I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
Good analysis all round.
I'd take that in Wales HY. So long as Team Putin are nowhere to be seen. I do fear Nathan Gill passed everyone by and they might do better than you think.
Actually I don't think Gill has passed Wales by and I expect Reform to underperform at Paid's benefit
All the data above (and mayoral elections) suggests it’s harder to find a better candidate than Burnham for that. Add to that blocking him makes Labour look like infighting and PM weak and if they lose blame would then be easily laid on Starmer, hard to see a good outcome from blocking AB.
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
Good analysis all round.
I'd take that in Wales HY. So long as Team Putin are nowhere to be seen. I do fear Nathan Gill passed everyone by and they might do better than you think.
Actually I don't think Gill has passed Wales by and I expect Reform to underperform at Paid's benefit
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
Good analysis all round.
I'd take that in Wales HY. So long as Team Putin are nowhere to be seen. I do fear Nathan Gill passed everyone by and they might do better than you think.
Actually I don't think Gill has passed Wales by and I expect Reform to underperform at Paid's benefit
All the data above (and mayoral elections) suggests it’s harder to find a better candidate than Burnham for that. Add to that blocking him makes Labour look like infighting and PM weak and if they lose blame would then be easily laid on Starmer, hard to see a good outcome from blocking AB.
He will not be their Shadow Chancellor, he will merely be their Treasury Spokesman!
Is that Reform ramping that or Ben Riley Smith having a useless moment?
Didn't the LDs briefly try to adopt the 'shadow' style awhile back? It doesn't really work if you don't have the existing MPs to make it seem reasonable.
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
Good analysis all round.
I'd take that in Wales HY. So long as Team Putin are nowhere to be seen. I do fear Nathan Gill passed everyone by and they might do better than you think.
Actually I don't think Gill has passed Wales by and I expect Reform to underperform at Paid's benefit
He doesn't register with racists I know.
I think Wales is better than that
South Wales outside Cardiff and the Vale has long been a racist hinterland.
How can Zack justify not standing in the by-election? I’ve no info on whether he is or not, but surely he MUST?!
It's not his area, he's more effective without being tied down to a constituency, and he doesn't need to be in the Commons right now.
He was born in Salford. That’s Manchester isn’t it?
I've no idea, that would make for a decent link, but I meant that he is currently on the London Assembly.
Sure, he could quit that (or maybe you can be both, IDK the rules on that), but keeping focus on London, in addition to leading the national party, seems like a good excuse.
I think he should go for it, he's riding high right now, but I doubt he will.
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
How can Zack justify not standing in the by-election? I’ve no info on whether he is or not, but surely he MUST?!
It's not his area, he's more effective without being tied down to a constituency, and he doesn't need to be in the Commons right now.
He was born in Salford. That’s Manchester isn’t it?
I wouldn't advise saying that in a Salford pub, if you want to live.
That's a yes then. People that sensitive about how others refer to their area are usually in denial about how the world has changed beyond slower moving legal definitions.
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
So a net swing on seats from SNP to Labour. On that poll also a net swing from SNP and Green to Unionist parties at Holyrood since 2021 as well
And the Tories set to lose two thirds of their seats.
The Kemi recovery doesn't look so impressive.
Well, methodical rebuilding (if that is the general claim) doesn't help much in a place like Scotland, where they simply cannot absorb even a moderate fall in support without drastic losses given their starting point, voting system, and plenty of opponents to eat away at them.
Since it's fake info created by legal authorities, it raises legal questions beyond libel.
See, for example, 42 U.S.C. § 1983
I assume the motivation was, in part, the White House did not enjoy that the original image did not portray enough fear and suffering of an opponent for their liking.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
In England and Wales, probably yes. Defamation here specifically includes visual media. Under the Defamation Act 2013, the legal definition of a "statement" encompasses a photograph, painting, illustration, or digital image that conveys a defamatory meaning. In the US, less likely but I’m not qualified there.
I think and hope Reform will take a big hit from Farages support for Trump. But unlike Canada and Australia I don't think that support will swing back to Labour. I think there will be a combination of a small improvement for the Tories and a big increase in NOTA.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
How can Zack justify not standing in the by-election? I’ve no info on whether he is or not, but surely he MUST?!
It's not his area, he's more effective without being tied down to a constituency, and he doesn't need to be in the Commons right now.
He was born in Salford. That’s Manchester isn’t it?
I wouldn't advise saying that in a Salford pub, if you want to live.
