Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
Icing on the cake I suppose, but might just distract from much more recent and prominent cock ups.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
It's from the Spectator, so a small health warning applies, but the private school policy is definitely cutting through in some of the more affluent constituencies, and not in a good way for Labour:
Labour claims that the VAT on school fees, and ending business rate relief, will raise £1.7bn.
You could raise slightly more money, £1.9bn, by increasing the NICs upper rate from 2% to 3%, according to the IFS "Be The Chancellor" tool. https://ifs.org.uk/election-2024/be-chancellor
And it would have the advantage of not identifying a particular minority and given them cause to claim victimhood.
While there are many issues that need sorting out in the public services in order to improve quality and productivity, they pretty much all need some initial capital investment and investment in staff development. That pump priming has to come from somewhere.
I agree that an across the board tax would be simpler and less distorting, but all the parties have been cornered into promising not to do so. So we wind up either with stealth tax increases (ala the Tories) or capricious taxes such as VAT on school fees.
The politicians are merely trying to give the people what they ask for, even though they know it is daft.
VAT exemption on private school fees is distorting. I am really pleased Starmer is proposing scrapping this exemption.
The distortion encourages people to spend money on education. Education is a good thing. Is that not a distortion worth having?
It’s completely crackers that private schools are VAT free. I remember when this was first floated I was stunned because I was entirely unaware that this was the case. Why is there VAT on clothes and shoes, but not private schools? Makes no sense whatsoever.
There isn't VAT on children's clothing, nor on private medical care (except cosmetic surgery).
It's from the Spectator, so a small health warning applies, but the private school policy is definitely cutting through in some of the more affluent constituencies, and not in a good way for Labour:
Labour claims that the VAT on school fees, and ending business rate relief, will raise £1.7bn.
You could raise slightly more money, £1.9bn, by increasing the NICs upper rate from 2% to 3%, according to the IFS "Be The Chancellor" tool. https://ifs.org.uk/election-2024/be-chancellor
And it would have the advantage of not identifying a particular minority and given them cause to claim victimhood.
While there are many issues that need sorting out in the public services in order to improve quality and productivity, they pretty much all need some initial capital investment and investment in staff development. That pump priming has to come from somewhere.
I agree that an across the board tax would be simpler and less distorting, but all the parties have been cornered into promising not to do so. So we wind up either with stealth tax increases (ala the Tories) or capricious taxes such as VAT on school fees.
The politicians are merely trying to give the people what they ask for, even though they know it is daft.
VAT exemption on private school fees is distorting. I am really pleased Starmer is proposing scrapping this exemption.
The distortion encourages people to spend money on education. Education is a good thing. Is that not a distortion worth having?
It’s completely crackers that private schools are VAT free. I remember when this was first floated I was stunned because I was entirely unaware that this was the case. Why is there VAT on clothes and shoes, but not private schools? Makes no sense whatsoever.
There isn't VAT on children's clothing, nor on private medical care (except cosmetic surgery).
It's from the Spectator, so a small health warning applies, but the private school policy is definitely cutting through in some of the more affluent constituencies, and not in a good way for Labour:
Labour claims that the VAT on school fees, and ending business rate relief, will raise £1.7bn.
You could raise slightly more money, £1.9bn, by increasing the NICs upper rate from 2% to 3%, according to the IFS "Be The Chancellor" tool. https://ifs.org.uk/election-2024/be-chancellor
And it would have the advantage of not identifying a particular minority and given them cause to claim victimhood.
While there are many issues that need sorting out in the public services in order to improve quality and productivity, they pretty much all need some initial capital investment and investment in staff development. That pump priming has to come from somewhere.
I agree that an across the board tax would be simpler and less distorting, but all the parties have been cornered into promising not to do so. So we wind up either with stealth tax increases (ala the Tories) or capricious taxes such as VAT on school fees.
The politicians are merely trying to give the people what they ask for, even though they know it is daft.
VAT exemption on private school fees is distorting. I am really pleased Starmer is proposing scrapping this exemption.
The distortion encourages people to spend money on education. Education is a good thing. Is that not a distortion worth having?
