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PB Predictions Competition 2026 – The Entries! – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,934
edited 1:49PM in General
PB Predictions Competition 2026 – The Entries! – politicalbetting.com

Many thanks to all those who entered the PB Predictions Competition this year.  I have tried to capture all the entries with the help of a PB database scan from TSE. 

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,610
    Here's hoping I've found all the entries!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232
    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.
  • isamisam Posts: 43,563
    edited 1:55PM
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    If Starmer resigned then yes a Healey or Benn could replace Sir Keir. Yet there is no sign Starmer will resign and after last night’s Opinium poll putting Labour 7% ahead of the Tories and Reform
    unchanged despite Mandelson, why would he? Rayner would also need 81 MPs to challenge Starmer and no sign of that at present.

    Indeed unless Kemi improves the Tory voteshare and manages to see the Conservatives beat Labour on the NEV after the May local and devolved elections it will likely be her going not Starmer. Not least as Tory MPs have no mercy historically for leaders clearly failing to perform electorally unlike Labour MPs

    The ladies on the panel on Trevor Phillips furiously attacked the man's club in politics which you certainly qualify for with your relentless anti Kemi propaganda

    The Telegraph does not agree with you

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘Starmer knew Mandelson was still friends with Epstein. He chose not to care’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/07/kemi-badenoch-interview-starmer-mandelson-epstein/
    I am not anti Kemi because she is a woman, the Japanese PM is female and has won a landslide re election victory today.

    If Kemi was making progress in the polls she would be fine but she isn’t, the Tories are now trailing even a deeply unpopular Labour government let alone Reform. She has to improve that to survive
    Things take time. If a leader can't be given the space to develop their ideas at the start of opposition after fourteen years in power and a diabolical defeat, when can they?

    Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to consecutive eighth place finishes in his first two seasons in charge, but the board believed in him, gave him time, and he has transformed the club to the point where they are regarded as one of the top three sides in the world. Other clubs roll the dice and make the situation worse.

    Kemi has a unique opportunity, her personal ratings are improving fast and, if that continues, the Tories polling will surely follow
    She has been, she is into her second year in the job and the Tories are polling even worse than they did at the 2024 general election.

    She was elected to unite the right and push back Reform, she failed to do that and has lost Jenrick, Kruger, Braverman, Rosindell etc to Reform and just boosted Farage further.

    She also has trashed centrists in her party and has less appeal to swing voters than Cleverly. Tory MPs have given her plenty of chances but if the Tories bomb in May Kemi will be gone
    Personally, I rate Kemi considerably higher than any alternative.
    I quite like Kemi, also slightly fancy her

    She is said to be hard to work for, and somewhat scatter brained. And rubs people the wrong way. On the other hand she has good instincts on Woke, she is definitely getting better at a really difficult job. Of late she has made Skyr look an absolute muppet several times in PMQs

    The problem is not Kemi, it is the Tory brand. It is Ratnered to fuckistan and back again. It will take two general elections to recover if it ever does. Who else would do better? Cleverly is boring and woke and responsible for Chagos, Lam is too young and possibly just a white Kemi. Jenrick has gone. Mel Stride does not actually exist. Likewise Chris “Philp”. The late Keith Chegwin is dead and was a children’s TV presenter FFS, why would they choose him, and what could he do from the grave? Jeremy Hunt?????
    The Tories understand money and stewarding the economy. And they are also the only party on the table that, at least nominally, pushed back against a larger state.

    Their trouble is (a) their confidence and courage of their conviction and (b) their utter reliance on the elderly.
    And (c) their appalling record in office over fourteen fucking dreadful years, when the country went into total decline, on all fronts, and they allowed Woke and immigration to get catastrophically out of hand (and of course, for many voters, Brexit)

    What sane person would vote for them again on the basis of “no honestly we’ve learned our lesson, this time we really will be right wing and do actual right wing things instead of pretending to do them”

    The Tories are ugly, dickless, treacherous morons. They would do the same shit all over again given the chance. Their MPs are all woke Lib Dems in disguise. Remember Chagos STARTED under them. i despise them. I more than despise them. I want the Tories to fucking die and be buried in a noisome pit and then I will go the noisome pit and build the world’s biggest urinal on top of it. And THEN I will cover it in thirteen megatons of putrid Albanian taxi drivers’ manure and then I will dig the corpse of the Tories up again only so it can be brutally sodomised by a massive tumescent necrophiliac waxwork of 80s popster Shaking Stevens and then reburied at the abyssal bottom of the Mariana Trench
    The majority of the people with any power in those fourteen years have either retired or defected. I would say that Kemi's Tories are less tainted with the 2019-24 period than Reform's politicians are now. They needed a bit of time to collect their thoughts and rebrand. I think Kemi has done that and her personal appeal, along with the likes of Lam, Trott and Lopez will see the party appear to be quite a refreshing change
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 27,538
    FPT
    fitalass said:

    viewcode said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.

    @fitalass is still here.

    Speaking of which, @fitalass, I asked you on Dec 26 if you could provide a discussant contribution. That would require you to read Draft 12 of the article and provide a comment (about 300 words would be nice). If you can't then that's OK, it's not a problem, but I need to know if you can't.

    Hi viewcode, just seen this and I have messaged you...
    ...and I have just replied, ma'am. Thank you for your reply.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    I don't think we can ever rest while England are playing.
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 15,337
    isam said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    If Starmer resigned then yes a Healey or Benn could replace Sir Keir. Yet there is no sign Starmer will resign and after last night’s Opinium poll putting Labour 7% ahead of the Tories and Reform
    unchanged despite Mandelson, why would he? Rayner would also need 81 MPs to challenge Starmer and no sign of that at present.

    Indeed unless Kemi improves the Tory voteshare and manages to see the Conservatives beat Labour on the NEV after the May local and devolved elections it will likely be her going not Starmer. Not least as Tory MPs have no mercy historically for leaders clearly failing to perform electorally unlike Labour MPs

    The ladies on the panel on Trevor Phillips furiously attacked the man's club in politics which you certainly qualify for with your relentless anti Kemi propaganda

    The Telegraph does not agree with you

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘Starmer knew Mandelson was still friends with Epstein. He chose not to care’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/07/kemi-badenoch-interview-starmer-mandelson-epstein/
    I am not anti Kemi because she is a woman, the Japanese PM is female and has won a landslide re election victory today.

