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Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,174
edited April 26 in General
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life – politicalbetting.com

Keir Starmer 'planning to sack Rachel Reeves in shock reshuffle': PM is willing to sacrifice his Chancellor if local council elections are a bloodbath, Labour insiders claim https://t.co/zecmIksH7r

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • nico67nico67 Posts: 8,325
    Very funny headline !

    I think this is just shxt stirring from the Daily Mail .

  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    Cooper new Chancellor to end claims Starmer has a problem with women? There again, Pat McFadden has been most steadfast on media rounds.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    I've cashed out some but not all leadership bets. Pro-tip: if you have a coughing fit, let go of the mouse!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,587
    edited April 26
    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    So at the White House Correspondents' dinner last night when the Secret Service shouted 'shots'

    Hesgeth and Patel replied with 'Whiskey' and 'Tequila'.

    What is it with Americans these days that they can't even manage a simple assassination without cocking the whole thing up?

    (Although I'm not surprised you hate a man called 'Cash' even allowing for his other faults.)
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    Guests and journalists alike began to speculate about security. Upon arriving at the Hilton, I had remarked to a colleague just how light the measures were. No ID checks. No pat-downs on entry. A simple flash of a cardboard ticket, the exact same from the 2025 event, was all that was needed to enter.
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/26/donald-trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner/ (£££)
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    Good morning, everyone.

    Reeves, while not someone I think is amazing as Chancellor, appears to have literally nothing to do with Mandelson in any way.

    If Starmer throws her into the maw of the tiger pursuing him it may not necessarily enhance his already beleaguered position.

    Speaking of tigers, I finally started reading The Broken Seals (the first part of a particular translation of a Chinese classic The Marshes of Mount Liang) about a quarter of a century after I read the first part, though I have read a different translation multiple times in the intervening period. Rather looking forward to this.

    The main translation difference I noted years ago was one character being called Stumpy Tiger Wang in the other edition and Short Arse Wang in this one.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    Reeves, while not someone I think is amazing as Chancellor, appears to have literally nothing to do with Mandelson in any way.

    If Starmer throws her into the maw of the tiger pursuing him it may not necessarily enhance his already beleaguered position.

    Speaking of tigers, I finally started reading The Broken Seals (the first part of a particular translation of a Chinese classic The Marshes of Mount Liang) about a quarter of a century after I read the first part, though I have read a different translation multiple times in the intervening period. Rather looking forward to this.

    The main translation difference I noted years ago was one character being called Stumpy Tiger Wang in the other edition and Short Arse Wang in this one.

    Short Arse Wang is perhaps a spoof of Mao?
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 8,325
    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.

    Just remember this: I had a 250/1 winning tip on Max Verstappen here.

    You'd be merely Caesar to the Hannibal of that tip.

    [Also, I wish I'd backed that tip of yours.]
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,446
    So in a few weeks' time, Ms Reeves will be a major culprit in a possible disaster whilst up to the present, she's been steering the economy really well? I get it.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,472
    So it will be Rachel's fault when we get hammered a week on Thursday.

    So obvious.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    edited April 26
    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    What irks me is that Labour have done precisely nothing to sort out the antiquated shitshow that is the process of buying and selling a house to simplify and streamline it, including reforming the tax regime. That's the real root cause of this mess and it's a problem for millions of people every year.

    It's entirely typical of this government that they're not even trying to do simple, boring things that would make the lives of ordinary people better (indeed, much the reverse with things like PIP) while coming up with grand schemes that are a total disaster and will piss everyone off.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    Morris_Dancer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.

    Just remember this: I had a 250/1 winning tip on Max Verstappen here.

    You'd be merely Caesar to the Hannibal of that tip.

    [Also, I wish I'd backed that tip of yours.]
    Cannae suggest we avoid classical references?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.

    Shame, you won't get tp spend any time on that Carribean island you bought with your winnings.

    To house your shoes.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 8,325
    edited April 26
    Nothing shouts desperation more than a cabinet re-shuffle !

    And removing your chancellor normally spells the end. Whatever people think of Reeves recent economic data before the Iran War showed things stabilising .

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,909
    One of the many problems with this (apart from Miliband being a dangerous idiot) is that he’s not exactly been supportive of the PM recently. I take the usual point about keeping your enemies closer but it strikes me as a recipe for divisive government and, potentially, Starmer being no more than a figurehead.