That's a yes then. People that sensitive about how others refer to their area are usually in denial about how the world has changed beyond slower moving legal definitions.
I can recommend some boozers in Leith if you want to test that theory out.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
No it bloody doesn't....
Yes it bloody is.
When Kinnock tells Lady Thatcher to get apologies from Reagan for Invading Grenada, at your meeting with him tell him, on behalf of Britain, he’s wrong’s wrong about Star Wars - what response is Lady Thatcher giving Kinnock?
As Kemi said, she’s friends and phone numbers within the Trump regime, and sorted the vice president into apology all by herself when he insinuated just the same thing, so Kemi should demand it herself, an advance down on her promise The Donald won’t be behaving like this when she’s PM.
The usual suspects in the punditocracy - especially key Tory commentators - have never taken Reform seriously and they were in full denial mode on the day Jenrick defected.
@Nigel_Farage never saw Rob as a slightly bigger than normal defection. He was always much more to him.
He watched RJ v closely and decised he was the person who could, over this parliament, make Reform at least as trusted as any other party on the economy.
And he seems to be taking thia opportunity to settle Reform's other biggest beasts - the people he has lesrnt to most trust - into posts they'll hold throughout opposition and into govt. All part of the deep preparedness he knows the nation'a deep problems require. Reform is obviously an against-the-odds project and plenty can and will go wrong but there is a plan taking shape and being underestimated hasn't hurt us so far.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
The 1940s equivalents of Farage would have come out of internment camps to run the puppet British government set up by Nazis had they successfully invaded the UK.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
More problematically for Starmer, he increasingly gives the impression that he's out of his depth and not up to the job.
He stumbles from one political mishap to the next while giving the impression that he will always choose the most damaging course of action possible whenever he is faced with a decision.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
I think and hope Reform will take a big hit from Farages support for Trump. But unlike Canada and Australia I don't think that support will swing back to Labour. I think there will be a combination of a small improvement for the Tories and a big increase in NOTA.
I think that's mostly right for now. We are not in a time when Labour can significantly improve. The fall of Labour and Reform, and the rise of Tories and the Greens have been going on for some time.
FWIW I don't think Reform can recover a great deal. This May might be their Schwanengesang. Their fate is too tied up with Trumpism, which the UK is now sick of. Trumpism either gets to a late 1930s point or some white men in coats come and dismantle the stage. Neither will assist the Trumpian right in GB. There is a decent chance that Farage will decide that someone else, not him is to be Reform's person who Will Fail To Become PM in 2029. Jenrick would do fine.
At some point it clarifies that the Tories represent the right of centre. Kemi needs to take care of looking 'extreme right' in any way. It isn't going to be the fashion.
The position of left of centre is different. It is not nearly at a point of maturity. The 50% of the vote that goes that way is all over the place - Lab, Jezza, LD, Green, Islamic Indies, SNP, PC. This will take time to settle, but settle it will once the left of centre's wisdom of crowds asks how to have a chance of forming the next government. This is not yet being asked. The centre right stuff has been runnoing longer and is clearing.
So plenty of NOTA, DKs and voting for those who can't win to come. But a GE is a long way off.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
I believe the Tories could very much do the same. They will be the main beneficiaries from the fall of these Trump-Putin assets.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
If it was twenty years ago that might be a big deal.
People who support Reform get their own news elsewhere.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
More problematically for Starmer, he increasingly gives the impression that he's out of his depth and not up to the job.
He stumbles from one political mishap to the next while giving the impression that he will always choose the most damaging course of action possible whenever he is faced with a decision.
You could equally be writing about your favourite US President.
The usual suspects in the punditocracy - especially key Tory commentators - have never taken Reform seriously and they were in full denial mode on the day Jenrick defected.
@Nigel_Farage never saw Rob as a slightly bigger than normal defection. He was always much more to him.
He watched RJ v closely and decised he was the person who could, over this parliament, make Reform at least as trusted as any other party on the economy.
And he seems to be taking thia opportunity to settle Reform's other biggest beasts - the people he has lesrnt to most trust - into posts they'll hold throughout opposition and into govt. All part of the deep preparedness he knows the nation'a deep problems require. Reform is obviously an against-the-odds project and plenty can and will go wrong but there is a plan taking shape and being underestimated hasn't hurt us so far.
it is more likely that Reform's fate will be linked to the UK voters' view of Trump and trumpism rather than with the alleged genius of Jenrick. (BTW Montgomerie seems to have less to say on the moral stature and genius of Zahawi.)
