Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
Not sure about the return of Thornberry (not that she actually went away). She’s marmite.
Still, we can expect a bit more pressure on Patel now.
I think she's great in that (albeit ex-) Tory liking Labour politicians they would never in a million years vote for*.
*See entire Lab shadow cabinet.
Is there a typo in that? I can’t work out what you are saying.
Plenty of Tories on here say what a great politician and how big fans they are of XYZ Lab politician, and how they should be made leader of the Party but it's not going to translate into a vote for that politician and Party.
It doesn't mean that the view is without merit. I loathe Johnson, but I am still not sure I want a Labour government, but I think I can identify people that are more able to make Labour electable. That might make me more inclined to not vote or vote LD or Monster Raving Loony etc. I think there were a lot of Tories who might not have voted for Johnson if they were not worried by Mr Thicky becoming PM. A Labour shadow cabinet that does not contain frothing left wing nutters is more likely to mean a Labour government, or at least a more emasculated Johnson.
6/4 sounds good value on Tice beating 5%. I find him a bit of an airhead myself but I can imagine him giving good doorstep. So many of these 'populist right' characters give off a rather acrid aroma (as I imagine it) but Tice not so much. He's more 'man who'd charm you out of your pension lump sum', which is just what you want for a fringe party candidate in a by-election.
He went to Uppingham. Which I accept is a far cry from Haileybury but not a bad place, all things considered.
And from there to the University of Salford to study Building which is in the blood being the grandson of property developer Bernard Sunley. Something of a whizzkid he was by the age of 28 the CEO of a substantial property business - The Sunley Group.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
“ she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.’
I don’t think that is the right way to go about a brief like that. Scrap on economics for sure, but not on many issues in home affairs brief.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
6/4 sounds good value on Tice beating 5%. I find him a bit of an airhead myself but I can imagine him giving good doorstep. So many of these 'populist right' characters give off a rather acrid aroma (as I imagine it) but Tice not so much. He's more 'man who'd charm you out of your pension lump sum', which is just what you want for a fringe party candidate in a by-election.
He went to Uppingham. Which I accept is a far cry from Haileybury but not a bad place, all things considered.
And from there to the University of Salford to study Building which is in the blood being the grandson of property developer Bernard Sunley. Something of a whizzkid he was by the age of 28 the CEO of a substantial property business - The Sunley Group.
You're right. I prefer Old Haileyburians also. Less spivvy.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
Maybe so but the pearl-clutching and hypocrisy on here was a sight to behold.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow (and nobody thinks Hammond was a heavyweight political bruiser) and her claim to fame in government was HIPS. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
Or maybe we are both too partisan to be spot on.
You can start by listing her achievements. Maybe start with her leadership campaign.
On topic, in the run up to GE2015 I met an old friend who had defected from the Tories to UKIP and he was telling me about UKIP's awful campaigning and canvassing skills.
Only turning up a few weeks before election day, putting people down as definitive UKIP in their pledge books after one contact and then never recontacting them (ignoring the fact people lie/try and be polite/or just want you to bugger off).
He was surrounded by Kippers who genuinely thought they were going to win hundreds of seats at GE2015.
I don't think any Farage led/affiliated mob have quite mastered FPTP campaigning.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
Out Priti Priti – what, be even more rightwing, thick and incompetent?
Not sure I agree.
I quite liked Owen Jones' description of Patel as a 'pantomime authoritarian'.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
Her duel with Andrew Neil over Shamima Begum was entertaining
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
I have seen her a few times on TV and one can't help wondering how a party can keep her on the backbenches and have Angela Rayner as deputy!
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
She's fine, and if I was Starmer I'd want her in the shadow cabinet.
Thornberry is a suprise though in my view. The switchers to the left switching back.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
Maybe so but the pearl-clutching and hypocrisy on here was a sight to behold.
Really? I'd have thought the easy answer was No, but I do not purport to be a political representative of the working classes.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
I have seen her a few times on TV and one can't help wondering how a party can keep her on the backbenches and have Angela Rayner as deputy!
Well yes, but that's politics for you. How did the former fireplace salesman get cabinet roles and stay there for so long despite absolutely everybody seeing he as totally useless, and when the Tories have / had far better individuals sitting around not doing anything.
Mr. Eagles, at least you haven't done a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and ejaculated out of a window.
