"The Black Farmer: If you think rural Britain is racist, you’re wrong My experiences in Devon show the countryside is far more welcoming than the latest report on ‘normalised’ abuse would have you believe
IIRC if you look at the comparative surveys that ask questions like: “would you be happy with a family with a different skin colour moving in next door?” or “Would you react negatively to your daughter marrying someone of a different race?” the UK is one of the least racist countries in Europe, possibly on the planet.
Which doesn’t make us a pure, prefect land of colour blind plenty, but it is food for thought.
While that is true, it's not inevitable that the data moves one way, towards us being even less racist.
There are worrying signs that racism towards certain groups is becoming more 'respectable' again, fuelled by the current dehumanising attitudes towards asylum seekers and the call in some quarters for 'mass deportations'.
Yes, it’s quite possible that two decades of identity politics and multiculturalism, seeing race and gender in everything, has the potential to reverse the trend towards a less-racist country.
It's f-all to do with that. If people are going to be racist fuckwits, then that's down to them.
Don't excuse racist fuckwits.
No, don't you understand? It's always the left's fault.
I don't necessarily see this as a left or right issue. There are many on the right who would agree with me, and many on the left who would disagree.
I've seen her on Newsnight recently obviously trying to rehabilitate herself. She surprised me with her articulacy and intelligence. Previously I'd never been able to get past her choice of hair colour. I think she'd be an asset to Labour as deputy leader.
As for Mahmood I'm not sure. Anyone with a ringing endorsement from Michael Gove must be suspect. Being a religious fanatic isn't particularly welcome either. My guess is that Starmer got rid of Cooper from the Home Office because he realised that her terrorism bill had to be ditched.
It was making Labour and Starmer look ridiculous.The only way out without again looking weak was to change Home Secretary and blame it on that
I am not at all sure that was the reason or that anything will change re Palestine Action being prescribed, unless of course the Courts overrule the goverment
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
A gasoline crisis has begun in Russia. There is no fuel at gas stations in a number of regions, including occupied Crimea and Transbaikal (East Siberia). In the Far East, there have been serious problems with fuel availability since August 20.
Isn’t that something that been discussed on here and elsewhere for a few weeks. And funnily enough the fuel shortages aren’t affecting Moscow/St Petersburg. It’s when they are queuing there that it will have any major effect.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
The strategy failed already. Instead of a like I got a flag.
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
The strategy failed already. Instead of a like I got a flag.
Which is funny, but someone’s about to get shouted at by a moderator. (Mods and admins get emails in response to flags).
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
My flag ratio reaches ten. I was only joking.
Just finished ironing my Union Flag and St George's mankinis.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
The strategy failed already. Instead of a like I got a flag.
Which is funny, but someone’s about to get shouted at by a moderator. (Mods and admins get emails in response to flags).
I suppose it is better than the alternative of being taken round the back of PB and having the shit kicked out of me for dissing Boris.
Things Reform have tried to distance themselves from already during or after conference
The Vax bloke Dorries Hug A Boris calls (having revealed her as the greatest coup since that Welsh secretary bloke from 1876 two days before) Laura Jones 'shut the senedd' speech Nigels stop the boats in 2 weeks announcement Their own tax cuts plan
And Nigel is calling for disagreements to happen behind closed doors.
The chance this all holds together for 4 years with the constant Tory entrists is low
But not anywhere near as low as the chance it all holds together in government.
Farage, Tice and Yusuf cannot organise either a conference properly or a policy properly.
I think you'll find it was organised brilliantly. Unlike many of the other parties, Reform believes in free speech and debate. There were no quarrels that I've read, there were people giving their views and others keen to hear them and make up their own minds. That's actual politics dearie.
Not true. Reform led councils are banning journalists who ask difficult questions from attending public meetings.
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
The Aussies knocked these things up for COVID in no time. They are all prefab. Stick them on a disused airfield etc. If they are good enough for hairy arse Australian miners, they are surely good enough for the boat people.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
My flag ratio reaches ten. I was only joking.
Just finished ironing my Union Flag and St George's mankinis.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
An occassional picture of a native or migrant moth can work wonders too...
A gasoline crisis has begun in Russia. There is no fuel at gas stations in a number of regions, including occupied Crimea and Transbaikal (East Siberia). In the Far East, there have been serious problems with fuel availability since August 20.
Isn’t that something that been discussed on here and elsewhere for a few weeks. And funnily enough the fuel shortages aren’t affecting Moscow/St Petersburg. It’s when they are queuing there that it will have any major effect.
They are allegedly getting close to Greater Moscow, will be interesting to see how long until the upper-middle classes become impacted, something which obviously the Kremlin will be doing their best to avoid.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Is it because everyone relentlessly treated Rayner herself like some special-needs child, a young, underprivileged woman who they secretly suspected couldn’t read or write? If you look at the way Starmer spoke about her, it was constantly in these terms: she was a woman, and working class.
Of her actual record, of course: no hint. She was the perfect deputy prime minister for him: a politician allowed to rise to the top on personality alone. And that personality was: middle-class person’s idea of what a working-class person should be. Slobby, ribald, partying in ’Beefa — isn’t vaping on inflatables what working-class people all do? Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Most working-class people are insulted to be compared to her.
Rayner was someone from the bottom 10% who moved into the top 10% through the Labour party.
Its no wonder that Labour politicians, people who are obsessed about the top 10% and bottom 10% and very little in between, turned Rayner into their living icon.
Put the "scum" back in her box where she belongs? We need proper working class heroes like Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Lucy Connolly.
Poshos at the top is the standard order of things, which is why nobody was bothered about the likes of Blair and Darling.
Whereas Rayner is disconcerting, having gone from bottom 10% to top 10%, entirely through the medium of the Labour party.
That appears great to Labour politicians who are obsessed about those at the top and those at the bottom.
But less so to the 80% who get the impression that Labour isn't interested in them.
