Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

This should cause Jenrick problems but will it? – politicalbetting.com

123457

Comments

  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,316
    ...

    Good evening

    Listening to Laura Kuenssberg on BBC news just now she is expecting the Sunday papers to reveal more scandal on Labour's freebies

    And this from Sky

    https://news.sky.com/story/investigation-launched-into-jail-starmer-graffiti-at-mps-office-13219240
    Laura Kuenssberg you say. Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
  • ydoethur said:

    Reminds me a bit of the time the Home Secretary refused an impassioned appeal for the release of a prisoner, condemned to death, by a leading frontbencher, Sir Frank Soskice, saying there were no grounds for a reprieve.

    Except...after Sokice's question, there had been an election and a change of government. So the Home Secretary who refused this impassioned appeal was *checks notes* Sir Frank Soskice.

    (And, ironically, it later turned out he'd been right first time and Timothy Evans was innocent.)
    THERE ARE NO MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE DO YOU HEAR?

    Except for the exceptions to this rule

    Also, when Evans's family were offered a posthumous reprieve, they indignantly responded that never mind Rillington Place, he was such an utter and unbelievable shit and 2nd to 5th letters of Scunthorpe, they were having no truck with it.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704

    ...

    Laura Kuenssberg you say. Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
    Nah, it's almost certainly true. That's what the Sundays do, and unlike MPs expenses, this info is available. Journalists will be combing through all cabinet minister's returns.
  • ...

    Laura Kuenssberg you say. Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
    Well we will see when tomorrow's papers are published
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,215

    I’d forgotten her.

    The most important question I think is who had the best play written about their downfall? I haven’t seen Edward II, but I hear it’s pretty good.
    Someone should make a miniseries about the Godwinsons. That was one wild family - dad made Joe Kennedy look poor, quiet and unambiguous. And then you have Sven the Swine….
  • carnforth said:

    Nah, it's almost certainly true. That's what the Sundays do, and unlike MPs expenses, this info is available. Journalists will be combing through all cabinet minister's returns.
    There's bound to be more revelations. The question is whether there are more interesting revelations. We're at least as likely to get clarifications like the Highbury one.

    So far, it has boiled down to things that allow people who didn't like Starmer before (a majority, lest we forget) to say "I told you so" and indications that he's not naturally good at politics. Both of which were known knowns beforehand.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,867
    edited September 2024

    Good evening

    Listening to Laura Kuenssberg on BBC news just now she is expecting the Sunday papers to reveal more scandal on Labour's freebies

    And this from Sky

    https://news.sky.com/story/investigation-launched-into-jail-starmer-graffiti-at-mps-office-13219240
    It's all very well the media exposing grifter Keith now but wouldn't it have been more helpful if they'd done it 6 months ago? 🤷‍♂️
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552

    I refer the Hon Gentleman to my earlier answer. If we start counting from summer 2019, his own brother had resigned from the government by this point and we were entering that deliberately mad bit where Boris and Dom tried to engineer an early election. If we restart the clock at the election, we've passed the bit where the Saj and the Smith had been thrown under the bus.

    This is bad, but it's nothing like the starts the last three PMs had.
    Ten weeks after the 2019 election, those who already hated Boris still hated Boris. Those who thought Boris was a dude still thought Boris was a dude. He had not done his reputation the harm that Starmer has managed to inflict in ten weeks after his massive election majority.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,316
    carnforth said:

    Nah, it's almost certainly true. That's what the Sundays do, and unlike MPs expenses, this info is available. Journalists will be combing through all cabinet minister's returns.
    This is what I have in mind.

    https://x.com/FisherAndrew79/status/1627237683700420608?lang=en
  • More than half of the 40 new hospital projects promised by the previous government could be postponed, the Health Secretary has announced.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/21/more-than-half-of-40-new-hospital-projects-could-be-delayed/

    I really scratching my head over this. There is absolutely no doubt we need more hospital capacity yesterday and if you are going to borrow, to build infrastructure is something that I don't think is hard financially or politically to get through. And it is something you absolutely expect Labour to do.

