For much of the today there was an attempt to convince us that the frenzy around Starmer was abating. It’s not. Tonight on several fronts it’s more frenetic than ever.
That would leave the Senate with 51 GOP seats. If Alaska is also a flip (and it could be) that leaves GOP with 50 seats and the casting vote of the VP. So a GOP hold.
For the first time, GOP strategists are telling Axios that losing the Senate — where Republicans have a 53-47 majority — is a distinct possibility.
According to GOP internal polling, even deep-red states like Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio are now in play
Top GOP strategists acknowledge that immigration and the economy — the two issues that drove Trump's win in 2024 — are now liabilities.
"A year ago, I would have told you we were almost guaranteed to win the Senate," one GOP operative who's reviewed internal polling told Axios. "Today, I would have to tell you it's far less certain."
He will go on his own volition. Possibly this weekend.
That would be the right think to do
Judging by tonight's Times Streeting and Rayner would rip each other to shreds in any Labour leadership contest now and destroy the Labour Party in the process. Hence Starmer is not going anytime soon, especially as most Labour MPs were handpicked pre 2024 to be Starmer loyalists.
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
The hypocrisy of the right wing media who thought the Mandelson appointment was worth the risk and now going into major hysteria .
Of course Starmer can’t say why he appointed Mandelson. Appoint a sleaze bag who will feel right at home with another sleaze bag.
I think he could. Someone called Keir must be steeped in politics. So far hes been a seven stone weakling. Time to take his spinach and show who he is.....
Trump is such a thing skinned narcissist it's best not to upset the apple cart. If we hadn't voted to impose economic sanctions on ourselves back in 2016 we might have been in a stronger position to tell Trump to do one.
For us bitter Remainers this does have an upside ! Once the Mandelson No 10 emails get released the alleged special relationship will finally be put out of its misery . Can you imagine what they would have said about the stain on humanity ?
With our transatlantic alliance in the dumpster the UK will have to get even closer to the EU .
If the UK loses its special relationship with the US the things Britain will lose (nuclear weapons cooperation, intelligence sharing, etc) are not things that the EU can help with, so Brexit is neither here nor there.
TRADE. We burned our bridges with the EU. Trump has burned his bridges with us. Which is why Starmer went cap in hand to China. We can't just flip burgers for each other.
The full secret notice Peter Mandelson just sent to all UK media
In it, Mandelson uses clauses of the Editor's Code most typically associated with grieving families or those suffering harassment from the press to urge journalists to stop scrutinising his links to the most world's most notorious paedophile.
You can get that from old butchers, but it's like bicarbonate of soda or sugar soap: people look at you strange if you ask for it. Nice with raisins or freshly-slaughtered haggi, provided the correct Scottish prayers are said first. Left-hand haggis, obviously.
He will go on his own volition. Possibly this weekend.
That would be the right think to do
Judging by tonight's Times Streeting and Rayner would rip each other to shreds in any Labour leadership contest now and destroy the Labour Party in the process. Hence Starmer is not going anytime soon, especially as most Labour MPs were handpicked pre 2024 to be Starmer loyalists.
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
Look at the headlines, or what’s dominating all the news bulletins. We’re talking about anything but the things that most need to be reckoned with. In the UK, we’re talking round the clock about Peter Mandelson, the one guy in this we at least know wasn’t making sexually abusive use of Epstein’s trafficked women and girls. Even if he did offer Epstein image rehab advice, which, as discussed here in depth on Tuesday, was a foray into the moral abyss. (Again.) But the frenzied and remorseless focus on political fallout – and not the male-on-female debasement that is the entire heart of this story, and always has been – is weird, isn’t it?
On the BBC I watched a documentary last night Lover, Liar, Predator. It is superb. Its the sort of video that should be shown in schools, possibly even more so than Adolescence. In my work I come across people all the time like the accused in LLP. Manipulative, controlling, abusive, dangerous. People, particularly young girls, need to be much more aware.
I think that there is more than enough quality on the BBC to justify £180 a year. That doesn't mean that I think the licence fee is defensible or that the current legal framework for it can survive but if the BBC went behind a paywall I'd probably pay it.
I thought the Channel 4 documentary about the Arthur's Seat murder (featuring some of your colleagues) was also very good for unpicking that kind of behaviour. The obsession with the engagement ring was particularly galling.
Yes. Alex Prentice is a pal. His use of the recording from the hospital was masterful.
