Not many happy Lab people this week but here's one:
Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst · 1h Labour gain from Reform tonight in byelection for Murton Ward, Durham County Council. This ward is in Easington constituency.
Not many happy Lab people this week but here's one:
Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst · 1h Labour gain from Reform tonight in byelection for Murton Ward, Durham County Council. This ward is in Easington constituency.
The first comment is some MAGA bot asking Grok for a demographic breakdown of the seat, and you can feel the disappointment and disbelief when they’re told it’s very white and non-diverse.
Are Depeche Mode as dreary as they were 40 years ago? Buffy Sainte- Marie? Now you're talking.
I was surprised to hear that she got cancelled for allegedly faking her Native American ancestry.
From the early 1960s, Sainte-Marie claimed Indigenous Canadian ancestry, but a 2023 CBC News investigation confirmed she was born in the United States, and is of Italian and English descent.[1] Some Indigenous musicians and organizations called for awards she won while falsely claiming an Indigenous identity to be rescinded.[7][8][9][10][11] Many of her awards and honours were subsequently revoked, including her membership in the Order of Canada, her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, her Juno Awards, and her Polaris Music Prizes.[12][13][14]
On Topic: I think refusing to side with Trump over Iran, could give a polling boost to Labour and the PM... If they were competent enough to play it the right way.
Unfortunately Starmer is not!
What could be seen a strong PM standing up to a bullying, domineering President will actually be viewed as a weak, cowardly and dithering PM doing what he always does... consulting his lawyers before being able to make any decision.
Shame,
If he had gone full Hugh Grant in Love Actually then it might have worked but he just looks like a confused spectator at the moment. And weirdly reminds me of Penfold in Dangermouse.
Penfold (voiced well by Terry Scott) had an interesting voice. Starmer has a voice that is so annoying I genuinely have difficulty retaining what he says and am left vaguely rageful but unsure as to why.
BREAKING: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Hungary has taken seven Ukrainian citizens “hostage” in Budapest and demanded their immediate release.
The detained men are employees of the state-owned Oschadbank who were transporting cash between Austria and Ukraine in armored bank vehicles as part of routine operations between state banks.
Kyiv says it does NOT know why they were detained, what condition they are in, or whether they can contact anyone. Sybiha called Hungary’s actions “state terrorism and racketeering” and said Ukraine has sent a diplomatic note demanding their release and will ask the EU to assess the situation.
TSE will be along to say "Well, that's the problem with cash..." in 5, 4, 3....
No more forever wars in Middle East killing and maiming our kids from MiddleNowhere Ohio latest:
Aaron Rupar @atrupar Hegseth: "We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively. If you think you've seen something, just wait. The amount of combat power that's still flowing, that's still coming, that we'll be able to project over Iran is multiples of what it is right now when you add up our capabilities and those of Israel."
It's hard not to wish them ill and I'm afraid I can't quite manage it.
The trouble is that it really will be the 22 year olds from Noname Nebraska etc who will come home in a body bag and not any fucking former Fox News presenters.
Never mind the civilians all over the middle east.
Sadly true. The best hope is voter revolt in the US. However I don't think Trump even cares much about that. He's there, he's in, and he's going to keep abusing the power of the presidency to titillate and enrich himself. It won't stop until one way or another he's gone.
Ultimately, the problem is that the Supreme Court has become the third, and most powerful chamber of the legislature.
As I pointed out to my American relatives (liberals all) the problem with that is if the Court gets captured. That couldn't happen, they told me. The law is progressive,
To which I asked, who decides which way it is to progress?
The answer, it seems is that a large chunk of the American judicial system has been systematically captured. Trump delivered the judges for Roe vs Wade. And the Judges he delivered are delivering for him.
Which, without making any wider parallels, is a key lesson from the late Weimar period. It was having effective political support from the judiciary that allowed Hitler to systemically and quickly take apart the apparatus of a democratic state and turn it into a dictatorship. Having a legal system that is strong, robust, and as free from political influence as possible really is the key to maintaining liberal democracy - hence why where this didn’t exist - for example in Russia post-1990 - this proved impossible.