    If your mission is growth, growth, growth, building infrastructure is a key component.

    Looks increasingly to me that Reeves is trapped in Treasury Land and if Starmer wants to win in 2028 he is going to have to jettison her.
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,398
    TomW said:

    What do you think of this lady. I find her interesting.

    PROTECT WOMEN FROM OPEN BORDERS

    The DE-MASCULINIZATION of society and FEMINISM have destroyed the natural balance:

    Now women no longer trust men and become pr0stitutes for the state.

    But the state is responsible for putting women in danger with illegal mass migration!

    https://x.com/SeibtNaomi/status/1837541511216406757

    There was a guy in the gym going on about how the feminisation of western culture, which has accelerated over the past 10 years, could well have been encouraged/engineered by Russia.
  • Ten weeks after the 2019 election, those who already hated Boris still hated Boris. Those who thought Boris was a dude still thought Boris was a dude. He had not done his reputation the harm that Starmer has managed to inflict in ten weeks after his massive election majority.
    I don't think Starmer has had a great start as PM, but it's worth remembering that he was already historically unpopular for an opposition leader winning election, so he started from a low base.

    He really couldn't afford much in the way of missteps, because he didn't have the credit with the electorate to absorb the damage.
  • Wake me up in 2028

  • Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump
    ·
    4h
    45 days before the election and the Republican nominee for President is busy with a new grift.

    “I have something incredible to share today, as we are introducing the launch of our Official Trump Coins.”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump
  • GIN1138 said:

    It's all very well the media exposing gifter Keith now but wouldn't it have been more helpful if they'd done it 6 months ago? 🤷‍♂️
    I would just say I am pleased Sunak called the election and how it unfolded with unexpected results including labour getting just under 34%, Reform with 14% and 5 mps, Lib Dems with just 12% and 72 mps, and the SNP virtually extinguished

    Labour are now facing the reality of governing, and Starmer has made his theme about integrity and I am not only amazed, but astonished, that he and labour should be in this mess which is all of their own making and in such a short time

    I would suggest it makes the next GE impossible to call
  • GIN1138 said:

    It's all very well the media exposing grifter Keith now but wouldn't it have been more helpful if they'd done it 6 months ago? 🤷‍♂️
    Absolutely not. The Sunak Government was bad. It was a passenger in the face of national decline. It needed to go. And Starmer's mob needed to come in, and this needed to happen. It is all very much as it should be.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,316

    Well we will see when tomorrow's papers are published
    It may well be a career defining moment, just like Currygate and Rayner's council house. For what it's worth I didn't see Starmer's curry was the scandal that you believed it to be. I despise Rayner for her "right to buy" hypocrisy. "Right to buy " was a despicable confidence trick and she bought into it. James Daly calling the police in on it however was bollocks.

    I suspect some Conservative no mark will pull a similar stunt, forgetting that when he returns as Prime Minister, Johnson will likely need Mrs Bamford's Waitrose account to feed the sprogs.
  • 1 big Russian ammunition depot on Thursday night, 2 big Russian ammunition depots on Friday night, I'm crossing my fingers for more huge explosions at Russian ammunition depots tonight. If you're a Russian soldier guarding one of these it would be a good time to need to rush home because of a family emergency.

    Imagine how different the war might have been if Ukraine had been provided the long-range weapons to hit these depots in 2022?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,546


    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump
    ·
    4h
    45 days before the election and the Republican nominee for President is busy with a new grift.

    “I have something incredible to share today, as we are introducing the launch of our Official Trump Coins.”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump

    It's appropriate that he's going with lots of coins.

    He is, after all, the world's greatest tosser.
  • ...

    Laura Kuenssberg you say. Mandy Rice-Davies applies.
    Well you would say that, wouldn't you?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,215

    Looks increasingly to me that Reeves is trapped in Treasury Land and if Starmer wants to win in 2028 he is going to have to jettison her.
    The trap that is easy to fall into is “investing” only in staff. That gets you a quick “we increased staff by x” for the next election.