    If Starmer is thinking about this he should listen to the Snake by Al Wilson ( and I deeply apologise to any Serpentes offended by the comparison with Miliband).
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    edited April 26
    Stuartinromford said:

    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.

    To be pedantic, Johnson and Sunak were backbenchers at the time of election, although I realise you probably mean 'at some point before being appointed.' Similarly with Lloyd George (backbencher, previously War) and Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty).

    Indeed, you have to go back to Balfour to find somebody who had never held either of those titles when becoming leader of a governing party, and he was actually First Lord of the Treasury at the time.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    edited April 26
    For PB's lawyers and Brexit fans:-

    Inside the Case: Brexit: The Constitutional Crisis - Lord Pannick KC

    In this episode of our "Inside the Case" podcast series, we speak with Lord David Pannick KC, the barrister who led the landmark constitutional challenges arising from Brexit and helped define the limits of executive power in the UK.

    Lord Pannick reflects on the historic Supreme Court cases known as Miller 1 and Miller 2, explaining how they reshaped the balance between government, Parliament and the judiciary during one of the most politically charged periods in recent history. He discusses the legal principles at stake, provides a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the courtroom drama, and explores the wider implications for the rule of law today.

    "Inside the Case” is a powerful video podcast series by The University of Law and hosted by journalist Frances Gibb. It looks behind the scenes of some of the UK’s most significant criminal and constitutional legal battles. Each episode focuses on one high-profile trial, looking at the challenges in securing justice and the wider reverberations from the point of view of one of the key legal players involved.


    00:00:00 Introduction
    00:03:01 Lord Pannick’s early life
    00:05:30 Starting at the Bar and public law
    00:08:42 Meeting Gina Miller
    00:12:17 Miller 1: The High Court hearing and public backlash
    00:18:30 The Supreme Court and the De Keyser joke
    00:24:55 Consequences of the Miller 1 ruling
    00:26:52 Boris Johnson and the prorogation of Parliament
    00:30:02 The Scottish challenge by SMP Joanna Cherry
    00:31:20 Miller 2 in the Supreme Court
    00:40:35 The unanimous Supreme Court decision
    00:44:57 Working for Boris Johnson
    00:46:38 The constitutional legacy of the Brexit cases
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC3g-sGSdZM

    Note that in the blurb on the site, those timestamps are links. I can't be bothered to set them up here.

    By coincidence, I have a copy of Lord P's book, Advocates, which is shortly to be consigned to the skip at the recycling centre. £15 back in the day, which is not bad for a low-circulation hardback.

    ETA: his legal lordship's dad ran a shoe shop, so there is a link!
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,909
    nico67 said:

    Nothing shouts desperation more than a cabinet re-shuffle !

    And removing your chancellor normally spells the end. Whatever people think of Reeves recent economic data before the Iran War showed things stabilising .

    I think even before the war the data was mixed but the reduction in the deficit was certainly very welcome and timely. £132bn was still far too much but it was at least a step in the right direction.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,587
    Morris_Dancer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.

    Just remember this: I had a 250/1 winning tip on Max Verstappen here.

    You'd be merely Caesar to the Hannibal of that tip.

    [Also, I wish I'd backed that tip of yours.]
    As accumulators my tips are the best.

    Bloody related contingencies.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    ydoethur said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.

    To be pedantic, Johnson and Sunak were backbenchers at the time of election, although I realise you probably mean 'at some point before being appointed.' Similarly with Lloyd George (backbencher, previously War) and Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty).

    Indeed, you have to go back to Balfour to find somebody who had never held either of those titles when becoming leader of a governing party, and he was actually First Lord of the Treasury at the time.
    If we're doing pedantic (and why not- pedantic is good), I did say 'before' rather than 'immediately before'.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 13,466
    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    SandyRentool said:

    So it will be Rachel's fault when we get hammered a week on Thursday.

    So obvious.

    "We" the Labour Party are in for a jaw-dropping night of "We lost WHERE???" There is literally no case to be made for voting Labour other than "But Reform/Greens will be even worse!" To which the voters' response will be "Maybe...so?".

    "We" the voters have been hammered by Rachael Reeves' poor calls for nearly two years. She shares a portion of the blame for what is about to happen. But ultimately it will be seen as a referendum on Starmer's performance. And, much as we know he likes to try and override the results of a Referendum, there'll be no support for calls to re-run this one.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    Stuartinromford said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.

    To be pedantic, Johnson and Sunak were backbenchers at the time of election, although I realise you probably mean 'at some point before being appointed.' Similarly with Lloyd George (backbencher, previously War) and Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty).

