Super Tuesday everyone! Cabinet at 10. The Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy PM have all told him to go. The Health Secretary has told him he will stand as soon as the contest begins. The Energy Secretary sits there stroking a large white cat.
Sometimes you have a crunch meeting where people say its over. This time they key figures have already pre-empted that meeting. So if we are to have the pretence that Starmer has authority, he will need to sack the plotters. Today. Yes, that triggers the inevitable but if he wants to go on he will have to fight.
I don't think he wants to do that. I suppose he could try and ride this out. 80 MPs and various senior cabinet members want me out? Tis but a scratch. Kings Speech debate chaos. Meh. Lets all be honest - this is the most absurd scenario of the lot.
So, do we get the lectern without the PM crest by lunchtime?
The foreign sec is not a runner because she is said to be physically unfit for the role. The chancellor is not a runner because she burst into tears in the commons and has crashed gilts. The home sec is not a runner because she is in the wrong party. And the deputy pm (and only other eligible former holder of a great office of state) is not a runner because he thought Henry VIII came before Henry VII.
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
Do they really believe this shit? We’d have a bond strike by Wednesday, the IMF at the door on Thursday, huge welfare cuts by Friday, and a General Election the following week
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
Allies of Burnham tell me this morning a timetable of electing a new Labour leader and PM by conference end of Sept would give the Manchester mayor enough time to get back to Westminster and stand. “Colleagues will not accept another London leader”
"Colleagues" of course only have a third of a say - but Labour Party MPs don't strike me as particularly averse to the concept of London MPs. And members, who hold another third of the vote, are famously London-dominated. And of course due to the peculiarity of the Labour Party, unions get the remaining third of the vote. God knows what they think. I'd suggest AB has the kernel of a point that there may be some electoral advantage to considering a leader from outside of London. But leadership elections are rarely about voters.
Have I got the mechanics of the leadership election right? Or am I out of date? Are the three quidders still a thing?
So on the day that the Labour PM is considering his position, the leading pollster produces a poll showing Labour in SIXTH place. I suggest this is suboptimal for fans of Sir Keir
Given that Yougov had the Tories second I expect they would also be second on seats. The Greens underperformed on seats last week relative to their vote and on seats won came a poor fifth
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
Yes people offended by naked careerism and a sense of entitlement are bound to favour Farage and Polanski.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
Yes they are. There were far more illegal boat crossings in the Viking era, or the Norman conquest, or the Henrician war, or even in the Orange Revolution. And a great many got through in the 1940s as well.
The fact the State Department have only a tenuous hold on reality shouldn't blind us to the fact that actually 'small boat crossings' are a total red herring whipped up by Frogface because he's as stupid as he is venal. Most immigrants arrive by air and the problem is the systems we have to deal with them.
If Burnham could put aside his personal hubris, he should realise that he and his legacy would do far better if he remained Mayor of GM, with a reputation of being"the best Prime Minister we never had", because let's face it, based on his previous tenure in the Commons, did he ever really achieve anything of note?
Why do people think that as PM he would be able to do a significantly better job than any of the recent incumbents?
We live in extraordinary times, and we need an extraordinary leader. I just don't see one lurking in any of the current parties, sadly. They've all been caught up in the populist trend - I must give my supporters what they want, not what they need.
As Bunrham is the only Labour contender who clearly outpolls Farage
He might do better in polling - initially, but when he fails to solve the problems of the country, as he surely will (he may give some voters what they want, to the ire of the rest) hell just be another failed leader.
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
On the contrary there is a degree of uncaution about borrowing three trillion pounds for your grandchildren to deal with instead of balancing the books and running a cautious surplus.
They are right about tax rises, and as taxes can only be paid by people with something to pay it with it is going to fall mostly on the better off.
However I suspect what they mean is that MMT is true and we can blow up the economy so that Reform can (fail to) pick up the pieces.
Super Tuesday everyone! Cabinet at 10. The Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy PM have all told him to go. The Health Secretary has told him he will stand as soon as the contest begins. The Energy Secretary sits there stroking a large white cat.
Sometimes you have a crunch meeting where people say its over. This time they key figures have already pre-empted that meeting. So if we are to have the pretence that Starmer has authority, he will need to sack the plotters. Today. Yes, that triggers the inevitable but if he wants to go on he will have to fight.
I don't think he wants to do that. I suppose he could try and ride this out. 80 MPs and various senior cabinet members want me out? Tis but a scratch. Kings Speech debate chaos. Meh. Lets all be honest - this is the most absurd scenario of the lot.
So, do we get the lectern without the PM crest by lunchtime?
As a third way centrist, also optimistically talking my book, the answer is for Starmer to announce he wont be PM going into the next election, but not give a handover date at this stage.
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
The fundamental premise behind this, of course, is that our government has the right to spend other peoples' money, not just the money they extort in tax but additional money that they can borrow from the short sighted.