    Given the Process State, a new hospital project is probably 10 years before a hole is dug. How many to complete and commission?

    Given that why would a sane politician build a hospital? Hiring x nurses instead might get you some votes.
  • Well you would say that, wouldn't you?
    Maybe I am naive but I do not see the connection
  • Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,303
    edited September 2024

    Maybe I am naive but I do not see the connection
    It’s based on a famous quotation from Mandy Rice-Davies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_he_would,_wouldn't_he?

    Minor edit.
  • It’s a famous quotation from Mandy Rice-Davies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_he_would,_wouldn't_he?
    Thank you

    Belittling the messenger does not change the story
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,049
    PETER HITCHENS: 'Can it be that the Great Prosecutor Starmer is a colourless empty nobody unfit for the top?'


    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13876179/PETER-HITCHENS-Great-Prosecutor-Starmer-colourless-unfit-top.html
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,357
    edited September 2024
    HYUFD said:

    PETER HITCHENS: 'Can it be that the Great Prosecutor Starmer is a colourless empty nobody unfit for the top?'


    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13876179/PETER-HITCHENS-Great-Prosecutor-Starmer-colourless-unfit-top.html

    The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,155
    darkage said:

    There was a guy in the gym going on about how the feminisation of western culture, which has accelerated over the past 10 years, could well have been encouraged/engineered by Russia.
    "Guy in the gym" is a welcome change from Albanian taxi drivers, I must say.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,049
    edited September 2024

    The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    True but on the lowest voteshare won by any PM's party at a general election he won in UK history
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    edited September 2024
    Eabhal said:

    "Guy in the gym" is a welcome change from Albanian taxi drivers, I must say.
    My (admittedly limited) experience of gymgoing is that there's not an enormous amount of chat, except amongst people who are friends outside of the gym already. Maybe I'm just unsociable though.
  • Thank you

    Belittling the messenger does not change the story
    Quite

    And it's a feeble point because the prediction about the Sundays will be confirmed or not in about 2.5 hours
  • The freebie row engulfing Sir Keir Starmer deepened tonight as it was revealed that he shared lavish football hospitality with a powerful lobbyist who backed the hated breakaway Super League.

    The Prime Minister and his embattled chief of staff Sue Gray enjoyed a corporate box at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, just hours after fresh ‘Wardrobegate’ allegations emerged about clothes Sir Keir and his wife had taken from Labour donor Lord Alli.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13877225/Sir-Shameless-PM-Sue-Gray-enjoy-Spurs-freebie-lobbyist-backed-breakaway-football-super-league-advises-tax-avoiding-tech-giants.html
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,215

    The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    The thing is, that with the current opinion poll levels, that’s an awful lot of MPs who’ll be worrying about their jobs in a few years time.

    The governments stock of political capital is not large.

    When the plans to build, build, build come before Parliament, how many will yield to the NIMBY pressure, with the Greens and Lib Dem’s ready to take up the cause?
  • I would just say I am pleased Sunak called the election and how it unfolded with unexpected results including labour getting just under 34%, Reform with 14% and 5 mps, Lib Dems with just 12% and 72 mps, and the SNP virtually extinguished

    Labour are now facing the reality of governing, and Starmer has made his theme about integrity and I am not only amazed, but astonished, that he and labour should be in this mess which is all of their own making and in such a short time

    I would suggest it makes the next GE impossible to call
    I don't think it's that hard. The disenchantment with Labour can only grow, they're only just out the stalls and they're already losing ground. They are bound to lose dozens of seats to the Conservatives and a handful to other parties. A bit of 2 way trade between Con and Lib is likely, with some tactical switching in new marginals, and some stay at homes voting again.
    Given where we start from there's only two realistic possibilities:
    A. Labour hold on with a much reduced majority like in 1950.
    B. They lose the majority and have to deal with the Lib Dems in some way to continue in office.