I managed to get an ejaculate and great cleavage into a report once.
(Still proud of the fact the time I was challenged to get in references to at least a dozen Madness songs and album titles in a case management hearing conference preamble.)
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
Maybe, but let's face it, it was pretty minor when compared with a PM asking the CBI audience to put up their hands if they had been to Peppa Pigland.
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
I have seen her a few times on TV and one can't help wondering how a party can keep her on the backbenches and have Angela Rayner as deputy!
Well yes, but that's politics for you. How did the former fireplace salesman get cabinet roles and stay there for so long, when the Tories have / had far better individuals sitting around not doing anything.
Quite! Don't get me started on the bloke who is PM!
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
I know what you are saying, but I think it’s wrong. Opposition shadows you get to hear about when they have made a mistake. It’s just not that easy, because what gets thrown at them whenever they attack in Parliament or in tv debate, what’s your policy then?
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
The question is surely why Starmer is reshuffling. I don't believe for a moment it's to bring Cooper or Thornbery on board. There must be something else.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
I'd quite happily live next to that house.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
The question is surely why Starmer is reshuffling. I don't believe for a moment it's to bring Cooper or Thornbery on board. There must be something else.
Mr. Eagles, at least you haven't done a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and ejaculated out of a window.
I managed to get an ejaculate and great cleavage into a report once.
(Still proud of the fact the time I was challenged to get in references to at least a dozen Madness songs and album titles in a case management hearing conference preamble.)
A few years ago I listened to audio books of Hercule Poirot when travelling. I was quite surprised how often Hastings ejaculated.
Mr. Eagles, at least you haven't done a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and ejaculated out of a window.
I managed to get an ejaculate and great cleavage into a report once.
(Still proud of the fact the time I was challenged to get in references to at least a dozen Madness songs and album titles in a case management hearing conference preamble.)
Slotting in Return of the Los Palmas 7 and Night Boat to Cairo must have been a tall order.
6/4 sounds good value on Tice beating 5%. I find him a bit of an airhead myself but I can imagine him giving good doorstep. So many of these 'populist right' characters give off a rather acrid aroma (as I imagine it) but Tice not so much. He's more 'man who'd charm you out of your pension lump sum', which is just what you want for a fringe party candidate in a by-election.
Yes, he has a rather '80s aura. Very Howard's Way.
Ha, yes, totally. Can just see him oiling around Avril and trying to 'restructure' her finances. He's Ken Masters with hair.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
Apologies if point already made, but if both Labour and ReformUK do well, then it has the potential to reduce the share of the vote required to win to below 40%.
For those watching the Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle fiendishly, it appears Nick Thomas-Symonds is being removed from Home Secretary, but will not be replaced by Emily Thornberry. Yvette Cooper is the obvious bet for that job... but only if she can be coaxed back. https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1465333022857875465
The question is surely why Starmer is reshuffling. I don't believe for a moment it's to bring Cooper or Thornbery on board. There must be something else.
That is what I wondered. Strange timing.
If Keir thought he had left the job unfinished before, then finishing it now doesn't have to correlate with anything in particular, IMO.
Mr. Eagles, there was something in F1 like this a while ago... it wasn't doughnuts (too easy) but I'm pretty sure the commentary team had a bet on whether Karun Chandhok could get something like 'chocolate éclair' in.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
Ha ha. She’s proper rubbish. Matron from the carry on films. 🤣
That's what I love about PB. The sophisticated political insight.
Over the weekend I was getting worried we might get a Labour government. Looks like Starmer has put that worry to death today 🙂
If that is your idea of a witty repost you might be disappointed to know I am a (lapsed) Tory. If you are worried about a Labour government you should be concerned that Starmer might be putting serious people in shadow cabinet positions and making Johnson's government look even more lightweight and ridiculous than it does already. Surprised he hasn't done it before tbh. If he brings in Cooper and other people that don't scare floating voters then Peppa Pig might get the chance for a new full time brand ambassador
This is a serious repost. Cooper ain’t no heavy weight, she just been around a long time that’s all. Don’t you think Cooper sounds horribly full of herself and that’s the reason Labour lose, too many people like that? Good politicians aren’t shouty or sharp and aggressive. Vince Cable never was, nor Nick Clegg. You’ve just got to calmly make the right case.
I think Cooper is a very talented politician. I can see you are far too partisan to be able to recognise it.
