I've got a solution that'd displease both the left and the right. Rejoin the EU and apply to join the Euro.
Snap.
If you offered me a time machine to go back to 1997 and the Tories win (and keep winning as Labour goes Left) but we join the Euro, I think I'd take that.
We should have joined the Euro and its predecessor organisations from the start and had the ECB in London. The economic takeover of the continent by the Bank of England. Our ancestors would not have believed the success.
Cry ‘God for Sterling, swaps, and regulatory alignment!’
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
That's right. If there is somewhere lurking a politician with the charisma and talent to capture the hearts and minds of the British people the single biggest thing they could do in the national interest is to lower their expectations.
Andon Labs tested their AI agent Mona, built on Google’s Gemini, by letting it manage a real cafeteria in Stockholm for two weeks on a $21,000 budget.
Mona spent heavily on unnecessary supplies, including 6,000 napkins, 3,000 gloves, and 300 cans of tomatoes, while forgetting to order bread. Sandwiches had to be removed from the menu entirely... https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2054396463225127280
There's a bit in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy (written in 1979) where the heroes come upon an intergalactic flight has been grounded for thousands of years. Its automated systems told it not to launch until it was fully stocked up with lemon-soaked paper napkins, for the comfort of its passengers. But the surrounding civilization collapsed, and the napkins never arrived. Consequently it put all the passengers into hibernation (waking them once every few hundred years for coffee and biscuits) until such time as another civilization might arise, and restock its lemon-soaked paper napkins. The Guide is a more accurate and prophetic account of modernity than most Very Serious Science Fiction writers could dream of creating. https://x.com/PlatoonPod/status/2054422380525535398
6,000 napkins sounds like a lot but should be low hundreds of $ and is 400 a day over 2 weeks, probably somewhere between 1-4 per customer? Non perishable anyway.
Anyway, if we're doing Shakespeare, we know that Stamer can "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are", insofar as he shall never vanquished be until someone in particular dares to come against him.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
Correction, the voter wants low taxes on themselves but high taxes on the rich and big business and less spending on welfare and overseas aid even if more on the NHS and education and defence
Perhaps a Green/Reform coalition would hit the spot then assuming Polanski and Farage can find a way to work together.
On some issues yes but Farage and Polanski despise each other so it wouldn't
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
Anyway, if we're doing Shakespeare, we know that Stamer can "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are", insofar as he shall never vanquished be until someone in particular dares to come against him.
SNP to force vote on Starmer's future in an amendment to the Kings speech
How does that work - the King's Speech is a really simple vote, win and Parliament starts debating the bills, lose and its a general election.
And Labour with a majority of 150 isn't going to lose.
They plan to put down an amendment - simply to force Labour MPs to vote to back Starmer, or come out as unwilling to do so. I expect the Speaker may well refuse to accept it for debate.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
That's my view. We have been buffeted by a barrage of events for the last 6 years, principally COVID, to which our response took little account of the economic impact of our actions. It was a baffling failure. I'd observe that the Labour Party were urging the government on only to ever greater shutdowns, but that is an observation, not a mitigation.
It wasn't so much the shutdowns, which to be fair to Team Johnson was wholly reasonable at the time. Compare and contrast with the disgusting chaos in the USA. And booming growth six years on doesn't help dead people.
The furlough schemes and things like eat out to help out were over complicated expensive disasters. People's livelihoods could have been protected for less expenditure.
How would Dougie and Michelle afforded their yacht?
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
I'd start with taxing and regulating social media in a similar way we do alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.
Anyway, if we're doing Shakespeare, we know that Stamer can "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are", insofar as he shall never vanquished be until someone in particular dares to come against him.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Our politicians are useless != the electorate is the problem
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
Only 36% of 2024 Labour voters currently intend to vote Labour at a GE (YouGov). So far better for Labour to concentrate on winning back votes that have already been lost to the left than those to the right. 19% lost to the Greens, 3% to Plaid and SNP, 7% to LDs, but only 8% to Reform and 3% to Con. Plus a stonking disillusioned 19% to DK/Won't vote.