It is a major topic that @Cyclefree mentions often. Too many men are misogynistic, self absorbed and dangerously selfish. I saw another video yesterday involving a talk by a psychologist from Australia talking about a friend of his who had murdered his wife and 3 kids. 2 observations really struck home. These men, (and it is nearly always men) talk about should and shouldn't. She should have done X, she shouldn't have done Y because it presses my buttons and she knows this. Victim blaming but the words are significant.
Secondly, he talked of a spectrum. Tolerating or worse sexist language and stereotyping puts a minority of men onto a path that leads to domestic violence, sexual violence and even murder. Don't tolerate it. Don't let others think it is ok. It just isn't.
I am glad someone has noticed what I have been saying for years. On here and elsewhere. The default assumption in too much of our society is that Women. Do. Not. Count. They exist only to support men or to be a resource for them, mainly a sexual one. They are not really entitled to any rights and such rights as they are granted are only done as favour by men and only insofar as they do not inconvenience men. If men want something women have, women should give this up because men's demands are more important. Women who either point any of this out or complain about it get and deserve a load of abuse.
If you want an example of this in action, read and listen to the Scottish government's arguments in the latest FWS case in the Scottish courts.
The Epstein affair is a sordid, vile, corrupt disgrace. There are some emails where men ask Epstein for the name of the gynaecologists he sent his victims too. Did those medical professionals ever ask themselves what was happening or whether they had any ethical obligations to speak up? Given the scale of abuse over many years, the type of men involved, other examples such as the Pelicot case in France (and that was only one of the many crimes promoted and recorded by a website which had thousands of users and was up for 6 years), the Joanne Young one here, the fact that the murder rate for women by men has not gone down and remains consistent year after year and so many other examples, I am at the stage of thinking that it is decent men who are the minority. Not the other way around.
And judging by conversations with many of my female friends in recent weeks and months, I am not the only one to think this.
If that bothers or upsets men on here, don't complain to me. Ask yourself about the sort of society we have, who has the power in it and how well it reflects and meets the needs of the female half of the population.
You can get that from old butchers, but it's like bicarbonate of soda or sugar soap: people look at you strange if you ask for it. Nice with raisins or freshly-slaughtered haggi, provided the correct Scottish prayers are said first. Left-hand haggis, obviously.
BTW Mandelson and his sidekick Wegg-Prosser, a director of Global Counsel (Mandelson's post-government lobbying outfit) were heavily involved in pushing for Horizon into post office and subsequently the Royal Mail privatisation. Some of the emails Mandelson was forwarding to Epstein were about the sale of government assets, including Royal Mail. The government advisor on the eventual privatisation in2013 was Lazards, where Mandelson had gone to work in 2011.
He will go on his own volition. Possibly this weekend.
That would be the right think to do
Judging by tonight's Times Streeting and Rayner would rip each other to shreds in any Labour leadership contest now and destroy the Labour Party in the process. Hence Starmer is not going anytime soon, especially as most Labour MPs were handpicked pre 2024 to be Starmer loyalists.
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
Are you serious
Kemi is more at risk than Starmer ?
Dont be silly
Which party has a long history of ditching leaders and which party doesn't?
You can get that from old butchers, but it's like bicarbonate of soda or sugar soap: people look at you strange if you ask for it. Nice with raisins or freshly-slaughtered haggi, provided the correct Scottish prayers are said first. Left-hand haggis, obviously.
Is it vegan???
Depend on whether the venison ate their full portion of carrots
He will go on his own volition. Possibly this weekend.
That would be the right think to do
Judging by tonight's Times Streeting and Rayner would rip each other to shreds in any Labour leadership contest now and destroy the Labour Party in the process. Hence Starmer is not going anytime soon, especially as most Labour MPs were handpicked pre 2024 to be Starmer loyalists.
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
Are you serious
Kemi is more at risk than Starmer ?
Dont be silly
Which party has a long history of ditching leaders and which party doesn't?
Should they actually release Mandelson No 10 emails that could cause a major fallout with Trump if these don’t add anything to the Mandelson investigation.
Should they actually release Mandelson No 10 emails that could cause a major fallout with Trump if these don’t add anything to the Mandelson investigation.
At this stage, why not?
It's all turning to arse, let's just get Armageddon over with quickly.
FWIW. I don't think Starmer will resign as he desperately wants to be PM. He will have to be forced out.. who is brave enough and has the support.
Nobody, it is Labour, they couldn't even get rid of Foot, Brown and Corbyn. Labour are about as ruthless with their leaders as Walter the Softy is with his Teddy
Should they actually release Mandelson No 10 emails that could cause a major fallout with Trump if these don’t add anything to the Mandelson investigation.