I wouldn't go quite that far, remember Philip Hammond used to duff her up regularly when he was her shadow. However, by the current very low standards, she is significantly better than the average.
I have seen her a few times on TV and one can't help wondering how a party can keep her on the backbenches and have Angela Rayner as deputy!
I don’t think you are right in that Starmer asked her to join and she declined, because she is committee head not merely back bench. Same with Benn. It was committee head that kept her out of shadcab I think.
The question is surely why Starmer is reshuffling. I don't believe for a moment it's to bring Cooper or Thornbery on board. There must be something else.
That is what I wondered. Strange timing.
If Keir thought he had left the job unfinished before, then finishing it now doesn't have to correlate with anything in particular, IMO.
But perhaps there is a reason.
Given all the COVID stuff and Christmas holidays coming up, it looks a bit naval gazing. Why not just do it over Christmas.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
I know what you are saying, but I think it’s wrong. Opposition shadows you get to hear about when they have made a mistake. It’s just not that easy, because what gets thrown at them whenever they attack in Parliament or in tv debate, what’s your policy then?
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
I still vividly remember a very young looking Tony Blair appearing on Newsnight on Black Wednesday. as City Minister. He showed a clear understanding of the problems, just the right amount of sympathy for Ministers in real difficulty and clear bullet point answers. The Cabinet Minister up with him looked a bumbling incompetent by comparison. I remember thinking I have just seen a political masterclass and this guy is going to be a real challenge. Thornberry is not close to that but she's still way better than the vast majority of the shadow cabinet.
I agree that being an attack dog is not enough but you need to show competence and a clear alternative, even if the details are (understandably) missing.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
Out Priti Priti – what, be even more rightwing, thick and incompetent?
Not sure I agree.
I quite liked Owen Jones' description of Patel as a 'pantomime authoritarian'.
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
Of course not. At last someone agrees with me the ideals silly.
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
A shorter lived appointment than the first female Swedish Prime Minister.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
No, we go to first class lounges of airports and trash them.
Ask Charles for the next dust up location and time.
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
Which makes sense, Labour should have come to the same conclusion I did.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
I'd quite happily live next to that house.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
Bully for you. The guy who decked his house in England flags did so in November 2014 – nothing to do with a major football tournament. It looked a right state and most people would be unhappy to have to live next to it.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
What's the relevance of the connection, though?
They're married.
HYUFD, is that you?
I'm aware of the nature of the connection (as I assume most PBers would be). Just to me the fact she's married to Ed Balls doesn't tell me anything other than she is married to Ed Balls. I judge her on her track record in politics, cabinet, shadow cabinet, failed leadership bid... (FWIW, I think she's a reasonably solid minister/shadow minister, don't think she'd be a good leader).
I'm not trying to get at you here, not bothered particularly that you did refer to her as Cooper-Balls. Just interested as to why you think it's relevant, as you seemed to think it was important to be aware of the connection..
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
Of course not. At last someone agrees with me the ideals silly.
Tom who?
Presenter of T & G and chief political commentator, columnist @EveningStandard
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
I know what you are saying, but I think it’s wrong. Opposition shadows you get to hear about when they have made a mistake. It’s just not that easy, because what gets thrown at them whenever they attack in Parliament or in tv debate, what’s your policy then?
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
I still vividly remember a very young looking Tony Blair appearing on Newsnight on Black Wednesday. as City Minister. He showed a clear understanding of the problems, just the right amount of sympathy for Ministers in real difficulty and clear bullet point answers. The Cabinet Minister up with him looked a bumbling incompetent by comparison. I remember thinking I have just seen a political masterclass and this guy is going to be a real challenge. Thornberry is not close to that but she's still way better than the vast majority of the shadow cabinet.
I agree that being an attack dog is not enough but you need to show competence and a clear alternative, even if the details are (understandably) missing.
If Tice does well what will the (no doubt still victorious) Tories take as a lesson from the result:
- We need to be even tougher on asylum seekers - We need to stop mask mandates and avoid any talk of lockdowns - We should cut taxes?
All 3 of those are conceivable reasons for a voter in Bexley to put a cross in the Reform box - the first because its antecedents include UKIP and the Brexit Party, the second because of its actual policy platform, or the 3rd by some wider interpretation of a vote for a Thatcherite/Poujadist businessman in a Southern seat.