It's very clear that a return to more traditional left wing values that deliver more tangible change will help consolidate 2024 Labour voters back to Labour, and probably also tempt back some 2024 Greens who defected from Labour also providing that a new leader takes a more robust stance against Israel that amounts to meaningful actions rather than just platitudes.
The direct movement of traditional Labour voters to Reform isn't just about immigration either. The opportunity arises only because Labour no longer pushes the class based values that used to appeal to working class voters. Those were populist values and their abandonment has allowed Farage to push an alternative anti-immigrant populist narrative. So a left wing economic narrative would I think have some chance of capturing some of the Labour votes lost to Reform provided that Labour has some success in combating illegal immigration.
A Labour recovery mainly at the expense of the Greens with a couple of % points off Reform should be enough to stymie the prospect of Farage as PM.
Anyway, if we're doing Shakespeare, we know that Stamer can "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are", insofar as he shall never vanquished be until someone in particular dares to come against him.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
I did not hear the lib dems objecting to the covid spending either
Anyway, if we're doing Shakespeare, we know that Stamer can "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are", insofar as he shall never vanquished be until someone in particular dares to come against him.
What exactly can Burnham offer to an MP that stands down for him? A possible seat in the Lords?
Any MP would be giving up another three and a half years of MP salary and position, and guarantee pissing off their local party members & the current government. Can’t be a big list of people happy to torch their future careers for the sake of Burnham getting a chance to run things.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Our politicians are useless != the electorate is the problem
In a democracy, in the medium term, voters always get the politicians they deserve.
(You can blame the media and wider culture for driving away people with talent and sanity, but that's just a function of where we've all chosen to put our eyeballs and money. Even Americans turned into raging morons by Fox News weren't passive victims... at least not to start with.)
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
I did not head the lib dems objecting to the covid spending either
It was typical Oppositipn tactics. Screaming for money to be spent no matter what the cost, attacking the Government whenever they appeared to be putting bureaucratic obstacles in the way and then, once the whole thing is over, complaining about cost and lack of process.
What exactly can Burnham offer to an MP that stands down for him? A possible seat in the Lords?
Any MP would be giving up another three and a half years of MP salary and position, and guarantee pissing off their local party members & the current government. Can’t be a big list of people happy to torch their future careers for the sake of Burnham getting a chance to run things.
Could maybe appoint them Ambassador to the US. That went so well the last time.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
If that was anyone except Trump, there would be almost unanimous support for the Carroll case being one of the most egregious abuses of the court in decades. The State law was changed specifically to allow it to proceed.
What exactly can Burnham offer to an MP that stands down for him? A possible seat in the Lords?
Any MP would be giving up another three and a half years of MP salary and position, and guarantee pissing off their local party members & the current government. Can’t be a big list of people happy to torch their future careers for the sake of Burnham getting a chance to run things.
It also pisses off the local electorate, having to vote again just because of somebody's career ambitions.
One of the largest ever swings was Ashfield 1977, when Labour's MP Marquand took a job in Brussels - and this solid Labour mining seat just didn't turn up to vote for his replacement.
It would be funny as fuck if the one assumption - that the seat was a shoo-in for Burnham - fell apart.
I’m LITERALLY on a train going to MORPETH so I can eat KIPPERS, CRASTERS and LINDISFARNE OYSTERS
Shouldn't that be crab from Craster?
Quite possibly. I just saw the word “Craster” on my itinerary and presumed it was a thing. Is it in fact a place?
My research so far is sketchy
They are also taking us to “Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum” which is next to “Ad Gefrin Whisky Distillery” which thus combines maybe my two favourite things on earth - Dark Age archaeology and strong alcohol
I'm still giving Starmer his full 2 years before attempting any conclusive assessment.
He remains an order of magnitude more sensible than any plausible current alternative in Labour or the Opposition parties. We have several internal candidates, Farage, Cosplay Farage and Ed Davey (who is not sensibly on this list).
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Our politicians are useless != the electorate is the problem
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
If that was anyone except Trump, there would be almost unanimous support for the Carroll case being one of the most egregious abuses of the court in decades. The State law was changed specifically to allow it to proceed.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
Whichever way they are told, given the right incentives.
