Pretty bold move given he has been in parliament about 5 minutes.
Who dares wins.
Yeah, I know he was a marine but same starry eyed nitwittery over a sniff of a (wo)man in uniform applied.
If Labour were looking for a LoTo, I could perhaps see it. The David Cameron move. But Starmer, Mr Technocrat, can't get anything moving, what is the chance of a bloke who has been in parliament 5 minutes and never held any big govenrment roles being able to unlock that (also I highly doubt when he got his seat he thought I will be leader in 2 years, so again, what deep thinking about policy will have been done).
He also has the Son of a Toolmaker tick, every interview, "when I was in the military, we did x". Also, he can really quite prickerly when pushed by interviewers, you get the feeling he is very close to tell to shut the fuck up, I'm in charge. Being leader that is turned up to 11.
OTOH I’ve considered it unlikely that a Scot would ever lead a main(sic) UK party again but the steely jawed action man thing might counter that. I suppose a politician that doesn’t look a total dick in a fall jacket would be a novelty. Paul Mason might have a fatal orgasm.
"Supporters of Wes Streeting say he has the numbers but such is the volatility around the prime minister, and what they claim he might do next, they are waiting for now.
Others are spitting about Andy Burnham, saying the mayor of Greater Manchester has made a huge fuss about his ambitions but still hasn’t found a seat.
A senior figure just said to me that ‘MPs are all losing their minds’ and what is happening is a ‘total mess.’
Their language was actually considerably punchier than that, but you get the gist."
This makes no sense whatsoever. I thought that the whole point of this was that Streeting was going to trigger a contest when Burnham was hors de combat?
Burnham said he had a seat, so Streeting said he had the numbers. Both may have been lying. Unfortunately for Wes, Burnham will still be Mayor of Greater Manchester. Streeting may not be in the Cabinet. But that's politics.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
Slashing of local government budgets means no money to clean up and also means higher charges for disposal of rubbish which means more fly tipping. And then once it becomes the norm it snowballs. Also the whole waste disposal supply chain has been infiltrated by organised crime. Really it needs a culture change, which is feasible with sufficient will to do it.
A house two doors down from me is having an extension. They're burying all the waste in a big hole in the garden.
Charging for waste disposal may be counterproductive, whether it's done for monetary or envirionmental reasons.
How does that work? What do you do with the stuff you dig out to make the hole?
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
So when is SKS going to clear out all the treacherous schemers from cabinet?
He should call a Theresa May 'crush the saboteurs' election.
"We've got the highest growth in the G7 and waiting lists are coming down, but some in my parliamentary party would rather play politics. That is not acceptable. It's time to let the people have their say, and my critics are welcome to stand as independents."
Streeting holds back on leadership bid Is Wes Streeting going to back down? We had mixed signals in the bars of Westminster last night amid claims from his allies that the health secretary “has the numbers” to mount a formal challenge but is holding back on launching a bid (Steven Swinford writes). His allies this morning say that “things have shifted” and suggest that Keir Starmer could yet be forced to stand down of his own volition. They claim that more Cabinet ministers will head into No 10 today to tell Starmer that he needs to quit. Angela Rayner’s announcement that her tax affairs are now settled — clearing her path for a run at the leadership — have also complicated matters. No 10 is adamant that Starmer is going nowhere. So the Labour leadership — and with it the government — remains in a state of suspended animation.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
Rogeradamus of the media has spoken, Brittas is safe to run the leisure centre for a bit longer.
Comedy gold from the Streeting camp . From the BBC.
“Supporters of Wes Streeting say he has the numbers but such is the volatility around the prime minister, and what they claim he might do next, they are waiting for now.”
"You wouldn't know my numbers. They go to another school"
If Streeting is close to having the numbers doesn't No. 10 push it over the edge in pledges have the resignation and then pull those backers back so he doesn't get over the line? Maybe risky but it would force everyone else to abandon their ambitions for the foreseeable future if it works.
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
That would be the right thing to do for everyone's sake including the country
So the economy is looking better than expected , the NHS improving and next week is likely to see another big drop in net migration .
Not so bad after all and really calls into question why on earth we’’re having all this drama ?
Because of the ill-informed and emotionally incontinent sociopolitical climate.
I also think this no plan mantra is now just being regurgitated by much of the public who are acting like drones .