I don't think you are being entirely fair to Kemi Badenoch here, she has a duty as the leader of the Opposition to hold this Labour government to account when they make bad decisions and to loyally get behind them in times of crisis especially on Foreign policy when they make the right decisions to protect UK military assets/bases and civilians. And it is now quite clear that has not happened, in fact this Labour government under the stewardship of Keir Starmer has failed in its duty of care to protect and assist both our citizens and military assets/bases in this region over the last week.
I have no problem with the current Labour UK government not getting proactively involved in the US/Israeli military action against Iran, and if the news reports are correct they were never asked too. I would have been quite happy if we continued to carry on our defensive air support in the region from our military bases to protect our own citizens and that of our allies in the region if they came under attack from Iran as a result.
But I think it was utterly wrong for Starmer and his Labout government to refuse the US the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia weeks ago, and espeically in light of their dereliction of duty to give the go ahead to prepare and plan to deploy a Royal Navy fleet of ships to this region to assist and protect our citizens and military assets/bases as a precaution in light of that request which indicated military action maybe imminent. That we are now having to humiliatingly rely on other countries in this region to achieve this is entirely down to the poor decisions made by this awful Labour government who put domestic party politics before our national interests. They should hang their heads in shame.
As a woman, I would not mourn the demise of the brutal Iranian regime after seeing so many brave women there being tortured and murdered over the last 40 years, but I also still blame Donald Trump for setting in motion the train of events that led to the chaotic and tragic events that unfolded in Afghanistan under the weak chaotic Biden adminstration when they did their midnight flit to exit the country and which has left the girls and women there living under such horrific and brutal conditions today.
I don't think you are being entirely fair to Kemi Badenoch here, she has a duty as the leader of the Opposition to hold this Labour government to account when they make bad decisions and to loyally get behind them in times of crisis especially on Foreign policy when they make the right decisions to protect UK military assets/bases and civilians. And it is now quite clear that has not happened, in fact this Labour government under the stewardship of Keir Starmer has failed in its duty of care to protect and assist both our citizens and military assets/bases in this region over the last week.
I have no problem with the current Labour UK government not getting proactively involved in the US/Israeli military action against Iran, and if the news reports are correct they were never asked too. I would have been quite happy if we continued to carry on our defensive air support in the region from our military bases to protect our own citizens and that of our allies in the region if they came under attack from Iran as a result.
But I think it was utterly wrong for Starmer and his Labout government to refuse the US the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia weeks ago, and espeically in light of their dereliction of duty to give the go ahead to prepare and plan to deploy a Royal Navy fleet of ships to this region to assist and protect our citizens and military assets/bases as a precaution in light of that request which indicated military action maybe imminent. That we are now having to humiliatingly rely on other countries in this region to achieve this is entirely down to the poor decisions made by this awful Labour government who put domestic party politics before our national interests. They should hang their heads in shame.
As a woman, I would not mourn the demise of the brutal Iranian regime after seeing so many brave women there being tortured and murdered over the last 40 years, but I also still blame Donald Trump for setting in motion the train of events that led to the chaotic and tragic events that unfolded in Afghanistan under the weak chaotic Biden adminstration when they did their midnight flit to exit the country and which has left the girls and women there living under such horrific and brutal conditions today.
Starmer is weak weak week It shoukd be no surprise that he stuttered initially. He has sent 4 jets to the region not 4 squadrons.
The Tories are partially to blame but Labour is equally culpable.
Brown's decision to waste billions on aircraft carriers which don't function properly was equally stupid
Stop.paying benefits worth more than people get for working and start defending the Country.
I don't think you are being entirely fair to Kemi Badenoch here, she has a duty as the leader of the Opposition to hold this Labour government to account when they make bad decisions and to loyally get behind them in times of crisis especially on Foreign policy when they make the right decisions to protect UK military assets/bases and civilians. And it is now quite clear that has not happened, in fact this Labour government under the stewardship of Keir Starmer has failed in its duty of care to protect and assist both our citizens and military assets/bases in this region over the last week.
I have no problem with the current Labour UK government not getting proactively involved in the US/Israeli military action against Iran, and if the news reports are correct they were never asked too. I would have been quite happy if we continued to carry on our defensive air support in the region from our military bases to protect our own citizens and that of our allies in the region if they came under attack from Iran as a result.