They have just rolled over to permit effective race-based redistricting which is happening in elections where voting has already started, to continue recreating the Jim Crow era by overturning the laws that consigned it to history.
They will cave to Trump, perhaps unless it undermines the influence of SCOTUS.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
Correction, the voter wants low taxes on themselves but high taxes on the rich and big business and less spending on welfare and overseas aid even if more on the NHS and education and defence
Perhaps a Green/Reform coalition would hit the spot then assuming Polanski and Farage can find a way to work together.
On some issues yes but Farage and Polanski despise each other...
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
I did not hear the lib dems objecting to the covid spending either
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
I did not hear the lib dems objecting to the covid spending either
There is a difference between being favour of spending and being in favour of wasteful off the scale corrupt spending to line the pockets of you and your political mates. Michele Mone et al.
I'm still giving Starmer his full 2 years before attempting any conclusive assessment.
He remains an order of magnitude more sensible than any plausible current alternative in Labour or the Opposition parties. We have several internal candidates, Farage, Cosplay Farage and Ed Davey (who is not sensibly on this list).
In the words of the Beatles, Let it be.
I've given you a like, but I think we are beyond the status quo. Starmer needs to timetable his exit.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Our politicians are useless != the electorate is the problem
It's a joint venture.
The politicians have all converged on populism/focus group crap.
No one is selling a thought out program.
No wonder people are saying it’s time for 52 card pickup.
I've got a solution that'd displease both the left and the right. Rejoin the EU and apply to join the Euro.
Snap.
If you offered me a time machine to go back to 1997 and the Tories win (and keep winning as Labour goes Left) but we join the Euro, I think I'd take that.
And have our economic policy and interest rates dictated to by Frankfurt and Brussels not our own needs, see Greece
Though I'd reflect that with Lab MPs suggesting that the bond markets will 'fall into line', the chances of us running economic policy in our own interests under current circumstances seems fainter and fainter. (But as Ian said, 'things can't get worse' is a failure of imagination (which as Max said, is how the GE of 2024 ended up as it did)).
Perhaps the IMF getting involved may be the only solution as no party has the balls to take the financial measures needed because the voters won't stand for it and will go on voting for anyone who promises them the moon on a stick. Until the electorate wake up to the reality of a nation in decline living well beyond its means things will only get worse.
I’m LITERALLY on a train going to MORPETH so I can eat KIPPERS, CRASTERS and LINDISFARNE OYSTERS
Shouldn't that be crab from Craster?
Quite possibly. I just saw the word “Craster” on my itinerary and presumed it was a thing. Is it in fact a place?
My research so far is sketchy
They are also taking us to “Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum” which is next to “Ad Gefrin Whisky Distillery” which thus combines maybe my two favourite things on earth - Dark Age archaeology and strong alcohol
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
It is not ungovernable. Life in the UK is still pretty good. 80%+ of countries would love to have our problems.
The issue is voter expectations vs reality not that the reality is unmanageable.
We need a new improved, mentally-astute electorate...
Our politicians are useless != the electorate is the problem
It's a joint venture.
The politicians have all converged on populism/focus group crap.
No one is selling a thought out program.
No wonder people are saying it’s time for 52 card pickup.
The ones who try and do things, like Streeting and Mahmood in the current govt get hated by their own party and don't get enough support outside to counter it. Rory and Ken Clarke suffered similarly under the Tories.
The set up of how we vote, social media, and leadership by party members makes it inevitable we get the populist and focus group spivs who are all bravado out of power but quickly come unstuck in office.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
If that was anyone except Trump, there would be almost unanimous support for the Carroll case being one of the most egregious abuses of the court in decades. The State law was changed specifically to allow it to proceed.
What a load of bollocks, Sandpit. It was changed, with almost unanimous bipartisan support, to allow many such suits to proceed, since prior to that, a 3 year statute of limitations applied. Please spend less time with MAGA Twitter.
Before 2019, a three-year statute of limitations applied to civil suits for sexual misconduct in New York. In 2019, New York extended the statute of limitations for civil suits arising from sex crimes against adults to 20 years, but this extension was not retroactive.