  • The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    Boris also had a huge majority, though not quite so big. I would argue that he got his for similar reasons: voters did not want the alternative rather than being enthusiastic about him.
  • Christ I just want to see the boxing, I don't want to have to watch Liam Gallagher singing out of tune for 30 mins...
  • The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    "2TKICIPM"
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,604

    The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    The extreme Tory members of PB (Casino, Alanbrooke, etc.) are still at the anger stage. We’ve had denial. We’ve still to reach the bargaining, depression and acceptance stages.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704

    The thing is, that with the current opinion poll levels, that’s an awful lot of MPs who’ll be worrying about their jobs in a few years time.

    The governments stock of political capital is not large.

    When the plans to build, build, build come before Parliament, how many will yield to the NIMBY pressure, with the Greens and Lib Dem’s ready to take up the cause?
    I would hope ten or twenty conservative yimbys would help out, but perhaps against hope.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,511
    edited September 2024
    The briefings continue...

    Sir Keir Starmer has a month to prove that his Government is not “fundamentally” dysfunctional, a senior Whitehall figure has said. In a warning shot to the Prime Minister, the source said Sue Gray was “not of the party” and that only he could get a grip on the worsening situation.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/21/starmer-four-weeks-prove-government-not-dysfunctinal/
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,215
    mercator said:

    Quite

    And it's a feeble point because the prediction about the Sundays will be confirmed or not in about 2.5 hours
    Modern newspapers want cheap, easy to verify stories.

    Digging through the expenses of every MP - especially ministers or shadow ministers, is an obvious move. Certain, really. And given the timing, the Sundays are the obvious outlet.
  • Keir Starmer now less popular than Rishi Sunak. Opinium poll for the Observer finds a 45-point drop in the prime minister’s approval rating since he won the election

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/21/honeymoon-over-keir-starmer-now-less-popular-than-rishi-sunak
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,215
    carnforth said:

    I would hope ten or twenty conservative yimbys would help out, but perhaps against hope.
    The opposition isn’t in parliament….
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,357
    edited September 2024

    The extreme Tory members of PB (Casino, Alanbrooke, etc.) are still at the anger stage. We’ve had denial. We’ve still to reach the bargaining, depression and acceptance stages.
    Thing is, some Conservatives have been angry for years, so it's hard to tell.

    Making it seem like you don't, at some level, like the country as it is makes it difficult to win elections, though.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,255
    edited September 2024
    carnforth said:

    Bought some Tim Tams from Waitrose today, for amusement on account of their minor role in Brexit. Sadly, I must inform you that they are slightly better than Penguin bars. More expensive, though.

    Two more flavours to try later: dark chocolate, and chewy caramel.

    I bought the dark chocolate variety in Tescos a few days ago. Having had them first in Australia many years ago, I have to admit they did disappoint slightly.
  • Starmer smoozing with European Super League lobbyists. He has already lost Carol Voderman, will he lose Gary Neville next?
  • I am somebody who publicly stated on here that the Angela Rayner housing arrangements were a non story/thin gruel, I do conclude her visit to the Big Apple is a proper story.

    However it was clearly an early signal that they were willing to push the rules to the limit
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,604

    I bought the dark chocolate variety in Tescos a few days ago. Having had them first in Australia many years ago, I have to admit they did disappoint slightly.
    Apart from Don Bradman and Shane Warne, is there anything from Australia that hasn’t disappointed?
  • Keir Starmer now less popular than Rishi Sunak. Opinium poll for the Observer finds a 45-point drop in the prime minister’s approval rating since he won the election

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/21/honeymoon-over-keir-starmer-now-less-popular-than-rishi-sunak

    Maybe now those Labour supporters who have been doing everything to defend Starmer and Reeves and infer it is a Tory led plot need to wake up and smell the coffee

    Who would have thought that in this short period Starmer has dropped below Rishi Sunak
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,322

    That's likely to affect older and married women, who I suspect will be more pro GOP than average.

    Incidentally all those who want more Presidential legal liability perhaps should have been demanding Sleepy Joe be put on trial for this:

    The US has admitted that a drone strike in Kabul days before its military pullout killed 10 innocent people.

    A US Central Command investigation found that an aid worker and nine members of his family, including seven children, died in the 29 August strike.