But I think it was utterly wrong for Starmer and his Labout government to refuse the US the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia weeks ago, and espeically in light of their dereliction of duty to give the go ahead to prepare and plan to deploy a Royal Navy fleet of ships to this region to assist and protect our citizens and military assets/bases as a precaution in light of that request which indicated military action maybe imminent. That we are now having to humiliatingly rely on other countries in this region to achieve this is entirely down to the poor decisions made by this awful Labour government who put domestic party politics before our national interests. They should hang their heads in shame.
As a woman, I would not mourn the demise of the brutal Iranian regime after seeing so many brave women there being tortured and murdered over the last 40 years, but I also still blame Donald Trump for setting in motion the train of events that led to the chaotic and tragic events that unfolded in Afghanistan under the weak chaotic Biden adminstration when they did their midnight flit to exit the country and which has left the girls and women there living under such horrific and brutal conditions today.
Starmer is weak weak week It shoukd be no surprise that he stuttered initially. He has sent 4 jets to the region not 4 squadrons.
The Tories are partially to blame but Labour is equally culpable.
Brown's decision to waste billions on aircraft carriers which don't function properly was equally stupid
Stop.paying benefits worth more than people get for working and start defending the Country.
How the hell are the Conservatives partially to blame for not putting the proper planning and preparation in place weeks ago to deploy an even limited Royal Navy task force to the region to protect our military assets/bases and citizens?! And while and I agree consecutive governments have underfunded our military to the point its been hollowed out over the last few decades, I still think that a Conservative government would have taken a different position which would have spared us the humiliation of the US no longer sharing intelligence with us and would have also left us with even a limited presence to protect our own interests in the region!
Seriously, did Starmer and his Labour government put his weakened leadership among the Labour Parliamentary Party and that Gorton and Denton by-election ahead of the national interests of the country and our military and citizens in the Middle East when we should have been planning ahead and deploying a naval prescence in the area far sooner ?
I don't think you are being entirely fair to Kemi Badenoch here, she has a duty as the leader of the Opposition to hold this Labour government to account when they make bad decisions and to loyally get behind them in times of crisis especially on Foreign policy when they make the right decisions to protect UK military assets/bases and civilians. And it is now quite clear that has not happened, in fact this Labour government under the stewardship of Keir Starmer has failed in its duty of care to protect and assist both our citizens and military assets/bases in this region over the last week.
I have no problem with the current Labour UK government not getting proactively involved in the US/Israeli military action against Iran, and if the news reports are correct they were never asked too. I would have been quite happy if we continued to carry on our defensive air support in the region from our military bases to protect our own citizens and that of our allies in the region if they came under attack from Iran as a result.
But I think it was utterly wrong for Starmer and his Labout government to refuse the US the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia weeks ago, and espeically in light of their dereliction of duty to give the go ahead to prepare and plan to deploy a Royal Navy fleet of ships to this region to assist and protect our citizens and military assets/bases as a precaution in light of that request which indicated military action maybe imminent. That we are now having to humiliatingly rely on other countries in this region to achieve this is entirely down to the poor decisions made by this awful Labour government who put domestic party politics before our national interests. They should hang their heads in shame.
As a woman, I would not mourn the demise of the brutal Iranian regime after seeing so many brave women there being tortured and murdered over the last 40 years, but I also still blame Donald Trump for setting in motion the train of events that led to the chaotic and tragic events that unfolded in Afghanistan under the weak chaotic Biden adminstration when they did their midnight flit to exit the country and which has left the girls and women there living under such horrific and brutal conditions today.
Starmer is weak weak week It shoukd be no surprise that he stuttered initially. He has sent 4 jets to the region not 4 squadrons.
The Tories are partially to blame but Labour is equally culpable.
Brown's decision to waste billions on aircraft carriers which don't function properly was equally stupid
Stop.paying benefits worth more than people get for working and start defending the Country.
How the hell are the Conservatives partially to blame for not putting the proper planning and preparation in place weeks ago to deploy an even limited Royal Navy task force to the region to protect our military assets/bases and citizens?! And while and I agree consecutive governments have underfunded our military to the point its been hollowed out over the last few decades, I still think that a Conservative government would have taken a different position which would have spared us the humiliation of the US no longer sharing intelligence with us and would have also left us with even a limited presence to protect our own interests in the region!
Seriously, did Starmer and his Labour government put his weakened leadership among the Labour Parliamentary Party and that Gorton and Denton by-election ahead of the national interests of the country and our military and citizens in the Middle East when we should have been planning ahead and deploying a naval prescence in the area far sooner ?