There are, of course, other people who have gone from bottom 10% to top 10% - in sport, in entertainment, even in business. But these people leave a trail of visible achievement whereas Rayner was a pretty rubbish housing minister for a year.
Like I said.
She called you "scum" so you don't like her. Nonetheless I don't believe you can dismiss her achievement in becoming Deputy Prime Minister.
And don't forget, Boris got all the big calls right.
Johnson certainly got Ukraine and covid right but he was responsible, much like Rayner, for his own fall from grace
Such is politics
Johnson got Covid right for everyone else but not for himself. Having had it, you'd have thought he'd have been more careful.
He got the PPE fast lane right for the friends and family of Ministers, and Dido Harding was deservedly rewarded for her contribution.
And you might want to look at the 'companies' that Labour MPs were calling about them not using. Some of which were (ahem) interesting.
We needed PPE. We could either get PPE quickly or efficiently. There was zero chance of quickly *and* efficiently.
One reason for the panic was the oft-lauded Jeremy Hunt had failed to stockpile PPE as recommended.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
I think Labour are only thinking one move ahead, if we get people out of hotels into HMOs and the backlog is less, we will spin like crazy we solved the problem. I have a sneaky suspicion there will also be some statistical manipulation such that the one-in one-out removals will all of a sudden not count as "boat arrivals".
The issue is two moves ahead, if it is found that they are clearing the backlog by rushing through claims and much higher acceptance rate, I don't think it will go down well.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
An occassional picture of a native or migrant moth can work wonders too...
Blooming migrant moths, coming over here, distracting our lepidopterists...
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
An occassional picture of a native or migrant moth can work wonders too...
migrant moth? Should they apply for a visa first before getting to work?
Shockingly ive just found out I have 2 troll flags against me. One for an admittedly deliciously unhinged rant about Labour in June 2024 and one recently for correcting an inaccurate point. Y'all are mean people, man
Donald Trump is a risk-taker sounding a necessary wake-up call to a stale status quo, Peter Mandelson has told the Ditchley Foundation in a speech before Trump’s second state visit to the UK this month.
Huzzah for Lord Mandelson now he has sidelined that pesky upstart Harvard-educated lawyer David Lammy and his good relations with unlicensed fishing pal JD Vance.
Or is it possible that lawyer Starmer thinks Justice Secretary is a promotion?
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Is it because everyone relentlessly treated Rayner herself like some special-needs child, a young, underprivileged woman who they secretly suspected couldn’t read or write? If you look at the way Starmer spoke about her, it was constantly in these terms: she was a woman, and working class.
Of her actual record, of course: no hint. She was the perfect deputy prime minister for him: a politician allowed to rise to the top on personality alone. And that personality was: middle-class person’s idea of what a working-class person should be. Slobby, ribald, partying in ’Beefa — isn’t vaping on inflatables what working-class people all do? Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Most working-class people are insulted to be compared to her.
Rayner was someone from the bottom 10% who moved into the top 10% through the Labour party.
Its no wonder that Labour politicians, people who are obsessed about the top 10% and bottom 10% and very little in between, turned Rayner into their living icon.
Put the "scum" back in her box where she belongs? We need proper working class heroes like Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Lucy Connolly.
Poshos at the top is the standard order of things, which is why nobody was bothered about the likes of Blair and Darling.
Whereas Rayner is disconcerting, having gone from bottom 10% to top 10%, entirely through the medium of the Labour party.
That appears great to Labour politicians who are obsessed about those at the top and those at the bottom.
But less so to the 80% who get the impression that Labour isn't interested in them.
There are, of course, other people who have gone from bottom 10% to top 10% - in sport, in entertainment, even in business. But these people leave a trail of visible achievement whereas Rayner was a pretty rubbish housing minister for a year.
Like I said.
She called you "scum" so you don't like her. Nonetheless I don't believe you can dismiss her achievement in becoming Deputy Prime Minister.
And don't forget, Boris got all the big calls right.
Johnson certainly got Ukraine and covid right but he was responsible, much like Rayner, for his own fall from grace
Such is politics
Johnson got Covid right for everyone else but not for himself. Having had it, you'd have thought he'd have been more careful.
He got the PPE fast lane right for the friends and family of Ministers, and Dido Harding was deservedly rewarded for her contribution.
And you might want to look at the 'companies' that Labour MPs were calling about them not using. Some of which were (ahem) interesting.
We needed PPE. We could either get PPE quickly or efficiently. There was zero chance of quickly *and* efficiently.
One reason for the panic was the oft-lauded Jeremy Hunt had failed to stockpile PPE as recommended.
IIRC the 'stockpile' that was recommended was a tiny fraction of the actual need. It would have helped a little, but the same problems would have persisted.
I am fairly immune to significant 'isms' here in the UK.
I am white, male, middle class, and straight. I am unlikely to be a victim of racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia.
I *may* become a victim of ageism as I get even older. Or, if I suffer illness, ableism.
The fact I might never suffer significant racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia does not mean that I think they are irrelevant or unimportant, and am surprised so many people seem to.
They don't think they are necessarily irrelevant or unimportant just that they don't affect them and as most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important all concern for 'others' is a waste of bandwidth.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
London Underground staff have started a five-day walkout over pay and conditions.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are carrying out rolling action over pay and "fatigue management", and have asked for a 32-hour week.
There will be limited service until 18:00 BST on Sunday and little or no service between Monday and Thursday. The Elizabeth line and the Overground are operating, but may not be able to stop at stations shared with the Tube.
A gasoline crisis has begun in Russia. There is no fuel at gas stations in a number of regions, including occupied Crimea and Transbaikal (East Siberia). In the Far East, there have been serious problems with fuel availability since August 20.
Ukraine’s “kinetic sanctions” on russia are definitely starting to work.
I was initially sceptical about the stories of long queues at petrol stations across russia, but it’s definitely happening.