    The youngest child, Sumaya, was just two years old.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58604655

    No shortage of 'collateral damage' by drone under St Barack of Obama either.
    Perhaps, but you seem to have weirdly forgotten there was another president between 'sleepy Joe' and 'St Barack' - an asshat called Trump. According to this report from March 2019

    There have been 2,243 drone strikes in the first two years of the Trump presidency, compared with 1,878 in Mr Obama's eight years in office

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47480207

    And

    President Donald Trump has revoked a policy set by his predecessor requiring US intelligence officials to publish the number of civilians killed in drone strikes outside of war zones



  • The extreme Tory members of PB (Casino, Alanbrooke, etc.) are still at the anger stage. We’ve had denial. We’ve still to reach the bargaining, depression and acceptance stages.
    This shit is SOOOO thick. You have picked up this bargaining denial etc stuff off other posters and you thought it sounded cool and funny

    Reality: Kubler Ross, who you almost certainly haven't heard of, was talking about *reaction to unexpected terminal diagnoses*. How people process thinking they are cool rocking daddies or mamas in their 30s or 40s, react to being told it's malignant and they have 3 months max. An immediate reaction to a sudden revelation. Whereas the Tories have had a terminal diagnosis as of 3 years or so ago, so none of this shit applies

    Moral: don't parrot stuff because you heard the big kids say it and it sounded clever and grown up. Thinking for yourself is hard work but rewarding.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,709

    Nope Gardenwalker is right on this one. Watch the full 8 minute interview and you will see that, although he may not say it directly, the interviewer clearly indicates that he believes it doesn't exist. I bow to no one in my dislike for Jenrick but this interviewer is being a typical gotcha fuckwit.

    That doesn't mean I actually agree with Jenrick and hs claims about migration. In this instance they are both being fuckwits.
    I have watched the clip linked to. If there's a longer version I can watch, can you point me to it?
  • If you want it broken down

    Denial: Klouseau is not completely shit

    Anger: How very dare you say Klouseau is completely shit?

    Bargaining: Can't we give it till Christmas before deciding Klouseau is completely shit?

    Depression and acceptance are usually wordless.
  • I have watched the clip linked to. If there's a longer version I can watch, can you point me to it?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r-xovmIxyg
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,867

    Keir Starmer now less popular than Rishi Sunak. Opinium poll for the Observer finds a 45-point drop in the prime minister’s approval rating since he won the election

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/21/honeymoon-over-keir-starmer-now-less-popular-than-rishi-sunak

    Is there a VI with this poll?
  • Starmer smoozing with European Super League lobbyists. He has already lost Carol Voderman, will he lose Gary Neville next?

    Gary Lineker?

    https://x.com/garylineker/status/1384502970583117824
  • Apart from Don Bradman and Shane Warne, is there anything from Australia that hasn’t disappointed?
    Skippy the Bush Kangeroo was pretty cool when I was a kid :) .

    Oh and Wombats. You have to love Wombats.

  • Michael Savage
    @michaelsavage
    NEW: An absolutely grim poll tonight has Starmer's approval rating slumping by 45 points since July...

    He's also now less popular than Sunak (by a point). The
    @OpiniumResearch
    poll drops as Labour conference begins.
  • Maybe Sunak should cancel his resignation and aim to return as PM at the next election.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458
    edited September 2024

    https://x.com/NxlAnglo/status/1836483085636112690

    Next time I need to rent an AirBnB I am going to try that one, but but but the mortgage on a similar property is only £2k a month, I am not willing to pay £300 a night, it should only be £80 a night.....I have a sneaking suspicion I will be told to go do one.
    You have carved quite a niche as the sites Ena Sharples And with Leon's Hilda Ogden you give me nostalgic goosebumps.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704

    Apart from Don Bradman and Shane Warne, is there anything from Australia that hasn’t disappointed?
    "They don't call it XXXX out of ignorance, Lewis. They mean what they say. And Light Beer is the work of the Prince of Darkness."