The cost of that borrowing seems to completely escape them as does the opportunity cost of the interest they have to pay. So, right now, we are having to pay 5.6% interest to borrow money. This means unless we are getting a higher return than that we are doing ourselves damage and reducing the resources available for looking after the needy in the medium term. This is not politics, it is simple economics.
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
Except with those two the economy was doing pretty well (until 2008), there wasn’t a massive migration crisis (yet). And still the voters punished them
This time? Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. I really do believe Labour could be finished, forever
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
The fundamental premise behind this, of course, is that our government has the right to spend other peoples' money, not just the money they extort in tax but additional money that they can borrow from the short sighted.
The cost of that borrowing seems to completely escape them as does the opportunity cost of the interest they have to pay. So, right now, we are having to pay 5.6% interest to borrow money. This means unless we are getting a higher return than that we are doing ourselves damage and reducing the resources available for looking after the needy in the medium term. This is not politics, it is simple economics.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
Super Tuesday everyone! Cabinet at 10. The Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy PM have all told him to go. The Health Secretary has told him he will stand as soon as the contest begins. The Energy Secretary sits there stroking a large white cat.
Sometimes you have a crunch meeting where people say its over. This time they key figures have already pre-empted that meeting. So if we are to have the pretence that Starmer has authority, he will need to sack the plotters. Today. Yes, that triggers the inevitable but if he wants to go on he will have to fight.
I don't think he wants to do that. I suppose he could try and ride this out. 80 MPs and various senior cabinet members want me out? Tis but a scratch. Kings Speech debate chaos. Meh. Lets all be honest - this is the most absurd scenario of the lot.
So, do we get the lectern without the PM crest by lunchtime?
Starmer can't sack those in his Cabinet who have called for him to go. Nobody with any ambition would take a job from Starmer, to be out of it in a fortnight.
It will be at the very latest, a timetable to announce his successor at the Conference - so by the end of September.
Any earlier date will be aimed at derailing Burnham's campaign.
The date is where any Cabinet discussion will centre.
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
On the contrary there is a degree of uncaution about borrowing three trillion pounds for your grandchildren to deal with instead of balancing the books and running a cautious surplus.
They are right about tax rises, and as taxes can only be paid by people with something to pay it with it is going to fall mostly on the better off.
However I suspect what they mean is that MMT is true and we can blow up the economy so that Reform can (fail to) pick up the pieces.
They are calling for major taxes on wealth as opposed to just tax rises as a whole.
I’m not sure how that works as it is generally easy to avoid. In reality it becomes a tax on individual assets and homes as the super wealthy can easily avoid it.
Super Tuesday everyone! Cabinet at 10. The Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy PM have all told him to go. The Health Secretary has told him he will stand as soon as the contest begins. The Energy Secretary sits there stroking a large white cat.
Sometimes you have a crunch meeting where people say its over. This time they key figures have already pre-empted that meeting. So if we are to have the pretence that Starmer has authority, he will need to sack the plotters. Today. Yes, that triggers the inevitable but if he wants to go on he will have to fight.
I don't think he wants to do that. I suppose he could try and ride this out. 80 MPs and various senior cabinet members want me out? Tis but a scratch. Kings Speech debate chaos. Meh. Lets all be honest - this is the most absurd scenario of the lot.
So, do we get the lectern without the PM crest by lunchtime?
As a third way centrist, also optimistically talking my book, the answer is for Starmer to announce he wont be PM going into the next election, but not give a handover date at this stage.
That might have worked earlier this year. But not now.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Wes Streeting is already facing growing calls to stand down as PM
Wes Streeting is a somewhat more egotistical and less experienced version of Starmer. If he's the answer, Labour are asking the wrong question.
Although I think the point is moot as he has little chance of becoming leader.
I would laugh if it was Streeting, he is a Blairite to Starmer's Brownite and would move Labour further right infuriating Rayner and Burnham. Most Labour MPs probably want Streeting, most Labour members Burnham or Rayner.
Basically, Streeting is Rishi to Burnham's Boris and Rayner's Truss
That's harsh on Rayner. And probably Streeting. Not sure about Burnham.
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
The fundamental premise behind this, of course, is that our government has the right to spend other peoples' money, not just the money they extort in tax but additional money that they can borrow from the short sighted.
The cost of that borrowing seems to completely escape them as does the opportunity cost of the interest they have to pay. So, right now, we are having to pay 5.6% interest to borrow money. This means unless we are getting a higher return than that we are doing ourselves damage and reducing the resources available for looking after the needy in the medium term. This is not politics, it is simple economics.
It's like they haven't heard of Liz Truss.
An act of collective amnesia to avoid the awkward truth that their political beliefs are a pile of idiotic junk.