The 1940s equivalents of Farage would have come out of internment camps to run the puppet British government set up by Nazis had they successfully invaded the UK.
IIRC there was a bunch of people who had the job of dealing with people like Farage if we were ever invaded.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
Surely the social media bods at the other parties should be hammering this message.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
Well tough shit Richard - it's a decision for the UK parliament alone and we should never, ever tolerate any British citizen conspiring with a foreign state to facilitate its coercion - evidenced by the fact prior to Farage Trump was in favour of the deal. I'm firmly against the Chagos deal too but perversely I'd now be furious if it didn't go through. Trump and his minions can go fuck themselves; British democracy must always win.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
For maximum effect he should visit Canada instead, but that may be too far for now
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
I agree, but I fear Trump's retribution for a cancelled visit will be swift and hideous and the weakest link in Europe is Ukraine. He can punish Europe by punishing Ukraine.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
I agree, but I fear Trump's retribution for a cancelled visit will be swift and hideous and the weakest link in Europe is Ukraine. He can punish Europe by punishing Ukraine.
And Europe can also step up to the plate and support Ukraine. And the UK could even invest in its domestic defence industry.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
I agree, but I fear Trump's retribution for a cancelled visit will be swift and hideous and the weakest link in Europe is Ukraine. He can punish Europe by punishing Ukraine.
I suspect he might be fighting on other fronts at that point
The Nazi goon squad is not going the way they expected and it's getting worse.
Two of the great offices of state will be held in a Reform government by ex-Tories who were directly involved, at Cabinet level, in the years of conservative government that got us into this mess.
Labour need to hammer this home morning, noon and night.
I'd like to think if I was a billionaire I'd be able to avoid getting into ridiculous twitter spats.
I mean, what's the bloody point of having all that power and money if you're still going sleepless and angry all the time at the thought you need to verbally duke it out with some other douche?
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
I agree, but I fear Trump's retribution for a cancelled visit will be swift and hideous and the weakest link in Europe is Ukraine. He can punish Europe by punishing Ukraine.
And Europe can also step up to the plate and support Ukraine. And the UK could even invest in its domestic defence industry.
But that takes time. But you are right, it needs to be done. Nonetheless Trump's retribution could be immediate.
I didn't want the bastard here in September and I don't believe we should be pandering to the bastard in April but he could do an awful lot of damage to the World order if we upset the thin skinned madman.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
Do you think it's that bad?
The King visiting the US is not all about Trump. It's about visiting the US. It's a chance to talk some sense in to the Americans so that they will act to stop Trump from wrecking everything.
I fear that if we cancel the King's visit over things Trump has said (rather than done) that it will be taken as an insult to America, and we'll alienate some people we want to win over.
It would be a really good idea to visit Canada while he's across the Atlantic, though, and I'd also hope that the King was talking to Canada's government to ask for their advice on the visit. Carney is also the King's minister and it would be right for the King to act on his advice on this matter. You'd think KCIII would get better advice from Carney than from Starmer after all.
Minnesota holds economic strike to protest ICE presence
Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota shut their doors on Friday as part of an economic protest against the immigration crackdown in their state.
Organisers called for residents to skip work or school, if possible, and refrain from shopping, in a show of opposition to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
They also planned rallies in St Paul and Minneapolis, two cities that have seen intense immigration enforcement activity.
The Trump administration characterises the immigration enforcement as a public safety operation aimed at deporting alleged criminals who are in the country illegally. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained too.
I'd like to think if I was a billionaire I'd be able to avoid getting into ridiculous twitter spats.
I mean, what's the bloody point of having all that power and money if you're still going sleepless and angry all the time at the thought you need to verbally duke it out with some other douche?
Candidly, if that's your attitude, you might as well give up any ambitions to get to billionaire status.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
Well tough shit Richard - it's a decision for the UK parliament alone and we should never, ever tolerate any British citizen conspiring with a foreign state to facilitate its coercion - evidenced by the fact prior to Farage Trump was in favour of the deal. I'm firmly against the Chagos deal too but perversely I'd now be furious if it didn't go through. Trump and his minions can go fuck themselves; British democracy must always win.
And to think you're a Brexiteer.
Personally I don't agree with dragging Trump into this or supporting him in any way - as I am sure I have made clear. Same goes for Farage. But that doesn't change the fact that Starmer is doing enormous damage to Britain and to the rightful owners of the Chagos Islands (remember them, the ones who weren't even consulted about this treasonous deal) through his actions. The only saving grace is he is too fucking dumb to be doing it for personal monetary gain. Something that will always place him ahead of Trump.