Russian O&G production is 20% down competed to a couple of months ago, with refineries, storage, and pumping stations, specifically targeted.
They also managed to put two Flamingos either side of the Kerch Bridge last night, that’s now again on the target list.
As previously mentioned on pb (as in, it was covered in the BBC guy's Russian press reviews) it is partly Ukrainian drones hitting refineries and storage, and partly facilities taken offline for routine summer maintenance. As ever in Russia, Moscow and St Petersburg are largely unaffected.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
I am fairly immune to significant 'isms' here in the UK.
I am white, male, middle class, and straight. I am unlikely to be a victim of racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia.
I *may* become a victim of ageism as I get even older. Or, if I suffer illness, ableism.
The fact I might never suffer significant racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia does not mean that I think they are irrelevant or unimportant, and am surprised so many people seem to.
They don't think they are necessarily irrelevant or unimportant just that they don't affect them and as most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important all concern for 'others' is a waste of bandwidth.
You say that, as someone who repeatedly said that the 'talent' in the entertainment industry should be free to abuse women?
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
An occassional picture of a native or migrant moth can work wonders too...
migrant moth? Should they apply for a visa first before getting to work?
Coming over here, pollinating our fruit trees, doing our native honey bees out of a job...
WRT Reform, it's remarkably hard in all the chatter to get at the clear policy, even in areas which Reform emphasise.
Is Reform policy to deport people (some or all) who have arrived by boat, but have a claim for asylum which a court accepts, back to their home country?
Is Reform policy to allow all boat arrivals a hearing before a court?
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
The Aussies knocked these things up for COVID in no time. They are all prefab. Stick them on a disused airfield etc. If they are good enough for hairy arse Australian miners, they are surely good enough for the boat people.
A government prepared to think out of the box might even look at these for council housing more generally, given the shortage and huge waiting lists, vs keeping families in bedsits. Portakabins have improved somewhat over the last few years.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
I am fairly immune to significant 'isms' here in the UK.
I am white, male, middle class, and straight. I am unlikely to be a victim of racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia.
I *may* become a victim of ageism as I get even older. Or, if I suffer illness, ableism.
The fact I might never suffer significant racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia does not mean that I think they are irrelevant or unimportant, and am surprised so many people seem to.
They don't think they are necessarily irrelevant or unimportant just that they don't affect them and as most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important all concern for 'others' is a waste of bandwidth.
You say that, as someone who repeatedly said that the 'talent' in the entertainment industry should be free to abuse women?
Odd. I must have expressed myself badly. I thought that post of yours was the best I have read from you
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Is it because everyone relentlessly treated Rayner herself like some special-needs child, a young, underprivileged woman who they secretly suspected couldn’t read or write? If you look at the way Starmer spoke about her, it was constantly in these terms: she was a woman, and working class.
Of her actual record, of course: no hint. She was the perfect deputy prime minister for him: a politician allowed to rise to the top on personality alone. And that personality was: middle-class person’s idea of what a working-class person should be. Slobby, ribald, partying in ’Beefa — isn’t vaping on inflatables what working-class people all do? Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Most working-class people are insulted to be compared to her.
Rayner was someone from the bottom 10% who moved into the top 10% through the Labour party.
Its no wonder that Labour politicians, people who are obsessed about the top 10% and bottom 10% and very little in between, turned Rayner into their living icon.
Put the "scum" back in her box where she belongs? We need proper working class heroes like Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Lucy Connolly.
Poshos at the top is the standard order of things, which is why nobody was bothered about the likes of Blair and Darling.
Whereas Rayner is disconcerting, having gone from bottom 10% to top 10%, entirely through the medium of the Labour party.
That appears great to Labour politicians who are obsessed about those at the top and those at the bottom.
But less so to the 80% who get the impression that Labour isn't interested in them.
There are, of course, other people who have gone from bottom 10% to top 10% - in sport, in entertainment, even in business. But these people leave a trail of visible achievement whereas Rayner was a pretty rubbish housing minister for a year.
Like I said.
She called you "scum" so you don't like her. Nonetheless I don't believe you can dismiss her achievement in becoming Deputy Prime Minister.
And don't forget, Boris got all the big calls right.
Johnson certainly got Ukraine and covid right but he was responsible, much like Rayner, for his own fall from grace
Such is politics
Johnson got Covid right for everyone else but not for himself. Having had it, you'd have thought he'd have been more careful.
He got the PPE fast lane right for the friends and family of Ministers, and Dido Harding was deservedly rewarded for her contribution.
And you might want to look at the 'companies' that Labour MPs were calling about them not using. Some of which were (ahem) interesting.
We needed PPE. We could either get PPE quickly or efficiently. There was zero chance of quickly *and* efficiently.
One reason for the panic was the oft-lauded Jeremy Hunt had failed to stockpile PPE as recommended.
IIRC the 'stockpile' that was recommended was a tiny fraction of the actual need. It would have helped a little, but the same problems would have persisted.
(Is there data for this somewhere?)
TBF the figure that got through to the final draft of the report. For all we know, it might have been watered down from the prima facie sums to stop shocking the horses even more.
Edit: but another way of doing it would be to consider how long the shelf life is vs consumption rate, and at least hold enough to be consumed within the shelf life. I seem to recall that even that sort of cycling was not implemented in normal times - can't recall why.
My "likes" ratio is in the toilet today. I have a plan!
Boris Johnson is without doubt the United Kingdom's greatest Prime Minister and should be returned to Downing Street this afternoon to sort out the mess everyone else has created.
I think I have a winning strategy.
No, you need to post a picture of something nice, like your mum’s pot plants or, as I found yesterday, a bunch of grapes.
Or tell a heartwarming story about one of your children.
That’s the way to get likes, because your target market is then across the full political spectrum.
An occassional picture of a native or migrant moth can work wonders too...
migrant moth? Should they apply for a visa first before getting to work?