    If Kemi was making progress in the polls she would be fine but she isn’t, the Tories are now trailing even a deeply unpopular Labour government let alone Reform. She has to improve that to survive
    Things take time. If a leader can't be given the space to develop their ideas at the start of opposition after fourteen years in power and a diabolical defeat, when can they?

    Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to consecutive eighth place finishes in his first two seasons in charge, but the board believed in him, gave him time, and he has transformed the club to the point where they are regarded as one of the top three sides in the world. Other clubs roll the dice and make the situation worse.

    Kemi has a unique opportunity, her personal ratings are improving fast and, if that continues, the Tories polling will surely follow
    She has been, she is into her second year in the job and the Tories are polling even worse than they did at the 2024 general election.

    She was elected to unite the right and push back Reform, she failed to do that and has lost Jenrick, Kruger, Braverman, Rosindell etc to Reform and just boosted Farage further.

    She also has trashed centrists in her party and has less appeal to swing voters than Cleverly. Tory MPs have given her plenty of chances but if the Tories bomb in May Kemi will be gone
    Personally, I rate Kemi considerably higher than any alternative.
    I quite like Kemi, also slightly fancy her

    She is said to be hard to work for, and somewhat scatter brained. And rubs people the wrong way. On the other hand she has good instincts on Woke, she is definitely getting better at a really difficult job. Of late she has made Skyr look an absolute muppet several times in PMQs

    The problem is not Kemi, it is the Tory brand. It is Ratnered to fuckistan and back again. It will take two general elections to recover if it ever does. Who else would do better? Cleverly is boring and woke and responsible for Chagos, Lam is too young and possibly just a white Kemi. Jenrick has gone. Mel Stride does not actually exist. Likewise Chris “Philp”. The late Keith Chegwin is dead and was a children’s TV presenter FFS, why would they choose him, and what could he do from the grave? Jeremy Hunt?????
    The Tories understand money and stewarding the economy. And they are also the only party on the table that, at least nominally, pushed back against a larger state.

    Their trouble is (a) their confidence and courage of their conviction and (b) their utter reliance on the elderly.
    And (c) their appalling record in office over fourteen fucking dreadful years, when the country went into total decline, on all fronts, and they allowed Woke and immigration to get catastrophically out of hand (and of course, for many voters, Brexit)

    What sane person would vote for them again on the basis of “no honestly we’ve learned our lesson, this time we really will be right wing and do actual right wing things instead of pretending to do them”

    The Tories are ugly, dickless, treacherous morons. They would do the same shit all over again given the chance. Their MPs are all woke Lib Dems in disguise. Remember Chagos STARTED under them. i despise them. I more than despise them. I want the Tories to fucking die and be buried in a noisome pit and then I will go the noisome pit and build the world’s biggest urinal on top of it. And THEN I will cover it in thirteen megatons of putrid Albanian taxi drivers’ manure and then I will dig the corpse of the Tories up again only so it can be brutally sodomised by a massive tumescent necrophiliac waxwork of 80s popster Shaking Stevens and then reburied at the abyssal bottom of the Mariana Trench
    The majority of the people with any power in those fourteen years have either retired or defected. I would say that Kemi's Tories are less tainted with the 2019-24 period than Reform's politicians are now. They needed a bit of time to collect their thoughts and rebrand. I think Kemi has done that and her personal appeal, along with the likes of Lam, Trott and Lopez will see the party appear to be quite a refreshing change
    It's not my Party and hardly my subject, Sam, but didn't Boris hollow out the Party so much from within that reconstruction is now very difficult, if not impossible?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    isam said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    If Starmer resigned then yes a Healey or Benn could replace Sir Keir. Yet there is no sign Starmer will resign and after last night’s Opinium poll putting Labour 7% ahead of the Tories and Reform
    unchanged despite Mandelson, why would he? Rayner would also need 81 MPs to challenge Starmer and no sign of that at present.

    Indeed unless Kemi improves the Tory voteshare and manages to see the Conservatives beat Labour on the NEV after the May local and devolved elections it will likely be her going not Starmer. Not least as Tory MPs have no mercy historically for leaders clearly failing to perform electorally unlike Labour MPs

    The ladies on the panel on Trevor Phillips furiously attacked the man's club in politics which you certainly qualify for with your relentless anti Kemi propaganda

    The Telegraph does not agree with you

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘Starmer knew Mandelson was still friends with Epstein. He chose not to care’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/07/kemi-badenoch-interview-starmer-mandelson-epstein/
    I am not anti Kemi because she is a woman, the Japanese PM is female and has won a landslide re election victory today.

    If Kemi was making progress in the polls she would be fine but she isn’t, the Tories are now trailing even a deeply unpopular Labour government let alone Reform. She has to improve that to survive
    Things take time. If a leader can't be given the space to develop their ideas at the start of opposition after fourteen years in power and a diabolical defeat, when can they?

    Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to consecutive eighth place finishes in his first two seasons in charge, but the board believed in him, gave him time, and he has transformed the club to the point where they are regarded as one of the top three sides in the world. Other clubs roll the dice and make the situation worse.

    Kemi has a unique opportunity, her personal ratings are improving fast and, if that continues, the Tories polling will surely follow
    She has been, she is into her second year in the job and the Tories are polling even worse than they did at the 2024 general election.

    She was elected to unite the right and push back Reform, she failed to do that and has lost Jenrick, Kruger, Braverman, Rosindell etc to Reform and just boosted Farage further.

    She also has trashed centrists in her party and has less appeal to swing voters than Cleverly. Tory MPs have given her plenty of chances but if the Tories bomb in May Kemi will be gone
    Personally, I rate Kemi considerably higher than any alternative.
    I quite like Kemi, also slightly fancy her

    She is said to be hard to work for, and somewhat scatter brained. And rubs people the wrong way. On the other hand she has good instincts on Woke, she is definitely getting better at a really difficult job. Of late she has made Skyr look an absolute muppet several times in PMQs

    The problem is not Kemi, it is the Tory brand. It is Ratnered to fuckistan and back again. It will take two general elections to recover if it ever does. Who else would do better? Cleverly is boring and woke and responsible for Chagos, Lam is too young and possibly just a white Kemi. Jenrick has gone. Mel Stride does not actually exist. Likewise Chris “Philp”. The late Keith Chegwin is dead and was a children’s TV presenter FFS, why would they choose him, and what could he do from the grave? Jeremy Hunt?????
    The Tories understand money and stewarding the economy. And they are also the only party on the table that, at least nominally, pushed back against a larger state.