The Labour Party opened applications at 5pm on Friday 23 January. Those who wish to apply must do so by 23.59 on Sunday 25 January, a little more than 48-hours away. However, as Burnham is a metro mayor he will need permission from Labour’s National Executive Committee. The deadline to receive this is 5pm on Saturday 24 January.
Imagine if something went missing....IT failure, courier loses a page...shit happens.
Minnesota holds economic strike to protest ICE presence
Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota shut their doors on Friday as part of an economic protest against the immigration crackdown in their state.
Organisers called for residents to skip work or school, if possible, and refrain from shopping, in a show of opposition to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
They also planned rallies in St Paul and Minneapolis, two cities that have seen intense immigration enforcement activity.
The Trump administration characterises the immigration enforcement as a public safety operation aimed at deporting alleged criminals who are in the country illegally. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained too.
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
Depends on whther you think giving the Chagos Islands to a random foreign country and paying them billions to take it is in Britain's interests. If that is the criteria for being a traitor then I would suggest Starmer is the treasonous one and any opposing him are standing up for Britain.
Well tough shit Richard - it's a decision for the UK parliament alone and we should never, ever tolerate any British citizen conspiring with a foreign state to facilitate its coercion - evidenced by the fact prior to Farage Trump was in favour of the deal. I'm firmly against the Chagos deal too but perversely I'd now be furious if it didn't go through. Trump and his minions can go fuck themselves; British democracy must always win.
And to think you're a Brexiteer.
Personally I don't agree with dragging Trump into this or supporting him in any way - as I am sure I have made clear. Same goes for Farage. But that doesn't change the fact that Starmer is doing enormous damage to Britain and to the rightful owners of the Chagos Islands (remember them, the ones who weren't even consulted about this treasonous deal) through his actions. The only saving grace is he is too fucking dumb to be doing it for personal monetary gain. Something that will always place him ahead of Trump.
Fair enough. If this makes it's way into a BBC News push notification "Farage worked with Trump to undermine UK Gov on Chagos", I think the country will overwhelmingly swing in one direction on the treason charge.
People are reading out the names of British war dead on the radio. It's getting feverish out there.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
Strongly disagree with this. Far and away the best way anyone has come up with of managing the mad king is to keep him busy with pomp and ceremony. Anyone who distracts him for even a few minutes is doing the world a service. And he usually agrees with the last person he talked to so there's a reasonable chance something useful will come of it.
I repeat myself but Starmer needs to call a Rejoin referendum while Trump is still in office. There's no way Trump is going to be able to STFU for the duration of the campaign and when he opens his mouth he'll win it for Rejoin.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
Surely the social media bods at the other parties should be hammering this message.
They should, of course. But I think it holds greater rewards for Labour.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
I agree, but I fear Trump's retribution for a cancelled visit will be swift and hideous and the weakest link in Europe is Ukraine. He can punish Europe by punishing Ukraine.
And Europe can also step up to the plate and support Ukraine. And the UK could even invest in its domestic defence industry.
I repeat myself but Starmer needs to call a Rejoin referendum while Trump is still in office. There's no way Trump is going to be able to STFU for the duration of the campaign and when he opens his mouth he'll win it for Rejoin.
I presume he will say something about back of the queue.....
I'd like to think if I was a billionaire I'd be able to avoid getting into ridiculous twitter spats.
I mean, what's the bloody point of having all that power and money if you're still going sleepless and angry all the time at the thought you need to verbally duke it out with some other douche?
Candidly, if that's your attitude, you might as well give up any ambitions to get to billionaire status.
Damn, and I was this close to deciding to turn myself into a ruthless business tyrant too.
Already had my crypto meme coin to rugpull and Trump bootlicking posts ready to go, the modern route to wealth.
I think there is opportunity for a new social media platform, where dicks can be dicks to one another and we don't have to have our main timelines populated with it.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
Surely the social media bods at the other parties should be hammering this message.
They should, of course. But I think it holds greater rewards for Labour.
If Reform die the Conservatives are back in the box seat.
I don't believe enough Conservatives understand that. Too many Tories still see Reform as their potential coalition allies.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
Surely the social media bods at the other parties should be hammering this message.
They should, of course. But I think it holds greater rewards for Labour.
If Reform die the Conservatives are back in the box seat.
I don't believe enough Conservatives understand that. Too many Tories still see Reform as their potential coalition allies.