    -- Morse, in the weird Australian episode
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253

    Apart from Don Bradman and Shane Warne, is there anything from Australia that hasn’t disappointed?
    Kylie Minogue.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552

    The briefings continue...

    Sir Keir Starmer has a month to prove that his Government is not “fundamentally” dysfunctional, a senior Whitehall figure has said. In a warning shot to the Prime Minister, the source said Sue Gray was “not of the party” and that only he could get a grip on the worsening situation.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/21/starmer-four-weeks-prove-government-not-dysfunctinal/

    Does Mr Market decide when the government is dysfunctional?
  • Maybe now those Labour supporters who have been doing everything to defend Starmer and Reeves and infer it is a Tory led plot need to wake up and smell the coffee

    Who would have thought that in this short period Starmer has dropped below Rishi Sunak
    "The grabbing hands grab all they can
    All for themselves, after all"

  • Foxy said:

    Kylie Minogue.
    Barry Humphries.
  • Labour defenders on social media sound quite Trumpian. Apparently the polling slump is all down to the dishonest press right-wing media.
  • "The grabbing hands grab all they can
    All for themselves, after all"

    Hey, I'm the only Depeche Mode fan in the PB Village!
  • Apart from Don Bradman and Shane Warne, is there anything from Australia that hasn’t disappointed?
    A disinclination to lazy, snarky racism?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,511
    edited September 2024
    I am trying to work out if Starmer is just a bit thick or just incredibly arrogant...

    Last Sunday morning...

    PM, the papers are full of stories of you taking freebies and how it looks rather dodgy given that we have given passes / jobs to those donors....

    Sorry, too busy to sort it today, I am off to Spurs on a freebie with Sue to hang out with some football lobbyists.

    Its not Sunak leaving DDay, but it just seems like an incredibly stupid thing to do politically.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552

    Maybe Sunak should cancel his resignation and aim to return as PM at the next election.

    He could "do a Donald" and claim he won the last election...
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253
    darkage said:

    There was a guy in the gym going on about how the feminisation of western culture, which has accelerated over the past 10 years, could well have been encouraged/engineered by Russia.
    Doesn't sound like the best pick up line.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458

    I called this the other day (and alluded to it in the header.)

    No 10 was flat-footed in explaining the details in a way that would have muted the criticism. Reports that Starmer has been given an entire corporate box by Arsenal, worth about £8,000 a game, for security reasons were inaccurate.

    The prime minister owns season tickets for him and his son, which he continues to pay for. He has been able to take two seats in a box, moving around each game so he is never in the same place twice, a requirement of his security team. Starmer has already twice paid the difference between the value of his seats and those he has been given. The sums are “a few hundred pounds”.

    More understandably, his team has not been able to brief about the security threat, which sources say is much higher than it was when Cameron or Sunak sat in the stands. This is because Islamist extremists are targeting Starmer and senior cabinet ministers over the government’s approach to the war in Gaza.


    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/a-masterclass-in-bad-management-sir-keir-starmers-rude-awakening-mgt9jxp68

    A comprehensive explanation. I'm sure the Telegraph will be composing their apology as we speak....
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 14,012

    Maybe now those Labour supporters who have been doing everything to defend Starmer and Reeves and infer it is a Tory led plot need to wake up and smell the coffee

    Who would have thought that in this short period Starmer has dropped below Rishi Sunak
    Looking ahead, an interesting question is at hand. At what point by some gnomic process does the voting population, alongside all sorts of media, say 'Game's up for Tories and Labour'. Normally this is impossible, but the LDs have the seats and Reform have the votes, and could the time come, if Labour get worse and worse, when LD v Reform is the hot ticket?

    Lab/Con get about 54% of the polling between them. That's remarkable.
  • Barry Humphries.
    Actually yes, the famous Aussie foursome. Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes. All made the world a better place in one way or another.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,511
    edited September 2024
    Roger said:

    A comprehensive explanation. I'm sure the Telegraph will be composing their apology as we speak....
    He could have saved himself the trouble, rather than his car crash interview he gave, where he gave a lawyerly response combined with well everybody would say fair dos.