    Indeed, you have to go back to Balfour to find somebody who had never held either of those titles when becoming leader of a governing party, and he was actually First Lord of the Treasury at the time.
    If we're doing pedantic (and why not- pedantic is good), I did say 'before' rather than 'immediately before'.
    So right now, Lammy would be on the shortlist, but Streeting and Burnham aren't. Sorry, guys.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,686
    DavidL said:

    One of the many problems with this (apart from Miliband being a dangerous idiot) is that he’s not exactly been supportive of the PM recently. I take the usual point about keeping your enemies closer but it strikes me as a recipe for divisive government and, potentially, Starmer being no more than a figurehead.

    If Starmer is thinking about this he should listen to the Snake by Al Wilson ( and I deeply apologise to any Serpentes offended by the comparison with Miliband).

    Milliband ought to be no shorter odds to be next Chancellor than next PM, if we lived in a rational world.
    But we evidently don't.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,866
    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    The Dream Team of Rayner as Leader and Miliband as CoE looks likely to me.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 47,915
    If Starmer genuinely thinks sacking Reeves will in any way solve his problems, it’s just another indication of his yawning gulf of misunderstanding why he personally is up shit creek.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,686
    Foxy said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    The Dream Team of Rayner as Leader and Miliband as CoE looks likely to me.
    Fever dream ?
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,450
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    So at the White House Correspondents' dinner last night when the Secret Service shouted 'shots'

    Hesgeth and Patel replied with 'Whiskey' and 'Tequila'.

    Sambuca being “shots fired” I suppose…
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    On topic, if Ed Miliband does become next Chancellor (33/1) then next Prime Minister (100/1) I think I might actually die of smugness.

    Just remember this: I had a 250/1 winning tip on Max Verstappen here.

    You'd be merely Caesar to the Hannibal of that tip.

    [Also, I wish I'd backed that tip of yours.]
    As accumulators my tips are the best.

    Bloody related contingencies.
    My record is 100 per cent. One tip on horseracing – one win.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,909
    SandyRentool said:

    So it will be Rachel's fault when we get hammered a week on Thursday.

    So obvious.

    I think we can all be very confident, that at least in Starmer’s mind, it isn’t going to be his fault.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,450
    nico67 said:

    Nothing shouts desperation more than a cabinet re-shuffle !

    And removing your chancellor normally spells the end. Whatever people think of Reeves recent economic data before the Iran War showed things stabilising .

    How many resets and relaunches has Sfarmer had now?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    Theuniondivvie said:

    If Starmer genuinely thinks sacking Reeves will in any way solve his problems, it’s just another indication of his yawning gulf of misunderstanding why he personally is up shit creek.

    I can only think a new Chancellor might free up more money to bribe backbenchers via spending on their favourite causes, but I'm not convinced by the story.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 23,704
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    Angela Rayner may have the right politics but she comes over as a bit thick to me.

    Only Burnham can save Labour and we know he isn't currently eligible due to the Labour First mob putting control of the Party ahead of the good of the Party.

    The likes of Luke Akehurst and at least 100 PLP members would rather Farage was PM than a soft left leader become PM.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 23,704
    Foxy said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    The Dream Team of Rayner as Leader and Miliband as CoE looks likely to me.
    No chance and that is a dream that you would wake up from screaming
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 12,887
    Miliband can't be chancellor in my view as his 2015 debate performance would hang Edstone like around his neck.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    bigjohnowls said:

    Foxy said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    The Dream Team of Rayner as Leader and Miliband as CoE looks likely to me.
    No chance and that is a dream that you would wake up from screaming
    I'm mildly amused we have very different political perspectives but both loathe the idea of PM Rayner and Chancellor Miliband.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    If she is going to become PM, there'll be a bunch of folk happy to fund her HMRC penalties.

    And provide her with a new wardrobe.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,617
    It's probably a story put about my enemies of Starmer to sow suspicion of him across the Cabinet to try and force them to act but here's the thing: it's perfectly conceivable it's true, because everyone knows he'd throw his own mother under the bus to save his own skin.