    Their trouble is (a) their confidence and courage of their conviction and (b) their utter reliance on the elderly.
    And (c) their appalling record in office over fourteen fucking dreadful years, when the country went into total decline, on all fronts, and they allowed Woke and immigration to get catastrophically out of hand (and of course, for many voters, Brexit)

    What sane person would vote for them again on the basis of “no honestly we’ve learned our lesson, this time we really will be right wing and do actual right wing things instead of pretending to do them”

    The Tories are ugly, dickless, treacherous morons. They would do the same shit all over again given the chance. Their MPs are all woke Lib Dems in disguise. Remember Chagos STARTED under them. i despise them. I more than despise them. I want the Tories to fucking die and be buried in a noisome pit and then I will go the noisome pit and build the world’s biggest urinal on top of it. And THEN I will cover it in thirteen megatons of putrid Albanian taxi drivers’ manure and then I will dig the corpse of the Tories up again only so it can be brutally sodomised by a massive tumescent necrophiliac waxwork of 80s popster Shaking Stevens and then reburied at the abyssal bottom of the Mariana Trench
    The majority of the people with any power in those fourteen years have either retired or defected. I would say that Kemi's Tories are less tainted with the 2019-24 period than Reform's politicians are now. They needed a bit of time to collect their thoughts and rebrand. I think Kemi has done that and her personal appeal, along with the likes of Lam, Trott and Lopez will see the party appear to be quite a refreshing change
    You’re absurdly naive

    They haven’t changed. They have a few decent MPs but most of them are still the metrosexual wankers that gave us the Boriswave and, actually, it was a jolly good thing

    Plus they won’t have the cullions to withdraw from the ECHR

    Personally I’d like a party well to the right of Reform, so a mix of Lee Kuan Yew, Gabriele d’Annunzio and mid season General Pinochet, but in the absence of that I will vote for Farage with a grimace of distaste
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,610

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538
    Last by name, and hopefully last by entry.

    I was really annoyed you beat me last year @Benpointer
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,412
    Could a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    It's O K2 feel he's going too far.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    I love the pageant of Bangkok at night in the tropical rain, the parade of mad and happy and tragicomic humanity, with superb seafood. No better place on earth on a February evening

  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,610
    ydoethur said:

    Last by name, and hopefully last by entry.

    I was really annoyed you beat me last year @Benpointer

    Sorry about that. You were in fact the first by entry this year (at least until any results come in.)
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 24,411
    66 entries?

    Bonnie Blue says "Hold my beer!"
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 27,344
    edited 2:05PM

    isam said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    If Starmer resigned then yes a Healey or Benn could replace Sir Keir. Yet there is no sign Starmer will resign and after last night’s Opinium poll putting Labour 7% ahead of the Tories and Reform
    unchanged despite Mandelson, why would he? Rayner would also need 81 MPs to challenge Starmer and no sign of that at present.

    Indeed unless Kemi improves the Tory voteshare and manages to see the Conservatives beat Labour on the NEV after the May local and devolved elections it will likely be her going not Starmer. Not least as Tory MPs have no mercy historically for leaders clearly failing to perform electorally unlike Labour MPs

    The ladies on the panel on Trevor Phillips furiously attacked the man's club in politics which you certainly qualify for with your relentless anti Kemi propaganda

    The Telegraph does not agree with you

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘Starmer knew Mandelson was still friends with Epstein. He chose not to care’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/07/kemi-badenoch-interview-starmer-mandelson-epstein/
    I am not anti Kemi because she is a woman, the Japanese PM is female and has won a landslide re election victory today.

    If Kemi was making progress in the polls she would be fine but she isn’t, the Tories are now trailing even a deeply unpopular Labour government let alone Reform. She has to improve that to survive
    Things take time. If a leader can't be given the space to develop their ideas at the start of opposition after fourteen years in power and a diabolical defeat, when can they?

    Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to consecutive eighth place finishes in his first two seasons in charge, but the board believed in him, gave him time, and he has transformed the club to the point where they are regarded as one of the top three sides in the world. Other clubs roll the dice and make the situation worse.

    Kemi has a unique opportunity, her personal ratings are improving fast and, if that continues, the Tories polling will surely follow
    She has been, she is into her second year in the job and the Tories are polling even worse than they did at the 2024 general election.

    She was elected to unite the right and push back Reform, she failed to do that and has lost Jenrick, Kruger, Braverman, Rosindell etc to Reform and just boosted Farage further.

    She also has trashed centrists in her party and has less appeal to swing voters than Cleverly. Tory MPs have given her plenty of chances but if the Tories bomb in May Kemi will be gone
    Personally, I rate Kemi considerably higher than any alternative.
    I quite like Kemi, also slightly fancy her

    She is said to be hard to work for, and somewhat scatter brained. And rubs people the wrong way. On the other hand she has good instincts on Woke, she is definitely getting better at a really difficult job. Of late she has made Skyr look an absolute muppet several times in PMQs

    The problem is not Kemi, it is the Tory brand. It is Ratnered to fuckistan and back again. It will take two general elections to recover if it ever does. Who else would do better? Cleverly is boring and woke and responsible for Chagos, Lam is too young and possibly just a white Kemi. Jenrick has gone. Mel Stride does not actually exist. Likewise Chris “Philp”. The late Keith Chegwin is dead and was a children’s TV presenter FFS, why would they choose him, and what could he do from the grave? Jeremy Hunt?????
    The Tories understand money and stewarding the economy. And they are also the only party on the table that, at least nominally, pushed back against a larger state.