Labour have passed quite a lot of legislation, workers rights , renters rights etc . What’s needed is a better means of communicating this .
And in terms of net migration that’s also falling rapidly . They really should hold news conferences and force the media to report it .
What were the five biggest problems for Britain at GE2024?
My list would go something like this:
1. Underinvestment in infrastructure - e.g. a lot has been talked about Northern Powerhouse Rail, and feck all done about it. 2. Massive shortages in housing so that people can't get the security of tenure that comes from owning a house, and can't easily move to where the work is. 3. Not attracting the business investment in the technologies of the future that will help the country pay its way. 4. There's a war on in Ukraine that needs winning. 5. The persistent failure to reduce net migration to the promised tens of thousands, or to openly win the argument with the public for higher migration levels, has undermined the democratic process. You can't keep promising people one thing and delivering another, and not have people get really riled up about it.
Can you make a case for good progress being made since GE2024 on any of these issues? It doesn't seem unfair on the government to objectively criticise their progress as being inadequate, and of not having a plan that would give you any hope of substantial progress on these issues by the mid-2030s. There are plenty more, like adult social care, the courts backlog, shoplifting, the cladding situation (about 9 years after Grenfell ffs), etc.
And then you just have the very obvious and general incompetence exemplified by the mishandling of the fiscal situation.
The government's problem is not mainly one of communication. Nor is it one of a population that is unreasonable and ungovernable. The government's problem is that it does not have a plan. It does not have a very basic story of: these are the problems with where we are, this is where we want to end up, these are the things that we need to do to get there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
I have listened and here is my timetable:
May 2026 Listen to a load of squabbling from wannabees without enough support to actually do anything and ignore it May 2027 Repeat 2029 Resign if don't win election 2032 Resign
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
It's entirely possible that Streeting is timing his announcement around that, so it's a bit early to declare SACO/WACO.
Typical PB impatience (along with the Westminster journalist pack).
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
That’s old news from last nights Newsnight which Hodges is recycling as some big insight. The cabinet includes more than just SOS’s . Lots of ministers and under secretaries.
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
Prof Peston and Hodges, Starmer defniitely safe.....
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 18m All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 1m Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
I have listened and here is my timetable:
May 2026 Listen to a load of squabbling from wannabees without enough support to actually do anything and ignore it May 2027 Repeat 2029 Resign if don't win election 2032 Resign
2026 - An agreement to form a working group for getting an agreement about the timetable for resigning 2027 - An agreement about an agreement about who select for the working group for getting an agreement... 2028 - An agreement about the agreement about the agreement for.....
One would think the Streeting camp are making up the numbers to try and get more MPs to come out and back him.
If they had the required they would have gone for it already . What other possible reason for not doing so.
More likely Wes has the same problem we saw in various Tory leadership battles where letters to Graham Brady (old lady) were loudly announced then quietly withdrawn.
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
Prof Peston and Hodges, Starmer defniitely safe.....
No one knows anything. Yesterday we were being assured Rayner would be tied up by the HMRC thing for weeks or months.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
I’m sorry but to believe Darren Jones is going around telling MPs Starmer is going to go is just nonsense being pushed by an increasingly desperate Streeting camp .
You couldn’t find anyone more loyal than Jones to the PM .
"Supporters of Wes Streeting say he has the numbers but such is the volatility around the prime minister, and what they claim he might do next, they are waiting for now.
Others are spitting about Andy Burnham, saying the mayor of Greater Manchester has made a huge fuss about his ambitions but still hasn’t found a seat.
A senior figure just said to me that ‘MPs are all losing their minds’ and what is happening is a ‘total mess.’
Their language was actually considerably punchier than that, but you get the gist."
This makes no sense whatsoever. I thought that the whole point of this was that Streeting was going to trigger a contest when Burnham was hors de combat?
Burnham said he had a seat, so Streeting said he had the numbers. Both may have been lying. Unfortunately for Wes, Burnham will still be Mayor of Greater Manchester. Streeting may not be in the Cabinet. But that's politics.
Regardless of his leadership ambitions, there's a decent case to sack or shuffle Wes because he has totally failed to end the doctor strikes. A new negotiator might unlock things.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
They should end this Thunderdome-style; two men enter, one man leaves...