It’s completely crackers that private schools are VAT free. I remember when this was first floated I was stunned because I was entirely unaware that this was the case. Why is there VAT on clothes and shoes, but not private schools? Makes no sense whatsoever.
There isn't VAT on children's clothing, nor on private medical care (except cosmetic surgery).
So what? What is your point?
That VAT rules are full of exceptions.
Well you have named two. The private healthcare one is also crackers. Children’s clothes, fair enough. Why do we pay VAT on adult clothes - which are an essential - and not on private school fees? It’s a nonsense.
Pace yourself now. Don't stat saying "clot shot" til day 2.
Conversations in my local yesterday. Much desire for a strong leader like Putin. Disgust evidenced with democracy. This is pretty nationwide now.
The nation in question being Russia
I'm enjoying trying to imagine the scenario where at the local pub in Shoeburyness or wherever someone just randomly goes "Hey Mikhail, Dmitri, have you, fellow local people, ever wondered if we needed a strong leader like Vladimir Putin?"
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
Which are the seven biggest? Is that by polling or MP's? The QT has to be SNP.
Ah, so the Tory’s Monday announcement to try and capture the agenda going into the debate is “what is a woman” stuff. Of course it is. Should have guessed.
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
Which are the seven biggest? Is that by polling or MP's? The QT has to be SNP.
I think the Independent once did a front page image with the main party leaders and included the Women's Equality Party
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
Have the polls moved at all since the GE was called?
I've just looked at all the polls listed in wiki with sampling after the GE was called on 22 May and compared each pollsters latest Labour lead with the lead in that pollster's last poll before 22 May. Movement has been as follows:
FindOutNow +7* MoreinCommon +3 Opinium +2 Survation +2 We Think +2 Techne +1 R&W +1 BMG No change Deltapoll No change Savanta No change Whitestone No change YouGov No change JPL -3
(*FindOutNow's previous poll was way back in February, all the others were in May except BMG's which was late April).
Does this signify anything? Probably not. Or possibly a very slight move to Labour.
Pace yourself now. Don't stat saying "clot shot" til day 2.
Conversations in my local yesterday. Much desire for a strong leader like Putin. Disgust evidenced with democracy. This is pretty nationwide now.
I'm disgusted that anyone wants a strong leader like Putin.
I actually think he was talking bollox...I cannot imagine any boozer where people are saying that they admire Putin. If people do, they keep that kind of stuff to themselves....
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
If the BBC can shoehorn Farage onto Question Time yet again, they will be delighted.
Have the polls moved at all since the GE was called?
I've just looked at all the polls listed in wiki with sampling after the GE was called on 22 May and compared each pollsters latest Labour lead with the lead in that pollster's last poll before 22 May. Movement has been as follows:
FindOutNow +7* MoreinCommon +3 Opinium +2 Survation +2 We Think +2 Techne +1 R&W +1 BMG No change Deltapoll No change Savanta No change Whitestone No change YouGov No change JPL -3
(*FindOutNow's previous poll was way back in February, all the others were in May except BMG's which was late April).
Does this signify anything? Probably not. Or possibly a very slight move to Labour.
The stage is set for Goodwin to upset the apple cart next week with a poll showing Reform +15 and the Tories on 2%
Pace yourself now. Don't stat saying "clot shot" til day 2.
Conversations in my local yesterday. Much desire for a strong leader like Putin. Disgust evidenced with democracy. This is pretty nationwide now.
I'm disgusted that anyone wants a strong leader like Putin.
I actually think he was talking bollox...I cannot imagine any boozer where people are saying that they admire Putin. If people do, they keep that kind of stuff to themselves....
I have never heard praise for Putin from anyone except Farage and other Brexit bad boys. I think a massive majority would say that Putin was an utter C*nt, which is, of course what his name means in French.
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
If the BBC can shoehorn Farage onto Question Time yet again, they will be delighted.
Yep.
Although if they go on the actual representation in Commons (which they should) - it will be Con, Lab, SNP, Libdems.
I'm sure Beeb will find a way to shoehorn Farage in there somehow.
Ah, so the Tory’s Monday announcement to try and capture the agenda going into the debate is “what is a woman” stuff. Of course it is. Should have guessed.