    That's his real problem - right there.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    Foxy said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    The Dream Team of Rayner as Leader and Miliband as CoE looks likely to me.
    Please tell me you've put that out there in glorious pb tradition - to put the mockers on it?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    edited April 26
    More Russian refineries on fire, today’s in Yaroslavl, 800km from Ukraine.

    https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2048200656851177830

    That’s four facilities on fire at the moment, Ukraine can now seemingly target any site West of the Urals with impunity.

    https://x.com/maria_drutska/status/2047962471617442018
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    Theuniondivvie said:

    Coolness under fire.
    Nothing comes between this guy and his pudding.

    https://x.com/chrisstephensmd/status/2048216363794334127?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    There may be a vacancy for Secratary of War in short order....
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    If Starmer genuinely thinks sacking Reeves will in any way solve his problems, it’s just another indication of his yawning gulf of misunderstanding why he personally is up shit creek.

    I can only think a new Chancellor might free up more money to bribe backbenchers via spending on their favourite causes, but I'm not convinced by the story.
    Works on the public. Sometimes.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Casino_Royale said:

    It's probably a story put about my enemies of Starmer to sow suspicion of him across the Cabinet to try and force them to act but here's the thing: it's perfectly conceivable it's true, because everyone knows he'd throw his own mother under the bus to save his own skin.

    That's his real problem - right there.

    Yes, at the moment cannot be sure who is loyal and who isn't. Not all the journalists will be making up their reports.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Omnium said:

    Miliband can't be chancellor in my view as his 2015 debate performance would hang Edstone like around his neck.

    The mind behind the Edstone is now an MP, they should make him PM.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 43,522
    @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk‬

    Scott Bessent pictured here on his way to jump bounce the cue ball off three cushions, around a line of reds, to pot the blue top right without moving the black.

    https://bsky.app/profile/joxley.jmoxley.co.uk/post/3mkezhdjdb22e
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    bigjohnowls said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    Angela Rayner may have the right politics but she comes over as a bit thick to me.

    Only Burnham can save Labour and we know he isn't currently eligible due to the Labour First mob putting control of the Party ahead of the good of the Party.

    The likes of Luke Akehurst and at least 100 PLP members would rather Farage was PM than a soft left leader become PM.
    Why Burnham?

    Apart from lack of Starmer cooties, what does he actually bring to the table?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 81,143
    So close
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    View from the side of the stage at the WHCD as it all kicked off. Happens in seconds, thankfully no-one injured although one officer apparently took a bullet to his armoured vest.

    https://x.com/jacquiheinrich/status/2048261049581814270

    What sort of crazy guy tries to rush the door of a place hosting half the US government? Did he expect to be able to get anywhere close to the room without being taken out by the hundreds of police that were there?
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,268
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Guests and journalists alike began to speculate about security. Upon arriving at the Hilton, I had remarked to a colleague just how light the measures were. No ID checks. No pat-downs on entry. A simple flash of a cardboard ticket, the exact same from the 2025 event, was all that was needed to enter.
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/04/26/donald-trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner/ (£££)

    US Secret Service is part of the (unfunded?) DHS. So what do you think Trump will say next about the Democrats stalling the funding?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    Stuartinromford said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.

    To be pedantic, Johnson and Sunak were backbenchers at the time of election, although I realise you probably mean 'at some point before being appointed.' Similarly with Lloyd George (backbencher, previously War) and Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty).

    Indeed, you have to go back to Balfour to find somebody who had never held either of those titles when becoming leader of a governing party, and he was actually First Lord of the Treasury at the time.
    If we're doing pedantic (and why not- pedantic is good), I did say 'before' rather than 'immediately before'.
    To be fair, we have both missed an obvious one. Theresa May had never held either office.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 8,325
    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    It’s not just them some of the ex MAGA’s are also into that conspiracy . It all seems to stem from the FBI lying about the perpetrator not having a social media presence . This then seems to have snowballed .
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,433
    This morning is a signpost about a sort of cultural shift. Bloke fires shots around a presidential occasion with all the press present. This leads the news like Trump does most days but it isn't regarded as a mega mega thing, but just one of those things that happens around Trump.

    If this was a decade or two ago it would be one of the huge stories of the year.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    Morris_Dancer said:

    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.

    Almost nothing drives economic growth as much as cheap energy, especially vehicle diesel and industrial electricity.

    Instead, the UK has Ed Miliband.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    ydoethur said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    ydoethur said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    If everything insiders claimed happened, a lot more things would happen than do. And I'm puzzled as to how replacing Rachel with Yvette does anything about a women problem.

    Having said that, if you start from the position that every mid-season replacement PM has been Chancellor or Foreign Secretary before, Labour has a massive problem with Reeves in her current position. Because I doubt that even Reeves thinks that she will be the next PM. Moving her on to widen the pool of possibles makes a bit of sense.

