Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Trump: But outside, we have thousands and thousands of people. 40 to 50,000 people at least out there.. It looked like when Lindbergh landed in New York., Do you remember that? Thousands of people.. they’re probably leaving and walking home https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840116660008825020
Couple of minor points … That was nearly two decades before Trump was born. Lindbergh was a notorious anti semite.
Lindberg didn't want the US to enter the war to stop Nazism spreading across Europe.
Seems a good fit frankly.
Apart from the fast food obsession.
Trump: She never worked at McDonald's. She worked at McDonald's. And I didn't work there. She didn't work there. But I'm going to go to a McDonald's. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840118754388390191
Trump: But outside, we have thousands and thousands of people. 40 to 50,000 people at least out there.. It looked like when Lindbergh landed in New York., Do you remember that? Thousands of people.. they’re probably leaving and walking home https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840116660008825020
Couple of minor points … That was nearly two decades before Trump was born. Lindbergh was a notorious anti semite.
Further note that Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis in Paris NOT in New York.
Lucky Lindy returned to USA from his solo fight across the Atlantic, by re-crossing the ocean via US warship. After visiting the White House, he took the train back to NYC. Where he indeed received a hero's welcome, which Trump may have absorbed as part of Gotham folk memory.
via charleslindbergh.com When he came home to America aboard the USS Memphis, a majestic convoy of warships and aircraft escorted him up the Chesapeake and Potomac to Washington. President Coolidge welcomed him home and bestowed the Distinguished Flying Cross upon him. His New York reception was the wildest in the city's history as 4 million people lined the parade route and Mayor Jimmy Walker pinned New York's Medal of Valor upon him. Finally, when it was all over, he turned and flew to St. Louis for a rest and to contemplate. His epic flight would become the one singular event which electrified the world and changed the whole course of history.
Still no VI, but Starmer's ratings well down on a fortnight ago.
🚨LATEST Opinium / Observer poll
Keir Starmer’s net approval ratings are -30%, down 17 points from -13 at a fortnight ago and down by 49 points from +19% in his first approval rating as prime minister.
This is, again, Starmer’s lowest ever score by some distance.
On the other hand, still beating Sunak as "best PM".
Despite approvals, Starmer still leads Sunak as best PM by 9 points (27% for Starmer vs 18% for Sunak).
However, 46% think neither would be the best prime minister.
If that second one changes, he's in trouble. But are any of the Fab Four capable of that? Suspect the answer is no.
Can ANYONE explain why all these polls are not providing us with VI? But they're saying how shite SKS's approval ratings have got? I would have thought there might be one or two comments on this on here if nowhere else.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Still no VI, but Starmer's ratings well down on a fortnight ago.
🚨LATEST Opinium / Observer poll
Keir Starmer’s net approval ratings are -30%, down 17 points from -13 at a fortnight ago and down by 49 points from +19% in his first approval rating as prime minister.
This is, again, Starmer’s lowest ever score by some distance.
On the other hand, still beating Sunak as "best PM".
Despite approvals, Starmer still leads Sunak as best PM by 9 points (27% for Starmer vs 18% for Sunak).
However, 46% think neither would be the best prime minister.
If that second one changes, he's in trouble. But are any of the Fab Four capable of that? Suspect the answer is no.
Can ANYONE explain why all these polls are not providing us with VI? But they're saying how shite SKS's approval ratings have got? I would have thought there might be one or two comments on this on here if nowhere else.
Cozy they all screwed up massively before the election, and are still trying to figure out why it went so wrong.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
Trump: But outside, we have thousands and thousands of people. 40 to 50,000 people at least out there.. It looked like when Lindbergh landed in New York., Do you remember that? Thousands of people.. they’re probably leaving and walking home https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840116660008825020
Couple of minor points … That was nearly two decades before Trump was born. Lindbergh was a notorious anti semite.
Further note that Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis in Paris NOT in New York.
Lucky Lindy returned to USA from his solo fight across the Atlantic, by re-crossing the ocean via US warship. After visiting the White House, he took the train back to NYC. Where he indeed received a hero's welcome, which Trump may have absorbed as part of Gotham folk memory.
via charleslindbergh.com When he came home to America aboard the USS Memphis, a majestic convoy of warships and aircraft escorted him up the Chesapeake and Potomac to Washington. President Coolidge welcomed him home and bestowed the Distinguished Flying Cross upon him. His New York reception was the wildest in the city's history as 4 million people lined the parade route and Mayor Jimmy Walker pinned New York's Medal of Valor upon him. Finally, when it was all over, he turned and flew to St. Louis for a rest and to contemplate. His epic flight would become the one singular event which electrified the world and changed the whole course of history.
Perhaps he’s confused it with the Hindenberg’s (last) landing at Lakehurst outside New York.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
Jenrick is more cut and dry for me. The 12k donation from Richard Desmond shortly before Jenrick approved planning permission for his development in East London, saving him £45m, suggests Jenrick has set a floor price. From there, we can extrapolate what 75k delivered through an anonymous vehicle based in an offshore tax haven might buy you.
I'm absolutely not excusing Starmer. I'm just saying, at least with Starmer, you can name the donor. Who gave the Jenrick campaign 75k, and what do they want in return?
Perhaps, by donating anonymously, they sought to hide their shame from God, as one places a napkin over the head when eating an ortolan. To be fair, I would not want my name attached to a 75k donation to Honest Bob Jenrick, either.
Or, perhaps, they want something from Honest Bob and don't want us to find out about it...
Still no VI, but Starmer's ratings well down on a fortnight ago.
🚨LATEST Opinium / Observer poll
Keir Starmer’s net approval ratings are -30%, down 17 points from -13 at a fortnight ago and down by 49 points from +19% in his first approval rating as prime minister.
This is, again, Starmer’s lowest ever score by some distance.
On the other hand, still beating Sunak as "best PM".
Despite approvals, Starmer still leads Sunak as best PM by 9 points (27% for Starmer vs 18% for Sunak).
However, 46% think neither would be the best prime minister.
If that second one changes, he's in trouble. But are any of the Fab Four capable of that? Suspect the answer is no.