Streeting holds back on leadership bid Is Wes Streeting going to back down? We had mixed signals in the bars of Westminster last night amid claims from his allies that the health secretary “has the numbers” to mount a formal challenge but is holding back on launching a bid (Steven Swinford writes). His allies this morning say that “things have shifted” and suggest that Keir Starmer could yet be forced to stand down of his own volition. They claim that more Cabinet ministers will head into No 10 today to tell Starmer that he needs to quit. Angela Rayner’s announcement that her tax affairs are now settled — clearing her path for a run at the leadership — have also complicated matters. No 10 is adamant that Starmer is going nowhere. So the Labour leadership — and with it the government — remains in a state of suspended animation.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest is a true spectacle. Even more so when a 5'8, 58kg Japanese guy used to win regularly (he was doing 50-60 dogs plus bun in 12 mins, nowadays the winner does 70 in 10 mins).
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
Prof Peston and Hodges, Starmer defniitely safe.....
No one knows anything. Yesterday we were being assured Rayner would be tied up by the HMRC thing for weeks or months.
This is the problem by with 24 hour rolling news. If there is no news make some up.
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
Prof Peston and Hodges, Starmer defniitely safe.....
Despite that I hope it happens because it is now imperative to end this damaging episode
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
They could form a working group to investigate the merits of red or brown or no sauce. With an extensive cost benefit analysis from independent outside consultants and an invitation to input from stakeholders.
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
They could form a working group to investigate the merits of red or brown or no sauce. With an extensive cost benefit analysis from independent outside consultants and an invitation to input from stakeholders.
As long as it is properly fried British back bacon and not American burnt to a crisp streaky bacon.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
They should end this Thunderdome-style; two men enter, one man leaves...
I'm reminded of the old quote "An empty taxi drew up outside Number 10, Downing Street, and when the door opened, Attlee got out"
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
They could form a working group to investigate the merits of red or brown or no sauce. With an extensive cost benefit analysis from independent outside consultants and an invitation to input from stakeholders.
As long as it is properly fried British back bacon and not American burnt to a crisp streaky bacon.
Streaky bacon is the superior bacon Whilst back may be the preference for many for a full English breakfast, the belly cut streaky bacon due to the higher fat content is the tastier alternative.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
If Streeting was going to declare he'd have done it this morning
The Public won't re elect Starmer
The Public will re elect a Labour Government led by someone who is not Starmer.
In the public eyes
Rayner is too left Burnham is popular Ed will always be a geek Cairns is not credible yet The left have no credible Corbyn type certainty not Burgon or Long Bailey Lammy not popular Healy and Mcfadden too old
The Membership would vote for any of those though
The Membership won't ever vote for
Streeting Mahmood Kendall
Who might the Public and Membership vote for who Is an MP and credible
Bridget Phillipson Darren Jones Lisa Nandy Emma Reynolds
Phillipson is a remarkably strong story but not a Leader
Reynolds was excellent in her first iteration ore 2010 and a dark horse
Nandy is vastly underrated in my opinion, calm, excellent communication skills, rarely ruffled, actually answers questions
Jones only negative in my eyes given the gender issue is he's another Labour male.
I'm going to find someone who can give me odds on Nandy and Jones
BTW
I can see this ending with an announcement that SKS will stand down in Spring 2027...giving a set out date, time for a structed departure and a proper process not a coronation
A 94th Labour MP has called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign, urging the Prime Minister to announce a “planned and controlled timetable for his departure”.
Andrew Ranger, the MP for Wrexham, said he did not want a “rushed contest, or for the kind of destructive internal warfare that serves nobody”.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
A 94th Labour MP has called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign, urging the Prime Minister to announce a “planned and controlled timetable for his departure”.
Andrew Ranger, the MP for Wrexham, said he did not want a “rushed contest, or for the kind of destructive internal warfare that serves nobody”.
So another Burnham fan ! As for destructive internal war fare that’s happening already .
Daniel Streeting and Alexander Miliband, I think, may be the dream team. Janet Philipson is said to be holding a press conference at 3pm, together, ofcourse, with Bridgit O'Donohue, from the new Lisa Nandy camp.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Why should he stand down?
Majority view within his colleagues and the unions
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Why should he stand down?
No reason at all. And the antics of the last week, which have put the flaws of the first-line rivals under the microscope, show why Starmer is the still the least bad option.