    Their trouble is (a) their confidence and courage of their conviction and (b) their utter reliance on the elderly.
    And (c) their appalling record in office over fourteen fucking dreadful years, when the country went into total decline, on all fronts, and they allowed Woke and immigration to get catastrophically out of hand (and of course, for many voters, Brexit)

    What sane person would vote for them again on the basis of “no honestly we’ve learned our lesson, this time we really will be right wing and do actual right wing things instead of pretending to do them”

    The Tories are ugly, dickless, treacherous morons. They would do the same shit all over again given the chance. Their MPs are all woke Lib Dems in disguise. Remember Chagos STARTED under them. i despise them. I more than despise them. I want the Tories to fucking die and be buried in a noisome pit and then I will go the noisome pit and build the world’s biggest urinal on top of it. And THEN I will cover it in thirteen megatons of putrid Albanian taxi drivers’ manure and then I will dig the corpse of the Tories up again only so it can be brutally sodomised by a massive tumescent necrophiliac waxwork of 80s popster Shaking Stevens and then reburied at the abyssal bottom of the Mariana Trench
    The majority of the people with any power in those fourteen years have either retired or defected. I would say that Kemi's Tories are less tainted with the 2019-24 period than Reform's politicians are now. They needed a bit of time to collect their thoughts and rebrand. I think Kemi has done that and her personal appeal, along with the likes of Lam, Trott and Lopez will see the party appear to be quite a refreshing change
    It's not my Party and hardly my subject, Sam, but didn't Boris hollow out the Party so much from within that reconstruction is now very difficult, if not impossible?
    BiB: QTWAIN.

    This myth is spread by quite a few die hard Remoaners who refused to accept the Brexit referendum result, but no Boris did not hollow out the party.

    He did the exact same thing that Major did to pass Maastricht in making it a confidence matter and removing the whip from anyone who voted against, just as Major had done decades ago and many other Prime Ministers had done for many years, past and present (including the current incumbent).

    The very small number of MPs who lost the whip did so voluntarily knowing the consequence, and at the subsequent election they were all much more than replaced by a big increase in numbers, not a reduction in them.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176
    ydoethur said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    I don't think we can ever rest while England are playing.
    You summit up well.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 24,411

    Could a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.

    From Jizz Stain to Ghislaine.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    I don't think we can ever rest while England are playing.
    You summit up well.
    While Brook is captain I will never back them.

    Definitely him a layer.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 133,855
    edited 2:15PM
    Leon said:

    isam said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Cookie said:

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    If Starmer resigned then yes a Healey or Benn could replace Sir Keir. Yet there is no sign Starmer will resign and after last night’s Opinium poll putting Labour 7% ahead of the Tories and Reform
    unchanged despite Mandelson, why would he? Rayner would also need 81 MPs to challenge Starmer and no sign of that at present.

    Indeed unless Kemi improves the Tory voteshare and manages to see the Conservatives beat Labour on the NEV after the May local and devolved elections it will likely be her going not Starmer. Not least as Tory MPs have no mercy historically for leaders clearly failing to perform electorally unlike Labour MPs

    The ladies on the panel on Trevor Phillips furiously attacked the man's club in politics which you certainly qualify for with your relentless anti Kemi propaganda

    The Telegraph does not agree with you

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘Starmer knew Mandelson was still friends with Epstein. He chose not to care’

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/07/kemi-badenoch-interview-starmer-mandelson-epstein/
    I am not anti Kemi because she is a woman, the Japanese PM is female and has won a landslide re election victory today.

    If Kemi was making progress in the polls she would be fine but she isn’t, the Tories are now trailing even a deeply unpopular Labour government let alone Reform. She has to improve that to survive
    Things take time. If a leader can't be given the space to develop their ideas at the start of opposition after fourteen years in power and a diabolical defeat, when can they?

    Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to consecutive eighth place finishes in his first two seasons in charge, but the board believed in him, gave him time, and he has transformed the club to the point where they are regarded as one of the top three sides in the world. Other clubs roll the dice and make the situation worse.

    Kemi has a unique opportunity, her personal ratings are improving fast and, if that continues, the Tories polling will surely follow
    She has been, she is into her second year in the job and the Tories are polling even worse than they did at the 2024 general election.

    She was elected to unite the right and push back Reform, she failed to do that and has lost Jenrick, Kruger, Braverman, Rosindell etc to Reform and just boosted Farage further.

    She also has trashed centrists in her party and has less appeal to swing voters than Cleverly. Tory MPs have given her plenty of chances but if the Tories bomb in May Kemi will be gone
    Personally, I rate Kemi considerably higher than any alternative.
    I quite like Kemi, also slightly fancy her

    She is said to be hard to work for, and somewhat scatter brained. And rubs people the wrong way. On the other hand she has good instincts on Woke, she is definitely getting better at a really difficult job. Of late she has made Skyr look an absolute muppet several times in PMQs

    The problem is not Kemi, it is the Tory brand. It is Ratnered to fuckistan and back again. It will take two general elections to recover if it ever does. Who else would do better? Cleverly is boring and woke and responsible for Chagos, Lam is too young and possibly just a white Kemi. Jenrick has gone. Mel Stride does not actually exist. Likewise Chris “Philp”. The late Keith Chegwin is dead and was a children’s TV presenter FFS, why would they choose him, and what could he do from the grave? Jeremy Hunt?????
    The Tories understand money and stewarding the economy. And they are also the only party on the table that, at least nominally, pushed back against a larger state.

    Their trouble is (a) their confidence and courage of their conviction and (b) their utter reliance on the elderly.
    And (c) their appalling record in office over fourteen fucking dreadful years, when the country went into total decline, on all fronts, and they allowed Woke and immigration to get catastrophically out of hand (and of course, for many voters, Brexit)

    What sane person would vote for them again on the basis of “no honestly we’ve learned our lesson, this time we really will be right wing and do actual right wing things instead of pretending to do them”

    The Tories are ugly, dickless, treacherous morons. They would do the same shit all over again given the chance. Their MPs are all woke Lib Dems in disguise. Remember Chagos STARTED under them. i despise them. I more than despise them. I want the Tories to fucking die and be buried in a noisome pit and then I will go the noisome pit and build the world’s biggest urinal on top of it. And THEN I will cover it in thirteen megatons of putrid Albanian taxi drivers’ manure and then I will dig the corpse of the Tories up again only so it can be brutally sodomised by a massive tumescent necrophiliac waxwork of 80s popster Shaking Stevens and then reburied at the abyssal bottom of the Mariana Trench
    The majority of the people with any power in those fourteen years have either retired or defected. I would say that Kemi's Tories are less tainted with the 2019-24 period than Reform's politicians are now. They needed a bit of time to collect their thoughts and rebrand. I think Kemi has done that and her personal appeal, along with the likes of Lam, Trott and Lopez will see the party appear to be quite a refreshing change
    You’re absurdly naive

    They haven’t changed. They have a few decent MPs but most of them are still the metrosexual wankers that gave us the Boriswave and, actually, it was a jolly good thing

    Plus they won’t have the cullions to withdraw from the ECHR

    Personally I’d like a party well to the right of Reform, so a mix of Lee Kuan Yew, Gabriele d’Annunzio and mid season General Pinochet, but in the absence of that I will vote for Farage with a grimace of distaste
    Net migration is now falling due to tighter visa wage requirements Cleverly brought in.