Can ANYONE explain why all these polls are not providing us with VI? But they're saying how shite SKS's approval ratings have got? I would have thought there might be one or two comments on this on here if nowhere else.
Cozy they all screwed up massively before the election, and are still trying to figure out why it went so wrong.
So to do that they will need raw data. So they are asking the voting intention question, but not revealing the outcome. And coincidentally all the main polling companies are doing exactly the same rather odd thing at once?
Trump: But outside, we have thousands and thousands of people. 40 to 50,000 people at least out there.. It looked like when Lindbergh landed in New York., Do you remember that? Thousands of people.. they’re probably leaving and walking home https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840116660008825020
Couple of minor points … That was nearly two decades before Trump was born. Lindbergh was a notorious anti semite.
Lindberg didn't want the US to enter the war to stop Nazism spreading across Europe.
Seems a good fit frankly.
Apart from the fast food obsession.
Trump: She never worked at McDonald's. She worked at McDonald's. And I didn't work there. She didn't work there. But I'm going to go to a McDonald's. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840118754388390191
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
As Housing Minister Robert Jenrick overturned a development decision against donor Richard Desmond and deliberately engineered the application to minimise social charges saving Desmond £150 million he would normally have to pay. Desmond then gave a further donation. This went to judicial review, which he conceded on to avoid having to reveal his correspondence with Desmond.
Dunno, but I think I'm a "reasonable person" in thinking Jenrick was lucky to avoid a charge under the 2010 Bribery Act, which potentially comes with several years in prison.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
Trump: But outside, we have thousands and thousands of people. 40 to 50,000 people at least out there.. It looked like when Lindbergh landed in New York., Do you remember that? Thousands of people.. they’re probably leaving and walking home https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840116660008825020
Couple of minor points … That was nearly two decades before Trump was born. Lindbergh was a notorious anti semite.
Lindberg didn't want the US to enter the war to stop Nazism spreading across Europe.
Seems a good fit frankly.
Apart from the fast food obsession.
Trump: She never worked at McDonald's. She worked at McDonald's. And I didn't work there. She didn't work there. But I'm going to go to a McDonald's. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840118754388390191
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
It’s difficult not to see £50k in clothes, £50k more for wifey’s clothes, and up to £150k in football tickets, all inside one year, to be somewhat suspect.
As for Jenrick, how does a donation go to a campaign that’s not from a registered voter? It shouldn’t be allowed to donate from an overseas company to a political candidate, even for an internal party election.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
It’s difficult not to see £50k in clothes, £50k more for wifey’s clothes, and up to £150k in football tickets, all inside one year, to be somewhat suspect.
As for Jenrick, how does a donation go to a campaign that’s not from a registered voter? It shouldn’t be allowed to donate from an overseas company to a political candidate, even for an internal party election.
He'll have to provide some explanation for the £75k or else it will dog him all the way though his time as LOTO. It's very odd for us not to even have a vague idea.
Donald Trump's evoking the memory of Charles Lindbergh is certainly interesting, given that in 1940 Lindbergh was the chief national standardbearer for "America First" - isolationists opposed to opposing Hitler.
See any similiarity between THAT position and what Trump means by "Make America Great Again"?
Rosie's letter to SKS is indeed brutal, and rather long. But I think it's so personal in its brutality, and so full of wordy invective about one person, that it's a bit over the top, and therefore less effective.
She may as well just have written "I hate you, you bastard. Bye."
Their mistake appears to have been not to have understood that which we, and most other voters, understand all too well, which is that they got into office because of sheer public disgust at the cesspit the Tories had fallen into under Johnson, and those that followed.
Had they properly appreciated this, they would have gone out of their way to make sure that a few significant “clean up politics” announcements and initiatives featured at the top of their “first 100 days” list.
As it is, we’ve had nothing by way of clean up and instead a series of stories, from Labour’s slum landlord MP through the political freebies, that will have people thinking of Animal Farm.
Streeting was precisely the same when Labour took control of the council in 2014; much of what Labour had fiercely criticised the Tories for, over very many years, was actually amplified under Streeting’s administration, from cuts in council tax support through abolishing area democracy, the administration running scrutiny of itself, to further curtailment of both public participation and the powers of opposition councillors. The difference, there, was that they knew that demographic change meant they were unlikely to lose control any time soon.
On the one hand she’s come across as a bit flaky in the past.
On the other she’s citing concerns that many left leaning people, whether in Labour or other parties have long had about the direction and lack of core philosophy of the current party. I suspect her views are shared by a decent minority of Labour MPs. I certainly share her views on the way Abbot was treated, and additionally feel his treatment of Corbyn was shoddy.
For me, the WFA decision was the right one, but it has been terribly handled and exposed a lack of political instinct. That has been compounded by the series of own goals around donor freebies.
I had no great expectation of Starmer’s Labour. I have frequently said on here and elsewhere that I felt they had a tremendous opportunity to offer a truly radical agenda, but that they would fluff it. It was clear they would see themselves as fighting a 1997 type election but at a time when the country faced very different problems in my view that was a big mistake.
They can turn this around but they need (i) a bold offer and (ii) to cut out the freeloading. Zero tolerance.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
As Housing Minister Robert Jenrick overturned a development decision against donor Richard Desmond and deliberately engineered the application to minimise social charges saving Desmond £150 million he would normally have to pay. Desmond then gave a further donation. This went to judicial review, which he conceded on to avoid having to reveal his correspondence with Desmond.
Dunno, but I think I'm a "reasonable person" in thinking Jenrick was lucky to avoid a charge under the 2010 Bribery Act, which potentially comes with several years in prison.
Should add Jenrick possibly wasn't that unlucky. Prosecution and conviction rates for bribery offences are woeful. The Bribery Act may be effective in keeping generally law abiding organisations and individuals on track, but it doesn't do anything against the Robert Jenricks of this world.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
Jenrick is more cut and dry for me. The 12k donation from Richard Desmond shortly before Jenrick approved planning permission for his development in East London, saving him £45m, suggests Jenrick has set a floor price. From there, we can extrapolate what 75k delivered through an anonymous vehicle based in an offshore tax haven might buy you.