Woke/cultural issues is the one thing that distinguishes Reform voters from those still intending to vote Conservative. Otherwise, they share very similar characteristics.
That's why we have had this sequence of policy announcements. The problem for the Conservatives is that their current voters are much more culturally aligned with Labour/Lib Dem voters than Reform. There is a chance that they end up in a no-man's land in the massive gap between the two.
I think going on Trans will alienate more voters than it attracts. People don't know the detail and will just assume that it's the Tories being prejudiced arseholes - what we've seen so far is that voters assume the very worst about each Tory policy.
*Edit - scrapping climate targets is exactly the same. Similar sentiments across Tory/Labour/Lib Dem voters - but Reform are out there on the periphery.
(Or an attempt to actually get sacked. Because then she can fly away with Jeremy and not take any responsibility for government, without it being her fault.)
Exactly how is it hurting according to Cole . The polls don’t show this.
If Labour's biggest problem this campaign is Dianne Abbott, they'll take that. In fact they would have probably engineered a Dianne Abbott problem to create some myth that they have a problem. I'd rather a Dianne Abbott kind of problem than that other kind of problem where you are being told that you are 20% plus behind in the polls and facing electoral extinction. That is a problem.
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
This is after Denmark v England and clashes with Italy v Spain on ITV:
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York
This clashes with Georgia v Portugal and Czech Republic v Turkey on ITV:
Mentioned on the BBC News, so one imagines genuine.
(Followed by Four Weddings and a Funeral, of all things. Leaving aside the whole Channel Four Film shouldn't be on the Beeb, what's that doing being thirty years old? And politically, harking back to a happier time for many.)
Exactly how is it hurting according to Cole . The polls don’t show this.
If Labour's biggest problem this campaign is Dianne Abbott, they'll take that. In fact they would have probably engineered a Dianne Abbott problem to create some myth that they have a problem. I'd rather a Dianne Abbott kind of problem than that other kind of problem where you are being told that you are 20% plus behind in the polls and facing electoral extinction. That is a problem.
Diane Abbott + VAT on private schools. You couldn't wish for a better pairing if you're trying to take the centre.
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
This is after Denmark v England and clashes with Italy v Spain on ITV:
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York
This clashes with Georgia v Portugal and Czech Republic v Turkey on ITV:
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
I suspect this is a strategic move for Labour and only slightly relevant to Sunak. They will try to link the Tories with hedge funds that make billions by acting against the UK interest. In the same way that Tories have previously sold the public on Labour being in the pay of unions.
What stunt has Ed Davey got planned for tomorrow? High diving into a tiny pool?
So far they’ve covered polluted water (paddle boarding), Wales - somehow (cycling down the street), mental health (water slide) and free school meals (baking). The main Lib Dem policy positions still not covered are: social care, net zero, Europe and electoral reform. Your guess is as good as mine as to what fun stunts could be engineered to match these. Battery go-karting might be a good bet for net zero.
Abbott should make a groveling apology over her tweet or should be barred from running . It’s totally unacceptable for a Labour candidate to call the leader of the party a liar . I was supportive of her before but she seems determined to cause as much trouble as possible.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
I suspect this is a strategic move for Labour and only slightly relevant to Sunak. They will try to link the Tories with hedge funds that make billions by acting against the UK interest. In the same way that Tories have previously sold the public on Labour being in the pay of unions.
Absent a smoking gun of a particular scandal, they might just make the public think he’s got good experience. He hasn’t, based on that, but the public might think he has.
What stunt has Ed Davey got planned for tomorrow? High diving into a tiny pool?
So far they’ve covered polluted water (paddle boarding), Wales - somehow (cycling down the street), mental health (water slide) and free school meals (baking). The main Lib Dem policy positions still not covered are: social care, net zero, Europe and electoral reform. You’d guess is as good as kind as to what fun stunts could be engineered to match these. Battery go-karting might be a good bet for net zero.
Europe has got to be an appearance with Antoine de Caunes and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Abbott should make a groveling apology over her tweet or should be barred from running . It’s totally unacceptable for a Labour candidate to call the leader of the party a liar . I was supportive of her before but she seems determined to cause as much trouble as possible.