    Most of Reform's MPs were Tory MPs anyway, indeed Jenrick was in the Truss and Sunak Cabinets, Braverman was Truss and Sunak's Home Secretary and Zahawi was Boris' Chancellor
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 27,344
    Got a bit too busy IRL to type up my entry this year so missed the cut-off. Good luck to all who take part.

    Just-for-fun as I know its too late, this is what my entries would be for the #competition

    Dem gains (House) 17
    Dem gains (Senate) 2
    SNP MSPs 59
    PC AMs 34
    Largest poll lead Ref 17 (unfortunately)
    Lab projected net share 17
    Reform MPs on 31/12/26 8
    UK PM on 31/12/26 Starmer
    Andy Burnham MP No
    UK borrowing £144.5bn
    UK GDP growth to Oct 2025 1.2%
    World Cup winners Brazil
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,610
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    I don't think we can ever rest while England are playing.
    You summit up well.
    While Brook is captain I will never back them.

    Definitely him a layer.
    Hmmm... possibly trying to climb one mountain too many with that one.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    I don't think we can ever rest while England are playing.
    You summit up well.
    While Brook is captain I will never back them.

    Definitely him a layer.
    Hmmm... possibly trying to climb one mountain too many with that one.
    A bit of a nor face?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,543
    Looking at that list I am really fancying my chances of being in the top 60.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232
    Morgan McSweeney resigns.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 15,337
    edited 2:23PM
    FPT @stodge

    Yes, thank you for that, Stodge. I would go along with it all, especially the point about the bookies getting wise. Back in my professional betting days my profits split roughly equally between my two specialist subjects - National Hunt and politics. The latter gave a much higher rate of return, but of course lacked the regularity of the former. I used to refer to betting on politics as like shooting fish in a barrel. It's no longer like that. The other punters as well as the bookies have become smarter.

    You are right also about the changes wrought by social media. It has however made the site all the more valuable. There is no other on which I can rely for intelligent and authentic debate. You and I have had the privilege of meeting, and whilst we may not agree on every matter, we can depend on an absence of bullshit. The same applies to most of those with whom we engage on here, whether we know them personally or not. This makes the site invaluable. Imposters get short shrift (like the laughable Lawson yesterday) and invariably sulk off to peddle their counterfeit wares elsewhere.

    No, Starmer isn't going anywhere. And for what it's worth, I think that a World Cup under Trump is as likely to be as free and fair as an election under him. He wouldn't want a European side to win. The USA will do well, but simply aren't good enough to go the whole way. My money is on Argentina,
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176
    DavidL said:

    Looking at that list I am really fancying my chances of being in the top 60.

    I'm not.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    He had a role in English cricket too? :hushed:
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 8,289
    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    Third base?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,545
    ydoethur said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    He had a role in English cricket too? :hushed:
    Would explain a lot.
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 8,713
    McSweeney gone
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,412

    Is a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.

    Mandelson also set up a meeting for Epstein with Blair based on the Clinton connection:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk16gpxj0o

    The email on 7 May 2002 states: "Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?

    "This was frustrated - TB said at the time - in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies."
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    Personally I don't believe that is anything like enough at this stage.
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 15,337

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    Personally I don't believe that is anything like enough at this stage.
    You think he should slit his wrists?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232
    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    At university in the late 90s, Section 28, was still in force.

    One guy like me didn’t drink because he didn’t want to make an arse of himself, he admitted his homosexuality to me and didn’t want to go to the gay bars because he was a virgin.

    So I dragged him to a gay club and the rest is history.

    This was the era the papers asked if we were run by a gay mafia.
  • isamisam Posts: 43,563
    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,481

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    The puns are certainly scaling the heights this afternoon.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335

    Is a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.

    Mandelson also set up a meeting for Epstein with Blair based on the Clinton connection:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk16gpxj0o

    The email on 7 May 2002 states: "Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?

    "This was frustrated - TB said at the time - in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies."
    Thank goodness your boy Trump has announced that with only 38,000 mentions in the Epstein files he has been completely exonerated.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538
    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 33,959
    I feel a bit sorry for McSweeney.

    Starmer appears to have given his full confidence at PMQs solely to wash his hands of this sacking and avoid any blowback.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335
    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Oh bloody hell Leon. For those of us hoping he was gone by teatime you've just ensured he hangs on to the next GE.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    Personally I don't believe that is anything like enough at this stage.
    It’s not. Starmer will go

    This is a temporary human sacrifice that will last a few weeks or months and then the PM will climb the temple to be lain over the chac-mool
  • PedestrianRockPedestrianRock Posts: 601
    isam said:

    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Surely for the comparison to work, Rayner at least leads Labour to a comfortable majority in 2029, due in no small part to the unpopularity of the opposition?


  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 8,713
    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    But I thought everyone fell for Mandelson’s lies, so there’s no need for anyone to go, right?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,717
    [Scouse accent] Morgan McSweeney? Who are they???
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 133,855
    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Labour are 7% ahead of the Tories in last night's Opinium poll taken post Mandelson's resignation.

    Reform are on 31%, Labour 23%, Conservatives 16%, Green 13%, LDs 10%.

    Unless that changes it will be Kemi gone by the end of the summer, not Starmer
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    But I thought everyone fell for Mandelson’s lies, so there’s no need for anyone to go, right?
    The story goes that Starmer was about to rubber stamp Osborne for Washington and then McSweeney had a great idea ...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176
    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    What little I have heard about McSweeney isn't flattering. But he appears to have remained loyal to the end.

    "After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government.
    "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
    "This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.
    "As I leave I have two further reflections:
    "Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
    "Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.
    "I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve."
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,732

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    "I have concluded that this is a resignation matter. So I have resigned Morgan."
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,545
    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    Slightly complicated in this case by the observation that McSweeney probably should have gone ages ago. Really at the time of the "Keir is pretending to drive the DLR train" line, but there have been plenty of other leaky fiascos which must have come from him.

