cannot see one

Agreed. There doesn't seem to be one.

And the nature of the times makes me suspect that there can't be one. A truly great national leader would need to get everyone to accept quite a bit of pain- all of us paying more tax to get less stuff from the state. Accepting that being a NIMBY, or stopping serious contribution to society because you have made your pile just aren't on. Acknowledging that by living in Britain on the 21st century, we've all done pretty well in the lottery of life- maybe not the jackpot, but a solid bonus ball prize. And that comes with responsibilities to other human beings and to the future.

But in the culture we're in, I simply don't think that's possible. We want it all, we want it for us and we want it now. Do the nasty bits to them over there.

I'd love to think that someone is out there to save us. But I don't see how anyone can stand against the torrent of attack all politicians now get.

All political careers end in failure, as someone once said. Inevitable, really, given the politician's psyche. But when every PM fails as rapidly as this, I have to think that it's the pitch at fault, not the batsmen.

Does anyone really think that Burnham, Badenoch, Farage, Polanski or Davey would survive any better, as opposed to placating a different minority slice of the electorate?

Really?

"We're all in this together" has to be more than a slogan.

Taxes must rise for everyone, spending must fall for everyone.

No exemptions.

There are two giant USPs up for grabs and only Starmer can realistically grab both. One is Rejoin the second is showing decisive action in putting a stop to Israel. Both would be massively popular.

The Party Conference would be the time. it would require a massive reset but it's there for the taking

And neither would address the fundamental challenges this country faces (although I would support both).

However, where I agree with you is that it might give Starmer the boost in popularity he needs to be able to deliver some of the difficult medicine @Stuartinromford prescribed at the end of the last thread.

I increasingly think Starmer doesn't have the competence to deliver real solutions unfortunately.

I dont think a change of policy on the EU or Israel would do, and Starmers endless reshuffles in the back office are a joke.

The problem is that Starmer has been tested and found wanting. The wooden, directionless waffling Starmer is the real thing.

He needs to be replaced, the question is when, how and by whom. Rayner going has created a vacuum.

AstraZeneca pauses £200m investment in Cambridge research site
Decision means none of drugmaker’s much-trumpeted £650m UK investment package is currently proceeding

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/12/astrazeneca-pauses-200m-investment-in-cambridge-research-site

Last one out please remember to turn the lights off...

Life sciences are in trouble everywhere thanks to Trump. ~50% of global pharma revenue comes from US.

That's not true.
Life sciences are booming in China. And the US pharma is starting to outsource a significant portion of its research there.

In the last five years or so China has gone from copying the west's biological research (which no doubt they still do) to producing their own original stuff.

Another threat to one of the UK's remaining significant industries.

Good morning

Interesting take on Lucy Powell by Sky

https://news.sky.com/story/why-sacking-lucy-powell-might-come-back-to-haunt-starmer-13428131

It was straightforward for Labour to unite around Starmer, the burning desire to return to government after 4 defeats kept everyone (well nearly everyone) pulling in the same direction. But very tricky indeed to keep such a large parliamentary party placated with only so many jobs to go around.

Is there a unifying leader hiding in plain sight in there somewhere?

A good question and I cannot see one

Agreed. There doesn't seem to be one.

And the nature of the times makes me suspect that there can't be one. A truly great national leader would need to get everyone to accept quite a bit of pain- all of us paying more tax to get less stuff from the state. Accepting that being a NIMBY, or stopping serious contribution to society because you have made your pile just aren't on. Acknowledging that by living in Britain on the 21st century, we've all done pretty well in the lottery of life- maybe not the jackpot, but a solid bonus ball prize. And that comes with responsibilities to other human beings and to the future.

But in the culture we're in, I simply don't think that's possible. We want it all, we want it for us and we want it now. Do the nasty bits to them over there.

I'd love to think that someone is out there to save us. But I don't see how anyone can stand against the torrent of attack all politicians now get.

All political careers end in failure, as someone once said. Inevitable, really, given the politician's psyche. But when every PM fails as rapidly as this, I have to think that it's the pitch at fault, not the batsmen.

Does anyone really think that Burnham, Badenoch, Farage, Polanski or Davey would survive any better, as opposed to placating a different minority slice of the electorate?

Really?