And that is why they might be the ones to die instead - the anti-Reform faction got a bump from Kemi being decisive over Jenrick, but a lot of Tories are still trying to make nice with the tiger currently in the process of eating their leg, deluding themselves that it will stop and they will be fine if they let it get past the kneecap.
That's one reason I call it 50/50 who wins out for the battle on the right - the Tories have institutional mass and heritage, but Reform are the only ones fully committed to the fight and making most of the moves, whilst their target hits back sporadically, one arm behind their back and some in their corner yelling at them to take it easy and not hit so hard.
I repeat myself but Starmer needs to call a Rejoin referendum while Trump is still in office. There's no way Trump is going to be able to STFU for the duration of the campaign and when he opens his mouth he'll win it for Rejoin.
Can we set up a 6-month long World Trump Golf tournament with him entering against Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy etc? Two rounds of golf a day for months to come to the conclusion Trump is the best golf player of all time.
I would fake even just a few weeks of distraction from the harm he causes in his day job.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
I am hoping Charles himself will see this - or that the younger generation will and will advise him accordingly. There is currently a small majority infavour of retaining teh Crown in Canada. But if the King is seen to be acting against Canada's interests by visiting Trump then I can see that changing rapidly. And if Canada leads the way I think Australia will rapidly follow.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
Eh? If it wasn't for the King Trump would already have declared himself head of state of Canada. If it wasn't for the British in the War of 1812 Canada would now be part of the REPUBLIC of the USA.
In any case both Carney and Poilievre are monarchists and welcomed the King on his opening of the Canadian parliament last year. Only the irrelevant NDP and BQ back a Republic.
In Australia Albanese has had to cancel a Republic referendum as Trump demonstrates the type of head of state republics produce and Aussies are back for constitutional monarchy in polls
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
AG Bondi tells Judge Cannon she has determined Jack Smith's report on the classified documents case is "an internal deliberative communication" that should never be released outside DOJ. https://x.com/kyledcheney/status/2014806765074776242
If the Democrats ever retake the presidency, Smith should be AG.
A rare good day for Starmer. The 7 stone weakling and finally shown his muscle and it's been appreciated.Trumps plastic blond spokesperson has just been eviscerated on Newsnight and we are unlikely to see her tousled blonde locks on British TV again.
Trump like Icarus flew too close to the sun and now looks a seriously diminished. As does the country he represents We have rarely seen such universal anger over here. Will his lickspittle Farage manage to avoid being dragged down too? My guess would be not for long
He (Starmer) now needs. to welcome Burnham into the contest in Gorton and I think we'll start seeing a quite fifferent Prime Minister. It took him a while but I think he's finally getting the hang of it.
Kemi condemns Trump's careless talk, saying we need a strong NATO, and asks for Starmer to seek a retraction
So that’s both of them - Ed Davey at PMQs back in summer “I have refused my ticket to the Trump visit grand dinner, but as PM you must say to him blah blah, and tell him he’s wrong about blah blah, and also make him grovelingly apologise for blah blah.” 🙄
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
What, then, is the approach we should be following?
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
Farage and his Britain Team MAGA Party have been very, very reluctant.
Labour should dedicate a PPB to just this one issue: Reform =Traitors
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
Surely the social media bods at the other parties should be hammering this message.
They should, of course. But I think it holds greater rewards for Labour.
If Reform die the Conservatives are back in the box seat.
I don't believe enough Conservatives understand that. Too many Tories still see Reform as their potential coalition allies.
Reform are the Tory Party that the UK deserves, but not the one it needs right now.
How many u-turns is that now? Has he managed to get anything through? Other than abortion up to delivery day, the abolition of trans, and possibly the annihilation of the Labour party.
I really think Labour has a good chance of being re-elected.
You keep repeating this but there is no evidence that labour is showing any signs of recovery either in Starmer's ratings or his government
Indeed the Burnham story will dominate throught to May, and when Scotland and Wales is a likely bloodbath
Last night labour lost 48.5% of their vote share in Flintshire, and it looks like Plaid will annihilate labour in Wales with reform underperforming
You are very much a loyal Starmerite, but I just do not see a recovery especially post May when Starmer may well have a real fight on his hands to remain the labour leader and PM
Predictions about the politically remote future (over 3 years in this case) have to be based on beliefs and intuitions about what will happen in the future gap, and cannot possibly be based on the snap shot of today or the last few months. Yes, it is informed and thoughtful guesswork. The belief (which I share) is that there are reasons for thinking there will be a recovery for Labour. Personally I do not think I know who will lead the next government. Except that it won't be Reform. If it is led from the left of centre, it will be Labour. And it might.