    I doubt that it buys Starmer more than a bit of time, but maybe that's all he needs.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538
    edited 2:33PM
    Leon said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    Personally I don't believe that is anything like enough at this stage.
    It’s not. Starmer will go

    This is a temporary human sacrifice that will last a few weeks or months and then the PM will climb the temple to be lain over the chac-mool
    Hello, Santander? I wish to remortgage my house. I'm putting it all on Starmer surviving indefintely following a hot tip from Leon that he's finished.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,435
    isam said:

    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    I honestly thought this was a parody. She really isn't all there.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,412
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    What little I have heard about McSweeney isn't flattering. But he appears to have remained loyal to the end.

    "After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government.
    "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
    "This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.
    "As I leave I have two further reflections:
    "Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
    "Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.
    "I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve."
    It wasn't a process mistake but a political mistake. Creating additional processes and arms-length bodies just compounds the problems caused by trying to depoliticise questions that are fundamentally political.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 60,628

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    Personally I don't believe that is anything like enough at this stage.
    You think he should slit his wrists?
    Don’t be ridiculous

    {tells the butler to get the chaps to warm up the trebuchet}
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Labour are 7% ahead of the Tories in last night's Opinium poll taken post Mandelson's resignation.

    Reform are on 31%, Labour 23%, Conservatives 16%, Green 13%, LDs 10%.

    Unless that changes it will be Kemi gone by the end of the summer, not Starmer
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
    But what is the point in keeping Starmer? He’s not going to get any better. He’s a total dud. He will only get worse as this scandal, and others, rumbles on. He has no ideas, no charisma, no brains, no judgment, and he’s likely to make more terrible errors

    FFS Labour GET RID. It’s a no brainer, now

  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 33,959
    ...

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    But I thought everyone fell for Mandelson’s lies, so there’s no need for anyone to go, right?
    The story goes that Starmer was about to rubber stamp Osborne for Washington and then McSweeney had a great idea ...
    To be quite candid, Osborne was on the Deripaska yacht too. Yes, there are no shots of him in his pants (thank the Lord) in the Epstein files, but a paragon of virtue he ain't. It could have blown back in a very similar way. And been absolutely hated in Labour circles.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 133,855
    edited 2:37PM
    isam said:

    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Such a tragedy for Labour there is no one of Liz's genius to take on the deep state, as she modestly states herself!

    Liz was the greatest PM in British history, her brilliant premiership tragically cut short as the voters, the media, her own MPs and the globalist elite could not see or understand how great she was and the transformation she was making to our economy. Even the ignorant markets crashed themselves rather than properly studying how great and profitable for them her budget would be!!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    BBC News political correspondent saying it is highly likely Starmer will now follow

    “Majority of Labour MPs say when, not if”
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 60,628
    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    Did not the Prime Minister express full confidence in him?

    Short of actually standing him next to the open window, and offering him polonium flavoured tea….
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,717
    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Deliver this to Colonel MacSweeney. It is a direct order to call off May's Local Elections. If you don’t, it will be a massacre. We would lose two dozen councils. Sixteen hundred councillors, your brother among them.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,545
    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Such a tragedy for Labour there is no one of Liz's genius to take on the deep state, as she modestly states herself!

    Liz was the greatest PM in British history, her brilliant premiership tragically cut short as the voters, the media, her own MPs and the globalist elite could not see or understand how great she was and the transformation she was making to our economy. Even the markets crashed themselves rather than properly studying how great and profitable for them her budget would be!!
    If I were in Labour comms, I'd be tempted to put the message "There is no Labour Liz Truss" on the biggest billboards I could find.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,543

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    Did not the Prime Minister express full confidence in him?

    Short of actually standing him next to the open window, and offering him polonium flavoured tea….
    Whilst having a bath to keep us up to date.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 133,855
    edited 2:37PM
    Leon said:

    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Labour are 7% ahead of the Tories in last night's Opinium poll taken post Mandelson's resignation.

    Reform are on 31%, Labour 23%, Conservatives 16%, Green 13%, LDs 10%.

    Unless that changes it will be Kemi gone by the end of the summer, not Starmer
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
    But what is the point in keeping Starmer? He’s not going to get any better. He’s a total dud. He will only get worse as this scandal, and others, rumbles on. He has no ideas, no charisma, no brains, no judgment, and he’s likely to make more terrible errors

    FFS Labour GET RID. It’s a no brainer, now

    The only rival who clearly polled better than Starmer was Burnham and SKS kept him off the shortlist for Gorton.

    Kemi has a rival who polls better with swing voters than her who is also an MP and eligible to replace her, Cleverly, Starmer now doesn't. Starmer was a KC so clearly had some brain even if no charisma
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 24,411

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    But I thought everyone fell for Mandelson’s lies, so there’s no need for anyone to go, right?
    The story goes that Starmer was about to rubber stamp Osborne for Washington and then McSweeney had a great idea ...
    To paraphrase a former PBer, would Osborne have been a near-perfect ambassador?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176

    Is a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.

    Mandelson also set up a meeting for Epstein with Blair based on the Clinton connection:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk16gpxj0o

    The email on 7 May 2002 states: "Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?

    "This was frustrated - TB said at the time - in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies."
    If there's evidence against Clinton, let it come out. If he's committed criminal acts, let him be charged.

    That, of course, goes for Trump too.
    But I don't expect him to be summoned to give evidence by the current Congress.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335
    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Labour are 7% ahead of the Tories in last night's Opinium poll taken post Mandelson's resignation.

    Reform are on 31%, Labour 23%, Conservatives 16%, Green 13%, LDs 10%.

    Unless that changes it will be Kemi gone by the end of the summer, not Starmer
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
    I hope Starmer goes. He's had a crack of the whip and with no results. Epstein is a sideshow. He's just poor at politics.

    I believe you are right about Badenoch, she couldn't win a "buy it now" auction. I couldn't be happier if she stays. I would be far more concerned as a never-Tory by Hunt or Cleverly.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,717
    Leon said:

    BBC News political correspondent saying it is highly likely Starmer will now follow

    “Majority of Labour MPs say when, not if”

    One can hope!

    KEEP CALMER
    and
    OUST STARMER
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,732
    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Starmer’s human shield has gone

    Skyr is now gravely exposed. Starmer must now be heavy odds on to go this year

    Labour are 7% ahead of the Tories in last night's Opinium poll taken post Mandelson's resignation.