Bloody foreign moths! Getting into my wallet and eating all my patriotic British fivers!
Is it because everyone relentlessly treated Rayner herself like some special-needs child, a young, underprivileged woman who they secretly suspected couldn’t read or write? If you look at the way Starmer spoke about her, it was constantly in these terms: she was a woman, and working class.
Of her actual record, of course: no hint. She was the perfect deputy prime minister for him: a politician allowed to rise to the top on personality alone. And that personality was: middle-class person’s idea of what a working-class person should be. Slobby, ribald, partying in ’Beefa — isn’t vaping on inflatables what working-class people all do? Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Most working-class people are insulted to be compared to her.
Rayner was someone from the bottom 10% who moved into the top 10% through the Labour party.
Its no wonder that Labour politicians, people who are obsessed about the top 10% and bottom 10% and very little in between, turned Rayner into their living icon.
Put the "scum" back in her box where she belongs? We need proper working class heroes like Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Lucy Connolly.
Poshos at the top is the standard order of things, which is why nobody was bothered about the likes of Blair and Darling.
Whereas Rayner is disconcerting, having gone from bottom 10% to top 10%, entirely through the medium of the Labour party.
That appears great to Labour politicians who are obsessed about those at the top and those at the bottom.
But less so to the 80% who get the impression that Labour isn't interested in them.
There are, of course, other people who have gone from bottom 10% to top 10% - in sport, in entertainment, even in business. But these people leave a trail of visible achievement whereas Rayner was a pretty rubbish housing minister for a year.
Like I said.
She called you "scum" so you don't like her. Nonetheless I don't believe you can dismiss her achievement in becoming Deputy Prime Minister.
And don't forget, Boris got all the big calls right.
Johnson certainly got Ukraine and covid right but he was responsible, much like Rayner, for his own fall from grace
Such is politics
COVID?
Yes he invented the Oxford Zeneca vaccine but the rest?
I have questions relating to Ukraine from a decade back and prior to his last throw of the dice in 2022.
I do not expect you to give Johnson any credit, but it is widely recognised he did support Ukraine, even Ukrainians recognising it by naming a street after him, and on covid, if he had listened to Starmer we would probably be still in lockdown !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know it would be controversial, but Starmer could do an awful lot worse than to ask Boris Johnson to assist with the Ukraine negotiations, especially when it comes to mediating between the Ukranians and Americans.
Yes, he’s still absolutely loved in Ukraine for his actions at the start of the war.
I know you have a genuine personal interest, but really?
I am not entirely sure the Trump Presidency has been as optimal for Ukraine as you anticipated either. Maybe Putin's recent behaviour will turn Trump's head in the right direction eventually.
Johnson is someone known to both Trump and Zelensky, and trusted by both. I’m not sure there’s as much of a relationship between the US and Starmer’s team, given the current headlines over issues such as freedom of speeech.
I disagree with Trump’s approach to Ukraine, I could see what he was trying to do but it should have been obvious long ago that Putin was playing games and had no intention of wanting peace. Someone like Johnson could assist with a nudge or two in the right direction
I am careful not to be dismissive and I don't dispute Johnson's popularity in Ukraine, however he has never been a World statesman, despite suggesting in his book he is a Churchillian diplomat. And persuading Trump to do the right thing is possibly a big ask for even the most seasoned cat herder.
What Putin, and the bond markets, show is that the way you get Trump to do what you want is through fear.
The Canadians understood that. Sadly neither the Brits nor the EU have done, but that partly reflects the fact that Canada has its economic foot on the US throat (albeit at great cost to itself) more securely than we ever could have.
The other world player who understands his limited hand and plays it to the max is Erdogan. He’s a total arse, but he does play geopolitics well. We need to think of things we could threaten to withdraw (and intel sharing is surely one, as perhaps would be access to British military bases), like the Turks do on a regular basis.
I agree that Erdogan is a master of geopolitics, but he plays the game to advance Turkish interests. Damaging British relationships with other countries in order to advance the interests of a third country would not be the actions of a responsible Government.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
I am fairly immune to significant 'isms' here in the UK.
I am white, male, middle class, and straight. I am unlikely to be a victim of racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia.
I *may* become a victim of ageism as I get even older. Or, if I suffer illness, ableism.
The fact I might never suffer significant racism, classism, sexism, or homophobia does not mean that I think they are irrelevant or unimportant, and am surprised so many people seem to.
They don't think they are necessarily irrelevant or unimportant just that they don't affect them and as most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important all concern for 'others' is a waste of bandwidth.
You say that, as someone who repeatedly said that the 'talent' in the entertainment industry should be free to abuse women?
Odd. I must have expressed myself badly. I thought that post of yours was the best I have read from you
I've made the same point many times in the past.
My response was about the "most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important" part of your post.
Mahmood has had some interesting ideas with Gauke on prison reform including more funds for probation, short jail terms only for repeat offenders or domestic abusers and Texas style incentives of early release for good behaviour and qualifications gained. So Starmer has rewarded her with the Home Office and we will.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
“There needs to be a reset of the way we’re doing things”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticises the style of government over the last year and says they need “listen” to MPs more, adding he's "concerned" about balance in cabinet
Mahmood has had some interesting ideas with Gauke on prison reform including more funds for probation, short jail terms only for repeat offenders or domestic abusers and Texas style incentives of early release for good behaviour and qualifications gained. So Starmer has rewarded her with the Home Office and we will.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
Why do repeat offenders warrant short jail terms? Surely first-time offenders should get shorter sentences and those who repeat should be treated more harshly?