That's the fundamental problem for Starmer. The two things going for him - an assumption that's he's a decent man and genuine diplomatic prowess in handling Trump - could both be swept away by this scandal. What's left?
I still believe he’s fundamentally a decent man and could have been a very good PM and actually in the background they’ve done some very good stuff.
But he’s become a distraction and the government simply cannot do anything with him at the helm.
Many have said he’s awful at politics and I still think I partially disagree. I think he was a very good LOTO but the politics of governing are very different.
I think he should quit now and go away quietly.
It can’t be Rayner, it has to be Streeting or Al Carns for me, the first because he can communicate and the second because he’s a decisive break.
The government can and I still believe will succeed and they will have every chance of being re-elected but they need to start again.
He will go on his own volition. Possibly this weekend.
That would be the right think to do
Judging by tonight's Times Streeting and Rayner would rip each other to shreds in any Labour leadership contest now and destroy the Labour Party in the process. Hence Starmer is not going anytime soon, especially as most Labour MPs were handpicked pre 2024 to be Starmer loyalists.
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
Are you serious
Kemi is more at risk than Starmer ?
Dont be silly
Which party has a long history of ditching leaders and which party doesn't?
And that is why we are in the mess we are
Nope. We're in the mess we are because a generation of governments have signed post-dated cheques, all of which are now coming due at once.
And anyone who is a classic swing voter (Thatcher -Major-Blair-Cameron etc) backed them in doing it.
Since Burnham isn't eligible to stand, and Labour leadership contests are nowadays never won on the first ballot, it is better to look at broader support including 2nd and probably 3rd preferences.
Combined 1st or 2nd preferences: Burnham 53% Rayner 36% Streeting 34% Miliband 26% Mahmood 17% Cooper 17%
Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences: Burnham 62% Rayner 55% Miliband 48% Streeting 45% Cooper 31% Mahmood 24%
Conclusions:
1. Streeting is in a weaker position than the betting markets suggest. The fact that 2nd and 3rd preferences heavily favour Rayner and MIliband points to most Burnham supporters switching to those two. And this doesn't factor in the full effect of an explicit Burnham endorsement of either Rayner or Miliband (which seems inevitable and will carry weight with the 41% for whom Burnham is 1st preference.)
2. Rayner should be favourite even if the contest comes while (as now) the HMRC verdict is awaited.
3. Miliband is in with a decent shout if Rayner does not stand.
4. Of the candidates at longer odds, Cooper stands a better chance than Mahmood. Cooper should not be discounted because it is not too fanciful to think that both Rayner and Streeting might see their campaign falter for different reasons (an adverse HMRC ruling in Rayner's case, revelations from correspondence with his close friend and ally Mandelson in Streeting's case)
5. Powell and Haigh are not credible alternative soft left candidates to Rayner and Miliband, each only received 1% of 1st preferences.
The main caveat is how representative is the sample base of the wider Labour selectorate of all Labour members plus non-members who are political levy payers in a Labour affiliated union.
I still believe he’s fundamentally a decent man and could have been a very good PM and actually in the background they’ve done some very good stuff.
But he’s become a distraction and the government simply cannot do anything with him at the helm.
Many have said he’s awful at politics and I still think I partially disagree. I think he was a very good LOTO but the politics of governing are very different.
I think he should quit now and go away quietly.
It can’t be Rayner, it has to be Streeting or Al Carns for me, the first because he can communicate and the second because he’s a decisive break.
The government can and I still believe will succeed and they will have every chance of being re-elected but they need to start again.
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
Since Burnham isn't eligible to stand, and Labour leadership contests are nowadays never won on the first ballot, it is better to look at broader support including 2nd and probably 3rd preferences.
Combined 1st or 2nd preferences: Burnham 53% Rayner 36% Streeting 34% Miliband 26% Mahmood 17% Cooper 17%
Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences: Burnham 62% Rayner 55% Miliband 48% Streeting 45% Cooper 31% Mahmood 24%
Conclusions:
1. Streeting is in a weaker position than the betting markets suggest. The fact that 2nd and 3rd preferences heavily favour Rayner and MIliband points to most Burnham supporters switching to those two. And this doesn't factor in the full effect of an explicit Burnham endorsement of either Rayner or Miliband (which seems inevitable and will carry weight with the 41% for whom Burnham is 1st preference.)