    Also, I don't buy he is in more danger than Sunak...as Sunak government had the same approach to Gaza, well even more pro-Israel, and tensions were running even higher.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552

    Keir Starmer now less popular than Rishi Sunak. Opinium poll for the Observer finds a 45-point drop in the prime minister’s approval rating since he won the election

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/21/honeymoon-over-keir-starmer-now-less-popular-than-rishi-sunak

    Downhill Skier....
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253
    carnforth said:

    Bought some Tim Tams from Waitrose today, for amusement on account of their minor role in Brexit. Sadly, I must inform you that they are slightly better than Penguin bars. More expensive, though.

    Two more flavours to try later: dark chocolate, and chewy caramel.

    I think for the full Aussie Tim Tam experience you have to drink your tea through them.

    https://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Tim-Tam-Slam#:~:text=You can drink virtually anything,, water is frowned upon).
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    Remainer idol Michel Barnier has appointed a new Families Minister who voted against gay marriage:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/09/20/macron-objects-barnier-appointing-anti-gay-marriage-senator/

    Macron not amused.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    Foxy said:

    I think for the full Aussie Tim Tam experience you have to drink your tea through them.

    https://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Tim-Tam-Slam#:~:text=You can drink virtually anything,, water is frowned upon).
    Good Lord.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,049
    edited September 2024
    algarkirk said:

    Looking ahead, an interesting question is at hand. At what point by some gnomic process does the voting population, alongside all sorts of media, say 'Game's up for Tories and Labour'. Normally this is impossible, but the LDs have the seats and Reform have the votes, and could the time come, if Labour get worse and worse, when LD v Reform is the hot ticket?

    Lab/Con get about 54% of the polling between them. That's remarkable.
    No, LD v Reform would just be the Brexit divide writ large. Post the coalition most leftwingers would not vote for the former austerity backing LDs and most 2024 Tories would not vote for Farage either
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,867

    The John Rentoul rule probably applies here.

    Kier Starmer may be crap, but he's also PM with a huge majority.
    Basically it's a case of KSICIPM
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253

    Actually yes, the famous Aussie foursome. Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes. All made the world a better place in one way or another.
    And on the other side of the scales are Rolf Harris and Rupert Murdoch.
  • Actually yes, the famous Aussie foursome. Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes. All made the world a better place in one way or another.
    We used to have an Aussie contributor on here: Redmond, if memory serves. Presumably he got bored being 12 hours out of synch. I recall from experience how tedious it is to wait all day for someone to post something, anything, then all hell breaks loose after you fall asleep.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704

    Actually yes, the famous Aussie foursome. Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Robert Hughes. All made the world a better place in one way or another.
    Germaine Greer is still going, albeit in an old folks home in Australia. Louis Theroux interviewed her, somewhat controversially, late last year.
  • maxhmaxh Posts: 1,581

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r-xovmIxyg
    Thanks for posting the full link.

    Having watched it I still can't see the interviewer indicating or implying that he does not believe English identity exists, more that Jenrick can't credibly claim it's under threat by migration.

    I would agree that there is an undercurrent of 'are you just talking about this as a dog whistle to attract racist parts of the Tory electorate' but, given the way in which English identity has at times been coopted by racists, I think that's a valid question an interviewer might ask.

    Jenrick didn't do badly though, I agree. England has a rich and fascinating identity that can't and shouldn't be reduced to a soundbite. I'm suspicious of his reasons for making this a political issue but the interview wasn't awful.
  • I am somebody who publicly stated on here that the Angela Rayner housing arrangements were a non story/thin gruel, I do conclude her visit to the Big Apple is a proper story.

    Concur. (For the 2¢ or less that's worth.)

    Rather incredible to me, as taking freebies when taking freebies was a HUGE nail in Tory 2024 July coffin.

    Aside from not getting in the way of CUPers lead (in one way, anyway) by the likes of Boris, Liz & Rishi, Keir Starmer has demonstrated for a LONG time that he's somewhat deficient in basic political instinct or even horse-sense.