There aren't many books open for the Scottish Parliament elections next year but there are some taking bets for which party gets the most seats in the 'runners up' battle
The best odds I could find were on the Conservatives at 25/1, and the Lib Dems 16/1 with both Ladbrokes and Hills (the LD bet with Hills was 50/1 last night)
Whilst unlikely, the latter is not as silly a bet as it sounds, the most recent poll had the LDs on 14% in the regional vote, 2% behind Lab/Reform in second place
Despite the recent defections, the Tories are still the second largest MSP grouping in Holyrood. It's not inconceivable they recover enough votes from Reform and the other parties to put them within reach of second place. If my memory is right, in 2011 there was a significant shift away from Lab towards the SNP in the later stages of the campaign. If Starmer's government doesn't get its act together, there's every chance Slab could remain on the slide.
Labour at 1/2 for runners up looks short to me, even considering a potential unwind in Reform polling.
This sort of thing is why I could never be a catholic.
I saw a set of documentaries about the catholic church in Ireland a few years back that put me off. They followed some priests on one of the remoter islands for a couple of years.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Yeah i posted that last night when I saw it. The Tories should see it as an excuse for a free hit. Buff their nails and say 'we were right you know'
I think Kemi was on the radio this am more or less doing that, but her tone was so full of petulant outrage I fear that any benefit for her and the Tories will be lost. Bad enough when the public can't stand the sight of your face, but for a politician the punters hating the sound of your voice (as with Starmer) you're toast.
This sort of thing is why I could never be a catholic.
I saw a set of documentaries about the catholic church in Ireland a few years back that put me off. They followed some priests on one of the remoter islands for a couple of years.
I think I saw that. Fathers Crilley, McGuire and Hackett ISTR.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Yeah i posted that last night when I saw it. The Tories should see it as an excuse for a free hit. Buff their nails and say 'we were right you know'
I think Kemi was on the radio this am more or less doing that, but her tone was so full of petulant outrage I fear that any benefit for her and the Tories will be lost. Bad enough when the public can't stand the sight of your face, but for a politician the punters hating the sound of your voice (as with Starmer) you're toast.
Execution of ideas is always a potential problem. With Kemi if the Tories are satisfied with low to mid 20s by the GE and 100 to 130 seats then shes probably potentially about good enough. If they want to challenge in 2034 shes not but another change of leader might risk lights out.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
“There needs to be a reset of the way we’re doing things”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticises the style of government over the last year and says they need “listen” to MPs more, adding he's "concerned" about balance in cabinet
Vacuous. Mandelson proposes nothing concrete. So far UK-US tech cooperation has consisted of Britain paying American companies for hosting and services, even putting national security at risk, and there is no sign that will change. Oh, and we let them buy the world-leading Deep Mind AI outfit.
Although being one of the three most senior posts, history suggests that progressing from there to PM is extremely uncommon. When the PM role becomes vacant, it's the Chancellor and FS who are best placed to pitch for the top job.
Which is why I think Cooper comes out well from the recent shuffle in terms of her prospects. Although she may have under-performed particularly from a media/comms perspective, she has avoided any of the major scandals, disasters or blunders that killed the careers of so many previous Home Secs, and now she's FS she could pitch for a future leadership having done two out of the three most senior roles.
Given that Reeves is already tarnished and Mahmood is brand new (and inherits the poisoned chalice), Cooper is effectively heir apparent. Yes, there's Streeting hanging about in the wings, but people underestimate how unpopular he is with many party members, making the young Blair look like a hero of socialism by comparison.
At present the question is will she retain her seat as is the same with Streeting ?
She won by 48% to 29% - Streeting by 33% to 32%.
And I'd doubt that even Streeting is seriously at risk - the Gaza Independent who ran him close last time came across as an energetic and charismatic young social media campaigner, who got as much out of the 'independent' tag with non-Labour voters as she did from the 'Gaza' tag with muslim voters (who were only 15% in the seat in 2011 - surely higher now but nowhere near a majority). Next time he'll face an opponent from Corbyn's outfit, who might be able to hang on to the Gaza vote (assuming the issue remains salient through to 2028/9) but will lose support because of its hard left orientation.
Yes the Greens and Your Party may split the anti Streeting vote in Ilford North next time with the Independent and Streeting would try and get Tory and LD tactical votes to beat the hard left
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
I think Labour are only thinking one move ahead, if we get people out of hotels into HMOs and the backlog is less, we will spin like crazy we solved the problem. I have a sneaky suspicion there will also be some statistical manipulation such that the one-in one-out removals will all of a sudden not count as "boat arrivals".
The issue is two moves ahead, if it is found that they are clearing the backlog by rushing through claims and much higher acceptance rate, I don't think it will go down well.
I think the focus is very much on "where do we house these people" whereas, although there is undoubted anger at the asylum hotels policy, the wider cause of grievance is somewhat being missed in that people actually don't think people should be entitled to be put up by the state after illegal entry at all.
I don't think things will shift for the government unless they can both stop the boats and show a significant increase in deportations so that the use of any alternative asylum housing is negligible. That's a tall order, but they do have time on their side.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Mahmood has had some interesting ideas with Gauke on prison reform including more funds for probation, short jail terms only for repeat offenders or domestic abusers and Texas style incentives of early release for good behaviour and qualifications gained. So Starmer has rewarded her with the Home Office and we will.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
Why do repeat offenders warrant short jail terms? Surely first-time offenders should get shorter sentences and those who repeat should be treated more harshly?
We should look at the academic literature for what works, and look at foreign practice for what works, and stop ratcheting up sentences to appease headline writers as this only results in having to let prisoners out early.
“There needs to be a reset of the way we’re doing things”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticises the style of government over the last year and says they need “listen” to MPs more, adding he's "concerned" about balance in cabinet
There aren't many books open for the Scottish Parliament elections next year but there are some taking bets for which party gets the most seats in the 'runners up' battle
The best odds I could find were on the Conservatives at 25/1, and the Lib Dems 16/1 with both Ladbrokes and Hills (the LD bet with Hills was 50/1 last night)
Whilst unlikely, the latter is not as silly a bet as it sounds, the most recent poll had the LDs on 14% in the regional vote, 2% behind Lab/Reform in second place
Despite the recent defections, the Tories are still the second largest MSP grouping in Holyrood. It's not inconceivable they recover enough votes from Reform and the other parties to put them within reach of second place. If my memory is right, in 2011 there was a significant shift away from Lab towards the SNP in the later stages of the campaign. If Starmer's government doesn't get its act together, there's every chance Slab could remain on the slide.