2. Rayner should be favourite even if the contest comes while (as now) the HMRC verdict is awaited.
3. Miliband is in with a decent shout if Rayner does not stand.
4. Of the candidates at longer odds, Cooper stands a better chance than Mahmood. Cooper should not be discounted because it is not too fanciful to think that both Rayner and Streeting might see their campaign falter for different reasons (an adverse HMRC ruling in Rayner's case, revelations from correspondence with his close friend and ally Mandelson in Streeting's case)
5. Powell and Haigh are not credible alternative soft left candidates to Rayner and Miliband, each only received 1% of 1st preferences.
The main caveat is how representative is the sample base. They are Labour List readers who are Labour members are of of the wider Labour selectorate of all Labour members plus non-members who are political levy payers in a Labour affiliated union.
Rayner or Ed Miliband would of course be wonderful news for Tories and Farage respectively if Labour are mad enough to pick either. Though as I said I think Starmer stays for now
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
Can I plug an excellent video from our End-Of-Tesla correspondent, looking at the outlawing of "flush door handles" in China - which is around the risk caused by hidden electric door handles failing, and (I hope) any lack of an easy mechanical way of opening them in emergency from the inside; the Tesla one is afaics a bodge.
Very informative, and this issue had entirely passed me by - I have just never looked at it. I'd have expected it to be a basic sorted by safety regulators when remote push button unlocking came in, since they can run out of battery.
(He's dressed up like Wally from Last of the Summer Wine against the cold.)
The claims are around "aerodynamics", but the 0.23 Cd of a current Skoda Superb Hatch with non-flush door handles somewhat undermines that. As do the many different types of flush door handle used since the 1970s.
Somebody in the energy sector who is a Labour supported described Ed Miliband as having the ideological entrenchment of Jeremy Corbyn and the competence of Chris Grayling on the plus side, I'd be able to say I tipped a 100/1 winner.
Somebody in the energy sector who is a Labour supported described Ed Miliband as having the ideological entrenchment of Jeremy Corbyn and the competence of Chris Grayling on the plus side, I'd be able to say I tipped a 100/1 winner.
Somebody in the energy sector who is a Labour supported described Ed Miliband as having the ideological entrenchment of Jeremy Corbyn and the competence of Chris Grayling on the plus side, I'd be able to say I tipped a 100/1 winner.
He should have gone two-footed in on them with regional/nodal pricing - instead they're still building useless turbines in the middle of nowhere with no transmission infrastructure, and still getting paid for it. If anything, Miliband has been captured by the energy sector rather than the other way round.
This is quite astonishing special pleading. 90% of the people you ask who know anything about Starmer or No10, when you ask them when it went wrong, will tell you that Starmer left Gray to plan for govt and arrived in govt and there was no plan
I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
Now, Chairman Comer says he wants cameras, but only behind closed doors. Who benefits from this arrangement? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is not fact-finding, it’s pure politics.
I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.
Somebody in the energy sector who is a Labour supported described Ed Miliband as having the ideological entrenchment of Jeremy Corbyn and the competence of Chris Grayling on the plus side, I'd be able to say I tipped a 100/1 winner.
He should have gone two-footed in on them with regional/nodal pricing - instead they're still building useless turbines in the middle of nowhere with no transmission infrastructure, and still getting paid for it. If anything, Miliband has been captured by the energy sector rather than the other way round.
Since Burnham isn't eligible to stand, and Labour leadership contests are nowadays never won on the first ballot, it is better to look at broader support including 2nd and probably 3rd preferences.
Combined 1st or 2nd preferences: Burnham 53% Rayner 36% Streeting 34% Miliband 26% Mahmood 17% Cooper 17%
Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences: Burnham 62% Rayner 55% Miliband 48% Streeting 45% Cooper 31% Mahmood 24%
Conclusions:
1. Streeting is in a weaker position than the betting markets suggest. The fact that 2nd and 3rd preferences heavily favour Rayner and MIliband points to most Burnham supporters switching to those two. And this doesn't factor in the full effect of an explicit Burnham endorsement of either Rayner or Miliband (which seems inevitable and will carry weight with the 41% for whom Burnham is 1st preference.)
2. Rayner should be favourite even if the contest comes while (as now) the HMRC verdict is awaited.
3. Miliband is in with a decent shout if Rayner does not stand.
4. Of the candidates at longer odds, Cooper stands a better chance than Mahmood. Cooper should not be discounted because it is not too fanciful to think that both Rayner and Streeting might see their campaign falter for different reasons (an adverse HMRC ruling in Rayner's case, revelations from correspondence with his close friend and ally Mandelson in Streeting's case)
5. Powell and Haigh are not credible alternative soft left candidates to Rayner and Miliband, each only received 1% of 1st preferences.