    Whereas Rayner saying "it's now or never" only makes sense in the context of her personal ambition.

    One of the distinctive difficulties of being a top politician is that you are surrounded by people who are nominally your allies but also your enemies because they want your job are convinced that they can do it better than you. Sadly for Starmer, he's given than a lot of things that they can take as corroboration.

    To be pedantic, Johnson and Sunak were backbenchers at the time of election, although I realise you probably mean 'at some point before being appointed.' Similarly with Lloyd George (backbencher, previously War) and Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty).

    Indeed, you have to go back to Balfour to find somebody who had never held either of those titles when becoming leader of a governing party, and he was actually First Lord of the Treasury at the time.
    If we're doing pedantic (and why not- pedantic is good), I did say 'before' rather than 'immediately before'.
    To be fair, we have both missed an obvious one. Theresa May had never held either office.
    What, TMay was Prime... Oh, she was, wasn't she?

    Though that only adds Mahmood to the "realistic shortlist" list, and she's not getting the PM's job either.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 47,915
    edited April 26
    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    That theory has been floating about for a while, with some quite high profile subscribers.
    The most convincing piece of evidence I’ve encountered is that the most petulant man in the universe who has waged years long campaigns of retribution against anyone who has dissed him hasn’t said a word about the mysterious loner who tried to kill him.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    edited April 26
    Sandpit said:

    View from the side of the stage at the WHCD as it all kicked off. Happens in seconds, thankfully no-one injured although one officer apparently took a bullet to his armoured vest.

    https://x.com/jacquiheinrich/status/2048261049581814270

    What sort of crazy guy tries to rush the door of a place hosting half the US government? Did he expect to be able to get anywhere close to the room without being taken out by the hundreds of police that were there?

    He did.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    Sandpit said:

    View from the side of the stage at the WHCD as it all kicked off. Happens in seconds, thankfully no-one injured although one officer apparently took a bullet to his armoured vest.

    https://x.com/jacquiheinrich/status/2048261049581814270

    What sort of crazy guy tries to rush the door of a place hosting half the US government? Did he expect to be able to get anywhere close to the room without being taken out by the hundreds of police that were there?

    This is why we must always be sceptical of conspiracy or terrorism claims when it is clear the would-be (or actual) assassin is a token short on ChatGPT.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Theuniondivvie said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    That theory has been floating about for quite a while, with some quite high profile subscribers.
    The most convincing piece of evidence I’ve encountered is that the most petulant man in the universe who has waged years long campaigns of retribution against anyone who has dissed him hasn’t said a word about the mysterious loner who tried to kill him.
    Interesting point. I guess the seriousness of the universe almost losing Donald Trump actually managed to get through to Donald Trump and become the one thing he's too shaken to rant and rave about.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,866
    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    Yes, fuelled by Trumps right ear being intact and the lack of investigation as to the shooter.

    Trump is saying that this is why he needs his ballroom.

    No-one is talking of the need for gun control.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    bigjohnowls said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    Angela Rayner may have the right politics but she comes over as a bit thick to me.

    Only Burnham can save Labour and we know he isn't currently eligible due to the Labour First mob putting control of the Party ahead of the good of the Party.

    The likes of Luke Akehurst and at least 100 PLP members would rather Farage was PM than a soft left leader become PM.
    I do not think Rayner is stupid but fear her lack of education might be held against her by PPE snobs in the broadcasters and broadsheets, cf Callaghan and Major to name but two.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    ydoethur said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    Coolness under fire.
    Nothing comes between this guy and his pudding.

    https://x.com/chrisstephensmd/status/2048216363794334127?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    I can't top that, but I do have a similar story:

    Some years ago, when I was working in an international school, we were all in the middle of lunch, a colleague of mine choked on a piece of apple. As the only really big bloke nearby, I managed to dislodge it by a rather vicious performance of abdominal thrusts, which allowed him to breathe again.

    After he had been taken off by the school nurse, I then proceeded to earn extreme kudos by going back to the table and finishing my lunch.

    When asked about it later I simply said, 'I don't like wasting food and I do like sticky toffee pudding.'