@Brixian59 is probably right about the potential in the next level down, but it's still a bit early for them. And Nandy's sulk at Culture etc is a significant black mark.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Why should he stand down?
Majority view within his colleagues and the unions
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
I survived a trip to Ashington using the new train service in January last year!
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
Slashing of local government budgets means no money to clean up and also means higher charges for disposal of rubbish which means more fly tipping. And then once it becomes the norm it snowballs. Also the whole waste disposal supply chain has been infiltrated by organised crime. Really it needs a culture change, which is feasible with sufficient will to do it.
A house two doors down from me is having an extension. They're burying all the waste in a big hole in the garden.
Charging for waste disposal may be counterproductive, whether it's done for monetary or envirionmental reasons.
How does that work? What do you do with the stuff you dig out to make the hole?
I presume you spread it around the rest of the garden....
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
Why should he stand down?
Majority view within his colleagues and the unions
Well, they can put up or shut up. He took over the Labour Party when they were at a low ebb, and he led them to a big win. I would not be inclined to stand down, in his position.
I wonder if the idea is to persuade the mullahs to give their enriched uranium to the Chinese.
The Mullahs of course also said that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. Old man Khamenei even issued a fatwa on this topic, although since the Americans offed him maybe that no longer applies. I wouldn't take what anyone says on this topic at face value.
Masterclass from Fetterman today: - The only Democrat to vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution, sinking the bill in a 49-50 vote - The only Democrat who voted to confirm Kevin Warsh, who will take over from Powell on May 15 https://x.com/StatisticUrban/status/2054671172051304489
I wonder if the idea is to persuade the mullahs to give their enriched uranium to the Chinese.
Is that news? China - in common with every nuclear power - has opposed nuclear proliferation, and wants the Strait of Hormuz open for obvious reasons.
The question is how? I'm sure China would be quite happy for the US to cave in to most of Iran's demands, on closing US bases in the Middle East and paying reparations, for example.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Miliband starts eating the others stop in fascination.
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Agreed about Northumberland. IMHO the best county in England.
Re: fly tipping and littering, general littering has always happened. It’s most prevalent around fast food joints, and in a range where neds, commercial travellers and white van men can consume a MacDonalds while driving and throw the packaging out of the window when they are finished. I just don’t understand how the huge fly tipping mountains have been allowed to build up without anyone noticing or complaining. Do we no longer care?
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Agreed about Northumberland. IMHO the best county in England.
Re: fly tipping and littering, general littering has always happened. It’s most prevalent around fast food joints, and in a range where neds, commercial travellers and white van men can consume a MacDonalds while driving and throw the packaging out of the window when they are finished. I just don’t understand how the huge fly tipping mountains have been allowed to build up without anyone noticing or complaining. Do we no longer care?
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
He's in...
...the pay of various tourist organisations. You can tell when he's been paid to go somewhere because it's always AMAZING!
I wonder if the idea is to persuade the mullahs to give their enriched uranium to the Chinese.
On Iran, it's starting to look like there was another cyber attack on their nuclear program before Stuxnet; something called fast16 that targeted certain physical modelling applications and subtly shifted their results.
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
Just passing Alnmouth on the way to some prize winning beef farm. We’re meeting producers - which is fun
All the towns seem rather neat, if not noble. Maybe they’re just avoiding the toilets but so far I’m decidedly impressed
Masterclass from Fetterman today: - The only Democrat to vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution, sinking the bill in a 49-50 vote - The only Democrat who voted to confirm Kevin Warsh, who will take over from Powell on May 15 https://x.com/StatisticUrban/status/2054671172051304489
Shame he wouldn’t last five minutes in a Dem presidential primary. One of few still espousing the social views of the Clinton-era Democratic Party.
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Punish fly-tippers and litterers with years of community service solely involving working their weekends clearing up fly-tips and litter from roadsides.
I tbink a lot of people are waiting for the statements from Alan Milburn and Clare Short, at this point. The mood is feverish, and a lot will.depend on what Jarvis/Falconer say at 3pm.
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
They could form a working group to investigate the merits of red or brown or no sauce. With an extensive cost benefit analysis from independent outside consultants and an invitation to input from stakeholders.
As long as it is properly fried British back bacon and not American burnt to a crisp streaky bacon.