In 2022, the ASA was enacted. The bill was sponsored by state Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. It unanimously passed the Senate in April 2022, passed the Assembly on a 140–3 vote in May 2022, and was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
...Complaints against State of New York under the ASA were filed in the Court of Claims; as of November 17, 2023, 1,469 claims had been filed in the Court of Claims, mostly naming the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as a defendant.The many imprisoned and formerly imprisoned women in New York who filed claims under the ASA alleged that guards raped or sexually abused them in prisons and jails. A significant proportion of these ASA claims were raised by former inmates of the Bayview Correctional Facility, which was closed in 2012. A federal survey in 2008 and 2009 found that Bayview had one of the U.S.'s highest rates of prison staff-perpetrated sexual abuse. At least 479 suits filed under the ASA alleged abuse at Rikers Island jail complex...
And in any event, the defamation case could have proceeded without the change in the law.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
If that was anyone except Trump, there would be almost unanimous support for the Carroll case being one of the most egregious abuses of the court in decades. The State law was changed specifically to allow it to proceed.
LOL. I think Trump being a rapist is the more important point here, and I think Trump refusing to pay a court-determined award is the second most important point here.
I'm still giving Starmer his full 2 years before attempting any conclusive assessment.
He remains an order of magnitude more sensible than any plausible current alternative in Labour or the Opposition parties. We have several internal candidates, Farage, Cosplay Farage and Ed Davey (who is not sensibly on this list).
In the words of the Beatles, Let it be.
Two years into a government is not a bad time to assess things. IMO by that time the thoughtless will expect perfection on a stick, and that's just life; but what might a realist expect by July 2026, now weeks away?
I suggest that two years into a Labour government with an impregnable majority it is realistic to expect these things:
1) Stable boring government 2) Excellent communication and mastery of the narrative 3) Some immediate wounds bound up and sorted 4) General competence 5) High levels of market confidence in the government 6) That we should be able to understand over all the big issues what the plan is, the timetable and how it is going to funded and believe it is all in the hands of skilled competent people who explain it well to us and don't keep blaming someone else or the past.
Items in (6) would include: defence, NHS, dentistry, welfare and benefits, debt and deficit, balance of trade, water and other necessities that don't work too well, net zero, the problem of industrial energy costs, social care, planning, social housing, inward migration, policy towards EU, levelling up the north, agriculture. Lots more of course.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
That will not be the case when RefCon austerity bites. The voter wants low taxes AND spending on health, pensions and defence. Britain is broken and your team broke it. Unfortunately Team Starmer don't possess the tools to repair it. Like the US we are the Roman Empire in decline.
I suppose at least Nigel can dispense with defence spending, he seems to enjoy a comfortable relationship with Putin.
And one of the reasons why the markets have so much power over us is because of the unfunded Covid spending which was a Tory mistake. That doesn’t mean Labour aren’t to blame too but the bill always comes and now we are beholden to our creditors for my entire lifetime.
The covid spending was supported by labour and Starmer wanted us locked down much longer
Radical changes are needed including means tested pensions and even some NHS services
What is certain we are all going to be poorer and it may be the country is ungovernable
Our participation in the Iraq war was supported by the Tories, who wanted to go further, but Labour as the government at the time is responsible for it. Ditto the Tories and what they spent during Covid.
I did not hear the lib dems objecting to the covid spending either
There is a difference between being favour of spending and being in favour of wasteful off the scale corrupt spending to line the pockets of you and your political mates. Michele Mone et al.
I get really frustrated by this. At the time Labour were touting a list of suppliers that the government was allegedly ignoring, but was shown to be rubbish. And as for people making profits - if they delivered the products as specified then so what? And if they didn't then its up to the lawyers etc to sort this out. What were the payment terms? Who drafted the contracts?
People who hate the Tories love to try to pin this on them, but of all the things that the Tories did in power, this, to me, is one of the weakest of weak beers.
Better for Labour than yesterday's Yougov, even better for Reform than yesterday's Yougov and higher even than the 27% NEV Reform got from the local elections.