    Reform are on 31%, Labour 23%, Conservatives 16%, Green 13%, LDs 10%.

    Unless that changes it will be Kemi gone by the end of the summer, not Starmer
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
    The EMA (Exponential Moving Average) of polls, which smooths out MOEs and different methodologies, has the Tories on 18.6% and Labour on 18.9%.

    But because of the vagaries of FPTP, I calculate that this would leave the Tories in sixth place with 39 seats behind Reform, LDs, Lab, Green, SNP, Con in that order.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 6,910
    Does this mean now Labour will stop chasing Reform voters ?

    McSweeney was clueless and good riddance to him .
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,717
    nico67 said:

    Does this mean now Labour will stop chasing Reform voters ?

    McSweeney was clueless and good riddance to him .

    Scapegoat!
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 23,226
    edited 2:42PM

    I feel a bit sorry for McSweeney.
    .

    I don't surprisingly

    SKS & McSweeney deserve each other
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    At university in the late 90s, Section 28, was still in force.

    One guy like me didn’t drink because he didn’t want to make an arse of himself, he admitted his homosexuality to me and didn’t want to go to the gay bars because he was a virgin.

    So I dragged him to a gay club and the rest is history.

    This was the era the papers asked if we were run by a gay mafia.
    When you say 'dragged...'
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 33,959

    HYUFD said:

    isam said:

    Keir Starmer is the Theresa May of the Labour Party.

    If we follow the logic of what happened in the Tory Party:

    Labour members will ultimately replace Starmer with their favourite Angela Rayner, much as Theresa was replaced by Boris.

    She will fail to achieve anything as the strings will still be pulled by the Labour illuminati and the British deep state.

    Labour MPs will tire of this and will eventually crown Wes Streeting, the Rishi Sunak, of the Labour Party - who is a creature of the system.

    Nothing will change and Labour will be crushed in the 2029 election.

    NB there is no Labour Liz Truss!


    https://x.com/trussliz/status/2020476823524524196?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Such a tragedy for Labour there is no one of Liz's genius to take on the deep state, as she modestly states herself!

    Liz was the greatest PM in British history, her brilliant premiership tragically cut short as the voters, the media, her own MPs and the globalist elite could not see or understand how great she was and the transformation she was making to our economy. Even the markets crashed themselves rather than properly studying how great and profitable for them her budget would be!!
    If I were in Labour comms, I'd be tempted to put the message "There is no Labour Liz Truss" on the biggest billboards I could find.
    A Labour Liz Truss would be a polling improvement on the current incumbent.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    What little I have heard about McSweeney isn't flattering. But he appears to have remained loyal to the end.

    "After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government.
    "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
    "This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.
    "As I leave I have two further reflections:
    "Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
    "Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.
    "I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve."
    It wasn't a process mistake but a political mistake. Creating additional processes and arms-length bodies just compounds the problems caused by trying to depoliticise questions that are fundamentally political.
    The two things aren't mutually exclusive.

    I don't really care what McSweeney himself has to say about the system, but it's been common currency for some time that vetting procedures are inadequate.

    The appointment was a mistake, obviously. But it was one both applauded and condemned on both sides if the political divide.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335
    Leon said:

    BBC saying it is highly likely Starmer will now follow

    “Majority of Labour MPs say when, not if”

    Which one? It's important. I'd believe Grammaticus, Lynham, Forsyth, Young and a couple of others but Mason and Zephman are not particularly reliable.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 33,959
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    What little I have heard about McSweeney isn't flattering. But he appears to have remained loyal to the end.

    "After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government.
    "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
    "This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.
    "As I leave I have two further reflections:
    "Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
    "Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.
    "I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve."
    It wasn't a process mistake but a political mistake. Creating additional processes and arms-length bodies just compounds the problems caused by trying to depoliticise questions that are fundamentally political.
    The two things aren't mutually exclusive.

    I don't really care what McSweeney himself has to say about the system, but it's been common currency for some time that vetting procedures are inadequate.

    The appointment was a mistake, obviously. But it was one both applauded and condemned on both sides if the political divide.
    How are the procedures inadequate if they bring issues to light but the PM considers them to be of insufficient gravity to affect his decision?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176
    It's that liberal media in the US at it again.

    The world heard JD Vance being booed at the Olympics. Except for viewers in the US
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/07/jd-vance-boos-winter-olympics
    ...When Team USA entered the San Siro during the parade of nations, the speed skater Erin Jackson led the delegation into a wall of cheers. Moments later, when cameras cut to US vice-president JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, large sections of the crowd responded with boos. Not subtle ones, but audible and sustained ones. Canadian viewers heard them. Journalists seated in the press tribunes in the upper deck, myself included, clearly heard them. But as I quickly realized from a groupchat with friends back home, American viewers watching NBC did not...
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 15,337
    Nigelb said:

    Is a bigger fish about to be caught?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/epstein-clintons-maxwell.html

    Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show.

    Mandelson also set up a meeting for Epstein with Blair based on the Clinton connection:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk16gpxj0o

    The email on 7 May 2002 states: "Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?

    "This was frustrated - TB said at the time - in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies."
    If there's evidence against Clinton, let it come out. If he's committed criminal acts, let him be charged.

    That, of course, goes for Trump too.
    But I don't expect him to be summoned to give evidence by the current Congress.
    Well it certainly wouldn't want him to be giving evidence live and in public. Goodness knows what he might say.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 23,041
    Who is Starmer going to appoint now?

    What a tragedy for the country. Starmer is freakishly bad at the politics thing, yet there is nobody in Labour, nor anywhere else, likely to do a better job.

    The issue is deeply structural, and the bond traders wait, licking their paws.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    Nigelb said:

    It's that liberal media in the US at it again.

    The world heard JD Vance being booed at the Olympics. Except for viewers in the US
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/07/jd-vance-boos-winter-olympics
    ...When Team USA entered the San Siro during the parade of nations, the speed skater Erin Jackson led the delegation into a wall of cheers. Moments later, when cameras cut to US vice-president JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, large sections of the crowd responded with boos. Not subtle ones, but audible and sustained ones. Canadian viewers heard them. Journalists seated in the press tribunes in the upper deck, myself included, clearly heard them. But as I quickly realized from a groupchat with friends back home, American viewers watching NBC did not...