Streaky bacon is the superior bacon Whilst back may be the preference for many for a full English breakfast, the belly cut streaky bacon due to the higher fat content is the tastier alternative.
Here's some fly tipping in my old stomping ground. And part of the reason Reform do so well. The Duchy of Lancaster ie the Crown is exempt from clearing up on its land. Therefore. The Council has to do it. Which takes time. Costs a fortune. And gets them kicked out.
Wes does have the numbers but he's busting a gut to avoid being the triggerer. It's much much better for him if Starmer sets out a timetable - ideally a shortish one so Burnham is disadvantaged.
So what's happening is a last push by him to force Starmer to do that. If it fails he'll hit the button.
Excellent GDP figures out. Were it not for Mandelson, suspect Starmer would be able to talk about turning the economy around and see off leadership disquiet.
No, no, that can't be right. We all know the country's economy is going down the pan - I read it here on PB every day so it must be true.
The economy might not be, but so much else is:
Shoplifters acting with impunity.
Dodgy shops either acting as fronts for money laundering or selling dodgy fags and vapes.
Chavs buzzing about on illegal e-bikes.
Filth everywhere, plus illegal waste dumps blighting the countryside.
I could go on and on.
So much is shite.
The anti-fly tipping signs put up by the council are already wearing off. Maybe fly-tippers can't read.
Filth and hypocrisy about it are established British habits (tbf I have not surveyed Wales or Scotland extensively). Consider dogshit bags hung on trees, or litter in every layby, or along every road. Yet as soon as we have enforcers, the Great British Whining Noise can be heard keening on the breeze.
The laws are in place for some of those - illegal e-bikes have been confiscatible (sp) for two decades (since 2005) in exactly the same way as any other uninsured motor vehicle. Or S59 can be used. Much of this is about political will and willingness to enforce.
This is why I do not think taxes will or should be going down - if we want a decent society it needs more resources, not less, especially for local government.
On another serious note, this type of thing makes me wonder whether we have capability for the type of grassroots civil-society activism against our Right Wing nihilists that will be a significant factor in overturning MAGA in the USA.
It isn't new either, probably worsened by increased takeaway packaging and the removal of public bins.
There was loads of litter and graffiti in South London when I lived there in the Eighties. Thats why we had endless "keep Britain tidy" campaigns, and the Wombles.
This 20 year old article shows there is nothing new under the sun.
Our big cities have often been grubby - yes. Tho perhaps they are worse now. It’s arguable
What is inarguable is that the scruffiness has extended to our smaller cities and towns. The horrible fly tipping. And the state of our roadsides is often hideous. Mile after mile of discarded trash. Why? It’s new and it’s nasty
So a chap got a large fine near Salisbury for fly-tipping. Caught on CCTV etc, bang to rights. The crazy thing was it would have been closer to go to the tip. And he wasn't even some cowboy 'house-clearer' - it was his own stuff. Madness.
I’d execute fly tippers. Legally of course
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Ssssh! Stop telling everyone please. Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
He's in...
...the pay of various tourist organisations. You can tell when he's been paid to go somewhere because it's always AMAZING!
This is extraordinary with nobody willing to roll the dice
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
This has to be settled. TODAY.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
Preferably bacon butties with no sauce of course 👍
They could form a working group to investigate the merits of red or brown or no sauce. With an extensive cost benefit analysis from independent outside consultants and an invitation to input from stakeholders.
As long as it is properly fried British back bacon and not American burnt to a crisp streaky bacon.
Streaky bacon is the superior bacon Whilst back may be the preference for many for a full English breakfast, the belly cut streaky bacon due to the higher fat content is the tastier alternative.
Comments
hundredsixty Labour MPs that question.I think that's more like.
Now be a good chap Wes, and sort out the NHS doctors dispute.
Both may have been lying.
Unfortunately for Wes, Burnham will still be Mayor of Greater Manchester. Streeting may not be in the Cabinet.
But that's politics.
Ultimately Starmer is responsible by not doing the right thing and laying out a timeline to stand down, which seems is the majority view within his mps and the unions
Dragging this on for months is terrible for everyone, and especially the country with a goverment utterly paralysed
(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
·
18m
All eyes on Streeting. I’m being told to watch the cabinet.