I'm absolutely not excusing Starmer. I'm just saying, at least with Starmer, you can name the donor. Who gave the Jenrick campaign 75k, and what do they want in return?
Perhaps, by donating anonymously, they sought to hide their shame from God, as one places a napkin over the head when eating an ortolan. To be fair, I would not want my name attached to a 75k donation to Honest Bob Jenrick, either.
Or, perhaps, they want something from Honest Bob and don't want us to find out about it...
It will be interesting to see whether this leads a few MPs to reconsider. Maybe Kemi now looks the safer choice.
Times reporting government to increase tuition fees to £10,500.
Yay, more debt for tomorrow’s twentysomethings.
How’s about government gets out of undergraduate funding completely, and let the institution, the bank, and the student agree on terms for the loan, with none of of this “loans can survive a bankruptcy” nonsense?
That way, banks will fund useful courses, and not-useful courses will rely on either self-funders or overseas students.
How about they call it a graduate tax, which it is?
I wonder if these punitive student loan repayments is a cause of stagnating property prices, particularly at the low end of the housing market, in London since around 2015.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
Jenrick is more cut and dry for me. The 12k donation from Richard Desmond shortly before Jenrick approved planning permission for his development in East London, saving him £45m, suggests Jenrick has set a floor price. From there, we can extrapolate what 75k delivered through an anonymous vehicle based in an offshore tax haven might buy you.
I'm absolutely not excusing Starmer. I'm just saying, at least with Starmer, you can name the donor. Who gave the Jenrick campaign 75k, and what do they want in return?
Perhaps, by donating anonymously, they sought to hide their shame from God, as one places a napkin over the head when eating an ortolan. To be fair, I would not want my name attached to a 75k donation to Honest Bob Jenrick, either.
Or, perhaps, they want something from Honest Bob and don't want us to find out about it...
It will be interesting to see whether this leads a few MPs to reconsider. Maybe Kemi now looks the safer choice.
Yup.
It will be very hard for the Conservatives to go after Labour on sleaze, if their leader is the guy who took a 12k donation from Richard Desmond and a 75k donation from an anonymous offshore donor to win the leadership. Plus all the other whiffy things about Honest Bob, which you can google at your leisure. It completely blunts the best angle of attack the Conservatives have right now.
From a betting perspective (for we often forget this is a betting site) Kemi might be value right now, assuming the Conservative membership who have a vote are up to speed on such things and will be influenced by this.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
It wasn't in Labour's interest to withdraw the whip before the election and it wasn't in Duffield's interest to resign it. Both parties seem pretty cynical.
Donald Trump's evoking the memory of Charles Lindbergh is certainly interesting, given that in 1940 Lindbergh was the chief national standardbearer for "America First" - isolationists opposed to opposing Hitler.
See any similiarity between THAT position and what Trump means by "Make America Great Again"?
Churchwell wrote a whole book on the similarities:
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Obviously any reasonable person cannot think that either Sir Keir or Robert Jenrick are corrupt or have been "bought". On the other hand both have allowed themselves to be tainted by accepting these donations which they were presumably aware of. Thereby showing themselves to be unfit for high office through their naivety and gullibility.
It’s difficult not to see £50k in clothes, £50k more for wifey’s clothes, and up to £150k in football tickets, all inside one year, to be somewhat suspect.
As for Jenrick, how does a donation go to a campaign that’s not from a registered voter? It shouldn’t be allowed to donate from an overseas company to a political candidate, even for an internal party election.
Agree with you absolutely. On both barrels worth of buckshot.
(Which hopefully does NOT shake your faith tooooo much, at least in this rare instance of concurrence!)
On the one hand she’s come across as a bit flaky in the past.
On the other she’s citing concerns that many left leaning people, whether in Labour or other parties have long had about the direction and lack of core philosophy of the current party. I suspect her views are shared by a decent minority of Labour MPs. I certainly share her views on the way Abbot was treated, and additionally feel his treatment of Corbyn was shoddy.
For me, the WFA decision was the right one, but it has been terribly handled and exposed a lack of political instinct. That has been compounded by the series of own goals around donor freebies.
I had no great expectation of Starmer’s Labour. I have frequently said on here and elsewhere that I felt they had a tremendous opportunity to offer a truly radical agenda, but that they would fluff it. It was clear they would see themselves as fighting a 1997 type election but at a time when the country faced very different problems in my view that was a big mistake.
They can turn this around but they need (i) a bold offer and (ii) to cut out the freeloading. Zero tolerance.
I didn't vote for Labour; I'm not sure whether I would say I had expectations. I think I did have hopes at least, because the previous government had very clearly dug the country into a terrible hole, and my worldview is not so bleak that I don't hope that a new government with a different set of plans might get us out of it. The signs during the election and the initial performance have not exactly been good. I'm still hoping, though -- maybe the budget will show some signs of plans and competence?
On the bright side, the thread header has reminded me that I had some spare holiday and that I'd been thinking about taking a short break in Canterbury. Time to book a hotel...
On the conservative leadership race I read (not sure where) the party are looking at bringing forward the results so the new leader can respond to Reeves October statement
If true it makes sense, but sense and the conservatives are not very well acquainted
On the conservative leadership race I read (not sure where) the party are looking at bringing forward the results so the new leader can respond to Reeves October statement
If true it makes sense, but sense and the conservatives are not very well acquainted
Spectator reporting this weekend that Shad Cabinet is very unhappy now about the decision to make this contest so long.
Evening all! Fun news. I wonder who she will join - she was a Corbyn critic so doubtful she joins him. Greenmentum perhaps?
Her difficulty is that she's quite left wing, so the Tories are out, and her position on trans issues makes it tricky for anyone else. My guess is she remains independent.
On the conservative leadership race I read (not sure where) the party are looking at bringing forward the results so the new leader can respond to Reeves October statement
If true it makes sense, but sense and the conservatives are not very well acquainted
Spectator reporting this weekend that Shad Cabinet is very unhappy now about the decision to make this contest so long.
Making it a few weeks shorter wouldn’t have made any difference in the long run.