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
Except with those two the economy was doing pretty well (until 2008), there wasn’t a massive migration crisis (yet). And still the voters punished them
This time? Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. I really do believe Labour could be finished, forever
When they won on here, last year, I did say this is not the nineties and Blair coming in, but the seventies and Wilson coming in, again. Some disagreed but I think time has proven me correct.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
Midlands, surely. My view from the Firth of Forth suggests the Tyne is pretty central too
From my perch south of the Eden and Solway Firth, and a fortiori south of the Tyne I can see Scotland clearly and Manchester is 120 miles south. I don't think I live in the south. Hackney, where I was born, feels a long way away.
Haltwhistle in Northumberland claims to be the geographic centre of Great Britain. They have a sign and everything Dunsop Bridge in Lancashire would debate that, also staking a claim.
Make of that what you will.
You could argue that from a geographic POV that Tyneside is northern mid-lands and Manchester is actually in the south, albeit the northern bit iyswim.
If I'm correct from a 20 minute read of PB the minimum we can look forward to is a new Home Secretary. In my opinion that in itself is a result.........
It also sounds like Louise Haigh will be making a return. More good news.........
So the drama of the last few days hasn't all been wasted. I also think Starmer will have learnt a bit.
Primarily that Labour are a left of centre compassionate Party. Not a Farage/Badenoch tribute act.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
What do you want an apology for again? I said I wouldn’t buy two of them as I don’t think they are quite as old as claimed. I’ve not insulted you family line, or suggested you think two chaps resting in a field are early homosexuals because you have dark thoughts about your own sexuality. If the6 make you happy, go for it.
Because
1. You implied that I’m a fool being duped, when I’m not. These cups are not fake, they are the real thing, they ARE that cheap, they are exactly that old (we know the precise patterns used by English porcelain manufacturers in specific years)
So, you were totally wrong. Admit it
Also
2. You waded in on a subject about which you know nothing - and, worse, you did it with a bogus air of authority. I find this personally and utterly objectionable
Just to be clear, you are suggesting that people on PB should apologise for having a "bogus air of authority"? Have you thought this through?
++++++
Again, and very obviously, this is a self deprecating joke. Am I aiming too high on PB? Shall I write [joke!] after every joke?
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
Anybody discussing Kemi following Starmer out? No? What a surprise...not.
She will see off her first Prime Minister as LOTO.
Perhaps not her last...
Kemi did ensure the Tories were second ahead of Labour and the Greens and LDs on the Sky NEV which Tory MPs have talked up and likely secured her position. Even the BBC NEV had the Tories at least tied third with Labour
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Universities, airport, culture, sport, investment in new housing, transport and city centre across recent decades.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
The Trent was historically the border between the south and the north. The Council of the North only handled Bills concerning matters north of the Trent.
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
What do you want an apology for again? I said I wouldn’t buy two of them as I don’t think they are quite as old as claimed. I’ve not insulted you family line, or suggested you think two chaps resting in a field are early homosexuals because you have dark thoughts about your own sexuality. If the6 make you happy, go for it.
Because
1. You implied that I’m a fool being duped, when I’m not. These cups are not fake, they are the real thing, they ARE that cheap, they are exactly that old (we know the precise patterns used by English porcelain manufacturers in specific years)
So, you were totally wrong. Admit it
Also
2. You waded in on a subject about which you know nothing - and, worse, you did it with a bogus air of authority. I find this personally and utterly objectionable
Just to be clear, you are suggesting that people on PB should apologise for having a "bogus air of authority"? Have you thought this through?
++++++
Again, and very obviously, this is a self deprecating joke. Am I aiming too high on PB? Shall I write [joke!] after every joke?
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
Which candidate is the most viable one to hold off internecine warfare the longest? Or does this require a highly uncomfortable Rayner/Streeting PM/Chancellor (or v.v.) arrangement?
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
There is also much skepticism surrounding “Manchesterism”, with suggestions it has merely sucked in economic energy from nearby smaller towns
I don’t know who is right. I’d like the skeptics to be wrong. It’s nice to think SOMEWHERE in the UK is thriving
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
You seem to be getting into gay sex in the Lowlands. I suppose all the clues were there in your decor.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
The Trent was historically the border between the south and the north. The Council of the North only handled Bills concerning matters north of the Trent.
Jay Foreman does hilarious videos on YouTube about the North and South. He even mentions the mythical place called the "Midlands"
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
Which candidate is the most viable one to hold off internecine warfare the longest? Or does this require a highly uncomfortable Rayner/Streeting PM/Chancellor (or v.v.) arrangement?
Burnham. He might get six months at best. The rest will be under attack after three months.
Labour are being premature in replacing Starmer, it needs to be closer to the next GE.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Manchester is probably growing more with Burnham than because of him.
The fundamentals were already there: multiple universities, airport, transport links, media, finance, London pricing people out, critical mass etc. Once a city hit can tick all these boxes it tends to keep compounding.
What Burnham has probably done well is give Greater Manchester coherent political leadership and push sensible devolved transport integration - his Bee Network is actually pretty good.
The harder question is whether Manchester’s success can be replicated elsewhere or whether it simply becomes the North’s version of London, hoovering up talent and investment from surrounding towns.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Universities, airport, culture, sport, investment in new housing, transport and city centre across recent decades.