Complete and utter after timing hogwash
Next you'll be predicting the winner of the 4.38 at Thurles yesterday.
We are dealing with 2 war mongering nut cases in Trump and Netanyahu.
Thank God we have a PM and Government who have learnt past lessons and not getting involved in someone elses war. The UK cannot be responsible for every UK citizen around the gLobs, it cannot be responsible for places like Cyprus any more.
The final paragraph about benefits and defence is risible.
WHO HOLLOWED OUT DEFENCE SPENDING WHO INCREASED WELFARE SPENDING THROUGH THE ROOF WHO SPENT BILLIONS TO DEFEND UKRAINE!
The Special Relationsihip may npt be dead, it is certainly dormant.
One one person to blame for that.
Donald Trump!
History also tells us one other lesson.
Who failed to adequately defend the Falklands until it was too late MARGARET HILDA THATCHER! Who failed to come to our aid - The United fucking States
The Tamworth result is cloudied by a masive anti Pincher by election vote in 2023 that carried forward to 2024 and actually helped remove neighbouring Fabricant in Lichfield. Tamworth has had a very significant Reform vote since 2018.
Comments
Luke Akehurst
@lukeakehurst
·
1h
Labour gain from Reform tonight in byelection for Murton Ward, Durham County Council. This ward is in Easington constituency.
https://x.com/lukeakehurst/status/2029695574786629848
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_Sainte-Marie
I have no problem with the current Labour UK government not getting proactively involved in the US/Israeli military action against Iran, and if the news reports are correct they were never asked too. I would have been quite happy if we continued to carry on our defensive air support in the region from our military bases to protect our own citizens and that of our allies in the region if they came under attack from Iran as a result.
But I think it was utterly wrong for Starmer and his Labout government to refuse the US the use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia weeks ago, and espeically in light of their dereliction of duty to give the go ahead to prepare and plan to deploy a Royal Navy fleet of ships to this region to assist and protect our citizens and military assets/bases as a precaution in light of that request which indicated military action maybe imminent. That we are now having to humiliatingly rely on other countries in this region to achieve this is entirely down to the poor decisions made by this awful Labour government who put domestic party politics before our national interests. They should hang their heads in shame.
As a woman, I would not mourn the demise of the brutal Iranian regime after seeing so many brave women there being tortured and murdered over the last 40 years, but I also still blame Donald Trump for setting in motion the train of events that led to the chaotic and tragic events that unfolded in Afghanistan under the weak chaotic Biden adminstration when they did their midnight flit to exit the country and which has left the girls and women there living under such horrific and brutal conditions today.
It shoukd be no surprise that he stuttered initially.
He has sent 4 jets to the region not 4 squadrons.
The Tories are partially to blame but Labour is equally culpable.
Brown's decision to waste billions on aircraft carriers which don't function properly was equally stupid
Stop.paying benefits worth more than people get for working and start defending the Country.
Good for the US (and Russia); absolutely the opposite for the majority of its allies, to the extent of creating a recession.
Seriously, did Starmer and his Labour government put his weakened leadership among the Labour Parliamentary Party and that Gorton and Denton by-election ahead of the national interests of the country and our military and citizens in the Middle East when we should have been planning ahead and deploying a naval prescence in the area far sooner
?
As for Russia, yes, if they can dig it up.
Next you'll be predicting the winner of the 4.38 at Thurles yesterday.
We are dealing with 2 war mongering nut cases in Trump and Netanyahu.
Thank God we have a PM and Government who have learnt past lessons and not getting involved in someone elses war. The UK cannot be responsible for every UK citizen around the gLobs, it cannot be responsible for places like Cyprus any more.
The final paragraph about benefits and defence is risible.
WHO HOLLOWED OUT DEFENCE SPENDING
WHO INCREASED WELFARE SPENDING THROUGH THE ROOF
WHO SPENT BILLIONS TO DEFEND UKRAINE!
The Special Relationsihip may npt be dead, it is certainly dormant.
One one person to blame for that.
Donald Trump!
History also tells us one other lesson.
Who failed to adequately defend the Falklands until it was too late MARGARET HILDA THATCHER!
Who failed to come to our aid - The United fucking States
Same old Tories
Same old Right Wing Americans
Couldn't organise a piss up.in a brewery.