She's a racist and hasn't ever apologized for her racist comments in the past.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
I suspect this is a strategic move for Labour and only slightly relevant to Sunak. They will try to link the Tories with hedge funds that make billions by acting against the UK interest. In the same way that Tories have previously sold the public on Labour being in the pay of unions.
I'd have thought it's a pre-emptive strike. Labour know one of the Tories' favourite gambits is to focus on his previous career as DPP and try and personally blame him for anything that didn't get to court we now think should've, and will surely do so in the campaign at some point. Quite possibly in the debates.
Getting Sunak's past job and the stuff about it that doesn't win you friends better known is a handy blocking defence if the Tories, as they surely will, go down that road.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
This seems to be the logic being used, but IANAE:
"Sunak was a partner in TCI when it began pushing the sale of ABN Amro via its 1% stake in the Dutch bank in early 2007 and lobbied heavily for RBS’s takeover bid."
BTW, I have not yet had ANYBOBDY mention Reform. Not one.
I think they are massively over-represented in the polling.
They are. So are the greens. I think combined they're polling ~18%? They'll be lucky if they get 6% between them.
A case of "protest polling"?
Or it may be something to do with the difference between looking up and down a pollster's list of parties and selecting one of them (which pollees do) and looking up and down a list of candidates, whether in the local newspaper or at the polling station, and then selecting one. Almost nobody does the latter.
As for the Starmer-Blair comparison:
1. Blair actually enthused people. The morons thought they were voting for Camelot. The Guardian for example after he was elected said in their leader column that this was the greatest chance for a radical movement in Europe for a generation. (I remember this because it nearly made me throw up.) It was only about a year later (seriously) that idiots started observing at dinner parties that they thought he was more presentation than substance, as if this was cutting-edge commentary. Starmer is much older and probably couldn't enthuse his own dog if he sang "Walkies" in falsetto. It might be possible for an old bloke to enthuse people. Mélenchon is pretty good at it. But Starmer comes across as a prat.
2. The Major government had been going down and down in a bog of what at the time was called "sleaze". People rarely say the word "corruption" in Britain - it's not the done thing; iit might lead to a fall-off in social invitations, a bit like going on about rule by lizards. But they did say sleaze. This made it much harder for the Tories to recover in 1997 than it will be over the next five weeks. Added to that, there was the widespread view that goodness knows how, but they'd managed to steal the 1992 election and they were kind of like cartoon characters who'd run off the edge of a cliff but hadn't noticed yet. None of this applies now.
So, based on your narrative, how do you read the outcome?
Abbott should make a groveling apology over her tweet or should be barred from running . It’s totally unacceptable for a Labour candidate to call the leader of the party a liar . I was supportive of her before but she seems determined to cause as much trouble as possible.
She’s always been a bit like this, I suspect Starmer will try to let the whole thing fade away. They should have had a better plan in place, they should just let her sit out another term on the backbenches and come up with a proper plan for next time.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
I suspect this is a strategic move for Labour and only slightly relevant to Sunak. They will try to link the Tories with hedge funds that make billions by acting against the UK interest. In the same way that Tories have previously sold the public on Labour being in the pay of unions.
I'd have thought it's a pre-emptive strike. Labour know one of the Tories' favourite gambits is to focus on his previous career as DPP and try and personally blame him for anything that didn't get to court we now think should've, and will surely do so in the campaign at some point. Quite possibly in the debates.
Getting Sunak's past job and the stuff about it that doesn't win you friends better known is a handy blocking defence if the Tories, as they surely will, go down that road.
Also: the Tories have not followed the SAvile inquiry recommendations 10 years on, says the Independent. I think someone is also blocking that approach in a different direction.
(And it wasn't SKS who invited him to No 10 or gave him the keys to at least one hospital. )
Pace yourself now. Don't stat saying "clot shot" til day 2.
Conversations in my local yesterday. Much desire for a strong leader like Putin. Disgust evidenced with democracy. This is pretty nationwide now.
I'm disgusted that anyone wants a strong leader like Putin.
Well, one suspects our new poster's local is somewhere east of the Gulf of Finland ... where saying you don't want a strong leader might be very unwise.