Watching Sky news for first time in a million years - why do the reporters outside Downing Street bother shouting out questions as ministers go in? Has one ever stopped and said, “actually guys, it’s a shitshow and I’m on my way in to demand he steps down or I resign”. Embarrassing.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Manchester is probably growing more with Burnham than because of him.
The fundamentals were already there: multiple universities, airport, transport links, media, finance, London pricing people out, critical mass etc. Once a city hit can tick all these boxes it tends to keep compounding.
What Burnham has probably done well is give Greater Manchester coherent political leadership and push sensible devolved transport integration - his Bee Network is actually pretty good.
The harder question is whether Manchester’s success can be replicated elsewhere or whether it simply becomes the North’s version of London, hoovering up talent and investment from surrounding towns.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
GENERAL ELECTION INCOMING
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Manchester is probably growing more with Burnham than because of him.
The fundamentals were already there: multiple universities, airport, transport links, media, finance, London pricing people out, critical mass etc. Once a city hit can tick all these boxes it tends to keep compounding.
What Burnham has probably done well is give Greater Manchester coherent political leadership and push sensible devolved transport integration - his Bee Network is actually pretty good.
The harder question is whether Manchester’s success can be replicated elsewhere or whether it simply becomes the North’s version of London, hoovering up talent and investment from surrounding towns.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Manchester is growing because of investment. You can't cut your way to growth, you have to invest in it. This is a lesson that we seem to have forgotten collectively because business has stopped investing as well.\
Manchester had a crisis event - the IRA bomb. Which forced spending on regeneration. Richard Leese and Graham Stringer had a vision to bring life back to a city centre that had been abandoned. So cash was spent. Places for people to live and eat and shop. Which brought people in and with it more investment. Cash spent on public transport to get them around. Bringing more people and more investment.
How do you then harness these people? Another crisis - the arena bomb. We're all in this together, worker bees pulling together collectively for the community. You're working not just for yourself.
This is what Manchester has done. Regeneration through both investment and community pride. And we can have that everywhere, but we need someone to push the vision. We can borrow to invest - the markets want long term projects. We can't borrow to give the cash away as one-off handouts.
For all that we need new houses, we have vast numbers of old houses sat there rotting. Buy the whole area, refit and redevelop. Make them habitable and the people will come in and the money follows. How do you fix Blackpool and Skegness and the other shitholes? Mass civic redevelopment. Paid for by civic bonds and from the cash you save by not having to pay for squalor and decline.
Watching Sky news for first time in a million years - why do the reporters outside Downing Street bother shouting out questions as ministers go in? Has one ever stopped and said, “actually guys, it’s a shitshow and I’m on my way in to demand he steps down or I resign”. Embarrassing.
Ed Balls on GMB is saying someone is employed specifically to bellow these questions out.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
GENERAL ELECTION INCOMING
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
Starmer is going and there is no immediate route back for Burnham, so he can't be next PM. The fact that he is still strong favourite represents an immense betting opportunity.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Why would anyone become an interim PM to hand over to Burnham when back in Parliament. It’s massively entitled by Burnham and what if the decided they didn’t want to step down.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
Except with those two the economy was doing pretty well (until 2008), there wasn’t a massive migration crisis (yet). And still the voters punished them
This time? Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. I really do believe Labour could be finished, forever
When they won on here, last year, I did say this is not the nineties and Blair coming in, but the seventies and Wilson coming in, again. Some disagreed but I think time has proven me correct.
So who will be this parliaments Sunny Jim
Yes, Loveless Landslide was an entirely fitting description. As the wise sage Diane Abbot points out, after a Tory parliament that was masterful in its ineptitude, Starmer managed fewer votes than Agent Cobb did. And that included a great many who wanted to kick out the Tories at all cost, or those like Leon who seemed to think it would be funny to see Starmer as PM.
We will see similar next time of course. Big Nige might squeeze over the 325 threshold in seats on a narrow vote share. Or he’ll go into coalition with the Tories, infuriating a good chunk of the voters in either party. Or the same situation with Labour and the Greens.
Watching Sky news for first time in a million years - why do the reporters outside Downing Street bother shouting out questions as ministers go in? Has one ever stopped and said, “actually guys, it’s a shitshow and I’m on my way in to demand he steps down or I resign”. Embarrassing.
Ed Balls on GMB is saying someone is employed specifically to bellow these questions out.
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Manchester is growing because of investment. You can't cut your way to growth, you have to invest in it. This is a lesson that we seem to have forgotten collectively because business has stopped investing as well.\
Manchester had a crisis event - the IRA bomb. Which forced spending on regeneration. Richard Leese and Graham Stringer had a vision to bring life back to a city centre that had been abandoned. So cash was spent. Places for people to live and eat and shop. Which brought people in and with it more investment. Cash spent on public transport to get them around. Bringing more people and more investment.