The main caveat is how representative is the sample base of the wider Labour selectorate of all Labour members plus non-members who are political levy payers in a Labour affiliated union.
Rather agree that if there is value to be had, it is with Cooper. And although no-one seems to care about the next question, I also think there is a chance she would be OK in the Number 1 slot.
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.
Hague would have been a much more competant PM had he got the chance from 2010 onwards than he ever would have been when he was LOTO.
I think you can say the same of Miliband. He has also matured as a politician over a decade or so.
Anyway, the fact is that, whoever takes over from Starmer, they are going to be judged by the electorate in 2029 based on what they do or do not achieve in office, not on what people thought of them before they became PM. So should he get the chance, outdated perceptions of Miliband won't count for much by 2029.
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
Been dipping in and out of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Has anybody said "Fuck ICE"?
Well.
Team GB skier Gus Kenworthy has launched a blistering attack on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers by urinating the words “Fuck Ice” on the snow just before the start of the Winter Olympics.
In a post on Instagram the 34-year-old, who will compete for Team GB in the free-ski half-pipe in Milano Cortina, also urged Americans to write to their senators to “rein in” ICE and border patrol.
Look at the headlines, or what’s dominating all the news bulletins. We’re talking about anything but the things that most need to be reckoned with. In the UK, we’re talking round the clock about Peter Mandelson, the one guy in this we at least know wasn’t making sexually abusive use of Epstein’s trafficked women and girls. Even if he did offer Epstein image rehab advice, which, as discussed here in depth on Tuesday, was a foray into the moral abyss. (Again.) But the frenzied and remorseless focus on political fallout – and not the male-on-female debasement that is the entire heart of this story, and always has been – is weird, isn’t it?
On the BBC I watched a documentary last night Lover, Liar, Predator. It is superb. Its the sort of video that should be shown in schools, possibly even more so than Adolescence. In my work I come across people all the time like the accused in LLP. Manipulative, controlling, abusive, dangerous. People, particularly young girls, need to be much more aware.
I think that there is more than enough quality on the BBC to justify £180 a year. That doesn't mean that I think the licence fee is defensible or that the current legal framework for it can survive but if the BBC went behind a paywall I'd probably pay it.
I thought the Channel 4 documentary about the Arthur's Seat murder (featuring some of your colleagues) was also very good for unpicking that kind of behaviour. The obsession with the engagement ring was particularly galling.
Yes. Alex Prentice is a pal. His use of the recording from the hospital was masterful.
It is a major topic that @Cyclefree mentions often. Too many men are misogynistic, self absorbed and dangerously selfish. I saw another video yesterday involving a talk by a psychologist from Australia talking about a friend of his who had murdered his wife and 3 kids. 2 observations really struck home. These men, (and it is nearly always men) talk about should and shouldn't. She should have done X, she shouldn't have done Y because it presses my buttons and she knows this. Victim blaming but the words are significant.
Secondly, he talked of a spectrum. Tolerating or worse sexist language and stereotyping puts a minority of men onto a path that leads to domestic violence, sexual violence and even murder. Don't tolerate it. Don't let others think it is ok. It just isn't.
I am glad someone has noticed what I have been saying for years. On here and elsewhere. The default assumption in too much of our society is that Women. Do. Not. Count. They exist only to support men or to be a resource for them, mainly a sexual one. They are not really entitled to any rights and such rights as they are granted are only done as favour by men and only insofar as they do not inconvenience men. If men want something women have, women should give this up because men's demands are more important. Women who either point any of this out or complain about it get and deserve a load of abuse.
If you want an example of this in action, read and listen to the Scottish government's arguments in the latest FWS case in the Scottish courts.
The Epstein affair is a sordid, vile, corrupt disgrace. There are some emails where men ask Epstein for the name of the gynaecologists he sent his victims too. Did those medical professionals ever ask themselves what was happening or whether they had any ethical obligations to speak up? Given the scale of abuse over many years, the type of men involved, other examples such as the Pelicot case in France (and that was only one of the many crimes promoted and recorded by a website which had thousands of users and was up for 6 years), the Joanne Young one here, the fact that the murder rate for women by men has not gone down and remains consistent year after year and so many other examples, I am at the stage of thinking that it is decent men who are the minority. Not the other way around.
And judging by conversations with many of my female friends in recent weeks and months, I am not the only one to think this.
If that bothers or upsets men on here, don't complain to me. Ask yourself about the sort of society we have, who has the power in it and how well it reflects and meets the needs of the female half of the population.
She felt "betrayed" by Nath, she told the trial, but had initially defended him when staff warned that they believed her drink had been spiked.