Labour at 1/2 for runners up looks short to me, even considering a potential unwind in Reform polling.
Good post. From a base line (second placers) of 16,16,14,12 then second is within reach of any of them. Very unlikely for the Tories but not 25/1 unlikely Similarly the LDs probably have the highest constituency potential (in this ballpark of VI) and thus 16/1 is too long Another factor to consider in terms of seats is the number of contenders for the lists.if the SNP do a virtual sweep of constituencies then the 12 to 16 four will likely get st least one seat per list area with the vote order determining (after Greens etc maybe also get one) determining who picks up a second seat. If these parties are this close in any order going in to the election the longest shot in betting will be excellent value
Mahmood has had some interesting ideas with Gauke on prison reform including more funds for probation, short jail terms only for repeat offenders or domestic abusers and Texas style incentives of early release for good behaviour and qualifications gained. So Starmer has rewarded her with the Home Office and we will.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
Why do repeat offenders warrant short jail terms? Surely first-time offenders should get shorter sentences and those who repeat should be treated more harshly?
We should look at the academic literature for what works, and look at foreign practice for what works, and stop ratcheting up sentences to appease headline writers as this only results in having to let prisoners out early.
Indeed. But that doesn't really answer my question.
I'd also be concerned that what works abroad might prove to be problematic here, given other differences in the justice systems and wider society.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Yeah i posted that last night when I saw it. The Tories should see it as an excuse for a free hit. Buff their nails and say 'we were right you know'
I think Kemi was on the radio this am more or less doing that, but her tone was so full of petulant outrage I fear that any benefit for her and the Tories will be lost. Bad enough when the public can't stand the sight of your face, but for a politician the punters hating the sound of your voice (as with Starmer) you're toast.
Execution of ideas is always a potential problem. With Kemi if the Tories are satisfied with low to mid 20s by the GE and 100 to 130 seats then shes probably potentially about good enough. If they want to challenge in 2034 shes not but another change of leader might risk lights out.
If Kemi was getting low to mid 20s you would have a point, she isn't even getting that now but around 18% in most polls.
If she does not get the Tories back to low to mid 20s by next summer and they perform poorly in the local elections she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Cleverly
Although being one of the three most senior posts, history suggests that progressing from there to PM is extremely uncommon. When the PM role becomes vacant, it's the Chancellor and FS who are best placed to pitch for the top job.
Which is why I think Cooper comes out well from the recent shuffle in terms of her prospects. Although she may have under-performed particularly from a media/comms perspective, she has avoided any of the major scandals, disasters or blunders that killed the careers of so many previous Home Secs, and now she's FS she could pitch for a future leadership having done two out of the three most senior roles.
Given that Reeves is already tarnished and Mahmood is brand new (and inherits the poisoned chalice), Cooper is effectively heir apparent. Yes, there's Streeting hanging about in the wings, but people underestimate how unpopular he is with many party members, making the young Blair look like a hero of socialism by comparison.
At present the question is will she retain her seat as is the same with Streeting ?
She won by 48% to 29% - Streeting by 33% to 32%.
And I'd doubt that even Streeting is seriously at risk - the Gaza Independent who ran him close last time came across as an energetic and charismatic young social media campaigner, who got as much out of the 'independent' tag with non-Labour voters as she did from the 'Gaza' tag with muslim voters (who were only 15% in the seat in 2011 - surely higher now but nowhere near a majority). Next time he'll face an opponent from Corbyn's outfit, who might be able to hang on to the Gaza vote (assuming the issue remains salient through to 2028/9) but will lose support because of its hard left orientation.
Yes the Greens and Your Party may split the anti Streeting vote in Ilford North next time with the Independent and Streeting would try and get Tory and LD tactical votes to beat the hard left
"We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
Whatever, I think that the process should be both quick and fair.And failure should lead to immediate return whence they came. That's not necessarily their home country.
Yeah i posted that last night when I saw it. The Tories should see it as an excuse for a free hit. Buff their nails and say 'we were right you know'
I think Kemi was on the radio this am more or less doing that, but her tone was so full of petulant outrage I fear that any benefit for her and the Tories will be lost. Bad enough when the public can't stand the sight of your face, but for a politician the punters hating the sound of your voice (as with Starmer) you're toast.
Execution of ideas is always a potential problem. With Kemi if the Tories are satisfied with low to mid 20s by the GE and 100 to 130 seats then shes probably potentially about good enough. If they want to challenge in 2034 shes not but another change of leader might risk lights out.
If Kemi was getting low to mid 20s you would have a point, she isn't even getting that now but around 18% in most polls.
If she does not get the Tories back to low to mid 20s by next summer and they perform poorly in the local elections she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Cleverly
Im talking about at the election. Clearly they/she build in to that. Thats why i said 'potentially about good enough' not 'is currently good enough'
“There needs to be a reset of the way we’re doing things”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticises the style of government over the last year and says they need “listen” to MPs more, adding he's "concerned" about balance in cabinet
Mahmood has had some interesting ideas with Gauke on prison reform including more funds for probation, short jail terms only for repeat offenders or domestic abusers and Texas style incentives of early release for good behaviour and qualifications gained. So Starmer has rewarded her with the Home Office and we will.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
Why do repeat offenders warrant short jail terms? Surely first-time offenders should get shorter sentences and those who repeat should be treated more harshly?
As there isn't room in the prisons for them, crime has fallen since the 1990s but the prison population has doubled.