It’s hard to believe what a clusterfxck Labour have made of the first few months in office .
Luckily Bozo decides to remind those bitterly disappointed in Starmer of the previous even worse shxtshow .
Unfortunately that is not the narrative as Sky have reported just now as they read parts of Rosie's resignation letter that Starmer was elected on cleaning up the conservatives sleaze and he is acting the same
One of the things that turned me off Corbyn in the end was his antipathy towards reaching out to people who disagreed with him. The complete unwillingness to try and find common ground and build rapprochement and consensus.
In his treatment of Rosie Duffield, Starmer has exhibited these same traits. It is badly done, and it reflects very poorly on him.
Evening all! Fun news. I wonder who she will join - she was a Corbyn critic so doubtful she joins him. Greenmentum perhaps?
Her difficulty is that she's quite left wing, so the Tories are out, and her position on trans issues makes it tricky for anyone else. My guess is she remains independent.
I do not think it matters for the next few years as she will want to look after her constituency as her priority
So, 1% of our electricity is from coal at the moment.
And I'm guessing it will stay that way until Monday evening as the final stocks are burned up.
We are living through the end of an era. A remarkable era that completely changed the world - more completely than any before, and probably than any to come. The age of coal power in Britain.
Let us quote what someone said as that era opened properly at Rainhill in 1829:
4The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. 5He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared. 6The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. 7And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
That era really opened in 1882, when Edison's coal-fired power station opened in London. Or if you mean industrious use of coal, probably Watt's first engines in the 1760s.
Edit: it was the 1760s.
Surely a little earlier, with Darby using coal, as coke, for smelting iron at Coalbrookdale?
But really that illustrates the problem of defining a complex shift in a simple way ...
Edit: please ignore, that doesn't really count as prime mover usage of coal.
Times reporting government to increase tuition fees to £10,500.
Yay, more debt for tomorrow’s twentysomethings.
How’s about government gets out of undergraduate funding completely, and let the institution, the bank, and the student agree on terms for the loan, with none of of this “loans can survive a bankruptcy” nonsense?
That way, banks will fund useful courses, and not-useful courses will rely on either self-funders or overseas students.
How about they call it a graduate tax, which it is?
I wonder if these punitive student loan repayments is a cause of stagnating property prices, particularly at the low end of the housing market, in London since around 2015.
Leasehold, toxic service charges, and grenfell are the reason behind the stagnating lower end of the London market.
You buy a house for x amount, but your service charge goes up from £1000 a year to £4000 a year.
Or you find you can't sell any more without an EWS1 form, which the owner of your block won't give you because it costs them £30k and they argue the block doesn't have any cladding so doesn't need an EWS1 form, but your buyer can't get a mortgage without one, so you're in catch 22 until a cash buyer comes along...
Or you get stacked with a 20k section 20 charge because your block didn't have a sinking fund...
Or your managing agent is on the take and receiving backhanders for insurance premiums....
And so on, and so forth.
It's one of the reasons I hate Jenrick. A lot of this happened under his watch, and he did bollock all about it.
Perhaps the new conservative leader could take lessons from Canada.
The Canadian Conservatives have been out of power for 9 years which helps with a time for change narrative (as well as pushing for more affordable housing). Remember the Tories won 25-34 year olds in 2010 under Cameron
Still no VI, but Starmer's ratings well down on a fortnight ago.
🚨LATEST Opinium / Observer poll
Keir Starmer’s net approval ratings are -30%, down 17 points from -13 at a fortnight ago and down by 49 points from +19% in his first approval rating as prime minister.
This is, again, Starmer’s lowest ever score by some distance.
On the other hand, still beating Sunak as "best PM".
Despite approvals, Starmer still leads Sunak as best PM by 9 points (27% for Starmer vs 18% for Sunak).
However, 46% think neither would be the best prime minister.
If that second one changes, he's in trouble. But are any of the Fab Four capable of that? Suspect the answer is no.
Can ANYONE explain why all these polls are not providing us with VI? But they're saying how shite SKS's approval ratings have got? I would have thought there might be one or two comments on this on here if nowhere else.
I've commented a few times about the lack of VI polls. 👍
Some of the left leaning journos really really don't seem to like him.
Normally at this stage of any new government, journalists are keen to stay in the good books, as they know otherwise they will have limited access for at least the next 5 years, which is a long time having to sit through press conferences etc and never be called to ask a question, get those cozy interviews, by briefed the scoop of upcoming policy, etc.
Still no VI, but Starmer's ratings well down on a fortnight ago.
🚨LATEST Opinium / Observer poll
Keir Starmer’s net approval ratings are -30%, down 17 points from -13 at a fortnight ago and down by 49 points from +19% in his first approval rating as prime minister.
This is, again, Starmer’s lowest ever score by some distance.
On the other hand, still beating Sunak as "best PM".
Despite approvals, Starmer still leads Sunak as best PM by 9 points (27% for Starmer vs 18% for Sunak).
However, 46% think neither would be the best prime minister.
If that second one changes, he's in trouble. But are any of the Fab Four capable of that? Suspect the answer is no.
Can ANYONE explain why all these polls are not providing us with VI? But they're saying how shite SKS's approval ratings have got? I would have thought there might be one or two comments on this on here if nowhere else.
That’s an appalling comment but par for the course from Trump .
Not entirely. Go back to his glory days, and Trump's insults were artful. Cruel, hurtful but clever enough to go viral and just accurate enough that they couldn't be shrugged off. Morally appalling, natch, but you had to say that he did what he did very well.
Harris as mentally impared is just nasty with no redeeming features.
Donald Trump's evoking the memory of Charles Lindbergh is certainly interesting, given that in 1940 Lindbergh was the chief national standardbearer for "America First" - isolationists opposed to opposing Hitler.
See any similiarity between THAT position and what Trump means by "Make America Great Again"?
I see Trump was speaking earlier behind a background of 'deport illegals now' and 'send migrant criminals home'
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Whoever the lucky winner is has a bit of explaining to do. As will the luckier loser.
CCHQ are charging each of the final four £50000, with the final two having to stump up another £150k for party funds.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Whoever the lucky winner is has a bit of explaining to do. As will the luckier loser.