"I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that"', she said.
"I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault. I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it."
It's really hard for women to identify which men are trustworthy.
Since Burnham isn't eligible to stand, and Labour leadership contests are nowadays never won on the first ballot, it is better to look at broader support including 2nd and probably 3rd preferences.
Combined 1st or 2nd preferences: Burnham 53% Rayner 36% Streeting 34% Miliband 26% Mahmood 17% Cooper 17%
Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences: Burnham 62% Rayner 55% Miliband 48% Streeting 45% Cooper 31% Mahmood 24%
Conclusions:
1. Streeting is in a weaker position than the betting markets suggest. The fact that 2nd and 3rd preferences heavily favour Rayner and MIliband points to most Burnham supporters switching to those two. And this doesn't factor in the full effect of an explicit Burnham endorsement of either Rayner or Miliband (which seems inevitable and will carry weight with the 41% for whom Burnham is 1st preference.)
2. Rayner should be favourite even if the contest comes while (as now) the HMRC verdict is awaited.
3. Miliband is in with a decent shout if Rayner does not stand.
4. Of the candidates at longer odds, Cooper stands a better chance than Mahmood. Cooper should not be discounted because it is not too fanciful to think that both Rayner and Streeting might see their campaign falter for different reasons (an adverse HMRC ruling in Rayner's case, revelations from correspondence with his close friend and ally Mandelson in Streeting's case)
5. Powell and Haigh are not credible alternative soft left candidates to Rayner and Miliband, each only received 1% of 1st preferences.
The main caveat is how representative is the sample base of the wider Labour selectorate of all Labour members plus non-members who are political levy payers in a Labour affiliated union.
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
People are joining Labour tonight. To back Keir Starmer and take part in the clean up of British politics that will now begin... join us in the fight to stop the racist right
Look at the headlines, or what’s dominating all the news bulletins. We’re talking about anything but the things that most need to be reckoned with. In the UK, we’re talking round the clock about Peter Mandelson, the one guy in this we at least know wasn’t making sexually abusive use of Epstein’s trafficked women and girls. Even if he did offer Epstein image rehab advice, which, as discussed here in depth on Tuesday, was a foray into the moral abyss. (Again.) But the frenzied and remorseless focus on political fallout – and not the male-on-female debasement that is the entire heart of this story, and always has been – is weird, isn’t it?
On the BBC I watched a documentary last night Lover, Liar, Predator. It is superb. Its the sort of video that should be shown in schools, possibly even more so than Adolescence. In my work I come across people all the time like the accused in LLP. Manipulative, controlling, abusive, dangerous. People, particularly young girls, need to be much more aware.
I think that there is more than enough quality on the BBC to justify £180 a year. That doesn't mean that I think the licence fee is defensible or that the current legal framework for it can survive but if the BBC went behind a paywall I'd probably pay it.
I thought the Channel 4 documentary about the Arthur's Seat murder (featuring some of your colleagues) was also very good for unpicking that kind of behaviour. The obsession with the engagement ring was particularly galling.
Yes. Alex Prentice is a pal. His use of the recording from the hospital was masterful.
It is a major topic that @Cyclefree mentions often. Too many men are misogynistic, self absorbed and dangerously selfish. I saw another video yesterday involving a talk by a psychologist from Australia talking about a friend of his who had murdered his wife and 3 kids. 2 observations really struck home. These men, (and it is nearly always men) talk about should and shouldn't. She should have done X, she shouldn't have done Y because it presses my buttons and she knows this. Victim blaming but the words are significant.
Secondly, he talked of a spectrum. Tolerating or worse sexist language and stereotyping puts a minority of men onto a path that leads to domestic violence, sexual violence and even murder. Don't tolerate it. Don't let others think it is ok. It just isn't.
I am glad someone has noticed what I have been saying for years. On here and elsewhere. The default assumption in too much of our society is that Women. Do. Not. Count. They exist only to support men or to be a resource for them, mainly a sexual one. They are not really entitled to any rights and such rights as they are granted are only done as favour by men and only insofar as they do not inconvenience men. If men want something women have, women should give this up because men's demands are more important. Women who either point any of this out or complain about it get and deserve a load of abuse.
If you want an example of this in action, read and listen to the Scottish government's arguments in the latest FWS case in the Scottish courts.