After May they are likely to be in a terrible position having lost Scotland and Wales and loads of council seats, let alone the potential chaos of the by election in Greater Manchester
Of course 3 years is a long time but I cannot see a recovery under Starmer that would put labour back in government
In Scotland polls give a swing from SNP to Labour since 2021
But much smaller than the swing from Labour to Reform. Labour will suffer a bigger net loss of seats than the SNP. Who do you think will be the official opposition in Scotland and Wales in May, @HYUFD, and everyone else?
The swing from SNP to Reform is bigger than the Scottish swing from Labour to Reform so Labour could take second given polls also show the Scottish Tories collapsing from official opposition at Holyrood in 2021 to fourth now.
In Wales though Reform will likely be main opposition with Labour collapsing to third
So a net swing on seats from SNP to Labour. On that poll also a net swing from SNP and Green to Unionist parties at Holyrood since 2021 as well
I don't think those seats totals are far off, on today's polling
Not much for a gain for Labour if the net loss is 2 seats! That would be a disaster for Scottish Labour if they lost seats on their 2021 result, bear in mind the 22 seats they won then was their lowest total ever in a Holyrood election.
Reform polling has cooled slightly in the past couple of months, the big question is can Labour, Tories (or others) chisel more away from Reform or is there an embedded floor in their vote. I think a lot of working class/previous non voters will turn out and vote for them, so would expect 12/low teens Reform MSPs to be elected at least. Glasgow will be their toughest region to get 2 MSPs.
Interestingly, the SNP won 2 list seats in 2021, 1 in Highlands, 1 in South of Scotland. I'd be surprised if they won any this year, given the drop in their list vote and fierce competition from the Greens.
There is a fairly fine margin between the SNP holding almost all of their central belt constituencies and Labour winning scores via a domino effect (as seen in the 2024GE) but Sarwar and Labour's polling has went into reverse since June 2025. I'd give more chance of John Swinney winning a majority in 2026 than I would of Mr Sarwar becoming FM this year, going by how far Labour trail.
Yes the SNP have lost approx 10% of their vote, but the split opposition will see them nudge over 55 seats again
A rare good day for Starmer. The 7 stone weakling and finally shown his muscle and it's been appreciated.Trumps plastic blond spokesperson has just been eviscerated on Newsnight and we are unlikely to see her tousled blonde locks on British TV again.
Trump like Icarus flew too close to the sun and now looks a seriously diminished. As does the country he represents We have rarely seen such universal anger over here. Will his lickspittle Farage manage to avoid being dragged down too? My guess would be not for long
He (Starmer) now needs. to welcome Burnham into the contest in Gorton and I think we'll start seeing a quite fifferent Prime Minister. It took him a while but I think he's finally getting the hang of it.
Starmer has been and continues to be an utter disaster as a Prime Minister, his No10 operation is completely dysfunctional and is not fit for purpose. That he has finally stood up to Trump after his disgraceful and unforgiveable comments regarding the brave NATO soldiers that fought side by side with the US on the front line in Afghanistan is to be applauded, but that this came in the same week that Starmer and his Labour Government threw Northern Ireland veterans under a bus left a bitter taste.
Comments
@luketryl.bsky.social
All the data above (and mayoral elections) suggests it’s harder to find a better candidate than Burnham for that. Add to that blocking him makes Labour look like infighting and PM weak and if they lose blame would then be easily laid on Starmer, hard to see a good outcome from blocking AB.
https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3md4e7pbiit2v
See, for example, 42 U.S.C. § 1983
Burnham needs to take a look at the Leyton by election.
The Kemi recovery doesn't look so impressive.
Sure, he could quit that (or maybe you can be both, IDK the rules on that), but keeping focus on London, in addition to leading the national party, seems like a good excuse.
I think he should go for it, he's riding high right now, but I doubt he will.
BBC PM were fawning over Sir James Cleverly this evening. I think the BBC might be singing from HY's hymn sheet.
It sounded awful then. It comes across awful Kemi copying Davey’s same ploy today.
Trump's recent comments about the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan will have offended many and deserve a strong response which, to be fair, has come from most of the British political spectrum.
When Kinnock tells Lady Thatcher to get apologies from Reagan for Invading Grenada, at your meeting with him tell him, on behalf of Britain, he’s wrong’s wrong about Star Wars - what response is Lady Thatcher giving Kinnock?
As Kemi said, she’s friends and phone numbers within the Trump regime, and sorted the vice president into apology all by herself when he insinuated just the same thing, so Kemi should demand it herself, an advance down on her promise The Donald won’t be behaving like this when she’s PM.