CCHQ are charging each of the final four £50000, with the final two having to stump up another £150k for party funds.
Officials in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville, said in a news conference that they have requested portable cell towers that could alleviate the communication problems that have plagued the area. They did not specify when they expect the towers to be up and running.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is suspending classes through Oct. 9 because of the “significant tree damage” caused by Helene, according to the school’s chancellor, Kimberly van Noort. “Cell and internet coverage is nonexistent at this point,” Ms. van Noort said, adding that the university would be providing food and water to the students remaining on campus.
You've surely noticed by now that means he's worried about his own mental faculties ?
I don't really follow the US election as, well, it's quite depressing. But Trump is looking and sounding like he's aged 10 years since the last clip I saw of him a month or two ago.
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Whoever the lucky winner is has a bit of explaining to do. As will the luckier loser.
CCHQ are charging each of the final four £50000, with the final two having to stump up another £150k for party funds.
Now it's for a respectable reason, not an apparently frivolous one, but it's a lot of wonga to find.
Didn't know that.
Apparently the Tories are now a pay 2 win MMORPG. I wonder what's in the loot boxes...
Or one of those pay 2 win games that are spammed advertised online, where the game is actually totally different to the footage shown in the ad, with it being significantly shiter.
Officials in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville, said in a news conference that they have requested portable cell towers that could alleviate the communication problems that have plagued the area. They did not specify when they expect the towers to be up and running.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is suspending classes through Oct. 9 because of the “significant tree damage” caused by Helene, according to the school’s chancellor, Kimberly van Noort. “Cell and internet coverage is nonexistent at this point,” Ms. van Noort said, adding that the university would be providing food and water to the students remaining on campus.
And the main roads in and out remain closed, blocked by rock falls, mudslides or trees, and the city wide curfew continues tonight and tomorrow night. Driving out into that weather seemed foolish and probably was, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck there now, my return home hanging in the balance.
Acyn @Acyn Vance: Donald Trump’s record on healthcare was so good that the main thing Kamala Harris talks about was actually an achievement of Donald Trump which is getting insulin down to $35. Thank Donald Trump for that. Don’t let Kamala Harris lie and take credit for it
Nasty, attention seeking transphobe. Best ignored.
Those getting all worked up about Sir Keir Starmer accepting a few freebies are going to shit the bed when they finally notice the Oswald Cobblepot figure waddling up to the opposite side of the despatch box in a few weeks’ time. Crooked as a £4 note and nasty with it too. A few suits and a pair of glasses pale in comparison.
As I've mentioned downthread, we know who Lord Alli is, so if Starmer starts spouting his talking points, we can be reasonably sure there's a debt being paid.
Meanwhile Jenrick's leadership campaign has been funded to the tune of 75k by a *completely anonymous* donor who contributed via a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands. So who has bought and paid for him?
Surely he is not being held to Branson?
Just thinking if Jenrick goes on the offensive over donations to Labour, he might find himself in a pickle.
Whoever the lucky winner is has a bit of explaining to do. As will the luckier loser.
CCHQ are charging each of the final four £50000, with the final two having to stump up another £150k for party funds.
The death of the Queen seems to have fired the starting gun on the chaos many prophesied as Truss came along very quickly to oblige then came along two subsequent PM's with absolutely no political antennae
Acyn @Acyn Vance: Donald Trump’s record on healthcare was so good that the main thing Kamala Harris talks about was actually an achievement of Donald Trump which is getting insulin down to $35. Thank Donald Trump for that. Don’t let Kamala Harris lie and take credit for it
The death of the Queen seems to have fired the starting gun on the chaos many prophesied as Truss came along very quickly to oblige then came along two subsequent PM's with absolutely no political antennae
Have a good night's rest everyone
Despite being the sovereign, she was a political giant…
The death of the Queen seems to have fired the starting gun on the chaos many prophesied as Truss came along very quickly to oblige then came along two subsequent PM's with absolutely no political antennae
Have a good night's rest everyone
I think "the chaos" started well before HMQs death. Probably as far back as Cameron quitting the morning after the referendum and certainly to Theresa May's disastrous election result.
An expert on just about holding onto the Lab whip writes...
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP · 1h No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
It wasn't in Labour's interest to withdraw the whip before the election and it wasn't in Duffield's interest to resign it. Both parties seem pretty cynical.
The trick is that if she'd run against them as an independent she might have split the Labour vote and let the Tories in. But since she's resigning now, she'll find herself starving for clicks, so she'll gradually take more and more alt-right positions and if she runs next time she'll split the Tory/Farage vote instead.
Evening all! Fun news. I wonder who she will join - she was a Corbyn critic so doubtful she joins him. Greenmentum perhaps?
Her difficulty is that she's quite left wing, so the Tories are out, and her position on trans issues makes it tricky for anyone else. My guess is she remains independent.
I do not think it matters for the next few years as she will want to look after her constituency as her priority
She's almost certainly not going to stand again. She's well into her 50s, has never seemed happy in the job, and doesn't have much prospect of getting a party endorsement. I think she's reasonably well regarded by her constituents, but it isn't enough for her to win as an independent. It all looks like a middle finger, and she'll see out her time without needing to bother with party matters.
Officials in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville, said in a news conference that they have requested portable cell towers that could alleviate the communication problems that have plagued the area. They did not specify when they expect the towers to be up and running.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is suspending classes through Oct. 9 because of the “significant tree damage” caused by Helene, according to the school’s chancellor, Kimberly van Noort. “Cell and internet coverage is nonexistent at this point,” Ms. van Noort said, adding that the university would be providing food and water to the students remaining on campus.
And the main roads in and out remain closed, blocked by rock falls, mudslides or trees, and the city wide curfew continues tonight and tomorrow night. Driving out into that weather seemed foolish and probably was, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck there now, my return home hanging in the balance.
Seeing you were willing to take the risk - and authorities were will to allow & help you drive out of the storm zone, think you clearly made the right choice. For you pooch, yourself AND Asheville, which has enough to deal with, without adding you two to the stew.