"Save our boilers!"
There's actually a whole catalogue of selectively crowd pleasing policies where a true poujadist party could make hay with a certain part of the middle aged male vote. Cut the extortionate fuel duty, no more annoying speed bumps, get rid of road-narrowing cycle lanes (and the bus lanes while they're at it), ditch those mad health and safety rules, bring anything you want to the tip, liberalise those pesky building regs etc.
Surprised that Reform are not going big on 'No Gents in the Ladies!"
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
The reason it stuck was a wider perception of a rather Mrs Bouquet element to the way she interacted with people. The terrible Onslows and their big flag.
Maybe so but the pearl-clutching and hypocrisy on here was a sight to behold.
Really? I'd have thought the easy answer was No, but I do not purport to be a political representative of the working classes.
That would have been a fair and intelligent response, yes – had anyone made it.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
Very good - I just meant people who weren't as clued up as PB Tories tend to be.
I have to do a run to the shop now to pick up my beer so I won't be able to reply to any response that quickly.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
No, we go to first class lounges of airports and trash them.
Ask Charles for the next dust up location and time.
I think Thornberry is a poor appointment, I would have had Yvette Cooper up against Priti Patel. Thornberry is exactly the kind of opponent Priti will want, someone she can paint as an out of touch liberal handwringing human rights loving lawyer who doesn't want to stop the boats but wants the UK to accept everyone and anyone and also encourage more boats.
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Tom Newton Dunn saying Thornberry will not be shadow home secretary
Which makes sense, Labour should have come to the same conclusion I did.
I'd prefer Coops – she is completely wasted on the back benches.
If Tice does well what will the (no doubt still victorious) Tories take as a lesson from the result:
- We need to be even tougher on asylum seekers - We need to stop mask mandates and avoid any talk of lockdowns - We should cut taxes?
All 3 of those are conceivable reasons for a voter in Bexley to put a cross in the Reform box - the first because its antecedents include UKIP and the Brexit Party, the second because of its actual policy platform, or the 3rd by some wider interpretation of a vote for a Thatcherite/Poujadist businessman in a Southern seat.
"Save our boilers!"
There's actually a whole catalogue of selectively crowd pleasing policies where a true poujadist party could make hay with a certain part of the middle aged male vote. Cut the extortionate fuel duty, no more annoying speed bumps, get rid of road-narrowing cycle lanes (and the bus lanes while they're at it), ditch those mad health and safety rules, bring anything you want to the tip, liberalise those pesky building regs etc.
Surprised that Reform are not going big on 'No Gents in the Ladies!"
Or are they?
Probably too niche for them as it's largely an intra-female argument. I suspect they'd be more "no ladies in the clubhouse".
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
What's the relevance of the connection, though?
They're married.
HYUFD, is that you?
I'm aware of the nature of the connection (as I assume most PBers would be). Just to me the fact she's married to Ed Balls doesn't tell me anything other than she is married to Ed Balls. I judge her on her track record in politics, cabinet, shadow cabinet, failed leadership bid... (FWIW, I think she's a reasonably solid minister/shadow minister, don't think she'd be a good leader).
I'm not trying to get at you here, not bothered particularly that you did refer to her as Cooper-Balls. Just interested as to why you think it's relevant, as you seemed to think it was important to be aware of the connection..
Gov ministers don't have to come from MPs
If Carrie got appointed Home Sec would that bother you?
Now, with that, I do really need to go on my beer run.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
I know what you are saying, but I think it’s wrong. Opposition shadows you get to hear about when they have made a mistake. It’s just not that easy, because what gets thrown at them whenever they attack in Parliament or in tv debate, what’s your policy then?
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
I still vividly remember a very young looking Tony Blair appearing on Newsnight on Black Wednesday. as City Minister. He showed a clear understanding of the problems, just the right amount of sympathy for Ministers in real difficulty and clear bullet point answers. The Cabinet Minister up with him looked a bumbling incompetent by comparison. I remember thinking I have just seen a political masterclass and this guy is going to be a real challenge. Thornberry is not close to that but she's still way better than the vast majority of the shadow cabinet.
I agree that being an attack dog is not enough but you need to show competence and a clear alternative, even if the details are (understandably) missing.