(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
·
1m
Cabinet Minister tells me 2/3 of the Cabinet now believe Starmer needs to set out a timetable for his departure. Told this was communicated to Downing Street yesterday. Numerous reports of a delegation preparing to see him later today.
"We've got the highest growth in the G7 and waiting lists are coming down, but some in my parliamentary party would rather play politics. That is not acceptable. It's time to let the people have their say, and my critics are welcome to stand as independents."
Is Wes Streeting going to back down? We had mixed signals in the bars of Westminster last night amid claims from his allies that the health secretary “has the numbers” to mount a formal challenge but is holding back on launching a bid (Steven Swinford writes).
His allies this morning say that “things have shifted” and suggest that Keir Starmer could yet be forced to stand down of his own volition. They claim that more Cabinet ministers will head into No 10 today to tell Starmer that he needs to quit.
Angela Rayner’s announcement that her tax affairs are now settled — clearing her path for a run at the leadership — have also complicated matters.
No 10 is adamant that Starmer is going nowhere. So the Labour leadership — and with it the government — remains in a state of suspended animation.
* The Time live feed
https://x.com/zelenskyyua/status/2054864930017305014
Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today.
This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”.
The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs.
BREAKING:
Senior allies of Wes Streeting say he has the numbers but "things are shifting", which feels like his best laid plans are being ripped up.
Senior allies of Streeting are also *claiming* Cabinet Ministers will head to No10 today to tell the PM to quit.
These allies are not yet naming the Cabinet Ministers. And these are just claims his camp is making.
It very much feels things aren't going to plan.
My list would go something like this:
1. Underinvestment in infrastructure - e.g. a lot has been talked about Northern Powerhouse Rail, and feck all done about it.
2. Massive shortages in housing so that people can't get the security of tenure that comes from owning a house, and can't easily move to where the work is.
3. Not attracting the business investment in the technologies of the future that will help the country pay its way.
4. There's a war on in Ukraine that needs winning.
5. The persistent failure to reduce net migration to the promised tens of thousands, or to openly win the argument with the public for higher migration levels, has undermined the democratic process. You can't keep promising people one thing and delivering another, and not have people get really riled up about it.
Can you make a case for good progress being made since GE2024 on any of these issues? It doesn't seem unfair on the government to objectively criticise their progress as being inadequate, and of not having a plan that would give you any hope of substantial progress on these issues by the mid-2030s. There are plenty more, like adult social care, the courts backlog, shoplifting, the cladding situation (about 9 years after Grenfell ffs), etc.
And then you just have the very obvious and general incompetence exemplified by the mishandling of the fiscal situation.
The government's problem is not mainly one of communication. Nor is it one of a population that is unreasonable and ungovernable. The government's problem is that it does not have a plan. It does not have a very basic story of: these are the problems with where we are, this is where we want to end up, these are the things that we need to do to get there.
May 2026 Listen to a load of squabbling from wannabees without enough support to actually do anything and ignore it
May 2027 Repeat
2029 Resign if don't win election
2032 Resign
Typical PB impatience (along with the Westminster journalist pack).
But it has to be today, I think.
Starmer. Milliband. Streeting. Jones. Rayner. Trestle table in Downing Street. Bacon butties. Whomever eats the most becomes PM.
2027 - An agreement about an agreement about who select for the working group for getting an agreement...
2028 - An agreement about the agreement about the agreement for.....
Proper policy must be followed obviously.
Yesterday we were being assured Rayner would be tied up by the HMRC thing for weeks or months.
Bring it on.
You couldn’t find anyone more loyal than Jones to the PM .
Isn't it?
I don't know if you are aware but the Russian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for former defence secretary Ben Wallace.
https://x.com/MarkGaleotti/status/2054672066259915177
Warning: Given your known feelings on Russia and Ben this may make you um... damp in the gusset.
WSIPHDISARWAWNBLPM
Insufficient testicular fortitude...
Whilst back may be the preference for many for a full English breakfast, the belly cut streaky bacon due to the higher fat content is the tastier alternative.
Far better than expected Growth figures
If Streeting was going to declare he'd have done it this morning
The Public won't re elect Starmer
The Public will re elect a Labour Government led by someone who is not Starmer.