Nadia Whittome MP @NadiaWhittomeMP No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling · 2h Rosie Duffield was one of the few female Labour politicians with the guts to stand up for vulnerable women and girls, while self-satisfied numbskulls like you fought to give away their rights and spaces. TL;DR Keep her name out of your mouth.
The death of the Queen seems to have fired the starting gun on the chaos many prophesied as Truss came along very quickly to oblige then came along two subsequent PM's with absolutely no political antennae
Have a good night's rest everyone
Truss had no political antennae either.
And both May's and Johnson's were warped, in different ways. Plus, Johnson was completely incapable at the managerial and administrative side of the job, while Truss was profoundly bad at managing people.
It clearly is possible to still get people who can do all aspects of the job of being a national leader in the social media age but it's much harder than it was when social media amplifies populism (almost by its nature, it requires simplicity which can very easily morph into simplisticness), enabling both populist parties which the others inevitably chase, and populist factions within parties. Britain is not alone in the drift the chaos.
On a related note: 60% (and climbing) of all the world's satellites are Starlink. That's approaching James Bond villain levels of dominance, particularly when combined with Musk's ownership of Twitter. Information is power.
Officials in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville, said in a news conference that they have requested portable cell towers that could alleviate the communication problems that have plagued the area. They did not specify when they expect the towers to be up and running.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is suspending classes through Oct. 9 because of the “significant tree damage” caused by Helene, according to the school’s chancellor, Kimberly van Noort. “Cell and internet coverage is nonexistent at this point,” Ms. van Noort said, adding that the university would be providing food and water to the students remaining on campus.
And the main roads in and out remain closed, blocked by rock falls, mudslides or trees, and the city wide curfew continues tonight and tomorrow night. Driving out into that weather seemed foolish and probably was, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck there now, my return home hanging in the balance.
Seeing you were willing to take the risk - and authorities were will to allow & help you drive out of the storm zone, think you clearly made the right choice. For you pooch, yourself AND Asheville, which has enough to deal with, without adding you two to the stew.
Well there was a ‘no travelling’ advisory, and the weather conditions were such that I clearly took a significant risk, which could have ended differently. But the interstate was relatively busy and the fire crews were heroically doing their best to keep everyone moving. Today the same journey wouldn’t be possible, by the looks of things, and as you say, hanging around a disaster zone like a spare part would have helped no-one.
All the hotel staff were coming in, saying “you really don’t want to go driving out there”, but they were all coming in, which tipped me towards giving it a try.
The Labour Party is so great right now and it just keeps getting better.
Isn't the word "entertainment" missing from that sentence ?
That's the other side of it because the governing part is going fine so the news is taken up with a succession of minor media spectacles.
Erhh, you obviously missed the bit about letting out the wrong prisoners, some prisoners who were let out reoffended within 48hrs, the massive increase in borrowing, no growth, ticking up of various inflation measures, small boats still arriving at high levels, etc....We also have the constant briefing against Sue Gray and claims its is war between two fractions, where Gray won't brief certain people to allow them to do their jobs, playing silly buggers with desk positioning.
15 years ago, letting out the wrong prisoners was a major balls up and a scandal, that would have had serious media focus on the minister. Its just the Tories were so rubbish particularly in recent years, it just a day ending in y that this stuff happens and it is continuing to do so with change of government.
But for the media they are a bit bored of that and for some reason a section really have it in for Starmer, so its become their obsession.
On a related note: 60% (and climbing) of all the world's satellites are Starlink. That's approaching James Bond villain levels of dominance, particularly when combined with Musk's ownership of Twitter. Information is power.
I don't think they're giving him much power in practice because he ends up following the regulations of whatever country the customer is in. Starlink couldn't even serve Brazilian users Twitter once Brazil told them to stop.
Acyn @Acyn Vance: Donald Trump’s record on healthcare was so good that the main thing Kamala Harris talks about was actually an achievement of Donald Trump which is getting insulin down to $35. Thank Donald Trump for that. Don’t let Kamala Harris lie and take credit for it
Despite the +170 majority and a promise to end it, "the chaos" is going to continue unabated under Labour isn't it? 😂
The overall quality of the government ministers are very poor, with gaffe-o-meter Lammy always ready to cause an international incident and Ed Miliband on his moral crusade where net zero trumps everything.
However, Reeves on paper should know what she is doing, the budget is a big test. Does she go for growth or give in to the default Labour of tax the rich some more, that will sort it. And Streeting talks a good game, isn't super ideological about how to solve issues, but NHS is going to take Herculean effort to try and get it functioning properly.
Despite the +170 majority and a promise to end it, "the chaos" is going to continue unabated under Labour isn't it? 😂
The overall quality of the government ministers are very poor, with gaffe-o-meter Lammy always ready to cause an international incident and Ed Miliband on his moral crusade where net zero trumps everything.
However, Reeves on paper should know what she is doing, the budget is a big test. Does she go for growth or give in to the default Labour of tax the rich some more, that will sort it. And Streeting talks a good game, isn't super ideological about how to solve issues, but NHS is going to take Herculean effort to try and get it functioning properly.
I have no confidence in Rachel at all and Wes could be OK but I think he is prone to becoming "over-emotional" on many occasions.
I've got him on Flounce Watch before the 2024-2029 Parliament reaches its end...
Despite the +170 majority and a promise to end it, "the chaos" is going to continue unabated under Labour isn't it? 😂
The overall quality of the government ministers are very poor, with gaffe-o-meter Lammy always ready to cause an international incident and Ed Miliband on his moral crusade where net zero trumps everything.
However, Reeves on paper should know what she is doing, the budget is a big test. Does she go for growth or give in to the default Labour of tax the rich some more, that will sort it. And Streeting talks a good game, isn't super ideological about how to solve issues, but NHS is going to take Herculean effort to try and get it functioning properly.
I have no confidence in Reeves at all and Wes could be OK but I think if often prone to becoming "over-emotional" on many occasions.
I've got him on Flounce Watch before the 2024-2029 Parliament reaches its end...
Comments
Trump: She never worked at McDonald's. She worked at McDonald's. And I didn't work there. She didn't work there. But I'm going to go to a McDonald's.