How do you then harness these people? Another crisis - the arena bomb. We're all in this together, worker bees pulling together collectively for the community. You're working not just for yourself.
This is what Manchester has done. Regeneration through both investment and community pride. And we can have that everywhere, but we need someone to push the vision. We can borrow to invest - the markets want long term projects. We can't borrow to give the cash away as one-off handouts.
For all that we need new houses, we have vast numbers of old houses sat there rotting. Buy the whole area, refit and redevelop. Make them habitable and the people will come in and the money follows. How do you fix Blackpool and Skegness and the other shitholes? Mass civic redevelopment. Paid for by civic bonds and from the cash you save by not having to pay for squalor and decline.
You make a more convincing and inspiring case in that one comment than most Labour ministers manage in a year
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
Burnham should switch to plan B. Remain Mayor of the Frozen North till his term expires in 2028. Then return to the Commons via a convenient by-election in time to relieve a beleaguered Ange/Ed/Wes (delete as appropriate) struggling after two years in office, giving Burnham a year as Prime Minister to turn things round before the 2029 general election.
Manchester is south of the Tyne and therefore in the South
I live pretty much at the exact boundary between North and South. I know this because a 15 minute drive West takes me to the A1, where the roundabout has a sign for the first exit advertising, among other places, "the South", and a sign for the third exit advertising, among other places "the North".
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
There's also one at Scotch Corner. After that THE NORTH seems to turn into something called a Newcastle...
Scotch Corner is (in theory) the last junction in Yorkshire after that you are in County Durham - land of the Prince Bishops because William didn’t have the man power to control it
If this is the trajectory of the regime after Starmer it’s deffo back to the seventies.
‘ BREAKING: Labour’s influential Tribune group of more than 100 MPs has called for less “caution” on fiscal policy in a new pamphlet that demands a change of direction to the left
Louise Haigh, the Labour MP who chairs the group, says the current structure of the UK Treasury’s role in fiscal policy “resolved in favour of caution”
She says Britain’s “fiscal and institutional framework” is “unfit for purpose”
She also calls for major tax rises on wealth
With extraordinary timing, Tribune has published this pamphlet at the exact same time as the bond market opens this morning’
The fundamental premise behind this, of course, is that our government has the right to spend other peoples' money, not just the money they extort in tax but additional money that they can borrow from the short sighted.
The cost of that borrowing seems to completely escape them as does the opportunity cost of the interest they have to pay. So, right now, we are having to pay 5.6% interest to borrow money. This means unless we are getting a higher return than that we are doing ourselves damage and reducing the resources available for looking after the needy in the medium term. This is not politics, it is simple economics.
Uk inflation is about 3% at the moment. So we need a ~2.5% return on investment to come out ahead.
I think there are lots of projects sitting unfunded that could achieve that.
Watching Sky news for first time in a million years - why do the reporters outside Downing Street bother shouting out questions as ministers go in? Has one ever stopped and said, “actually guys, it’s a shitshow and I’m on my way in to demand he steps down or I resign”. Embarrassing.
There is a lot I really dislike about 24 hour news. One I've never heard anyone else mention is when they are interviewing someone and cut them off abruptly mid discussion because they have to go a politician starting a speech. It is rude and unnecessary, they could broadcast the speech a minute or two behind, the world will not collapse. It's especially bad when the guest is not a regular TV or media figure.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
GENERAL ELECTION INCOMING
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
Going earlier would allow them to break out the Farage-Trump boogeyman before he either pegs it or chunters himself off the stage.
How does campaign finance work if they were to call a General Election when the recent locals would fall in the either the long or short campaign?
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Manchester is growing because of investment. You can't cut your way to growth, you have to invest in it. This is a lesson that we seem to have forgotten collectively because business has stopped investing as well.\
Manchester had a crisis event - the IRA bomb. Which forced spending on regeneration. Richard Leese and Graham Stringer had a vision to bring life back to a city centre that had been abandoned. So cash was spent. Places for people to live and eat and shop. Which brought people in and with it more investment. Cash spent on public transport to get them around. Bringing more people and more investment.
How do you then harness these people? Another crisis - the arena bomb. We're all in this together, worker bees pulling together collectively for the community. You're working not just for yourself.
This is what Manchester has done. Regeneration through both investment and community pride. And we can have that everywhere, but we need someone to push the vision. We can borrow to invest - the markets want long term projects. We can't borrow to give the cash away as one-off handouts.
For all that we need new houses, we have vast numbers of old houses sat there rotting. Buy the whole area, refit and redevelop. Make them habitable and the people will come in and the money follows. How do you fix Blackpool and Skegness and the other shitholes? Mass civic redevelopment. Paid for by civic bonds and from the cash you save by not having to pay for squalor and decline.
I think there is a lot to be said from the cross authority collaboration.
