The return of the lettuce is a truly baleful omen.
Labour are going to end up pushing through the most eye watering cuts to the state we've ever seen under the watchful eye of the IMF.
Isn’t that what you want?
We had 16% inflation the last time we went to the IMF... and the thing is we didn't even need to do it.
We aren't going to the IMF.
The hyperbole from the right wing media is off the scale ridiculous.
Everyone calm down.
Gotta love the rapid rewriting of history to claim everything was tickedy-boo under the Tories.
Having said that, while the tone from the usual suspects is totally hysterical it is ALSO true that Labour, Starmer and Reeves have been beyond disappointing, and that they have lost the confidence of business.
Indeed.
It has been a fucking shite start* but it is not yet a case of the fat lady gargling her vocals.
* Everyone presumably has their item of highest shite - mine is putting social care reform back another decade while a commission investigates evidence that social care is shite.
This is pretty much how I feel. I have been critical,of labour but it is early days and they have time.
I’d also add even when they do the right thing, WFA/WASPI, the whole presentation and management of it is abysmal.
I doubt it. I think the die is cast.
Their best hope is that Reform and the Tories take each other out, and they can rally their client base so they come though the middle again in 4 years.
The problem is they bleed votes off to the left as well as to the right. Especially the Green loons.
I think if they get the economy going then they have a chance.
I haven't seen anything as bad as these since Truss
Cos of the lettuce?
Virtually all leading on Starmer doubt over Reeves
Simply not true.
i leads on benefits cuts, so tangentially related to the story, but not on Starmer doubts.
Express leads on inheritance tax for agricultural land.
Star and Telegraph fit your description. Mail talks about Reeves, but focuses on Tory attacks, not Starmer doubts. The Guardian covers the story, but has Starmer backing Reeves.
The main Times story is on a threat to free speech, although they have a smaller front page story about PM and Reeves.
Metro and FT have entirely different stories.
That, to my mind, is the most ominous thing for Reeves. If he feels he has to say something as definite as that, rather than simply, 'she's staying,' it suggests privately he has doubts.
He had to say it only because he'd previously made the mistake of saying it about Lammy - and was asked directly about it in that context.
After meeting President Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Canada should prepare for 25% tariffs starting on Jan 20 on all US-bound products, ***including on crude oil***.
"I'm not expecting any exemptions," she told reporters
Whilst PB witters on about the Chancellor, Trump declares economic war on the West.
You are right to point out that Trump is by far the biggest threat to the economy, but that's why a competent Chancellor, and PM, with a deliverable plan matters. Labour should have been preparing us for Trump 2.0 since the general election. Does anyone think that the UK has been Trump-proofed?
Trump is focused on China, the EU, Canada and Mexico first for his tariffs.
One benefit of Brexit is we are at the back of his tariffs queue
The reason is that America has a trade surplus with Britain.
UK-USA goods trade is beneficial to both sides, almost entirely consisting of goods only manufactured in one country or the other. Services trade is also high between the two.
Fingers crossed that if Trump goes down the tariffs route, the UK is very much at the back of the queue.
But yes, the UK government may not be fans of Mr Trump, but he’s about to be sworn in whether we like it or not, and the government needs to engage with his team to protect its own interests.
I am sure we used to have a trade surplus with America, it's (bad) news to me that recent Governments have managed to allow that to be destroyed.
But yes, it does happen to make us less of a target.
That was (and maybe is) the odd thing. Both Britain and America had a trade surplus, presumably due to differences in measurement or definition. All economic statistics are rubbish.
Keeps everyone happy. Especially Trump, so don't ask for details.
After meeting President Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Canada should prepare for 25% tariffs starting on Jan 20 on all US-bound products, ***including on crude oil***.
"I'm not expecting any exemptions," she told reporters
Whilst PB witters on about the Chancellor, Trump declares economic war on the West.
You are right to point out that Trump is by far the biggest threat to the economy, but that's why a competent Chancellor, and PM, with a deliverable plan matters. Labour should have been preparing us for Trump 2.0 since the general election. Does anyone think that the UK has been Trump-proofed?
Trump is focused on China, the EU, Canada and Mexico first for his tariffs.
One benefit of Brexit is we are at the back of his tariffs queue
The reason is that America has a trade surplus with Britain.
UK-USA goods trade is beneficial to both sides, almost entirely consisting of goods only manufactured in one country or the other. Services trade is also high between the two.
Fingers crossed that if Trump goes down the tariffs route, the UK is very much at the back of the queue.
But yes, the UK government may not be fans of Mr Trump, but he’s about to be sworn in whether we like it or not, and the government needs to engage with his team to protect its own interests.
I am sure we used to have a trade surplus with America, it's (bad) news to me that recent Governments have managed to allow that to be destroyed.
But yes, it does happen to make us less of a target.
It depends on the figures you use, both sides claim to have the trade surplus with each other.
IIRC the actuality is that the US has a small surplus in goods trade and the UK a small surplus in services trade.
Largest goods export categories from UK to US are pharmaceuticals, cars, and capital equipment. Largest goods export categories from US to UK are capital equipment, pharmaceuticals, and oil.
I haven't seen anything as bad as these since Truss
Cos of the lettuce?
Virtually all leading on Starmer doubt over Reeves
Simply not true.
i leads on benefits cuts, so tangentially related to the story, but not on Starmer doubts.
Express leads on inheritance tax for agricultural land.
Star and Telegraph fit your description. Mail talks about Reeves, but focuses on Tory attacks, not Starmer doubts. The Guardian covers the story, but has Starmer backing Reeves.
The main Times story is on a threat to free speech, although they have a smaller front page story about PM and Reeves.
Metro and FT have entirely different stories.
That, to my mind, is the most ominous thing for Reeves. If he feels he has to say something as definite as that, rather than simply, 'she's staying,' it suggests privately he has doubts.
He had to say it only because he'd previously made the mistake of saying it about Lammy - and was asked directly about it in that context.
Which was deeply dumb, as it will now be asked of every senior cabinet minister at the first real hint of trouble.
48h turnaround after a scrub makes sense for these massive rockets, they have an awful lot of fuel to pump in and out at the correct temperatures! They did try for 24h though.
Next NG launch attempt now on Thursday morning. Starship still planning to try on Wednesday.
According to Berger, the recycle time for New Glenn after a scrub from fully fuelled is 48 hours.
Edit: interesting. The new word is a 24 hour cycle.
You need to defuel the rocket, safe the area, fix/resolve/workaround the issue that caused the delay, have more fuel delivered to cope with losses during the process, perform checks again, and only then can you restart the launch process.
Going too fast, especially in a new process, causes issues.
Comments
I think if they get the economy going then they have a chance.
Especially Trump, so don't ask for details.
IIRC the actuality is that the US has a small surplus in goods trade and the UK a small surplus in services trade.
Edit: UK Gov trade document https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762c58cbe7b2c675de3075a/united-states-trade-and-investment-factsheet-2024-12-20.pdf
Largest goods export categories from UK to US are pharmaceuticals, cars, and capital equipment.
Largest goods export categories from US to UK are capital equipment, pharmaceuticals, and oil.
Edit: interesting. The new word is a 24 hour cycle.
NEW THREAD
https://x.com/blueorigin/status/1878950836208050188
48h turnaround after a scrub makes sense for these massive rockets, they have an awful lot of fuel to pump in and out at the correct temperatures! They did try for 24h though.
Going too fast, especially in a new process, causes issues.