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840118754388390191
Lucky Lindy returned to USA from his solo fight across the Atlantic, by re-crossing the ocean via US warship. After visiting the White House, he took the train back to NYC. Where he indeed received a hero's welcome, which Trump may have absorbed as part of Gotham folk memory.
via charleslindbergh.com
When he came home to America aboard the USS Memphis, a majestic convoy of warships and aircraft escorted him up the Chesapeake and Potomac to Washington. President Coolidge welcomed him home and bestowed the Distinguished Flying Cross upon him. His New York reception was the wildest in the city's history as 4 million people lined the parade route and Mayor Jimmy Walker pinned New York's Medal of Valor upon him. Finally, when it was all over, he turned and flew to St. Louis for a rest and to contemplate. His epic flight would become the one singular event which electrified the world and changed the whole course of history.
Nadia Whittome MP
@NadiaWhittomeMP
·
1h
No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
https://x.com/NadiaWhittomeMP/status/1840100910350942533
Just LOL.
Robert Jenrick
@RobertJenrick
·
2h
Great to back in Birmingham.
#CPC24 #joinjenrick
https://x.com/RobertJenrick/status/1840084887727931405
Coz.
Autocorrect.
Oh, the humanity.
At the very least, it's a big question mark: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/09/20/robert-jenricks-top-donor-received-loan-from-untraceable-bvi-firm/
I'm absolutely not excusing Starmer. I'm just saying, at least with Starmer, you can name the donor. Who gave the Jenrick campaign 75k, and what do they want in return?
Perhaps, by donating anonymously, they sought to hide their shame from God, as one places a napkin over the head when eating an ortolan. To be fair, I would not want my name attached to a 75k donation to Honest Bob Jenrick, either.
Or, perhaps, they want something from Honest Bob and don't want us to find out about it...
https://x.com/nadiawhittomemp/status/1840100910350942533?s=61
Dunno, but I think I'm a "reasonable person" in thinking Jenrick was lucky to avoid a charge under the 2010 Bribery Act, which potentially comes with several years in prison.
That and peddle grossly overpriced Chinese tat.
https://x.com/levie/status/1839674296710684720
As for Jenrick, how does a donation go to a campaign that’s not from a registered voter? It shouldn’t be allowed to donate from an overseas company to a political candidate, even for an internal party election.
See any similiarity between THAT position and what Trump means by "Make America Great Again"?
Had they properly appreciated this, they would have gone out of their way to make sure that a few significant “clean up politics” announcements and initiatives featured at the top of their “first 100 days” list.
As it is, we’ve had nothing by way of clean up and instead a series of stories, from Labour’s slum landlord MP through the political freebies, that will have people thinking of Animal Farm.
Streeting was precisely the same when Labour took control of the council in 2014; much of what Labour had fiercely criticised the Tories for, over very many years, was actually amplified under Streeting’s administration, from cuts in council tax support through abolishing area democracy, the administration running scrutiny of itself, to further curtailment of both public participation and the powers of opposition councillors. The difference, there, was that they knew that demographic change meant they were unlikely to lose control any time soon.
On the one hand she’s come across as a bit flaky in the past.
On the other she’s citing concerns that many left leaning people, whether in Labour or other parties have long had about the direction and lack of core philosophy of the current party. I suspect her views are shared by a decent minority of Labour MPs. I certainly share her views on the way Abbot was treated, and additionally feel his treatment of Corbyn was shoddy.
For me, the WFA decision was the right one, but it has been terribly handled and exposed a lack of political instinct. That has been compounded by the series of own goals around donor freebies.
I had no great expectation of Starmer’s Labour. I have frequently said on here and elsewhere that I felt they had a tremendous opportunity to offer a truly radical agenda, but that they would fluff it. It was clear they would see themselves as fighting a 1997 type election but at a time when the country faced very different problems in my view that was a big mistake.
They can turn this around but they need (i) a bold offer and (ii) to cut out the freeloading. Zero tolerance.
It will be very hard for the Conservatives to go after Labour on sleaze, if their leader is the guy who took a 12k donation from Richard Desmond and a 75k donation from an anonymous offshore donor to win the leadership. Plus all the other whiffy things about Honest Bob, which you can google at your leisure. It completely blunts the best angle of attack the Conservatives have right now.
From a betting perspective (for we often forget this is a betting site) Kemi might be value right now, assuming the Conservative membership who have a vote are up to speed on such things and will be influenced by this.
Behold, America: The Entangled History of America First and the American Dream
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behold-America-Entangled-History-American/dp/1541673409
Luckily Bozo decides to remind those bitterly disappointed in Starmer of the previous even worse shxtshow .
Perhaps the new conservative leader could take lessons from Canada.
(Which hopefully does NOT shake your faith tooooo much, at least in this rare instance of concurrence!)
On the bright side, the thread header has reminded me that I had some spare holiday and that I'd been thinking about taking a short break in Canterbury. Time to book a hotel...
If true it makes sense, but sense and the conservatives are not very well acquainted
I have a colleague like this, you know exactly what they are going to say on any subject.
In his treatment of Rosie Duffield, Starmer has exhibited these same traits. It is badly done, and it reflects very poorly on him.
But really that illustrates the problem of defining a complex shift in a simple way ...
Edit: please ignore, that doesn't really count as prime mover usage of coal.
You buy a house for x amount, but your service charge goes up from £1000 a year to £4000 a year.
Or you find you can't sell any more without an EWS1 form, which the owner of your block won't give you because it costs them £30k and they argue the block doesn't have any cladding so doesn't need an EWS1 form, but your buyer can't get a mortgage without one, so you're in catch 22 until a cash buyer comes along...
Or you get stacked with a 20k section 20 charge because your block didn't have a sinking fund...
Or your managing agent is on the take and receiving backhanders for insurance premiums....
And so on, and so forth.