6/4 sounds good value on Tice beating 5%. I find him a bit of an airhead myself but I can imagine him giving good doorstep. So many of these 'populist right' characters give off a rather acrid aroma (as I imagine it) but Tice not so much. He's more 'man who'd charm you out of your pension lump sum', which is just what you want for a fringe party candidate in a by-election.
Yes, he has a rather '80s aura. Very Howard's Way.
Ha, yes, totally. Can just see him oiling around Avril and trying to 'restructure' her finances. He's Ken Masters with hair.
Reminds me of a "used car salesman" Tory a la Thatchers Conservative party.
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
I'd quite happily live next to that house.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
Bully for you. The guy who decked his house in England flags did so in November 2014 – nothing to do with a major football tournament. It looked a right state and most people would be unhappy to have to live next to it.
Why?
We've got a neighbour who moans about other people's houses. She's full of shit in my opinion and so is anyone (I doubt its "most people") who get upset about other people's homes.
However people want to decorate their own home is up to them. Variety is the spice of life.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
No, we go to first class lounges of airports and trash them.
Ask Charles for the next dust up location and time.
No. no. no.
Private jet lounge.
First Class is full of Head Count, these days.
Lounge? You mean you don't get taken direct to the plane?
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
I'd quite happily live next to that house.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
Bully for you. The guy who decked his house in England flags did so in November 2014 – nothing to do with a major football tournament. It looked a right state and most people would be unhappy to have to live next to it.
Why?
We've got a neighbour who moans about other people's houses. She's full of shit in my opinion and so is anyone (I doubt its "most people") who get upset about other people's homes.
However people want to decorate their own home is up to them. Variety is the spice of life.
Curtain twitching busybodies need to get a life.
Bully for you if you (and your wife!) have such accommodating attitudes. I can tell you that they aren't widely shared. Most people don't want their streets to look a right state. But, each to their own.
Now if they hadn't dicked around with not doing kids and being so strict on it having to be exactly 6 months before you could book a booster. The target should have always been to get at least all the over 40s done before the winter kicks in.
Seriously. Thornberry. Yet another north London hand-wringer.
Could Starmer not find a midlander or northerner who shares the priorities of voters in the seats we need to win? We need to out-Priti Priti on home affairs, and show that we would succeed where she is failing.
A bad appointment.
This absolutely spot on. In one move alone votes lost where needed in Wales with no useful votes gained in London. Also silly for Labour to shadow home office with left winger, Nandy should do it being most right winger in cabinet.
I live in Wales and I couldn't tell you who or what Nick Thomas-Symonds looks or sounds like. And now I need never know.
To be honest I thought he was okay. It’s lazy on here to save he was completely rubbish. He dressed smart. He spoke sensibly and clearly. On the news a lot last week. Wasn’t horribly opportunist about the issues in the channel like Nandy was over the weekend. He looked like a safe pair of hands for government.
I pay way more attention to politics than about 90% of the population and if you had asked me this morning who the shadow Home Secretary was this morning I might have come up with Nick but no way I would have got the surname. Given that the Home Secretary is under the pump and, frankly, more than a tad obnoxious, that's not great.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
I know what you are saying, but I think it’s wrong. Opposition shadows you get to hear about when they have made a mistake. It’s just not that easy, because what gets thrown at them whenever they attack in Parliament or in tv debate, what’s your policy then?
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
I still vividly remember a very young looking Tony Blair appearing on Newsnight on Black Wednesday. as City Minister. He showed a clear understanding of the problems, just the right amount of sympathy for Ministers in real difficulty and clear bullet point answers. The Cabinet Minister up with him looked a bumbling incompetent by comparison. I remember thinking I have just seen a political masterclass and this guy is going to be a real challenge. Thornberry is not close to that but she's still way better than the vast majority of the shadow cabinet.
I agree that being an attack dog is not enough but you need to show competence and a clear alternative, even if the details are (understandably) missing.
I really like your post there David. The first rule of politics is not attack, just explain your position on issues. So you are measuring their talent in how well they communicate this. And acknowledging something had gone wrong not because your opposite number is stupid, but because some things that come up are difficult, is a master stroke in sounding fair and thoughtful. Attack merely siren Calls you down the stupid road Nandy choose to go down at the weekend. It’s leads to a dead end where you have lost the voters because you don’t actually have any answers. Boris knows it well, he is currently head butting the wall of that dead end.