With a name like Chris Hodges? Top marks for subterfuge.
Rishi Sunak must face questions about the fortune he earned at a hedge fund which engineered a deal at the heart of the financial crash, Labour has said, as it prepares to launch its first major attack on the prime minister ahead of the election debates.
The party aims to turn the spotlight onto Sunak’s time before politics in the days before the first TV debate between the two leaders, after a week dominated by rows over Diane Abbott’s candidacy. On Sunday, she confirmed she would stand as Labour’s candidate.
Key to Labour’s attempt to get back on the front foot will be to scrutinise Sunak’s time as a partner at TCI, the hedge fund which launched an activist campaign against Dutch bank ABN Amro which resulted in its sale to RBS in 2007. The takeover was later described as “an extremely risky deal” by the independent financial regulator which said it was a key factor leading to RBS’s failure.
I really don't think focusing on Sunak's pre political life is going to be necessary. They should not be short of ammunition for political attacks.
Isn't the logic that the Tories are always blaming everything on the crash and the Labour administration before them? So if Mr Sunak is implicit ... or so it goes.
If Sunak worked at RBS and made the decision to buy ABN AMRO, then Labour would have a point. But he didn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
This seems to be the logic being used, but IANAE:
"Sunak was a partner in TCI when it began pushing the sale of ABN Amro via its 1% stake in the Dutch bank in early 2007 and lobbied heavily for RBS’s takeover bid."
But Labour said he (Starmer) would not be attending a debate between seven parties on June 7. Downing Street said Mr Sunak had not yet decided whether he would attend the events on June 7 or June 20 (2hr QT Special).
I think the 7th June one will just end up with the fringe parties. No point Sunak doing it, as still 5 other parties who will shout at him. There will be no light, just lots of heat.
Abbott should make a groveling apology over her tweet or should be barred from running . It’s totally unacceptable for a Labour candidate to call the leader of the party a liar . I was supportive of her before but she seems determined to cause as much trouble as possible.
Opportunity for Starmer to play the patient parent to her childish antics, and completely reverse the story around.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Because security guards are afraid of apprehending shoplifters.
Any suggestion from the political parties how they might address this?
Convert all the shops into housing.
I think the reality is a lot of retail (outside of food) will eventually become this. There will the equivalent of select number of showrooms in major towns for retailers to display their goods, then you go online and order it to your home. However converting retail to residential is a lot harder than it seems, even if you can get past the red tape.
I do find the moral juxtaposition quite interesting.
When George W. Bush was briefed on the Rwandan Genocide, he scribbled in the margin: "Not on my watch"
Johnson - and indeed - Sunak see things rather differently.
It's not even;
"Not my problem"
It's;
Let's use the horror of their genocide as a deterrent.
Pretty fucked up, No?
--
I've seen those dead bodies.
The children with their achilles tendons slashed in that school in gikongoro. Although they're sprinkled with lime, the bodies are still there if anyone fancies the darkest of dark holidays.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Because security guards are afraid of apprehending shoplifters.
Any suggestion from the political parties how they might address this?
I listened to Triggernometry's interview with Braverman yesterday - said that less serious crimes (property crimes effectively) have been de-prioritised to focus on violent, organised, crimes against the person etc. Suggested she'd tilt the balance back.
Ok, clearly a pitch for the tory leadership but maybe she has a point. I'd rather increase police resources and have some sort of meaningful deterrent. One for the Labour manifesto? Property rights are pretty fundamental, feels increasingly wild west out there.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Along with swiping iPhones, burglary, and car theft break-ins appear to be the same, as your chance of getting caught is square root of f##k all.
And bicycles! A major issue for getting people cycling.
It's always one big gang with a warehouse somewhere. They literally go round Edinburgh Uni with a transit van.
Yes, its absolutely rampant and blatant. Just walking around with the cordless angle grinder, no shits given if anybody sees them or films them.
One day, one of the two main parties will twig that there are actual votes in tackling “low level” crime. More then there are for the bigger crimes to be honest.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Along with swiping iPhones, burglary, and car theft break-ins appear to be the same, as your chance of getting caught is square root of f##k all.
And bicycles! A major issue for getting people cycling.