    (And my colleague is still going strong, btw, in case you were wondering - fortunately I didn't rupture anything.)
    Dangerous stuff, fruit.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    ydoethur said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    Coolness under fire.
    Nothing comes between this guy and his pudding.

    https://x.com/chrisstephensmd/status/2048216363794334127?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    I can't top that, but I do have a similar story:

    Some years ago, when I was working in an international school, we were all in the middle of lunch, a colleague of mine choked on a piece of apple. As the only really big bloke nearby, I managed to dislodge it by a rather vicious performance of abdominal thrusts, which allowed him to breathe again.

    After he had been taken off by the school nurse, I then proceeded to earn extreme kudos by going back to the table and finishing my lunch.

    When asked about it later I simply said, 'I don't like wasting food and I do like sticky toffee pudding.'

    (And my colleague is still going strong, btw, in case you were wondering - fortunately I didn't rupture anything.)
    Dangerous stuff, fruit.
    Espeically when paired with nuts and made President.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    edited April 26

    No-one is talking of the need for gun control.
    That is actually good, it was just adding to distress to pretend they might potentially consider the possibility of thinking about maybe adding some extra paperwork or something.

    Maybe they can revisit the idea in 50 years.

    In the meantime there's always video games to blame, that's due another turn.

  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,365
    Foxy said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    Yes, fuelled by Trumps right ear being intact and the lack of investigation as to the shooter.

    Trump is saying that this is why he needs his ballroom.

    No-one is talking of the need for gun control.
    To be fair, we have gun control and two recently-murdered MPs.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    edited April 26
    Sandpit said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.

    Almost nothing drives economic growth as much as cheap energy, especially vehicle diesel and industrial electricity.

    Instead, the UK has Ed Miliband.
    No fan of the guy, but it's hardly Miliband's fault that we don't have cheap diesel at the moment.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,238
    Darren Jones would be my guess. Starmer loyalist. Putting him in position to have a chance to succeed Starmer when the end happens.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,249
    ydoethur said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    Coolness under fire.
    Nothing comes between this guy and his pudding.

    https://x.com/chrisstephensmd/status/2048216363794334127?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    I can't top that, but I do have a similar story:

    Some years ago, when I was working in an international school, we were all in the middle of lunch, a colleague of mine choked on a piece of apple. As the only really big bloke nearby, I managed to dislodge it by a rather vicious performance of abdominal thrusts, which allowed him to breathe again.

    After he had been taken off by the school nurse, I then proceeded to earn extreme kudos by going back to the table and finishing my lunch.

    When asked about it later I simply said, 'I don't like wasting food and I do like sticky toffee pudding.'

    (And my colleague is still going strong, btw, in case you were wondering - fortunately I didn't rupture anything.)
    Bet he wished he'd had the sticky toffee pudding too. Apple indeed.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,686
    .
    nico67 said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    It’s not just them some of the ex MAGA’s are also into that conspiracy . It all seems to stem from the FBI lying about the perpetrator not having a social media presence . This then seems to have snowballed .
    There's an awful lot of sketchy stuff around that attempt which has never been explained. But there again, this is the Trump administration.
    The conspiracy theory isn't particularly plausible, but neither is it entirely implausible.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 23,704
    Stuartinromford said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    Angela Rayner may have the right politics but she comes over as a bit thick to me.

    Only Burnham can save Labour and we know he isn't currently eligible due to the Labour First mob putting control of the Party ahead of the good of the Party.

    The likes of Luke Akehurst and at least 100 PLP members would rather Farage was PM than a soft left leader become PM.
    Why Burnham?

    Apart from lack of Starmer cooties, what does he actually bring to the table?
    Popularity. Honesty. Principles authenticity Proven successes like the GM Transport schemes. Stood up to most unpopular PM since polling began
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,249
    Rachel Reeves is a very bad Chancellor.

    But it would be mad to suggest she is anywhere near people's biggest issue with the Government.

    Out of that lot I struggle to see anyone I'd give the job to.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Foxy said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    Yes, fuelled by Trumps right ear being intact and the lack of investigation as to the shooter.

    Trump is saying that this is why he needs his ballroom.

    No-one is talking of the need for gun control.
    To be fair, we have gun control and two recently-murdered MPs.
    A failure of individual security vs overall societal issues.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    ydoethur said:

    Sandpit said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.

    Almost nothing drives economic growth as much as cheap energy, especially vehicle diesel and industrial electricity.

    Instead, the UK has Ed Miliband.
    No fan of the guy, but it's hardly Miliband's fault that we don't have cheap diesel at the moment.
    Well 2/3 of the price of the stuff is taxes, and the UK government as a whole appears to be less than interested in helping put the Iranian mullahs back in their box and get the oil flowing.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    Sandpit said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.