Labour need policies and good calm communicators, not finger jabbers like Cooper or bruisers like maaaaaatron. 🤣
Good news for fans of Thornberry's return, Dan Hodges agrees with you -
@DPJHodges 16m I actually think Emily Thornberry to Shadow Home Affairs is a good move. Whatever White Van baggage she might carry, she's a scrapper. And Labour need that in that brief.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
I'd quite happily live next to that house.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
Bully for you. The guy who decked his house in England flags did so in November 2014 – nothing to do with a major football tournament. It looked a right state and most people would be unhappy to have to live next to it.
Why?
We've got a neighbour who moans about other people's houses. She's full of shit in my opinion and so is anyone (I doubt its "most people") who get upset about other people's homes.
However people want to decorate their own home is up to them. Variety is the spice of life.
Curtain twitching busybodies need to get a life.
Bully for you if you (and your wife!) have such accommodating attitudes. I can tell you that they aren't widely shared. Most people don't want their streets to look a right state. But, each to their own.
As I said, there's multiple people who regularly fly flags on my street and nobody kicks off a stink about it.
"Each to their own" is the polar opposite of being a curtain twitching busybody whinging about other people's homes.
There is no process. The recent debacle in the Supreme Court confirmed that things "related to" a reserved issue fell within it. She cannot enable a referendum.
Of course, there are in my view compelling tactical reasons why the UK government should not stand in her way and allow this and a strong democratic argument that it would be wrong to do so. But there is no process and she has no control over the timetable. She's a fantasist. Not quite in the same league as Kate Forbes but a fantasist all the same.
Boosters extended to 18+ adults, prioritised by age/risk group, no sooner than 3 months after second dose. Also boosters for severely immunocompromised. Booster doses should be mRNA.
12-15 to get same schedule as 16+ - 12 weeks after first dose.
If Cooper-Balls makes it to the shadow cabinet then can we confirm that the Starmer is a true Blairite and the next GE is Game On.
Fair point, but I note that you are another one who insists on calling a professional woman by her husband's name. Why? Did you refer to Ed Balls as Ed Cooper?
I guess I might refer to Ed as Balls-Cooper?
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
"PB casuals"
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
No, we go to first class lounges of airports and trash them.
Ask Charles for the next dust up location and time.
No. no. no.
Private jet lounge.
First Class is full of Head Count, these days.
Lounge? You mean you don't get taken direct to the plane?
The plane comes to me.
I was h*nting once at Badminton and observed that I was surprised we were allowed to ride straight across an airfield. Ah no, was the reply, this is just helicopters. we land the fixed wing aircraft on the other side of the house.
Comments
Cooper-Balls were Brownites not Blarities
Now anyone right of Karl Marx is a dirty Blairite in the Labour Party.
The flags story was trivial bollocks. Who in their right mind would want to live next to that effing state of a house?
Still, it was a great gift on PB as I had hours of fun asking the usual pearl-clutching PB Tories whether they, or their wife, would be comfortable if their next-door neighbour decked the front of their house in England flags. Much twisting and pin-head dancing ensued.
They will have some very tangible achievements to point to at the next GE.
Wherever Sir Keir is going to get his extra MPs from it's unlikely to be NE England.
https://fb.watch/9AE7Pf9JWu/
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha etc
In all honesty my style guide says I do that so that so that PB casuals are aware of the connection.
I don’t think that is the right way to go about a brief like that. Scrap on economics for sure, but not on many issues in home affairs brief.
It is good manners.
I am sure that SKS wants people who can demand the attention of the media and sound punchy. He's right to the extent that is what opposition politicians need to do to be even noticed. Thornberry is not everyone's cup of tea but neither is Patel. She will certainly be heard.
As for Teesside - there is a big BP announcement today regarding Hydrogen. https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/the-uks-green-heart-bp-22300957
You can start by listing her achievements. Maybe start with her leadership campaign.
Only turning up a few weeks before election day, putting people down as definitive UKIP in their pledge books after one contact and then never recontacting them (ignoring the fact people lie/try and be polite/or just want you to bugger off).
He was surrounded by Kippers who genuinely thought they were going to win hundreds of seats at GE2015.
