This was the worst performance by a Scotsman since Italy v Scotland last weekend
This was the worst performance by a Scotsman since Italy v Scotland last weekend– politicalbetting.com
BREAKING: "The distraction needs to end, and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."Scottish Labour leader Anas Sanwar has called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister.Read the latest on our live blog ?? https://t.co/6WtN2JJ2b3? Sky 501, Virgin 602 pic.twitter.com/UJoYNIdxpX
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As for Streeting, I really don't fancy his chances:
1. His actions today were about trying to get in first to limit the damage. Yet he damage is still there. The releasing of copious private emails with Mandelson shows just how close the two were in political terms and the tone of them are very much those of friends. Supping with the devil indeed. Commentators have every right to go on describing him as "Mandelson's protege".
2. At least with the release of further e-mails eventually dismissed Mandelson in September 2025. Yet Streeting faced with the same damning evidence went on camera in September to say that Mandelson was doing a fine job and should stay on. How can someone now stand for Labour leader when they were prepared to publically stand by Mandelson on the basis of the same evidence that caused Starmer to sack him? I am surprised that this video has as yet had little circulation, but it surely will when the time comes:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_OEcau1ACtA
Note that Streeting is using the same argument in defending his closeness to Mandelson as he used about Mandelson's closeness to Epstein then.
"We shouldn't tar everyone as being guilty by association."
So an outsider? Darren Jones?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/09/peter-mandelson-wes-streeting-vetting-moral-seriousness
Hopefully Labour will provide us with more entertainment tomorrow - Popcorn on standby!
Don't be afraid to ask about the Battle of Zama, happy to help you understand it better.
To be honest they should have tried harder but technically I think it very hard.
Johnson’s WhatsApps come to mind. Still not sure how he got away with that.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/09/discord-to-roll-out-age-verification-next-month-for-full-access-to-its-platform/
Discord to roll out age verification next month for full access to its platform
"... The facial age estimation requires video selfies, which Discord says never leave your device. Additionally, the company says IDs submitted to its vendor partners are deleted quickly and, in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.
It’s worth noting that Discord disclosed last October that around 70,000 users may have had sensitive data, such as their government ID photos, exposed after hackers breached a third-party vendor that the platform uses for age-related appeals."
I’m not saying they shouldn’t have tried.
I do wonder if Sarwar talked this through with his deputy/colleagues/Welsh Labour leader/cabinet Ministers, or whether he just went for it thinking he has nothing to lose vs Swinney. I will check and see if any Scottish Labour MPs have so far called for Starmer to go
Thanks Beth, I already said this.
So, let’s see how empty Keir’s politics really is. I suspect very,
One difference between Starmer's Cabinet and the Scottish Labour Leader is that the former can be sacked by Starmer and the latter can't because he was directly elected.
So Sarwar doesn't have to fear Starmer's wrath. He didn't have to ensure that what he did was coordinated with other senior politicians, for fear of being isolated and picked off. And unlike all the lily-livered Starmer appointees, his political future will be decided by the electorate in 3 months time not 3 years time. It's the Scottish electorate, not Starmer, who he fears.
So it comes down to a simple political calculation. He's thinking: "Is there a chance that Scottish Labour's prospects in the May 2026 parliamentary elections might be enhanced if I speak out early and distance Scottish Labour from Starmer's English Labour, or do I just have to settle for the inevitable shellacking in May that will come my way if I don't and Starmer is still there come May?"
It would have helped Sarwar in May if Labour MPs had subsequently acted to dump Starmer, but the fact that they've not and probably won't now do so until after May doesn't mean that Sarwar is regretting his actions. He's still put a lot more distance between himself and the disasterously unpopular Starmer and Labour in Westminster, and I think that will help not hinder him in the eyes of the Scottish electorate in May. When you're taking on the Scottish Nationalists, showing that you're anything but a branch office of Labour in London isn't a bad look.
Sidenote: Andy Burnham did not publicly back Keir Starmer today
He's bitter
He's twisted
He's irrelevant to the PLP
The PM must resign.
It should have been morally obvious that a known associate of a convicted paedophile and sex trafficker should not be our US ambassador.
The decision is clearly indefensible and the PM cannot credibly continue.
As regards Jones FFS no not a cat in hells chance. Continuity No 10 when members want change. You might as well go the Full Monty and have McSweeney as the new PM's adviser.
Healey would be my choice of a genuine outsider offering value, in from 50/1 to 16/1 with Ladbrokes in a week, still available elsewhere at 40/1.