    My guess is that fact KS is a top lawyer makes the situation WORSE, in that he & his inner circle look upon such matters from a "what's legal?" perspective and NOT "what's politic?"

    Lack of experienced political hacks? Noting that Peter Mandelson nortoriusly has a (convient?) blind eye with respect to freebies & etc., etc., etc..

  • Concur. (For the 2¢ or less that's worth.)

    Rather incredible to me, as taking freebies when taking freebies was a HUGE nail in Tory 2024 July coffin.

    Aside from not getting in the way of CUPers lead (in one way, anyway) by the likes of Boris, Liz & Rishi, Keir Starmer has demonstrated for a LONG time that he's somewhat deficient in basic political instinct or even horse-sense.

    My guess is that fact KS is a top lawyer makes the situation WORSE, in that he & his inner circle look upon such matters from a "what's legal?" perspective and NOT "what's politic?"

    Lack of experienced political hacks? Noting that Peter Mandelson nortoriusly has a (convient?) blind eye with respect to freebies & etc., etc., etc..

    Mandy also has a blind spot to how dodgy those giving the freebies are.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,552
    Trump saying he can't do another debate because the early voting has already started.

    Didn't stop him having a debate in October 2020.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704

    Mandy also has a blind spot to how dodgy those giving the freebies are.
    And how.


  • Wow....what a fight.....AJ career over.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253
    carnforth said:

    And how.


    To be fair on Mandy, I don't think anyone has suggested he is sexually interested in young girls.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    carnforth said:

    And how.


    By the way, what is with that vase of flowers? It's up by the ceiling...
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,233

    Wow....what a fight.....AJ career over.

    Had Dubois 8 points up going into the 5th lol.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    Foxy said:

    To be fair on Mandy, I don't think anyone has suggested he is sexually interested in young girls.
    Or young boys, in fact.
  • ydoethur said:

    What made him different is he
    was so damn boring I forgot him.
    The most interesting thing about Charles I was that he was 6’2” at the beginning of his reign and only 5’8” at the end of it

  • However it was clearly an early signal that they were willing to push the rules to the limit
    Not sure I'd go quite THAT far, but certainly top Labour luvvies SHOULD have seen the Rayner housing kerfuffle as a warning; less in the short term leading up to GE24 than for the longer term when they won and became the government.

    Ignoring AR's canary in the coal mine has bitten her AND the PM in their self-exposed hind-quarters.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,458

    Does Mr Market decide when the government is dysfunctional?
    Do you think the Telegraph has just one 'senior figure' who sees himself as 'deep throat' or do you think the whole story is a Telegraph invention? If this sounds far fetched look at the newspapers record since this new editor arrived.......
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,253
    edited September 2024

    Hey, I'm the only Depeche Mode fan in the PB Village!
    I have been saving this image for an opportunity:


  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,511
    edited September 2024
    Roger said:

    Do you think the Telegraph has just one 'senior figure' who sees himself as 'deep throat' or do you think the whole story is a Telegraph invention? If this sounds far fetched look at the newspapers record since this new editor arrived.......
    Strangely multiple people have also been independently briefing similar stories to the BBC and able to come up with accurate salary figure that few will have known....Its always about slagging off Sue Gray.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,704
    Roger said:

    Do you think the Telegraph has just one 'senior figure' who sees himself as 'deep throat' or do you think the whole story is a Telegraph invention? If this sounds far fetched look at the newspapers record since this new editor arrived.......
    It's Deep Groat at the BoE to watch out for.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,511
    edited September 2024
    Keir Starmer is considering appointing former Tory justice secretary David Gauke to head a review into sentencing policy in a move that could signal a radical change in approach towards short prison sentences.

    Insiders denied suggestions circulating in Whitehall that Gauke’s candidacy, which is understood to have the backing of current justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Starmer himself, was being blocked by Starmer’s chief of staff, Sue Gray.

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/21/starmer-eyes-ex-tory-minister-david-gauke-for-sentencing-review-role

    More briefing against Sue. Also, seems Timpson is locked in the cupboard.
This discussion has been closed.