I don't think any Farage led/affiliated mob have quite mastered FPTP campaigning.
https://youtu.be/pA8nABHLQQA
The vast majority of people in the UK would like the boats to stop coming and for the UK to become a fortress, the Labour party should have seized on the government being out of step with the people, instead they've picked someone who will easily be painted as frustrating the efforts to stop the boats. I also think Thornberry is a liability and will try and imply that Priti Patel is racist or her parents could have been on the boats etc... which will go down extremely poorly with the country at large but get the twitter masturbators energised, further compounding Labour's policy and image problem on immigration.
Thornberry is a suprise though in my view. The switchers to the left switching back.
(Still proud of the fact the time I was challenged to get in references to at least a dozen Madness songs and album titles in a case management hearing conference preamble.)
There is no real votes in attacking in opposition, only in laying out and explaining policy positions.
Absolutely no qualms with my neighbours flying flags. On my street I've got multiple neighbours who routinely fly flags, including one permanently flying a Unite flag. I've got many more who fly them during England tournaments and I've done so myself. Doesn't bother me at all, live and let live.
Anyone bothered by that needs to get their head out of their arse. Do you whinge about neighbours putting Christmas or Halloween decorations out too? Miserable gits.
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1465333022857875465
But perhaps there is a reason.
Anyway, I should be off.
I didn't realise that we had a hooligan firm associated with the site.
Do they organise fights with the Order-Order Service Crew?
I agree that being an attack dog is not enough but you need to show competence and a clear alternative, even if the details are (understandably) missing.
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=388302315550063&_rdr
Tom who?
Ask Charles for the next dust up location and time.
I'm aware of the nature of the connection (as I assume most PBers would be). Just to me the fact she's married to Ed Balls doesn't tell me anything other than she is married to Ed Balls. I judge her on her track record in politics, cabinet, shadow cabinet, failed leadership bid... (FWIW, I think she's a reasonably solid minister/shadow minister, don't think she'd be a good leader).
I'm not trying to get at you here, not bothered particularly that you did refer to her as Cooper-Balls. Just interested as to why you think it's relevant, as you seemed to think it was important to be aware of the connection..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8lhtknnuSU&ab_channel=PhilipReed
It was in 1987. By Black Wednesday Blair was shadow Home Secretary.
Or are they?
I've already been triple jabbed since the start of October.
< SMUG BASTARD MODE OFF >
I have to do a run to the shop now to pick up my beer so I won't be able to reply to any response that quickly.
Not all doom and gloom and do not want people to panic at this stage
Private jet lounge.
First Class is full of Head Count, these days.
"I will initiate the process necessary to enable a referendum before the end of 2023"
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tells SNP conference her party will make "the positive case" for Scottish independence
https://bbc.in/3d1nz7q
My favourite naturally being the goatherd.
If Carrie got appointed Home Sec would that bother you?
Now, with that, I do really need to go on my beer run.
But seriously, what chutzpah to film an anti-mask protest song whilst maskless on the Tube where the rules say you're meant to wear one.
It's just a total 'up yours' to Khan and the rest of his establishment gang.
We've got a neighbour who moans about other people's houses. She's full of shit in my opinion and so is anyone (I doubt its "most people") who get upset about other people's homes.
However people want to decorate their own home is up to them. Variety is the spice of life.
Curtain twitching busybodies need to get a life.
The first rule of politics is not attack, just explain your position on issues. So you are measuring their talent in how well they communicate this. And acknowledging something had gone wrong not because your opposite number is stupid, but because some things that come up are difficult, is a master stroke in sounding fair and thoughtful. Attack merely siren Calls you down the stupid road Nandy choose to go down at the weekend. It’s leads to a dead end where you have lost the voters because you don’t actually have any answers. Boris knows it well, he is currently head butting the wall of that dead end.
Labour need policies and good calm communicators, not finger jabbers like Cooper or bruisers like maaaaaatron. 🤣
"Each to their own" is the polar opposite of being a curtain twitching busybody whinging about other people's homes.
Of course, there are in my view compelling tactical reasons why the UK government should not stand in her way and allow this and a strong democratic argument that it would be wrong to do so. But there is no process and she has no control over the timetable. She's a fantasist. Not quite in the same league as Kate Forbes but a fantasist all the same.
12-15 to get same schedule as 16+ - 12 weeks after first dose.
I was h*nting once at Badminton and observed that I was surprised we were allowed to ride straight across an airfield. Ah no, was the reply, this is just helicopters. we land the fixed wing aircraft on the other side of the house.