Farage hasn't even picked his candidates yet but he will be ahead of Labour in quite a few Scottish seats right now.
Today's cabinet rally feels a little bit like the chairman's vote of confidence. Why are they all backing him now when leadership candidate websites are appearing (unless its fake)
Thread on today's focus group from More in Common. Labour MPs might find they dont enjoy the doorstep feedback next week after today's happy families charade
Likely gone next few days.
No loss, a very strange appointment at the time.
It's certainly looking like a completely new broom.
Jonathan Powell most senior survivor.
Tim Shipman
@ShippersUnbound
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1h
The end of an error. A disastrous, pedestrian appointment which has materially damaged Labour’s ability to achieve the change they promised - what’s more it was entirely predictable and predicted by everyone except the PM
...
I don’t know a single person who worked for Starmer who thought he was the right man for the job
https://x.com/ShippersUnbound/status/2020955653964169384
Tom Scotson
@_tomscotson
Labour MPs tell me that Johanna Baxter was in tears at tonight's PLP, claiming she had never known such treachery as Anas Sarwar today
https://x.com/_tomscotson/status/2020948542097875311?s=20
Meanwhile, in other news, the British team is having a mare of a Winter Olympics so far…
There is a group known as the Ilford Independents who won a by election last year but whether they will be able to challenge Labour across the Borough remains to be seen. It could also be fruitful ground for Reform against the Conservatives.
Serious point. . . .If Starmer can just hang on a few months the narrative can turn in his favour: inflation should drop to 2%, growth is returning, interest rates will have fallen further (BoE cut in March likely), immigration down and various key bills passed.
Hmm
NE mayor is a massive SKS fan mind
It's so nakedly transparent.
Not yet 40
Educared at a Comprehensive
Studied at Plymouth University
Worked in NHS
Transferred to Legal Career
M at an early age
Supported Burnham in leadership campaign
We'll respected across spectrum as Head of various Committees in Opposition
Several key Ministerial Appointments already
Looking more likely than Streeting right now in terms of the younger generation
I’m recovering from surgery just now so will not get involved in the events in Westminster. I will say one thing- the Prime Minister needs to be allowed the time to focus and get on with the job of delivering for the people of Britain. Anything else is an unnecessary distraction.
Must be, that 6am knock on the door still hasn't happened.
Back in 2022:
Lab 58 seats
Con 5 seats
https://x.com/rhiannon_e_m/status/2020964547201466811
Just finished a focus group with (mainly white, working class, young, male) Rooted Patriots.
They are horrified by the whole Mandelson story, and think it taints the whole government - "I've got no sympathy with any of them, they're all guilty by association"
In this group, Starmer's position is untenable. They not only think he should go, but think that this is now an inevitability. "The trust is gone, and there's no going back from that"
It's not just Starmer who people have lost faith in, it's anyone around him who they think might have turned a blind eye to any knowledge of Mandelson and Epstein's relationship: "The whole cabinet need to go and we need to start again"
@MichaelLCrick
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2h
John Healey looks a good bet. The Labour Right like his defence work; the Left recall his media work for the union MSF & the TUC. Aged 66, he may wven appeal to young wannabe leaders, on the rule that young cardinals vote for old popes!
https://x.com/MichaelLCrick/status/2020930546529075638
It could be a French grand slam, but England performances are improving as the World cup gets closer
Rep. Raskin: Epstein's lawyers quoted Trump as saying that Epstein was a guest at Mar-a-Lago and he was never asked to leave, and that was redacted for some indeterminate reason. It seems at odds w/ some things that Trump has said about how he kicked Epstein out of his club.
https://x.com/ProjectLincoln/status/2020977255342903371?s=20
To me it would be loopy for Sir Keir not to give himself another year; he's done the toughest period and achieved a number of things already, and there should be much benefit to follow through.
Give Wales the win this time, Scotland arent winning 6N anyway. Wales don't get bottom, Toonie goes to Newcastle, Scotland get a new coach and a new spoon, winner winner all round
There's also the feeling that they are always looking over your shoulder, looking for someone more important to talk to. Be nice to people on your way up Wes as you will meet them again on your way down.
A junior at the London firm’s Paris office drafted a deal to provide the paedophile with ‘favours’ including nude swimming and sex games
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/epstein-files-trainee-lawyer-clifford-chance-emails-qp87d9ncl
"I never worked from home. Never happened in my day. Got up every morning at 5 and went in to work. Day in day out. It's a con. They just sit around at home and watch TV pretending to work" etc etc.