A member of Labour’s NEC repudiates the Burnham spin – politicalbetting.com
A member of Labour’s NEC repudiates the Burnham spin – politicalbetting.com
The amount of spin coming out Team Burnham is impressive but I think it is damaging him. What I think is worrying Andy Burnham is that there is going to be a leadership contest soon which he wont be able to partake in.
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They're spinning more than Andy Burnham in Miami and it's not even raining yet.
Darren Johnson
@DarrenJohnson66
·
1h
There's never been any proper [Green Party] vetting whatsoever. When I was organising election campaigns for Lewisham Greens, I had to invent a disclosure form for the local candidate selections as no such thing even existed nationally. I've still got it here on my laptop.
https://x.com/DarrenJohnson66/status/2050960151281127849
Angela Rayner too stupid.
Ed Miliband too left wing.
It kind of has to be Streeting, if anyone cares about the country.
Thank God they make the cars so safe, when I first started watching F1 in the early 90s this accident would have been fatal.
@SpencerHakimian
·
2h
🚨BREAKING: Gas hits $5.00/Gallon in Texas.
https://x.com/SpencerHakimian/status/2050958722642460704
All he had to do was read Casino's comments on PB.com and he would have known that Starmer didn't have the political chops to last that long, he would have moved to the Commons at GE2024, and would now be perfectly placed to succeed Starmer.
Instead Burnham demonstrated awful judgement of Starmer's ability, and severely underestimated the difficulty of the job of PM, possibly indicating what the likely result would be in the unlikely event that he becomes PM.
However, as he is deeply unpopular with members the point is in all likelihood moot.
Of your list, Miliband is probably Starmer's likeliest successor, but I am surprised how seldom Cooper is mentioned.
However, Massive's tenure of the Foreign Office was the total car crash we all predicted and it didn't affect his popularity with certain dimwits.
I doubt if it will swerve by any sort of substantial majority though. If the Dems hold all their current senate seats and pick up six they will have had a sensational night. Four seems more plausible.
They won't get the two thirds they need to remove Trump and his fellow criminals from the government and the courts.
Downside is that she may just end up as Starmer 2: uncharismatic place-holder.
https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/cabinet-knows-that-starmer-is-done-for-cn3kt6ffz
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/labour-party/keir-starmer/73126/starmer-zombie-government-matthew-doyle
The GOP would deserve it.
Why on earth do we keep believing that a premiership might unlock hidden depths?
Cooper has done nothing, said nothing, and achieved nothing during 20 years in the public eye.
Assuming a hold in Georgia and Michigan, which didn't look certain a year ago (certainly the former).
Maine looks a certainty.
Ohio and North Carolina look very possible.
Texas and Alaska both look realistic if not straightforward.
If they have an astonishing night they might pick up one of Kansas or Florida and the independent they are backing in Nebraska might pull off a win.
So in a very best case scenario where on top of everything else Donald Trump is caught publicly masturbating over a photo of Barack Obama or something, they might pick up six seats and a Dem-leaning independent one.
In a more normal scenario, they should pick up three, maybe four or five.
If therefore they do any better than that we can fairly safely say no Republican will be in the White House in 2028 without even more substantial vote rigging than they have managed up to now.
@LarrySabato
Trump’s base still 37%. Question: Will $5/gallon subtract points? $6/gallon? What’s the break point on inflation, higher food prices?
Larry Sabato
@LarrySabato
·
2h
Looking at the responses, a large majority believe there is NO break point. And if there is one, the situation must be far more dire than today.
https://x.com/LarrySabato/status/2050931830279336198
'Due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf we are unable to obtain any oil for our [heating] system.
We apologise for any inconvenience President Trump has caused you.'
Not a problem really at this moment with a very temperate spring.
What's it going to be like if this isn't resolved by September to get supplies in for the Autumn?
I think there will be much sound and fury all through next weekend but nothing will materially change.
According to wiki there is the highest number of retiring Senators ever, at 11 (7 Republican and 4 Democrat), which is interesting.
Anonymous stories in the press don't count.
It's exacerbated, of course, by the US being a much closer approximation to a pure 2 party system than the UK has ever been, so swing is primarily people wandering off and losing interest rather than lots of formal switching.
Anyone who likes cycling, walking or lovely scenery should consider a break in the Ceiriog Valley. It's stunningly beautiful, not rammed with tourists, and usually peaceful (ok, a few motorcyclists about).
I can recommend the Glyn Valley in Glynceiriog, which is comfortable and not expensive. The food is decent and a fair price. I also had an excellent meal at the reopened West Arms in Llanarmon, for those with deeper pockets. They accidentally gave me a child's portion, but truthfully it was still a large meal and I wouldn't have noticed had the very embarrassed waitress not come to apologise and load my plate with enormous quantities of extra food and the offer of a free pudding. (I didn't take up the latter as I had several tutoring sessions I needed to get back to.) There is also another pub now called the Hand opposite that does food. Several places to stay and eat in Chirk at the mouth of the valley too.