Tim Montgomerie 🇬🇧
@montie
The usual suspects in the punditocracy - especially key Tory commentators - have never taken Reform seriously and they were in full denial mode on the day Jenrick defected.
@Nigel_Farage never saw Rob as a slightly bigger than normal defection. He was always much more to him.
He watched RJ v closely and decised he was the person who could, over this parliament, make Reform at least as trusted as any other party on the economy.
And he seems to be taking thia opportunity to settle Reform's other biggest beasts - the people he has lesrnt to most trust - into posts they'll hold throughout opposition and into govt. All part of the deep preparedness he knows the nation'a deep problems require. Reform is obviously an against-the-odds project and plenty can and will go wrong but there is a plan taking shape and being underestimated hasn't hurt us so far.
https://x.com/montie/status/2014815882602566140
NEW: Understand Scott Bessent and Nigel Farage discussed Diego Garcia and Chagos during their dinner at Davos. US Treasury Sec believed to have credited Farage for getting this issue in the President’s in-tray and subsequent Trump stance.
@jwsidders.bsky.social
In the extreme right world Farage inhabits, this will be seen as clever politics. But the vast majority of people in the UK will see this for what it is: conspiring with a hostile foreign power to harm British interests. The stuff traitors do, in other words.
The 1940s equivalents of Farage would have come out of internment camps to run the puppet British government set up by Nazis had they successfully invaded the UK.
Liberal Democrats have urged cancelling the King’s state visit to Trump’s USA: as head of our armed services Charles CANNOT be associated with such ignorant insults to British troops!
He stumbles from one political mishap to the next while giving the impression that he will always choose the most damaging course of action possible whenever he is faced with a decision.
"Traitors on television is fun. Traitors in Westminster - not so much..."
FWIW I don't think Reform can recover a great deal. This May might be their Schwanengesang. Their fate is too tied up with Trumpism, which the UK is now sick of. Trumpism either gets to a late 1930s point or some white men in coats come and dismantle the stage. Neither will assist the Trumpian right in GB. There is a decent chance that Farage will decide that someone else, not him is to be Reform's person who Will Fail To Become PM in 2029. Jenrick would do fine.
At some point it clarifies that the Tories represent the right of centre. Kemi needs to take care of looking 'extreme right' in any way. It isn't going to be the fashion.
The position of left of centre is different. It is not nearly at a point of maturity. The 50% of the vote that goes that way is all over the place - Lab, Jezza, LD, Green, Islamic Indies, SNP, PC. This will take time to settle, but settle it will once the left of centre's wisdom of crowds asks how to have a chance of forming the next government. This is not yet being asked. The centre right stuff has been runnoing longer and is clearing.
So plenty of NOTA, DKs and voting for those who can't win to come. But a GE is a long way off.
https://youtu.be/rsmNoqt84L0?si=AwkljJE1zwlvzU4R
People who support Reform get their own news elsewhere.
If Starmer pushes the King to continue with his State visit to the US then he will be responsible for doing huge damage to the monarchy and to Britain.
And to think you're a Brexiteer.
The parallel with 1930s Germany is quite remarkable.
https://youtu.be/J7Ordv5T8h8?si=Yh5dDJ7zNpQOtZyd
https://bsky.app/profile/bensilverstein.bsky.social/post/3md4ktwntfs2r
Elon Musk called O'Leary a "retarded twat", and Mr O'Leary's reponse is perfect:
https://x.com/MickOKeeffe/status/2013954610835103922
The Nazi goon squad is not going the way they expected and it's getting worse.
The markets will not indulge his lunacy forever.
The World Cup is still in jeopardy IMHO
Labour need to hammer this home morning, noon and night.
I mean, what's the bloody point of having all that power and money if you're still going sleepless and angry all the time at the thought you need to verbally duke it out with some other douche?
I didn't want the bastard here in September and I don't believe we should be pandering to the bastard in April but he could do an awful lot of damage to the World order if we upset the thin skinned madman.
The King visiting the US is not all about Trump. It's about visiting the US. It's a chance to talk some sense in to the Americans so that they will act to stop Trump from wrecking everything.
I fear that if we cancel the King's visit over things Trump has said (rather than done) that it will be taken as an insult to America, and we'll alienate some people we want to win over.
It would be a really good idea to visit Canada while he's across the Atlantic, though, and I'd also hope that the King was talking to Canada's government to ask for their advice on the visit. Carney is also the King's minister and it would be right for the King to act on his advice on this matter. You'd think KCIII would get better advice from Carney than from Starmer after all.