    Thank God the BBC never doctors footage to make, say, Trump look really bad
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232
    Greater love hath no man…
  • LeonLeon Posts: 66,434
    Isn’t it nice. The quiet
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 23,041
    Morgan rightly points out, while accepting full responsibility, that the screening process is obviously fucked.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    At university in the late 90s, Section 28, was still in force.

    One guy like me didn’t drink because he didn’t want to make an arse of himself, he admitted his homosexuality to me and didn’t want to go to the gay bars because he was a virgin.

    So I dragged him to a gay club and the rest is history.

    This was the era the papers asked if we were run by a gay mafia.
    When you say 'dragged...'
    Metaphorically, he wanted to gut but lacked the confidence to go.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,412

    Who is Starmer going to appoint now?

    What a tragedy for the country. Starmer is freakishly bad at the politics thing, yet there is nobody in Labour, nor anywhere else, likely to do a better job.

    The issue is deeply structural, and the bond traders wait, licking their paws.

    Jonathan Powell?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 37,335
    Leon said:

    Nigelb said:

    It's that liberal media in the US at it again.

    The world heard JD Vance being booed at the Olympics. Except for viewers in the US
    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/07/jd-vance-boos-winter-olympics
    ...When Team USA entered the San Siro during the parade of nations, the speed skater Erin Jackson led the delegation into a wall of cheers. Moments later, when cameras cut to US vice-president JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, large sections of the crowd responded with boos. Not subtle ones, but audible and sustained ones. Canadian viewers heard them. Journalists seated in the press tribunes in the upper deck, myself included, clearly heard them. But as I quickly realized from a groupchat with friends back home, American viewers watching NBC did not...

    Thank God the BBC never doctors footage to make, say, Trump look really bad
    Or Johnson look good (Cenotaph 2019).
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,442
    One down one to go.
    Waiting for news from the bunker from brixhiam59
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,232

    Who is Starmer going to appoint now?

    What a tragedy for the country. Starmer is freakishly bad at the politics thing, yet there is nobody in Labour, nor anywhere else, likely to do a better job.

    The issue is deeply structural, and the bond traders wait, licking their paws.

    Ben Wegg-Prosser.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 23,041

    Who is Starmer going to appoint now?

    What a tragedy for the country. Starmer is freakishly bad at the politics thing, yet there is nobody in Labour, nor anywhere else, likely to do a better job.

    The issue is deeply structural, and the bond traders wait, licking their paws.

    Ben Wegg-Prosser.
    Pure Wodehouse.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,717

    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    At university in the late 90s, Section 28, was still in force.

    One guy like me didn’t drink because he didn’t want to make an arse of himself, he admitted his homosexuality to me and didn’t want to go to the gay bars because he was a virgin.

    So I dragged him to a gay club and the rest is history.

    This was the era the papers asked if we were run by a gay mafia.
    When you say 'dragged...'
    Metaphorically, he wanted to gut but lacked the confidence to go.
    The GAYEST Place On Earth Will Surprise You -
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWLDy94FYg
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 86,176

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    DavidL said:

    Morgan McSweeney resigns.

    You'd really not choose Starmer to be in a trench with, would you? Its quite remarkable how often he thinks others should pay the price for him.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that he should lay down his friends for his life.

    Said Jeremy Thorpe in 1962.
    What little I have heard about McSweeney isn't flattering. But he appears to have remained loyal to the end.

    "After careful reflection, I have decided to resign from the government.
    "The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.
    "When asked, I advised the Prime Minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice. In public life responsibility must be owned when it matters most, not just when it is most convenient. In the circumstances, the only honourable course is to step aside.
    "This has not been an easy decision. Much has been written and said about me over the years but my motivations have always been simple: I have worked every day to elect and support a government that puts the lives of ordinary people first and leads us to a better future for our great country. Only a Labour government will do that. I leave with pride in all we have achieved mixed with regret at the circumstances of my departure. But I have always believed there are moments when you must accept your responsibility and step aside for the bigger cause.
    "As I leave I have two further reflections:
    "Firstly, and most importantly, we must remember the women and girls whose lives were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein and whose voices went unheard for far too long.
    "Secondly, while I did not oversee the due diligence and vetting process, I believe that process must now be fundamentally overhauled. This cannot simply be a gesture but a safeguard for the future.
    "I remain fully supportive of the Prime Minister. He is working every day to rebuild trust, restore standards and serve the country. I will continue to back that mission in whatever way I can. It has been the honour of my life to serve."
    It wasn't a process mistake but a political mistake. Creating additional processes and arms-length bodies just compounds the problems caused by trying to depoliticise questions that are fundamentally political.
    The two things aren't mutually exclusive.

    I don't really care what McSweeney himself has to say about the system, but it's been common currency for some time that vetting procedures are inadequate.

    The appointment was a mistake, obviously. But it was one both applauded and condemned on both sides if the political divide.
    How are the procedures inadequate if they bring issues to light but the PM considers them to be of insufficient gravity to affect his decision?
    The principal report is here:
    Investigation into the performance of UK Security Vetting
    https://www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/investigation-into-the-performance-of-uk-security-vetting/

    But there's plenty other criticism of how lax we are in taking vetting seriously for many appointments where we should.

    Met Police vetting:
    https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-03-23/debates/5000BC61-1A0A-4897-8159-614FAAF94A33/DanielMorganIndependentPanelReport

    The problem(s) of House of Lords appointments
    https://constitution-unit.com/2022/11/17/the-problems-of-house-of-lords-appointments/

    More generally
    https://www.ukanticorruptioncoalition.org/political-integrity
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 77,538

    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nepal didn't quite the scale the summit today, I am sure I wasn't the only England fan Tenzing up at the end.

    Will your unstoppable wit Everest?
    Well a few of my gay friends have often said I was their Tenzing Norgay/sherpa up the mountain of gayness.
    You were their base camp ?
    At university in the late 90s, Section 28, was still in force.

    One guy like me didn’t drink because he didn’t want to make an arse of himself, he admitted his homosexuality to me and didn’t want to go to the gay bars because he was a virgin.

    So I dragged him to a gay club and the rest is history.

    This was the era the papers asked if we were run by a gay mafia.
    When you say 'dragged...'
    Metaphorically, he wanted to gut but lacked the confidence to go.
    So you were not, for once, making a subtle pun?
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