The Berwyns are great for walking, and for those who like heritage you have Chester, Oswestry, Llangollen and Potcysyllte all within easy striking distance. You have the Llangollen Railway, the Llangollen Canal and Bala not far away for fun transport heritage too.
And the views are just amazing with loads of self catering/airbnbs to exploit on the hillsides.
So if you like a break - try Glyn Ceiriog.
If, despite all those handicaps from your upbringing, somehow 25 or so years later you found yourself as strong favourite to be the next PM of the UK, the last thing I would think of describing you as is "stupid".
The GOP got hammered in 1982 yet Reagan won easily in 1984.
The GOP got hammered in 1974 yet Ford almost won in 1976.
So it is possible for big shifts to happen but the main requirement is competent government amid an improving world situation.
The problem for the GOP is that competent government is something we've seen little of from either Trump administration while an improving world situation also looks doubtful.
And drop the drivel about vote rigging - both sides manipulate the electoral system as much as they can and Trump didn't win because of it.
Labour should learn from the Tories' last period in office: burning through four PMs did them no good in the end - quite the opposite. Indeed, they'd probably have done better in the 2024 GE if Theresa May had still been in office.
Let's see how the land lies next year. If Starmer/Labour are still as unpopular, I wouldn't be surprised if Starmer goes voluntarily. And if he does, I predict he'd clear the way for Burnham to be an MP and throw his hat in the ring, Until then, Burnham's mates should STFU, as should the other contenders.
He won legitimately, to be sure, but he has also banked a lot of political capital on saying that he was robbed in 2020, and most of the GOP are signed up to that view. A lot of the officials who resisted Trump's pressure to reject outcomes he did not like are no longer in place.
So being worried about it even if it is not deemed likely does not seen unreasonable.
I expect to see a lot of spurious legal challenges from both Republicans and Democrats, before and after the elections, because that is what the Trump era has led to.
It will be harder for Burnham to get into parliament if a new leader is selected i would guess.
Patrick De Haan
@GasBuddyGuy
·
1h
BREAKING: Indiana average diesel prices have reached $6/gal and are less than a penny away from surpassing 2022's high of $6.039/gal.
https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2050986342729851330
The frustrating thing is he seems to have a Sunak like ability to swallow his own bullshit about grand schemes that will sort everything out rather than sorting out the boring shit that would actually improve everyone's everyday lives. Proper regulation of water, gas and electricity. Massive reform of the housing market and tax systems. A hard look at why mainstream schools can't manage SEND children. How are universities are being stuffed with gold on tuition fees and going bust. A lack of proper affordable housing for rent.
None of this is glamorous and some of it is dead easy to sort, but his government's solutions are either non existent or actively making things worse.
Sure, some of her people did not help her case with the tax stuff by acting as though she would not have access to good legal advice if and when she wanted it, but whilst I'm sure she must have done some dumb things in her career, it wouldn't be my first thought.
Gotta save that for the likes of Andrew Bridgen.
On that basis, I will stop telling home truths about vote rigging when you stop talking drivel about Trump's attempted coup in 2020.
Scott MacFarlane
@MacFarlaneNews
Exactly 6 months til midterm elections.
https://x.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/2050915578756350360
(I know 2025 was not great either)
I've been expecting a deal within ~10 days since this thing started at the end of February. It's now 25 days since the ceasefire started and the Strait still isn't open.
Obviously with Trump he doesn't have any policy principles, so there's always a potential that he will u-turn at any moment with no warning, but I'm very surprised at just how long this has gone on for already. Just over nine weeks now.
What if the Strait doesn't reopen?
So based on nothing but vibes (since I have no means to make a sophisticated calculation), I am going to say it might even be this week or next, since end of the month appears to be the absolutely critical next moment if things persist.
So, when it came to being Shadow EdSec she had some really great ideas on lifelong learning. And I mean really good. They should be being implemented right now (although because Phillipson hates her they're not).
But her ideas on primary and secondary were considerably worse than Gove's (yes, I mean that) and she was incredibly resistant to hearing well meaning advice from those who could have helped her refine them (again, very Gove). My union members deeply respected her rising to the top from the background she had but boy did she frustrate them on that basis.
I think we also saw that at housing. Good where she already knew - not willing to learn or listen when she wasn't.
That's not necessarily a sign of stupidity but it's definitely something that would scare the shit out of me if she became PM.
And I had the arse of a crow
I'm fly over Villa tommorow
Spurs are staying up.