Bad poll for the third placed Tories and 5th placed Greens who both are down 1%. Good poll for the LDs who get their usual post local elections bounce and overtake the LDs for 4th
Its difficult to see Labour making a significant breakthrough until they regain their place as market leader on the left. Not too likely while they have Starmer in charge but if they choose wisely we could be adding Labour and Green votes together.
And lose a whole load of votes to the centre and right
Labour's problem is they are losing to both the right and left and any move to the left the bond markets will act
Interesting public opinion has moved firmly away from taxing and spending
Only 36% of 2024 Labour voters currently intend to vote Labour at a GE (YouGov). So far better for Labour to concentrate on winning back votes that have already been lost to the left than those to the right. 19% lost to the Greens, 3% to Plaid and SNP, 7% to LDs, but only 8% to Reform and 3% to Con. Plus a stonking disillusioned 19% to DK/Won't vote.
It's very clear that a return to more traditional left wing values that deliver more tangible change will help consolidate 2024 Labour voters back to Labour, and probably also tempt back some 2024 Greens who defected from Labour also providing that a new leader takes a more robust stance against Israel that amounts to meaningful actions rather than just platitudes.
The direct movement of traditional Labour voters to Reform isn't just about immigration either. The opportunity arises only because Labour no longer pushes the class based values that used to appeal to working class voters. Those were populist values and their abandonment has allowed Farage to push an alternative anti-immigrant populist narrative. So a left wing economic narrative would I think have some chance of capturing some of the Labour votes lost to Reform provided that Labour has some success in combating illegal immigration.
A Labour recovery mainly at the expense of the Greens with a couple of % points off Reform should be enough to stymie the prospect of Farage as PM.
If it's about people in struggling provincial areas 'feeling the change' (quickly) the best approach is surely to direct resource into those places on things that show a speedy tangible return. Use 'Pride In Place' as the platform. Ramp this up so it becomes something that people really notice.
At this rate, the King will beat his predecessor's record for Prime Ministers.
QEII had 15 PMs in her 70 year reign, each PM lasting an average of 4 years and 8 months.
So far KCIII has had 3 PMs in his 3 year and 8 month reign, each PM lasting an average of 1 year and nearly 3 months.
To reach 16 PMs in his reign at the current rate of turnover, KCIII would have to reign for almost 20 years, until 2042, by which point he would be 94 - two years younger than his mother at her death.
It's all very well being King of the North or able to win in Ilford, but it's the huge tracts of suburbia across the county where elections are won and lost.
Who can appeal to them?
That was an insightful piece that someone posted on the previous thread, that removing SKS only removes the problem of SKS being leader. It doesn't change any of the underlying issues.
Indeed. Do we know what Burnham, Streeting, Rayner, or anyone else who thinks they are a contender would actually do? What new policies would be pursued?
Last month I spoke to a former Treasury SPAD, the brutal reality is that the government, this one or the next one needs to find £200 billion a year in tax revenues to become popular.
Yet there's no surer way to be unpopular that to extract it via taxes or debt (–> higher interest rates)
Slap a one-off 25% windfall tax on the UK's 500 richest people. That would net £200bn straight away.
It’s per year.
So even if they don’t leave before your windfall tax and meekly bring all their assets onshore to be taxed, they won’t be there for year 2.
So now you have a capital flight of Argentinian proportions, the deficit. And probably a small problem with the next bond auction.
Because if you expropriating one bunch, everyone will figure they are next.
I wasn't being 100% serious to be truthful.
However... we're fucked. Neoliberalism isn't working we need to try something different.
History shows that ''efficiency savings' and 'getting more people off benefits' are about as plausible as setting up golden egg geese farms, so do please let me know your solution.
Er, no. 'Neoliberalism' (conventional economics in other words) is working exactly as it should - for those doing the right things. We're not working neoliberalism.
It's all very well being King of the North or able to win in Ilford, but it's the huge tracts of suburbia across the county where elections are won and lost.
Who can appeal to them?
That was an insightful piece that someone posted on the previous thread, that removing SKS only removes the problem of SKS being leader. It doesn't change any of the underlying issues.
Indeed. Do we know what Burnham, Streeting, Rayner, or anyone else who thinks they are a contender would actually do? What new policies would be pursued?