Minnesota holds economic strike to protest ICE presence
Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota shut their doors on Friday as part of an economic protest against the immigration crackdown in their state.
Organisers called for residents to skip work or school, if possible, and refrain from shopping, in a show of opposition to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
They also planned rallies in St Paul and Minneapolis, two cities that have seen intense immigration enforcement activity.
The Trump administration characterises the immigration enforcement as a public safety operation aimed at deporting alleged criminals who are in the country illegally. Critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained too.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dk67g4q91o
@meganekenyon
NEW: Andy Burnham has less than 24 hours to run in Gorton & Denton
Mayors must declare their candidacy by 5pm Saturday.
https://x.com/meganekenyon/status/2014762410377134361
Imagine if something went missing....IT failure, courier loses a page...shit happens.
Meanwhile the Nazis continue to lose in court
https://bsky.app/profile/couts.bsky.social/post/3md4qmefr2k2w
People are reading out the names of British war dead on the radio. It's getting feverish out there.
And one of them actually possesses a sense of humour.
"Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."
Already had my crypto meme coin to rugpull and Trump bootlicking posts ready to go, the modern route to wealth.
I don't believe enough Conservatives understand that. Too many Tories still see Reform as their potential coalition allies.
That's one reason I call it 50/50 who wins out for the battle on the right - the Tories have institutional mass and heritage, but Reform are the only ones fully committed to the fight and making most of the moves, whilst their target hits back sporadically, one arm behind their back and some in their corner yelling at them to take it easy and not hit so hard.
https://youtu.be/rHv-aq_HTxI?si=Y3jSqh3ejoObo9Q3
I would fake even just a few weeks of distraction from the harm he causes in his day job.
In any case both Carney and Poilievre are monarchists and welcomed the King on his opening of the Canadian parliament last year. Only the irrelevant NDP and BQ back a Republic.
In Australia Albanese has had to cancel a Republic referendum as Trump demonstrates the type of head of state republics produce and Aussies are back for constitutional monarchy in polls
Cause of death: asphyxia from neck and torso compression.
A fellow detainee says he watched guards choke him to death inside the facility.
ICE initially claimed it was a suicide attempt. The autopsy says otherwise.
https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/2014171071876837476
https://x.com/kyledcheney/status/2014806765074776242
If the Democrats ever retake the presidency, Smith should be AG.
"Starmer pulls Chagos bill after Trump backlash
Plans to hand islands to Mauritius ‘cannot progress’ amid concerns over 1966 treaty between UK and US"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/01/23/starmer-pulls-chagos-deal-following-trump-backlash/
I saw that earlier today and had a good laugh. All the "ignore intl law" types will now be sticklers for following it.
Surely Mr Process will have to trash the deal, if it really is barred by treaty ?
Trump like Icarus flew too close to the sun and now looks a seriously diminished. As does the country he represents We have rarely seen such universal anger over here. Will his lickspittle Farage manage to avoid being dragged down too? My guess would be not for long
He (Starmer) now needs. to welcome Burnham into the contest in Gorton and I think we'll start seeing a quite fifferent Prime Minister. It took him a while but I think he's finally getting the hang of it.
Not much for a gain for Labour if the net loss is 2 seats! That would be a disaster for Scottish Labour if they lost seats on their 2021 result, bear in mind the 22 seats they won then was their lowest total ever in a Holyrood election.
Reform polling has cooled slightly in the past couple of months, the big question is can Labour, Tories (or others) chisel more away from Reform or is there an embedded floor in their vote. I think a lot of working class/previous non voters will turn out and vote for them, so would expect 12/low teens Reform MSPs to be elected at least. Glasgow will be their toughest region to get 2 MSPs.
Interestingly, the SNP won 2 list seats in 2021, 1 in Highlands, 1 in South of Scotland. I'd be surprised if they won any this year, given the drop in their list vote and fierce competition from the Greens.
There is a fairly fine margin between the SNP holding almost all of their central belt constituencies and Labour winning scores via a domino effect (as seen in the 2024GE) but Sarwar and Labour's polling has went into reverse since June 2025. I'd give more chance of John Swinney winning a majority in 2026 than I would of Mr Sarwar becoming FM this year, going by how far Labour trail.
Yes the SNP have lost approx 10% of their vote, but the split opposition will see them nudge over 55 seats again
There's going to be a massive legal operation against these agents in the years to come.