Short jail terms for shoplifters who repeatedly offend and community or suspended sentences for first time offenders is far more sensible
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
The Aussies knocked these things up for COVID in no time. They are all prefab. Stick them on a disused airfield etc. If they are good enough for hairy arse Australian miners, they are surely good enough for the boat people.
A government prepared to think out of the box might even look at these for council housing more generally, given the shortage and huge waiting lists, vs keeping families in bedsits. Portakabins have improved somewhat over the last few years.
They used to be called prefabs. There are still some occupied 75 years after being built, so plenty of time for the Home Office to process any inhabitants if they build some more.
Although being one of the three most senior posts, history suggests that progressing from there to PM is extremely uncommon. When the PM role becomes vacant, it's the Chancellor and FS who are best placed to pitch for the top job.
Which is why I think Cooper comes out well from the recent shuffle in terms of her prospects. Although she may have under-performed particularly from a media/comms perspective, she has avoided any of the major scandals, disasters or blunders that killed the careers of so many previous Home Secs, and now she's FS she could pitch for a future leadership having done two out of the three most senior roles.
Given that Reeves is already tarnished and Mahmood is brand new (and inherits the poisoned chalice), Cooper is effectively heir apparent. Yes, there's Streeting hanging about in the wings, but people underestimate how unpopular he is with many party members, making the young Blair look like a hero of socialism by comparison.
At present the question is will she retain her seat as is the same with Streeting ?
She won by 48% to 29% - Streeting by 33% to 32%.
And I'd doubt that even Streeting is seriously at risk - the Gaza Independent who ran him close last time came across as an energetic and charismatic young social media campaigner, who got as much out of the 'independent' tag with non-Labour voters as she did from the 'Gaza' tag with muslim voters (who were only 15% in the seat in 2011 - surely higher now but nowhere near a majority). Next time he'll face an opponent from Corbyn's outfit, who might be able to hang on to the Gaza vote (assuming the issue remains salient through to 2028/9) but will lose support because of its hard left orientation.
Muslim %-age in Ilford North was 50% at the 2021 Census.
There aren't many books open for the Scottish Parliament elections next year but there are some taking bets for which party gets the most seats in the 'runners up' battle
The best odds I could find were on the Conservatives at 25/1, and the Lib Dems 16/1 with both Ladbrokes and Hills (the LD bet with Hills was 50/1 last night)
Whilst unlikely, the latter is not as silly a bet as it sounds, the most recent poll had the LDs on 14% in the regional vote, 2% behind Lab/Reform in second place
Despite the recent defections, the Tories are still the second largest MSP grouping in Holyrood. It's not inconceivable they recover enough votes from Reform and the other parties to put them within reach of second place. If my memory is right, in 2011 there was a significant shift away from Lab towards the SNP in the later stages of the campaign. If Starmer's government doesn't get its act together, there's every chance Slab could remain on the slide.
Labour at 1/2 for runners up looks short to me, even considering a potential unwind in Reform polling.
Good post. From a base line (second placers) of 16,16,14,12 then second is within reach of any of them. Very unlikely for the Tories but not 25/1 unlikely Similarly the LDs probably have the highest constituency potential (in this ballpark of VI) and thus 16/1 is too long Another factor to consider in terms of seats is the number of contenders for the lists.if the SNP do a virtual sweep of constituencies then the 12 to 16 four will likely get st least one seat per list area with the vote order determining (after Greens etc maybe also get one) determining who picks up a second seat. If these parties are this close in any order going in to the election the longest shot in betting will be excellent value
Yep, exactly right. A few posters have picked up on the clustering of the parties between 14-16% of the vote. There's a long way to go in this race and a lot can happen. As much as I can't see the Tories taking 2nd place 3 elections in a row, it's not a 25/1 shot.
The nightmare scenario for Anas Sarwar is:
* Lab miss out on a slew of constituencies in central Scotland, coming runner up in almost every seat bar say Ed Southern, Dumbarton and East Lothian in a reverse of what they did to the SNP last year * They are squeezed hard on this list, with younger, liberal voters opting for the Greens (or SNP) in urban Scotland * In rural areas, Lib Dems come back onto the scene, taking a few list seats * Reform hoover up the working class vote and disaffected/regular non voters
It's not beyond reality for a party to gain the second highest number of votes but come third or fourth in seat count
It'll be interesting to see what constituency seats the Lib Dems target. Other than the ones they currently hold, Skye and Lochaber and Caithness are probables.
“We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats that may not have a right to be here or need to be processed rapidly before we can decide whether or not they should say or whether or not we deport them, like we have done in record numbers over the last year.”
The Aussies knocked these things up for COVID in no time. They are all prefab. Stick them on a disused airfield etc. If they are good enough for hairy arse Australian miners, they are surely good enough for the boat people.
A government prepared to think out of the box might even look at these for council housing more generally, given the shortage and huge waiting lists, vs keeping families in bedsits. Portakabins have improved somewhat over the last few years.
They used to be called prefabs. There are still some occupied 75 years after being built, so plenty of time for the Home Office to process any inhabitants if they build some more.
Nothing intrinsically making it impossible- these are due to go up in Romford fairly soon;
Comments
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/07/military-sites-house-asylum-seekers-labour
The use of army barracks has quickly become may use military and non-military sites.
(Mods and admins get emails in response to flags).
If you have something to say have the courage to say it
https://www.fleetwood.com.au/projects/gudai-darri-accommodation-village-expansion/
The Aussies knocked these things up for COVID in no time. They are all prefab. Stick them on a disused airfield etc. If they are good enough for hairy arse Australian miners, they are surely good enough for the boat people.
This statement seems to suggest arrivals will be processed quickly for asylum, and you really could't think of a bigger pull factor
The idea is all boat crossings are 'illegal' and anyone coming on a boat should be held before returning them to a safe country
Farage will have a 'hay day' if this is labour's proposal
The issue is two moves ahead, if it is found that they are clearing the backlog by rushing through claims and much higher acceptance rate, I don't think it will go down well.