The Epstein affair is a sordid, vile, corrupt disgrace. There are some emails where men ask Epstein for the name of the gynaecologists he sent his victims too. Did those medical professionals ever ask themselves what was happening or whether they had any ethical obligations to speak up? Given the scale of abuse over many years, the type of men involved, other examples such as the Pelicot case in France (and that was only one of the many crimes promoted and recorded by a website which had thousands of users and was up for 6 years), the Joanne Young one here, the fact that the murder rate for women by men has not gone down and remains consistent year after year and so many other examples, I am at the stage of thinking that it is decent men who are the minority. Not the other way around.
And judging by conversations with many of my female friends in recent weeks and months, I am not the only one to think this.
If that bothers or upsets men on here, don't complain to me. Ask yourself about the sort of society we have, who has the power in it and how well it reflects and meets the needs of the female half of the population.
She felt "betrayed" by Nath, she told the trial, but had initially defended him when staff warned that they believed her drink had been spiked.
"I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that"', she said.
"I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault. I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it."
It's really hard for women to identify which men are trustworthy.
Surely its equally hard for men to identify women that are trustworthy..
If you tell a woman something and tell them.not to say anything.... chances of that remaining secret are approx 0%
Comments
For much of the today there was an attempt to convince us that the frenzy around Starmer was abating. It’s not. Tonight on several fronts it’s more frenetic than ever.
‘ 🚨NEW: Cabinet Ministers say PM Keir Starmer is in a "dark place" over the Mandelson scandal, and there is "genuine concern" he could resign
[@thetimes]’
https://x.com/gbpolitcs/status/2019873734950367259?s=61
InteractivePolls
@IAPolls2022
For the first time, GOP strategists are telling Axios that losing the Senate — where Republicans have a 53-47 majority — is a distinct possibility.
According to GOP internal polling, even deep-red states like Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio are now in play
Top GOP strategists acknowledge that immigration and the economy — the two issues that drove Trump's win in 2024 — are now liabilities.
"A year ago, I would have told you we were almost guaranteed to win the Senate," one GOP operative who's reviewed internal polling told Axios. "Today, I would have to tell you it's far less certain."
https://x.com/IAPolls2022/status/2019798928883904662
In my view Kemi remains more at risk, 2/3 of Tory MPs did not vote for her in 2024 to be leader and now Jenrick is gone the Tories have a leader in waiting in Cleverly to replace her if the Tories do poorly in May with no serious rival to him
I'm pitching "The Mandelscandal". Any takers?
Another trip abroad this time to Svalbard!
Kemi is more at risk than Starmer ?
Dont be silly
I've been trying to work that into a header.
"The Sea Subspecies of Wild Scottish Haggis"
(AI gen - but nice all the same)
Lord above, the whole political world will have burnt to the ground if you are away that long!
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/05/trump-wanted-dulles-airport-and-penn-station-named-after-him-to-release-rail-tunnel-funds-00768242
It's all turning to arse, let's just get Armageddon over with quickly.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/06/reform-police-investigation-letter-byelection-campaign-gorton-denton?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
The value bet here is Ed Miliband.
A competent minister, has an agenda, possesses politics.
Who might succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Britain’s prime minister?
https://bsky.app/profile/duncanweldon.bsky.social/post/3me7tnqxiqc25
I suspect in the UK at present the Suffolk Strangler is less unpopular than Starmer.
I still believe he’s fundamentally a decent man and could have been a very good PM and actually in the background they’ve done some very good stuff.
But he’s become a distraction and the government simply cannot do anything with him at the helm.
Many have said he’s awful at politics and I still think I partially disagree. I think he was a very good LOTO but the politics of governing are very different.
I think he should quit now and go away quietly.
It can’t be Rayner, it has to be Streeting or Al Carns for me, the first because he can communicate and the second because he’s a decisive break.
The government can and I still believe will succeed and they will have every chance of being re-elected but they need to start again.
And anyone who is a classic swing voter (Thatcher -Major-Blair-Cameron etc) backed them in doing it.
https://labourlist.org/2026/02/keir-starmer-wes-streeting-leadership-survation-poll/
Since Burnham isn't eligible to stand, and Labour leadership contests are nowadays never won on the first ballot, it is better to look at broader support including 2nd and probably 3rd preferences.
Combined 1st or 2nd preferences:
Burnham 53%
Rayner 36%
Streeting 34%
Miliband 26%
Mahmood 17%
Cooper 17%
Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd preferences:
Burnham 62%
Rayner 55%
Miliband 48%
Streeting 45%
Cooper 31%
Mahmood 24%
Conclusions:
1. Streeting is in a weaker position than the betting markets suggest. The fact that 2nd and 3rd preferences heavily favour Rayner and MIliband points to most Burnham supporters switching to those two. And this doesn't factor in the full effect of an explicit Burnham endorsement of either Rayner or Miliband (which seems inevitable and will carry weight with the 41% for whom Burnham is 1st preference.)