It's always one big gang with a warehouse somewhere. They literally go round Edinburgh Uni with a transit van.
Yes, its absolutely rampant and blatant. Just walking around with the cordless angle grinder, no shits given if anybody sees them or films them.
One day, one of the two main parties will twig that there are actual votes in tackling “low level” crime. More then there are for the bigger crimes to be honest.
Nah you are totally wrong, its all about things like what is a woman. Anyway the police are far too busy working out the "context" of every nutter calling for Jihad or Global Intifada every weekend and if they can get away with not arresting them.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Because security guards are afraid of apprehending shoplifters.
Any suggestion from the political parties how they might address this?
Convert all the shops into housing.
I think the reality is a lot of retail (outside of food) will eventually become this. There will the equivalent of select number of showrooms in major towns for retailers to display their goods, then you go online and order it to your home. However converting retail to residential is a lot harder than it seems, even if you can get past the red tape.
Lack of natural light is a big barrier. Not a problem in a department store. A full rebuild would make more sense than converting anything but vintage shops.
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Because security guards are afraid of apprehending shoplifters.
Any suggestion from the political parties how they might address this?
Convert all the shops into housing.
I think the reality is a lot of retail (outside of food) will eventually become this. There will the equivalent of select number of showrooms in major towns for retailers to display their goods, then you go online and order it to your home. However converting retail to residential is a lot harder than it seems, even if you can get past the red tape.
Lack of natural light is a big barrier. Not a problem in a department store. A full rebuild would make more sense than converting anything but vintage shops.
Office blocks are also very tricky to redevelop for residential.
Seattle Times - Hundreds line up in Seattle to vote in Mexico’s historic election
As a historic presidential election takes place in Mexico, hundreds of Mexican citizens lined up Sunday at the Mexican Consulate in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to vote . . .
The Consulado de México en Seattle . . . saw long lines wrap around the entire city block as the Seattle Police Department blocked off streets for safety.
Two women are leading the contest in Mexico. Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, has maintained a comfortable, double-digit lead in polls for months and will likely become the country’s first woman president, The Associated Press reports. Her main opponent is Xóchitl Gálvez, a tech entrepreneur and former senator.
Comments
This is a deeply unstable relationship.
Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London - Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York - Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham - Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00
Now is the Question Time Special Lib Dems and Reform or Lib Dems and SNP?
Is that by polling or MP's?
The QT has to be SNP.
I've just looked at all the polls listed in wiki with sampling after the GE was called on 22 May and compared each pollsters latest Labour lead with the lead in that pollster's last poll before 22 May. Movement has been as follows:
FindOutNow +7*
MoreinCommon +3
Opinium +2
Survation +2
We Think +2
Techne +1
R&W +1
BMG No change
Deltapoll No change
Savanta No change
Whitestone No change
YouGov No change
JPL -3
(*FindOutNow's previous poll was way back in February, all the others were in May except BMG's which was late April).
Does this signify anything? Probably not. Or possibly a very slight move to Labour.
Harry Cole
@MrHarryCole
·
28m
Labour going very negative tonight.
Abbott row clearly hurting.
https://x.com/MrHarryCole/status/1797373192367231363
The party says this will protect services for women and girls, preventing "biological males" from taking part.
https://x.com/PaulBrandITV/status/1797380169763537125
Death penalty is definitely coming next.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/02/save-conservative-party-oblivion-scrap-net-zero-year/
"Save party from electoral oblivion by offering to scrap 2050 net zero target, advises Tory faction
Group of MPs including Liz Truss and Jacob Rees-Mogg issues five pledges for manifesto, having ‘listened to grassroots’"
https://x.com/jaheale/status/1797380513591673109?s=46
Although if they go on the actual representation in Commons (which they should) - it will be Con, Lab, SNP, Libdems.
I'm sure Beeb will find a way to shoehorn Farage in there somehow.
I thought this was fake but it seems to be real.
https://x.com/ExploreMore10/status/1797381867047379176/photo/1
Dianne Abbott is unhinged.
That's why we have had this sequence of policy announcements. The problem for the Conservatives is that their current voters are much more culturally aligned with Labour/Lib Dem voters than Reform. There is a chance that they end up in a no-man's land in the massive gap between the two.