    Almost nothing drives economic growth as much as cheap energy, especially vehicle diesel and industrial electricity.

    Instead, the UK has Ed Miliband.
    No fan of the guy, but it's hardly Miliband's fault that we don't have cheap diesel at the moment.
    Well 2/3 of the price of the stuff is taxes, and the UK government as a whole appears to be less than interested in helping put the Iranian mullahs back in their box and get the oil flowing.
    Unless they were behind the shooting yesterday, of course.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:

    Sandpit said:

    Morris_Dancer said:

    Incidentally, if Miliband does become Chancellor or PM that will only heighten the importance of energy prices. The Opposition should hammer the Government over this anyway, and especially if Miliband rises to Number 10 or 11.

    Almost nothing drives economic growth as much as cheap energy, especially vehicle diesel and industrial electricity.

    Instead, the UK has Ed Miliband.
    No fan of the guy, but it's hardly Miliband's fault that we don't have cheap diesel at the moment.
    Well 2/3 of the price of the stuff is taxes, and the UK government as a whole appears to be less than interested in helping put the Iranian mullahs back in their box and get the oil flowing.
    We cannot manage anything but token actions, it's not worth the effort.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,238
    Sandpit said:

    View from the side of the stage at the WHCD as it all kicked off. Happens in seconds, thankfully no-one injured although one officer apparently took a bullet to his armoured vest.

    https://x.com/jacquiheinrich/status/2048261049581814270

    What sort of crazy guy tries to rush the door of a place hosting half the US government? Did he expect to be able to get anywhere close to the room without being taken out by the hundreds of police that were there?

    The movies make it seem a lot easier.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    edited April 26
    Plan: Starmer announces new Chancellor - Andy Burnham. Given the urgency he'll be given a seat in the Lords.

    Try being PM now, Andy!

    (Ok, you can quit the Lords, but it buys time!)
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    Utterly OT but this caught my eye:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Northern_Territory_general_election#Opinion_polling

    "The most prominent issue in the campaign was crime, which has dramatically increased in the Territory in recent years.[29] Other issues included cost of living and pet crocodiles.[30]"
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,866
    General Election Nowcast - 26/04/26:

    RFM: 262 (+257), 26.5% (64 Short)
    LAB: 86 (-325), 19.2%
    LDM: 82 (+10), 12.2%
    CON: 72 (-49), 18.6%
    GRN: 61 (+57), 15.7%
    SNP: 47 (+38), 2.8%
    PLC: 12 (+8), 1.3%
    Oth: 9 (+4), 3.7%

    http://electionmaps.uk/nowcast

    https://bsky.app/profile/electionmaps.uk/post/3mkf44gbjsc2t
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 7,137
    Starmer really is just Boris Johnson.

    I’m ashamed.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,501
    kle4 said:

    Plan: Starmer announces new Chancellor - Andy Burnham. Given the urgency he'll be given a seat in the Lords.

    Try being PM now, Andy!

    (Ok, you can quit the Lords, but it buys time!)

    Chancellor has to be in the Commons.

    Of course, he could be made First Lord of the Treasury and de facto Chancellor, with the Prime Minister taking the title of Chancellor himself.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    Nigelb said:

    .

    nico67 said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    It’s not just them some of the ex MAGA’s are also into that conspiracy . It all seems to stem from the FBI lying about the perpetrator not having a social media presence . This then seems to have snowballed .
    There's an awful lot of sketchy stuff around that attempt which has never been explained. But there again, this is the Trump administration.
    The conspiracy theory isn't particularly plausible, but neither is it entirely implausible.
    It never seemed entirely plausible that Trump would deliver that speech. People work back from that...
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Foxy said:

    General Election Nowcast - 26/04/26:

    RFM: 262 (+257), 26.5% (64 Short)
    LAB: 86 (-325), 19.2%
    LDM: 82 (+10), 12.2%
    CON: 72 (-49), 18.6%
    GRN: 61 (+57), 15.7%
    SNP: 47 (+38), 2.8%
    PLC: 12 (+8), 1.3%
    Oth: 9 (+4), 3.7%

    http://electionmaps.uk/nowcast

    https://bsky.app/profile/electionmaps.uk/post/3mkf44gbjsc2t

    Those SNP seats really yo-yo.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,874
    bigjohnowls said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    DougSeal said:

    nico67 said:

    Rayner must really be kicking herself .

    And she’ll be even more hacked off if the HMRC continue to drag out her case and things happen quickly post the May elections.