It's one of the reasons I hate Jenrick. A lot of this happened under his watch, and he did bollock all about it.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/27/sadiq-khan-leaseholders-in-england-should-have-the-right-to-withhold-service-charges
https://lisaslaw.co.uk/how-can-you-challenge-an-unfair-service-charge-as-a-leaseholder/
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/advice/service-charges/
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/sep/22/affordable-shared-ownership-homes-cost-residents-more-than-half-their-wages
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-13671423/Leasehold-property-owners-launch-legal-case-hidden-insurance-commissions.html
https://www.ft.com/content/b135b814-dc9e-4abc-bb64-f378d11179d8
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/crisis-in-uk-flats-at-last-prompts-ballymore-leaseholders-to-rebel-and-speak-publicly-about-rocketing-service-charges-to-the-ft/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/26754960/broke-after-huge-bill-hike-rising-service-charge/
etc.
https://x.com/alexharmstrong/status/1840038801458045166?t=3PSzgann1F2Gle6_vZxLFA&s=19
Normally at this stage of any new government, journalists are keen to stay in the good books, as they know otherwise they will have limited access for at least the next 5 years, which is a long time having to sit through press conferences etc and never be called to ask a question, get those cozy interviews, by briefed the scoop of upcoming policy, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
https://x.com/trumpwarroom/status/1840118550960451658
Harris as mentally impared is just nasty with no redeeming features.
CCHQ are charging each of the final four £50000, with the final two having to stump up another £150k for party funds.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/05/robert-jenrick-frontrunner-tory-leadership
Now it's for a respectable reason, not an apparently frivolous one, but it's a lot of wonga to find.
Mark Robinson forced to campaign with a Trump and Melania cardboard cutout as the GOP nominee continues to ignore him
https://x.com/patriottakes/status/1839763847055585513
Apparently the Tories are now a pay 2 win MMORPG. I wonder what's in the loot boxes...
Officials in Buncombe County, N.C., which includes Asheville, said in a news conference that they have requested portable cell towers that could alleviate the communication problems that have plagued the area. They did not specify when they expect the towers to be up and running.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is suspending classes through Oct. 9 because of the “significant tree damage” caused by Helene, according to the school’s chancellor, Kimberly van Noort.
“Cell and internet coverage is nonexistent at this point,” Ms. van Noort said, adding that the university would be providing food and water to the students remaining on campus.
Acyn
@Acyn
Vance: Donald Trump’s record on healthcare was so good that the main thing Kamala Harris talks about was actually an achievement of Donald Trump which is getting insulin down to $35. Thank Donald Trump for that. Don’t let Kamala Harris lie and take credit for it
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840153393475821569
They could then throw in a clothing allowance with that, and probably no one would notice ... ?
The death of the Queen seems to have fired the starting gun on the chaos many prophesied as Truss came along very quickly to oblige then came along two subsequent PM's with absolutely no political antennae
Have a good night's rest everyone
I guess they think if they repeat it enough some people will believe it.
William ?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/28/like-a-celebrity-reality-tv-show-where-you-dont-recognise-the-celebrities-senior-tories-fear-next-leader-wont-survive-long
...“It’s like one of those celebrity reality TV shows where you don’t actually recognise any of the celebrities,” said one recently departed Tory minister. “It feels like a B-list selection. We are probably going to make a stupid decision. We will have to get this out of our system in order to make the right decision next time.”..
Could both major parties be holding another leadership election just ahead of the next General Election ?
Wisconsin Harris 49% Trump 47%
Michigan Harris 48% Trump 47%
Ohio Trump 50% Harris 44%
NE02 Harris 52% Trump 43%
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/28/us/politics/harris-trump-poll-michigan-wisconsin.html
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1840123222332977172
My bad - it does indeed exist.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMMG_Mk47_Mutant
Nadia Whittome MP
@NadiaWhittomeMP
No matter your views on her stated reasons for quitting, Rosie Duffield has made a political career out of dehumanising one of the most marginalised groups in society.
She should never have been allowed the privilege of resigning. Labour should have withdrawn the whip long ago.
J.K. Rowling
@jk_rowling
·
2h
Rosie Duffield was one of the few female Labour politicians with the guts to stand up for vulnerable women and girls, while self-satisfied numbskulls like you fought to give away their rights and spaces.
TL;DR Keep her name out of your mouth.
And both May's and Johnson's were warped, in different ways. Plus, Johnson was completely incapable at the managerial and administrative side of the job, while Truss was profoundly bad at managing people.
It clearly is possible to still get people who can do all aspects of the job of being a national leader in the social media age but it's much harder than it was when social media amplifies populism (almost by its nature, it requires simplicity which can very easily morph into simplisticness), enabling both populist parties which the others inevitably chase, and populist factions within parties. Britain is not alone in the drift the chaos.
On a related note: 60% (and climbing) of all the world's satellites are Starlink. That's approaching James Bond villain levels of dominance, particularly when combined with Musk's ownership of Twitter. Information is power.
All the hotel staff were coming in, saying “you really don’t want to go driving out there”, but they were all coming in, which tipped me towards giving it a try.
15 years ago, letting out the wrong prisoners was a major balls up and a scandal, that would have had serious media focus on the minister. Its just the Tories were so rubbish particularly in recent years, it just a day ending in y that this stuff happens and it is continuing to do so with change of government.
But for the media they are a bit bored of that and for some reason a section really have it in for Starmer, so its become their obsession.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/28/hassan-nasrallah-hezbollahs-leader-inspired-adulation-and-bitter-enmity-they-will-find-him-very-hard-to-replace
That is quite some header from the Guardian. Did Jezza write it?
Requires a special level of mendacity to claim for your own an action - years in the making - of your opponent.
No wonder Trump won't have another debate. But let's see what Walz does with it, at their upcoming debate.
However, Reeves on paper should know what she is doing, the budget is a big test. Does she go for growth or give in to the default Labour of tax the rich some more, that will sort it. And Streeting talks a good game, isn't super ideological about how to solve issues, but NHS is going to take Herculean effort to try and get it functioning properly.
Brenda from Bristol on Hezbollah misfortune...
https://x.com/JoosyJew/status/1840095092297609234
I've got him on Flounce Watch before the 2024-2029 Parliament reaches its end...
"I'm so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party"
https://news.sky.com/story/rosie-duffield-resigns-as-labour-mp-13224014