Greater Manchester feels much more a unified entity compared to say Merseyside, West Midlands, South or West Yorkshire which appear to operate more as individual separate authorities.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
GENERAL ELECTION INCOMING
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
Not with labour's majority
Turkey's don't vote for Christmas
Labour MPs don’t vote for swingeing welfare cuts, either. So if the markets demand that, and yet MPs won’t oblige? Either we default and go bankrupt - which means massive welfare cuts anyway - or we have an election
Watching Sky news for first time in a million years - why do the reporters outside Downing Street bother shouting out questions as ministers go in? Has one ever stopped and said, “actually guys, it’s a shitshow and I’m on my way in to demand he steps down or I resign”. Embarrassing.
Ed Balls on GMB is saying someone is employed specifically to bellow these questions out.
Yes, on Sky it's Sam Coates normally.
Turning on Sky I noticed that 2 of the Macbeth Witches are on Duty, Rigby and Ridge
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
The fact you’re becoming obsessed with this tile and have spent the best part of a day talking about is concerning! I are you that bored !
To alleviate boredom. Why else does anyone come here.
Yes we come on here to discuss a range of things . I was concerned for Leon as his tile obsession was becoming a concern . I decided to stage an intervention!
'Senior minister Darren Jones suggests any return of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham would be "fantasy politics", telling the BBC conversations about "strategy" should happen "internally - as opposed to in public" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1e2n923v1lt
Oooh. Skyr wants Wes?
Yes and no.
He absolutely doesn't want Andy Burnham who he thinks is putting ego over the greater good.
For once I agree with Skyr. Burnham’s desperate careerism is an ugly spectacle
But then Starmer is guilty of the same, if not worse, as he’s PM
Could say same for Streeting, and his machinations.
Labour's problem is with WWC voters in north. The urban yuppies will return out of fear of the fascistos.
That's why Labour have to go for Burnham. Can you imagine how Wes will go down in County Durham or Nottinghamshire?
Burnham would be a gift to Reform and the Greens. His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
He’s a northern version of Starmer.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
I would be really interested to learn a lot more about why Manchester is apparently growing better than most of the rest of the country, what is driving that and whether policies introduced by Burnham have contributed to it. If they have are these policies capable of being scaled for the rest of the UK?
Indeed. Take something that works and apply it elsewhere. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Manchester is growing because of investment. You can't cut your way to growth, you have to invest in it. This is a lesson that we seem to have forgotten collectively because business has stopped investing as well.\
Manchester had a crisis event - the IRA bomb. Which forced spending on regeneration. Richard Leese and Graham Stringer had a vision to bring life back to a city centre that had been abandoned. So cash was spent. Places for people to live and eat and shop. Which brought people in and with it more investment. Cash spent on public transport to get them around. Bringing more people and more investment.
How do you then harness these people? Another crisis - the arena bomb. We're all in this together, worker bees pulling together collectively for the community. You're working not just for yourself.
This is what Manchester has done. Regeneration through both investment and community pride. And we can have that everywhere, but we need someone to push the vision. We can borrow to invest - the markets want long term projects. We can't borrow to give the cash away as one-off handouts.
For all that we need new houses, we have vast numbers of old houses sat there rotting. Buy the whole area, refit and redevelop. Make them habitable and the people will come in and the money follows. How do you fix Blackpool and Skegness and the other shitholes? Mass civic redevelopment. Paid for by civic bonds and from the cash you save by not having to pay for squalor and decline.
This is so obvious, yet no-one has the guts to do it. There is a shared assumption the bond markets won't let us - I think that is wrong and the bond markets are aware enough to be able to differentiate between investment and current spending. Another long term damage from the Truss regime is that limiting view being re-enforced.
I am not convinced Starmer goes today but it is utterly chaotic
King's Speech tomorrow. Does Badenoch go in hard on the shambles of a government having a King's Speech without knowing who the PM will be, or will we be in that period when she is being effusive in her praise for Starmer now that he's on his way out?
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
The fact you’re becoming obsessed with this tile and have spent the best part of a day talking about is concerning! I are you that bored !
To alleviate boredom. Why else does anyone come here.
Yes we come on here to discuss a range of things . I was concerned for Leon as his tile obsession was becoming a concern . I decided to stage an intervention!
You don’t. You come here to be abusive about Reform voting working class communities. Never any interest in why or any nuance. 😃
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
GENERAL ELECTION INCOMING
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
The fact you’re becoming obsessed with this tile and have spent the best part of a day talking about is concerning! I are you that bored !
To alleviate boredom. Why else does anyone come here.
Yes we come on here to discuss a range of things . I was concerned for Leon as his tile obsession was becoming a concern . I decided to stage an intervention!