I think going on Trans will alienate more voters than it attracts. People don't know the detail and will just assume that it's the Tories being prejudiced arseholes - what we've seen so far is that voters assume the very worst about each Tory policy.
*Edit - scrapping climate targets is exactly the same. Similar sentiments across Tory/Labour/Lib Dem voters - but Reform are out there on the periphery.
(Or an attempt to actually get sacked. Because then she can fly away with Jeremy and not take any responsibility for government, without it being her fault.)
Question Time Leaders' Special: Thursday 20 June, York
This clashes with Georgia v Portugal and Czech Republic v Turkey on ITV:
Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham
(Followed by Four Weddings and a Funeral, of all things. Leaving aside the whole Channel Four Film shouldn't be on the Beeb, what's that doing being thirty years old? And politically, harking back to a happier time for many.)
https://www.ooftsauce.com/
Apparently he has been rather invisible - which is not a surprise.
My friend was not aware that he had jumped from the sinking Conservative Frigate to the leaky Reform life raft.
We don't want SOME interesting results. We want all of them to be HOLY FUCK!!!!!
Getting Sunak's past job and the stuff about it that doesn't win you friends better known is a handy blocking defence if the Tories, as they surely will, go down that road.
"Sunak was a partner in TCI when it began pushing the sale of ABN Amro via its 1% stake in the Dutch bank in early 2007 and lobbied heavily for RBS’s takeover bid."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/02/pm-must-face-questions-about-hedge-fund-at-heart-of-financial-crash-says-labour
(And it wasn't SKS who invited him to No 10 or gave him the keys to at least one hospital. )
https://www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk/independent-front-page-2024-06-03/
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/prediction_main.html
If we were taking about the Tories it’d probably be a row, but with Ed Davey it’s more likely a row.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/02/starmer-declines-to-join-one-of-bbc-election-debates/
I think the 7th June one will just end up with the fringe parties. No point Sunak doing it, as still 5 other parties who will shout at him. There will be no light, just lots of heat.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/02/did-you-pay-for-that-what-is-driving-the-massive-rise-in-shoplifting
The Guardian saying "shoplifting effectively decriminalised in the UK".
Con, Lab, LD, SNP
When George W. Bush was briefed on the Rwandan Genocide, he scribbled in the margin: "Not on my watch"
Johnson - and indeed - Sunak see things rather differently.
It's not even;
"Not my problem"
It's;
Let's use the horror of their genocide as a deterrent.
Pretty fucked up, No?
--
I've seen those dead bodies.
The children with their achilles tendons slashed in that school in gikongoro. Although they're sprinkled with lime, the bodies are still there if anyone fancies the darkest of dark holidays.
These tories aren't fucking human.
YOU DON"T FUCKING DO THAT.
Ok, clearly a pitch for the tory leadership but maybe she has a point. I'd rather increase police resources and have some sort of meaningful deterrent. One for the Labour manifesto? Property rights are pretty fundamental, feels increasingly wild west out there.
(Or indeed the shoplifter)
https://www.gjopen.com/questions/3486-how-many-seats-will-the-conservative-party-win-in-the-next-uk-general-election
In the “Simple Models” method, uniform change in England, Scotland, and Wales separately, Tories get 193 seats.
https://electionsetc.com/2024/05/30/first-combined-forecast-for-the-2024-general-election/#more-2777
HOW FUCKING DARE YOU?
It'll be a random draw for order - there is no particular advantage.
It's always one big gang with a warehouse somewhere. They literally go round Edinburgh Uni with a transit van.
D-I-A-N-E
Just the one n in her given name.
As a historic presidential election takes place in Mexico, hundreds of Mexican citizens lined up Sunday at the Mexican Consulate in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to vote . . .
The Consulado de México en Seattle . . . saw long lines wrap around the entire city block as the Seattle Police Department blocked off streets for safety.
Two women are leading the contest in Mexico. Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, has maintained a comfortable, double-digit lead in polls for months and will likely become the country’s first woman president, The Associated Press reports. Her main opponent is Xóchitl Gálvez, a tech entrepreneur and former senator.