Last month I spoke to a former Treasury SPAD, the brutal reality is that the government, this one or the next one needs to find £200 billion a year in tax revenues to become popular.
Yep, so that they wipe out the deficit and start repaying the debt mountains at a meaningful pace. If they could only do that then the bond markets would indeed fall in line. Always happy to lend to people who don't actually need it, as you will know.
I don't know if DavidL reads sassenach law reports, but this one is a stage in an interesting process, likely to be protracted, of testing the extent to which a KC can tell the jury that the judge is an idiot who has got the law wrong and should be ignored by a right minded jury, before someone stops the fun; and if there are sanctions, who has the right to order and run the process.
To be read in parallel with R v Farooqi, 2013, which is a classic text on barristers telling judges to get stuffed, and should be the basis of a stage play.
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
If that was anyone except Trump, there would be almost unanimous support for the Carroll case being one of the most egregious abuses of the court in decades. The State law was changed specifically to allow it to proceed.
What a load of bollocks, Sandpit. It was changed, with almost unanimous bipartisan support, to allow many such suits to proceed, since prior to that, a 3 year statute of limitations applied. Please spend less time with MAGA Twitter.
Before 2019, a three-year statute of limitations applied to civil suits for sexual misconduct in New York. In 2019, New York extended the statute of limitations for civil suits arising from sex crimes against adults to 20 years, but this extension was not retroactive.
In 2022, the ASA was enacted. The bill was sponsored by state Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. It unanimously passed the Senate in April 2022, passed the Assembly on a 140–3 vote in May 2022, and was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
...Complaints against State of New York under the ASA were filed in the Court of Claims; as of November 17, 2023, 1,469 claims had been filed in the Court of Claims, mostly naming the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as a defendant.The many imprisoned and formerly imprisoned women in New York who filed claims under the ASA alleged that guards raped or sexually abused them in prisons and jails. A significant proportion of these ASA claims were raised by former inmates of the Bayview Correctional Facility, which was closed in 2012. A federal survey in 2008 and 2009 found that Bayview had one of the U.S.'s highest rates of prison staff-perpetrated sexual abuse. At least 479 suits filed under the ASA alleged abuse at Rikers Island jail complex...
And in any event, the defamation case could have proceeded without the change in the law.
sandpit has a huge mancrush on Trump , he can do no wrong.
Comments
If the House has no confidence in the government, for more than I think two weeks, then Parliament is dissolved and an election held.
Such formal confidence motion has to come from LotO, from anyone else it has no standing.
Parliament can impeach a Prime Minister.
Who’s the current MP for Dunsinane?
Players:
Starmer as King Richard II
Burnham as Bolingbrook
Streeting as Northumberland
For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings.
It can be for high crimes and misdemeanours.
Basically - “we pass a law saying you are guilty”
New SNP leader at Westminster.
It's very clear that a return to more traditional left wing values that deliver more tangible change will help consolidate 2024 Labour voters back to Labour, and probably also tempt back some 2024 Greens who defected from Labour also providing that a new leader takes a more robust stance against Israel that amounts to meaningful actions rather than just platitudes.
The direct movement of traditional Labour voters to Reform isn't just about immigration either. The opportunity arises only because Labour no longer pushes the class based values that used to appeal to working class voters. Those were populist values and their abandonment has allowed Farage to push an alternative anti-immigrant populist narrative. So a left wing economic narrative would I think have some chance of capturing some of the Labour votes lost to Reform provided that Labour has some success in combating illegal immigration.
A Labour recovery mainly at the expense of the Greens with a couple of % points off Reform should be enough to stymie the prospect of Farage as PM.
Of course there is also the very sneaky bit by which Macduff had been pulled out of the womb by a man. Tricky, these witches.
Any MP would be giving up another three and a half years of MP salary and position, and guarantee pissing off their local party members & the current government. Can’t be a big list of people happy to torch their future careers for the sake of Burnham getting a chance to run things.
(You can blame the media and wider culture for driving away people with talent and sanity, but that's just a function of where we've all chosen to put our eyeballs and money. Even Americans turned into raging morons by Fox News weren't passive victims... at least not to start with.)
Appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now
This now goes to the Supreme Court. Let's see how craven the Supremes will be? I think we know how Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh will vote...
One of the largest ever swings was Ashfield 1977, when Labour's MP Marquand took a job in Brussels - and this solid Labour mining seat just didn't turn up to vote for his replacement.
It would be funny as fuck if the one assumption - that the seat was a shoo-in for Burnham - fell apart.
My research so far is sketchy
They are also taking us to “Ad Gefrin Anglo Saxon Museum” which is next to “Ad Gefrin Whisky Distillery” which thus combines maybe my two favourite things on earth - Dark Age archaeology and strong alcohol
I'm still giving Starmer his full 2 years before attempting any conclusive assessment.
He remains an order of magnitude more sensible than any plausible current alternative in Labour or the Opposition parties. We have several internal candidates, Farage, Cosplay Farage and Ed Davey (who is not sensibly on this list).
In the words of the Beatles, Let it be.
When visiting Morpeth via the station, ALWAYS go down the hill.
Up Stobhill be demons.
Matthew 7:3-5 applies.
They will cave to Trump, perhaps unless it undermines the influence of SCOTUS.
To more not being spent.
No one is selling a thought out program.
No wonder people are saying it’s time for 52 card pickup.
NEW THREAD
Telegraph
We’re on again!
*WES STREETEING PREPARING TO RESIGN: TIMES
*STREETING TOLD ALLIES HE'S PREPARING TO TRIGGER CONTEST: TIMES
The set up of how we vote, social media, and leadership by party members makes it inevitable we get the populist and focus group spivs who are all bravado out of power but quickly come unstuck in office.
It was changed, with almost unanimous bipartisan support, to allow many such suits to proceed, since prior to that, a 3 year statute of limitations applied.
Please spend less time with MAGA Twitter.
Adult Survivors Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Survivors_Act
Before 2019, a three-year statute of limitations applied to civil suits for sexual misconduct in New York. In 2019, New York extended the statute of limitations for civil suits arising from sex crimes against adults to 20 years, but this extension was not retroactive.
In 2022, the ASA was enacted. The bill was sponsored by state Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. It unanimously passed the Senate in April 2022, passed the Assembly on a 140–3 vote in May 2022, and was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
...Complaints against State of New York under the ASA were filed in the Court of Claims; as of November 17, 2023, 1,469 claims had been filed in the Court of Claims, mostly naming the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as a defendant.The many imprisoned and formerly imprisoned women in New York who filed claims under the ASA alleged that guards raped or sexually abused them in prisons and jails. A significant proportion of these ASA claims were raised by former inmates of the Bayview Correctional Facility, which was closed in 2012. A federal survey in 2008 and 2009 found that Bayview had one of the U.S.'s highest rates of prison staff-perpetrated sexual abuse. At least 479 suits filed under the ASA alleged abuse at Rikers Island jail complex...
And in any event, the defamation case could have proceeded without the change in the law.
I suggest that two years into a Labour government with an impregnable majority it is realistic to expect these things:
1) Stable boring government
2) Excellent communication and mastery of the narrative
3) Some immediate wounds bound up and sorted
4) General competence
5) High levels of market confidence in the government
6) That we should be able to understand over all the big issues what the plan is, the timetable and how it is going to funded and believe it is all in the hands of skilled competent people who explain it well to us and don't keep blaming someone else or the past.
Items in (6) would include: defence, NHS, dentistry, welfare and benefits, debt and deficit, balance of trade, water and other necessities that don't work too well, net zero, the problem of industrial energy costs, social care, planning, social housing, inward migration, policy towards EU, levelling up the north, agriculture. Lots more of course.
I don't think this government is quite there yet.
People who hate the Tories love to try to pin this on them, but of all the things that the Tories did in power, this, to me, is one of the weakest of weak beers.
So far KCIII has had 3 PMs in his 3 year and 8 month reign, each PM lasting an average of 1 year and nearly 3 months.
To reach 16 PMs in his reign at the current rate of turnover, KCIII would have to reign for almost 20 years, until 2042, by which point he would be 94 - two years younger than his mother at her death.
It's on.