2. Rayner should be favourite even if the contest comes while (as now) the HMRC verdict is awaited.
3. Miliband is in with a decent shout if Rayner does not stand.
4. Of the candidates at longer odds, Cooper stands a better chance than Mahmood. Cooper should not be discounted because it is not too fanciful to think that both Rayner and Streeting might see their campaign falter for different reasons (an adverse HMRC ruling in Rayner's case, revelations from correspondence with his close friend and ally Mandelson in Streeting's case)
5. Powell and Haigh are not credible alternative soft left candidates to Rayner and Miliband, each only received 1% of 1st preferences.
The main caveat is how representative is the sample base of the wider Labour selectorate of all Labour members plus non-members who are political levy payers in a Labour affiliated union.
House Minority Leader HAKEEM JEFFRIES has posted a new new video about the Trump video from Truth Social. Here is what the top House Dem said:
"This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally.
"Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It's time for John Thune, Mike Johnson and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster who is sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States"
https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/2019888921140699630?s=20
https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2024/09/26/will-ed-milibands-time-finally-arrive/
However, he’s genuinely impressive, has an interesting backstory and is soft left.
Labour could do a lot worse. They didn’t take Dan Jarvis when they had the chance, I really hope they consider him.
A Streeting/Carns ticket would be what I’d be looking for. If it’s Rayner I’m resigning my Labour membership.
Very informative, and this issue had entirely passed me by - I have just never looked at it. I'd have expected it to be a basic sorted by safety regulators when remote push button unlocking came in, since they can run out of battery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Or-kNs-Uw
(He's dressed up like Wally from Last of the Summer Wine against the cold.)
The claims are around "aerodynamics", but the 0.23 Cd of a current Skoda Superb Hatch with non-flush door handles somewhat undermines that. As do the many different types of flush door handle used since the 1970s.
https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2019859920091509018?s=20
Comical Ali lives.
https://x.com/MichaelAArouet/status/2019867848177512858?s=20
I'll have to see who makes it onto the members' ballot before choosing who to give my first preference to.
I suspect he'll end up Chancellor rather than PM.
This is quite astonishing special pleading. 90% of the people you ask who know anything about Starmer or No10, when you ask them when it went wrong, will tell you that Starmer left Gray to plan for govt and arrived in govt and there was no plan
I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
Now, Chairman Comer says he wants cameras, but only behind closed doors. Who benefits from this arrangement? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is not fact-finding, it’s pure politics.
I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.
https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2025/12/20/ed-miliband-is-33-1-to-be-the-next-chancellor/
Coming soon
Other value: Carns.
@BillClinton
I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
Bill Clinton
@BillClinton
I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.
https://x.com/BillClinton/status/2019878049475621148
Has anybody said "Fuck ICE"?
I think you can say the same of Miliband. He has also matured as a politician over a decade or so.
Anyway, the fact is that, whoever takes over from Starmer, they are going to be judged by the electorate in 2029 based on what they do or do not achieve in office, not on what people thought of them before they became PM. So should he get the chance, outdated perceptions of Miliband won't count for much by 2029.
Team GB skier Gus Kenworthy has launched a blistering attack on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers by urinating the words “Fuck Ice” on the snow just before the start of the Winter Olympics.
In a post on Instagram the 34-year-old, who will compete for Team GB in the free-ski half-pipe in Milano Cortina, also urged Americans to write to their senators to “rein in” ICE and border patrol.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/06/team-gb-winter-olympic-skier-gus-kenworthy-targets-ice-graphic-message-in-snow
"I remember vividly defending Mr Nath, saying 'There is no way he could do that"', she said.
"I remember sending him a message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening'. Because I felt it was my fault. I didn't want him in trouble, I didn't believe it."
It's really hard for women to identify which men are trustworthy.
I think its true he is in a stew though
@DemocraticWins
BREAKING: In a stunning moment, JD Vance was just booed relentlessly at the Olympics. Wow. The Trump-Vance admin is humiliating us on the world stage.
https://x.com/DemocraticWins/status/2019884112438313419
Paul Mason
@paulmasonnews
People are joining Labour tonight. To back Keir Starmer and take part in the clean up of British politics that will now begin... join us in the fight to stop the racist right
https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2019859920091509018
If you tell a woman something and tell them.not to say anything.... chances of that remaining secret are approx 0%
Angela Rayner as PM
Ed M as chancellor.
That would seem to keep most people happy, except perhaps the right of the party.