In the public eyes
Rayner is too left
Burnham is popular
Ed will always be a geek
Cairns is not credible yet
The left have no credible Corbyn type certainty not Burgon or Long Bailey
Lammy not popular
Healy and Mcfadden too old
The Membership would vote for any of those though
The Membership won't ever vote for
Streeting
Mahmood
Kendall
Who might the Public and Membership vote for who Is an MP and credible
Bridget Phillipson
Darren Jones
Lisa Nandy
Emma Reynolds
Phillipson is a remarkably strong story but not a Leader
Reynolds was excellent in her first iteration ore 2010 and a dark horse
Nandy is vastly underrated in my opinion, calm, excellent communication skills, rarely ruffled, actually answers questions
Jones only negative in my eyes given the gender issue is he's another Labour male.
I'm going to find someone who can give me odds on Nandy and Jones
BTW
I can see this ending with an announcement that SKS will stand down in Spring 2027...giving a set out date, time for a structed departure and a proper process not a coronation
Andrew Ranger, the MP for Wrexham, said he did not want a “rushed contest, or for the kind of destructive internal warfare that serves nobody”.
Do we think this is a gift and he's in the clear? This smells very nasty to me, although I am Lord Astor when if comes through Nigel.
I’ve just had enough of people desecrating our precious island and mutilating our beautiful towns
It needs to be drummed into children from the age of 2. You just do not do this. And the improvement to public mood if we improved the public realm would be instant. It’s the easiest fix out there
That said, Northumberland - where I am right now - is pristine. The countryside is spick and span and the small market towns exude civic pride and beauty. Clean and handsome. Flower baskets. Shiny benches. More please
Daniel Streeting and Alexander Miliband, I think, may be the dream team. Janet Philipson is said to be holding a press conference at 3pm, together, ofcourse, with Bridgit O'Donohue, from the new Lisa Nandy camp.
Stop telling everyone please.
Ps. I take it you're not in Ashington?
@Brixian59 is probably right about the potential in the next level down, but it's still a bit early for them. And Nandy's sulk at Culture etc is a significant black mark.
Memo from the US-China summit, that the two sides agree on getting the Straight of Hormuz open, and that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
https://x.com/whitehouse/status/2054862405306310757
I wonder if the idea is to persuade the mullahs to give their enriched uranium to the Chinese.
*A naughty Tory-free analysis.
- The only Democrat to vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution, sinking the bill in a 49-50 vote
- The only Democrat who voted to confirm Kevin Warsh, who will take over from Powell on May 15
https://x.com/StatisticUrban/status/2054671172051304489
The question is how? I'm sure China would be quite happy for the US to cave in to most of Iran's demands, on closing US bases in the Middle East and paying reparations, for example.
Miliband then wins by default
Re: fly tipping and littering, general littering has always happened. It’s most prevalent around fast food joints, and in a range where neds, commercial travellers and white van men can consume a MacDonalds while driving and throw the packaging out of the window when they are finished. I just don’t understand how the huge fly tipping mountains have been allowed to build up without anyone noticing or complaining. Do we no longer care?
Re: fly tipping and littering, general littering has always happened. It’s most prevalent around fast food joints, and in a range where neds, commercial travellers and white van men can consume a MacDonalds while driving and throw the packaging out of the window when they are finished. I just don’t understand how the huge fly tipping mountains have been allowed to build up without anyone noticing or complaining. Do we no longer care?
...the pay of various tourist organisations. You can tell when he's been paid to go somewhere because it's always AMAZING!
All the towns seem rather neat, if not noble. Maybe they’re just avoiding the toilets but so far I’m decidedly impressed
Stay tuned.
And part of the reason Reform do so well.
The Duchy of Lancaster ie the Crown is exempt from clearing up on its land.
Therefore. The Council has to do it. Which takes time. Costs a fortune. And gets them kicked out.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1d6xkw95xeo
Wes does have the numbers but he's busting a gut to avoid being the triggerer. It's much much better for him if Starmer sets out a timetable - ideally a shortish one so Burnham is disadvantaged.
So what's happening is a last push by him to force Starmer to do that. If it fails he'll hit the button.
https://x.com/juliamacfarlane/status/2054876188493979815?s=20
Ok then...
Streeting would lose leadership contest against Keir Starmer, poll reveals - LabourList
https://x.com/JohnRentoul/status/2054878689649684504?s=20