Y'all are mean people, man
Or is it possible that lawyer Starmer thinks Justice Secretary is a promotion?
Quite a turn round on Rwanda in this poll
https://x.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1964430907584209019?s=19
(Is there data for this somewhere?)
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are carrying out rolling action over pay and "fatigue management", and have asked for a 32-hour week.
There will be limited service until 18:00 BST on Sunday and little or no service between Monday and Thursday. The Elizabeth line and the Overground are operating, but may not be able to stop at stations shared with the Tube.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2rg128l68o
Was supposed to be in the big smoke next week, looks like will be rearranging.
ETA scooped by boulay.
Is Reform policy to deport people (some or all) who have arrived by boat, but have a claim for asylum which a court accepts, back to their home country?
Is Reform policy to allow all boat arrivals a hearing before a court?
A government prepared to think out of the box might even look at these for council housing more generally, given the shortage and huge waiting lists, vs keeping families in bedsits. Portakabins have improved somewhat over the last few years.
The Government need something, but not an immoral Johnsonian stunt.
Edit: but another way of doing it would be to consider how long the shelf life is vs consumption rate, and at least hold enough to be consumed within the shelf life. I seem to recall that even that sort of cycling was not implemented in normal times - can't recall why.
My response was about the "most right wingers think me and mine are all that is important" part of your post.
I can't see her as a future Labour leader though, Reform in particular would exploit a Muslim Labour leader
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yg5me8dvlo
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticises the style of government over the last year and says they need “listen” to MPs more, adding he's "concerned" about balance in cabinet
https://x.com/BBCPolitics/status/1964639463113380228
I hate the idea of that happening to my body after death.
British ambassador to Washington says US president has sounded ‘wake-up call to the international old guard’
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/07/peter-mandelson-donald-trump-speech-us-uk-ai-technology-state-visit
There aren't many books open for the Scottish Parliament elections next year but there are some taking bets for which party gets the most seats in the 'runners up' battle
The best odds I could find were on the Conservatives at 25/1, and the Lib Dems 16/1 with both Ladbrokes and Hills (the LD bet with Hills was 50/1 last night)
Whilst unlikely, the latter is not as silly a bet as it sounds, the most recent poll had the LDs on 14% in the regional vote, 2% behind Lab/Reform in second place
Despite the recent defections, the Tories are still the second largest MSP grouping in Holyrood. It's not inconceivable they recover enough votes from Reform and the other parties to put them within reach of second place. If my memory is right, in 2011 there was a significant shift away from Lab towards the SNP in the later stages of the campaign. If Starmer's government doesn't get its act together, there's every chance Slab could remain on the slide.
Labour at 1/2 for runners up looks short to me, even considering a potential unwind in Reform polling.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125045203933
With Kemi if the Tories are satisfied with low to mid 20s by the GE and 100 to 130 seats then shes probably potentially about good enough.
If they want to challenge in 2034 shes not but another change of leader might risk lights out.
48% also say migrant numbers should be capped, 35% say set fair rules even if numbers are sometimes high
https://x.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1964423357706969198
https://x.com/markomihkelson/status/1964575118614810675
Which stands for Floored By Ian.
I don't think things will shift for the government unless they can both stop the boats and show a significant increase in deportations so that the use of any alternative asylum housing is negligible. That's a tall order, but they do have time on their side.
From a base line (second placers) of 16,16,14,12 then second is within reach of any of them.
Very unlikely for the Tories but not 25/1 unlikely
Similarly the LDs probably have the highest constituency potential (in this ballpark of VI) and thus 16/1 is too long
Another factor to consider in terms of seats is the number of contenders for the lists.if the SNP do a virtual sweep of constituencies then the 12 to 16 four will likely get st least one seat per list area with the vote order determining (after Greens etc maybe also get one) determining who picks up a second seat.
If these parties are this close in any order going in to the election the longest shot in betting will be excellent value
I'd also be concerned that what works abroad might prove to be problematic here, given other differences in the justice systems and wider society.
If she does not get the Tories back to low to mid 20s by next summer and they perform poorly in the local elections she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Cleverly
Given you are unlikely to be a candidate for Sainthood I wouldn't worry
'WANTED; GOOD LOOKING
SINGLE MALE WITH HORSEBOX
PLEASE SEND PHOTO OF HORSEBOX'
Woman suffers 'serious back injury' on Llandudno sightseeing speedboat
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/woman-suffers-serious-back-injury-32430403#ICID=Android_DailyPostNewsApp_AppShare
(Unsurprising, really. People who have practical ambitions to advance their careers tend not to choose something as whimsically brutal as politics.)
Short jail terms for shoplifters who repeatedly offend and community or suspended sentences for first time offenders is far more sensible
"Thomas the Tank Engine seeks his Clarabel the Carriage. Must have big buffers."
The nightmare scenario for Anas Sarwar is:
* Lab miss out on a slew of constituencies in central Scotland, coming runner up in almost every seat bar say Ed Southern, Dumbarton and East Lothian in a reverse of what they did to the SNP last year
* They are squeezed hard on this list, with younger, liberal voters opting for the Greens (or SNP) in urban Scotland
* In rural areas, Lib Dems come back onto the scene, taking a few list seats
* Reform hoover up the working class vote and disaffected/regular non voters
It's not beyond reality for a party to gain the second highest number of votes but come third or fourth in seat count
It'll be interesting to see what constituency seats the Lib Dems target. Other than the ones they currently hold, Skye and Lochaber and Caithness are probables.
The candidates standing so far are listed here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Scottish_Parliament_election
No Reform candidates selected yet in any constiuency!
https://www.havering.gov.uk/news/article/1534/planning-permission-granted-for-pilot-modular-home-scheme
Suspect the bigger issues are about land to put them on.