I only think about my weird trans Dutch farming demon gay Delft tile-coaster for about an hour a day. Maybe two
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Here’s an evening mystery to take our minds off the Labour fandango
For a while I’ve been buying 17th-18th century Delft tiles and turning them into coasters. They are superb at this. Just spray the back with lacquer, if needed. Add felt feet. Done
You have a magical piece of European history repurposed
But this one is my favourite, so it’s on my bedside table. Because it is so enigmatic
It appears to show a cloven hoofed demon walking past an idling amorous couple, where the man has given up his shovel. So the demon is condemning idle love? Or indolence? And yet, look more closely. Both humans are male. Bearded. And they seem to be perfectly happy. And the demon actually looks like he might be blessing them
My guess right now is that this hand painted tile was done by a dissident delft gay tile artist, sneaking his perverse sexuality past the Protestant mores of the day and quietly celebrating man love
Isn’t it just the Devil pointing out his approval of workers idling in the fields? Could have been part of a set on the seven deadly sins.
Again that was my thought. But look closely: the couple are clearly in an amorous position. One leans warmly into the other. They are almost kissing
So then it is the devil approving of gay sex in idle farm-workers? Was that a massive issue in 17th century Holland? Did the tulips go unpicked because too many butch young rustic chaps were getting it on in the dykes??
I love this tile. Every time I look at it I see something new and change my mind. Normal coasters don’t do this
I thought that was your state of being, irrespective of external stimulus ?
I’m now drinking my morning coffee from my £16 ANTIQUE COFFEE CAN (NB @turbotubbs - you still haven’t apologised) and I’m looking at it again and I’ve noticed the lower figure has his hand on the other guy’s thigh. Squeezing it?
So, definitely sexual. Yet I’ve also noticed the upper figure is slightly female in shape despite the beard. Is this about women cross dressing as men, on pleasant Dutch farms, so they can seduce workers and undermine 17th century Dutch farming production?
Quite a complex message. For a tile
The fact you’re becoming obsessed with this tile and have spent the best part of a day talking about is concerning! I are you that bored !
To alleviate boredom. Why else does anyone come here.
Yes we come on here to discuss a range of things . I was concerned for Leon as his tile obsession was becoming a concern . I decided to stage an intervention!
You don’t. You come here to be abusive about Reform voting working class communities. Never any interest in why or any nuance. 😃
I understand why doesn’t mean I have to agree with the solution . Reform will do bugger all to help those people .
Comments
Sometimes you have a crunch meeting where people say its over. This time they key figures have already pre-empted that meeting. So if we are to have the pretence that Starmer has authority, he will need to sack the plotters. Today. Yes, that triggers the inevitable but if he wants to go on he will have to fight.
I don't think he wants to do that. I suppose he could try and ride this out. 80 MPs and various senior cabinet members want me out? Tis but a scratch. Kings Speech debate chaos. Meh. Lets all be honest - this is the most absurd scenario of the lot.
So, do we get the lectern without the PM crest by lunchtime?
The foreign sec is not a runner because she is said to be physically unfit for the role. The chancellor is not a runner because she burst into tears in the commons and has crashed gilts. The home sec is not a runner because she is in the wrong party. And the deputy pm (and only other eligible former holder of a great office of state) is not a runner because he thought Henry VIII came before Henry VII.
Quite remarkable how bare the talent cupboard is.
*thinks*
Bring it on!
His naked careerism and sense of entitlement is an open goal.
The time to really worry is when Richard Murphy becomes a treasury adviser.
Burnham's options to eventually become PM seem to boil down to:
1. Doing a deal for Miliband to explicitly stand as a caretaker on a public pledge to stand down for Burnham once he gets into parliament.
2. Doing a deal with Rayner, who is clearly more ambitious, to back her on condition that she clears the block on his route back to parliament and makes a private pledge that she will stand down if she doesn't improve Labour's polling significantly. With strong Burnham backing, I think that would be enough for Rayner to see off Streeting in a leadership contest even if the HMRC news were not good for Rayner.
3. Without a deal, announcing that he will stand down as GM Mayor in 2028, which would clear any reasonable objection to Burnham standing in a parliamentary by-election from the start of 2028 (that is late enough not to force a GM Mayor by-election) and hope that he could oust a Labour leader in late 2028 were Labour heading for defeat in a 2029 GE.
All seem very outside chances. 2 seems to be the most likely route in present circumstances because reports are that Rayner is determined to stand and she will be concerned that the HMRC issue could scupper her chances without Burnham's strong support. 1 is in my view plausible but based on my speculation and nothing more tangible.
None of these is of course of any consolation to those who are in hock if Burnham doesn't become next PM.
Far left Labour MP on GMB demanding Labour lurches to the left to counter the Greens and win back votes from them and Reform
Reform voters in red wall are social conservatives but fiscal liberals.
It’s Blair v Brown on steroids.
They are right about tax rises, and as taxes can only be paid by people with something to pay it with it is going to fall mostly on the better off.
However I suspect what they mean is that MMT is true and we can blow up the economy so that Reform can (fail to) pick up the pieces.
The cost of that borrowing seems to completely escape them as does the opportunity cost of the interest they have to pay. So, right now, we are having to pay 5.6% interest to borrow money. This means unless we are getting a higher return than that we are doing ourselves damage and reducing the resources available for looking after the needy in the medium term. This is not politics, it is simple economics.