The downside is the very same quality will lead to stubborness and unwillingness to listen. So many politicians see any resistance to their plans as an attack, even when it is from raising legitimate resourcing and legal issues.
First, the current shortlist to replace Starmer is pretty mediocre. Burnham especially is behaving like a high-pressure salesman for a rubbish product. Give it a year, and the shortlist might well have some more impressive names on it.
Second, there's still quite a lot of radioactive waste for this government to swallow. Might as well leave that to Starmer.
But - and I am no fan of hers - it was noted even by her critics that when a well-argued case she had not previously agreed with was put to her, she was willing to be persuaded.
Most things don’t shift many votes. PB trumpets some catastrophe or debacle every other week, most of which sink without a trace. The voters don’t give a shit about Diego Garcia, for example. But if I was going to pick something that might cut through, this would be my pick from events in April.
If you let him into parliament, you can guarantee he will challenge you at some point.
There's an argument Starmer should let him back in because its probably good for labour/the country to give Burhham a chance to run. But if Labour pick someone else there's no reason for them to help him destabilise everything.
'Donald Trump literally changed my life. Before he shot me, I was trailer trash. Now, I make millions going on Fox News and saying how wonderful he is.'
Thank goodness for Ken Doherty.
I'm a bit sad Alan McManus wasn't invited back to replace him. I always thought he was very good.
So Cameron left because he lost the referendum and couldn't credibly lead the country out of the EU. May was replaced because she was incapable of bridging the divisions in her party over Europe. Johnson was forced out because his party couldn't tolerate being forced to lie on his behalf. Truss was forced out to prevent her from driving the economy off a cliff.
I don't see how any of those changes of PM could have been avoided, given the situation with Brexit and the personal failings of the individuals involved.
With Starmer it's a little bit different. There isn't a major political issue - like Brexit or the poll tax - which demands his removal. I do think there's a huge void in government where a motive purpose ought to be, and if a replacement PM can provide that impetus I think it would make the change worthwhile.
I also think the number of senior staff that Starmer has been forced to dispense with speaks poorly of him, and it is corrosive if the confidence that people need to have in a leader.
The important thing is who the new PM is? It's very easy to get that wrong.
Shit on the Villa,
Shit on the Villa tonight!
Shit on the Villa,
Shit on the Villa tonight!
Shit on the Villa,
Shit on the Villa tonight!
Shit on the Villa,
Coz they’re a load of shite
You will not be able to answer that question because I haven't said any drivel about Trump's attempted coup.
Unless that is you think that saying Trump attempted to overturn a fair election result through legal manipulations backed up by encouraging street thuggery is drivel.
Whereas, sadly, it seems that you would prefer to retreat into comforting fictions rather than attempting to understand why Trump won. Which is especially sad from someone with an academic background,
Still I'll leave you to continue waving the pompoms.
Altogether now with yodders:
"Our vote rigging good, their vote rigging bad."
I'll be the one at the back, shaking my head at both sides and wishing we could have some competent government from somebody for the USA and world as a whole.
Whereas with Boris-Truss-Sunak the issue was Boris was a big fat liar, so replacing with anyone as a policy reset was harder, and that and the rapid change to Sunak ephasised how much it was just Tory party personalities which were at issue.
Wow indeed.
https://x.com/BiancoDavinci/status/2050723690053058688
I can't cope with Denis Taylor. I've given up on the snooker for tonight, much like Villa have given up at Villa Park.
Feel free to deny that, but we all saw your posts.
And that, as you apparently now know perfectly well, is drivel.
I am interested to see you are now rowing back on your previously full throated support for Trump, but I note you still struggle to admit your previous error of judgement. An interesting case study in light of a previous poster's comment on his support.
*This may be very technically true, but for the four people who died as a direct result the following day any reasonable person would say that is a distinction without a difference.
Perhaps the most interesting week of local politics ever in my neck of the woods approaches.
I genuinely don't know how the local elections will play out in Newham next Thursday and the fact I can say that for the first time having lived here more than 20 years tells you how far Labour has fallen.
My head says Labour will hang on but barely but the Newham Independents have run a solid and professional campaign. My current prediction would be Labour 36, NIP 23, Greens 7 currently but the NIP have come into my Ward (Wall End) with canvassers suggesting they can reach beyond the Muslim Wards.
Labour are trying to hold on to the Tamil vote in the more Hindu Wards - even the Conservatives are getting in on the act in Wall End.
As far as the Mayoral election is result, the question is whether Mirza can pile up enough votes from the Muslim Wards to offset the Labour vote in other areas?
The Mayoral vote is due to count Thursday and that will give us a strong hint of how the Council election the next day will go.
EDIT: the whole second again stuff - it's actually a lot worse from everyone else. Charlton fans on the tube last night were singing it. Weird.