    There’s no way she can put herself forward for the leadership until the HMRC report back .

    It could be the case it’s dragging on as it seems she’s gathered more legal advice that suggests she did nothing wrong and doesn’t owe that extra stamp duty .

    I don't know. Double jeopardy and all that. She doesn't have to resign twice over the same matter. I think she will run.
    Yes, I cannot see the stamp duty mess precluding a run. There are no criminal charges and no-one understands it anyway, even if Rayner loses her case.

    Angela Rayner remains favourite in the betting markets for next Prime Minister and next Labour leader.
    Angela Rayner may have the right politics but she comes over as a bit thick to me.

    Only Burnham can save Labour and we know he isn't currently eligible due to the Labour First mob putting control of the Party ahead of the good of the Party.

    The likes of Luke Akehurst and at least 100 PLP members would rather Farage was PM than a soft left leader become PM.
    Why Burnham?

    Apart from lack of Starmer cooties, what does he actually bring to the table?
    Popularity. Honesty. Principles authenticity Proven successes like the GM Transport schemes. Stood up to most unpopular PM since polling began
    Principles?

    Burnham?

    Andy Burnham?

    Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham?

    Remove the glasses, add a comedy wig, make the clothes 35% scruffier, and you've got Boris with a northern accent.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 43,522
    MarqueeMark said:

    Nigelb said:

    .

    nico67 said:

    kle4 said:

    Well, one positive for Trump of people taking shots at him is that his current mildly upset base will presumably rally home. Not really worth the upset of course.

    Apparently many online Dems think his original assassanation attempt was a hoax, which i was not aware of.

    It’s not just them some of the ex MAGA’s are also into that conspiracy . It all seems to stem from the FBI lying about the perpetrator not having a social media presence . This then seems to have snowballed .
    There's an awful lot of sketchy stuff around that attempt which has never been explained. But there again, this is the Trump administration.
    The conspiracy theory isn't particularly plausible, but neither is it entirely implausible.
    It never seemed entirely plausible that Trump would deliver that speech. People work back from that...
    @adgirlMM

    Let me get this straight.

    Trump has forgone the White House Correspondents dinner every single year.

    This year, not only was he there, his entire cabinet was there including the VP, the head of the FBI, the Secretary of Defense (while we're at war) - and Erika Kirk. Ok. 👌

    https://x.com/adgirlMM/status/2048229091535651175?s=20
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,406
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    ydoethur said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    Coolness under fire.
    Nothing comes between this guy and his pudding.

    https://x.com/chrisstephensmd/status/2048216363794334127?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    I can't top that, but I do have a similar story:

    Some years ago, when I was working in an international school, we were all in the middle of lunch, a colleague of mine choked on a piece of apple. As the only really big bloke nearby, I managed to dislodge it by a rather vicious performance of abdominal thrusts, which allowed him to breathe again.

    After he had been taken off by the school nurse, I then proceeded to earn extreme kudos by going back to the table and finishing my lunch.

    When asked about it later I simply said, 'I don't like wasting food and I do like sticky toffee pudding.'

    (And my colleague is still going strong, btw, in case you were wondering - fortunately I didn't rupture anything.)
    Dangerous stuff, fruit.
    Eating 5 a day of the stuff is just an accident waiting to happen...
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    edited April 26
    Nigelb said:

    Zelensky's Defence Minister reshuffle, on the other hand, seems to have been a success.

    Ukraine Def. Minister Mykhailo Fedorov: cut Russia’s Starlink access, signed a record Patriot missile contract, bought more drones in one quarter than in all of last year, launched an AI center, reorganized the MoD and started an audit of the defense-industrial complex. 1/..
    https://x.com/Mylovanov/status/2048109152073912376

    Productive man. He wouldn't like to be UK PM by any chance? There's (almost) a vacancy.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 63,930
    kle4 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Zelensky's Defence Minister reshuffle, on the other hand, seems to have been a success.

    Ukraine Def. Minister Mykhailo Fedorov: cut Russia’s Starlink access, signed a record Patriot missile contract, bought more drones in one quarter than in all of last year, launched an AI center, reorganized the MoD and started an audit of the defense-industrial complex. 1/..
    https://x.com/Mylovanov/status/2048109152073912376

    Productive man. He wouldn't like to be UK PM by any chance? There's (almost) a vacancy.
    It'd be a nice change to have a leader who wants to secure territory rather than give it away.
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