This time? Ouch. Ouch ouch ouch. I really do believe Labour could be finished, forever
I will accept no stories of this signage occuring elsewhere.
It will be at the very latest, a timetable to announce his successor at the Conference - so by the end of September.
Any earlier date will be aimed at derailing Burnham's campaign.
The date is where any Cabinet discussion will centre.
I’m not sure how that works as it is generally easy to avoid. In reality it becomes a tax on individual assets and homes as the super wealthy can easily avoid it.
They may do it as a one off, following this.
https://www.ukwealth.tax/
Labour MPs Always Chicken Out
She will see off her first Prime Minister as LOTO.
Perhaps not her last...
So who will be this parliaments Sunny Jim
Dunsop Bridge in Lancashire would debate that, also staking a claim.
Make of that what you will.
You could argue that from a geographic POV that Tyneside is northern mid-lands and Manchester is actually in the south, albeit the northern bit iyswim.
It also sounds like Louise Haigh will be making a return. More good news.........
So the drama of the last few days hasn't all been wasted. I also think Starmer will have learnt a bit.
Primarily that Labour are a left of centre compassionate Party. Not a Farage/Badenoch tribute act.
ETA: Ah, I think I've somewhat fixed them above, David sounds sane again.
and here
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.500116,-1.1713219,3a,75y,279.64h,85.51t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1seS-GS5_5epY6neJq8odHMw!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=4.49400913020132&panoid=eS-GS5_5epY6neJq8odHMw&yaw=279.63776777346527!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ljgzjwjx3o
I don’t know why, I’d be interested too. But it does seem a little odd that given the growth and alleged great feeling in the city and region Labour got a battering from left and right.
Again, and very obviously, this is a self deprecating joke. Am I aiming too high on PB? Shall I write [joke!] after every joke?
Well, mine was an attempt at a joke too @Leon_VotedForStarmer
Messed up quotes here? I was reading this and thinking "blimey, DavidL is starting to sound like Leon!"
I thought we are all leon anyway? And leon is AI?
I don’t know who is right. I’d like the skeptics to be wrong. It’s nice to think SOMEWHERE in the UK is thriving
I suppose all the clues were there in your decor.
Labour are being premature in replacing Starmer, it needs to be closer to the next GE.
The fundamentals were already there: multiple universities, airport, transport links, media, finance, London pricing people out, critical mass etc. Once a city hit can tick all these boxes it tends to keep compounding.
What Burnham has probably done well is give Greater Manchester coherent political leadership and push sensible devolved transport integration - his Bee Network is actually pretty good.
The harder question is whether Manchester’s success can be replicated elsewhere or whether it simply becomes the North’s version of London, hoovering up talent and investment from surrounding towns.
And we’re off. Real world response to Labour’s current psychodrama: bank stocks are being sold off, gilts spiked 10% at opening and the pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
The yield on 30-year debt has just hit its highest level since 1998.
Seriously, what are the odds on a GE in 2026? They might be VALUE
Manchester had a crisis event - the IRA bomb. Which forced spending on regeneration. Richard Leese and Graham Stringer had a vision to bring life back to a city centre that had been abandoned. So cash was spent. Places for people to live and eat and shop. Which brought people in and with it more investment. Cash spent on public transport to get them around. Bringing more people and more investment.
How do you then harness these people? Another crisis - the arena bomb. We're all in this together, worker bees pulling together collectively for the community. You're working not just for yourself.
This is what Manchester has done. Regeneration through both investment and community pride. And we can have that everywhere, but we need someone to push the vision. We can borrow to invest - the markets want long term projects. We can't borrow to give the cash away as one-off handouts.
For all that we need new houses, we have vast numbers of old houses sat there rotting. Buy the whole area, refit and redevelop. Make them habitable and the people will come in and the money follows. How do you fix Blackpool and Skegness and the other shitholes? Mass civic redevelopment. Paid for by civic bonds and from the cash you save by not having to pay for squalor and decline.
https://bsky.app/profile/mortenmorland.bsky.social/post/3mlndgz5nzc2m
Turkey's don't vote for Christmas
We will see similar next time of course. Big Nige might squeeze over the 325 threshold in seats on a narrow vote share. Or he’ll go into coalition with the Tories, infuriating a good chunk of the voters in either party. Or the same situation with Labour and the Greens.
And Reeves, but too late I think.
I think there are lots of projects sitting unfunded that could achieve that.
How does campaign finance work if they were to call a General Election when the recent locals would fall in the either the long or short campaign?
Greater Manchester feels much more a unified entity compared to say Merseyside, West Midlands, South or West Yorkshire which appear to operate more as individual separate authorities.
No cause for concern
How about that.
https://x.com/Miatsf/status/2054112850323378533
Toby Young as ever capturing the public mood.
https://x.com/monstroso/status/2054103168615661745?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
https://x.com/markrwilliamson/status/2053900993134244316?s=46
😶😢