Comments

• oxfordsimon Posts: 6,012

  May 14

  Just get on with it.

  0
• Sweeney74 Posts: 629

  May 14

  All Quiet on the Wes' Turn Front, surely

  2
• FrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,955

  May 14

  Wheres Wally Wes ?

  3
• GIN1138 Posts: 23,257

  May 14

  Wht doesn't Starmer sack Wezzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

  0
• FrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,955

  May 14

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  0
• OldKingCole Posts: 37,421

  May 14

  Starmer still wants Streeting as Health Sec., apparently.
  
  Maybe just so he can keep an eye on him.

  0
• FrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,955

  May 14 edited May 14

  OldKingCole said:

  Starmer still wants Streeting as Health Sec., apparently.
  
  Maybe just so he can keep an eye on him.

  He is too politically weak to be sack Mahmood, Streeting, etc.

  0
• WhisperingOracle Posts: 11,128

  May 14 edited May 14

  Unless he can get the letters of support in from people like Stephen Byers and Nick Hendry, it may all be over for him.
  
  Dan Hodges has been good on this.

  0
• OnlyLivingBoy Posts: 18,463

  May 14

  I don't think Labourlist polling is necessarily representative of the membership as a whole.

  1
• Foss Posts: 2,726

  May 14

  OldKingCole said:

  Starmer still wants Streeting as Health Sec., apparently.
  
  Maybe just so he can keep an eye on him.

  Or to tie him to the same reputation-damaging decisions via cabinet collective responsibility.

  0
• LostPassword Posts: 24,196

  May 14

  GIN1138 said:

  Wht doesn't Starmer sack Wezzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

  If Starmer sacks Streeting then he provokes Streeting into action, and maybe then Streeting does have the numbers, other people enter the contest (Miliband/Rayner), Starmer loses and ceases to be PM.
  
  If Starmer doesn't sack Streeting, then Streeting continues to procrastinate, there is no leadership contest, Starmer continues to be PM.
  
  Simple.

  3
• IanB2 Posts: 55,426

  May 14 edited May 14

  Jack Abbott MP - all this is "embarrassing for the Labour Party"

  2
• GIN1138 Posts: 23,257

  May 14 edited May 14

  LostPassword said:

  GIN1138 said:

  Wht doesn't Starmer sack Wezzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

  If Starmer sacks Streeting then he provokes Streeting into action, and maybe then Streeting does have the numbers, other people enter the contest (Miliband/Rayner), Starmer loses and ceases to be PM.
  
  If Starmer doesn't sack Streeting, then Streeting continues to procrastinate, there is no leadership contest, Starmer continues to be PM.
  
  Simple.

  Talk about being stuck in a loveless marriage....

  0
• turbotubbs Posts: 23,190

  May 14

  IanB2 said:

  Jack Abbott MP - all this is "embarassing for the Labour Party"

  Remember that (a) the Adults are in charge and (b) no more endless psychodramas.

  2
• Sweeney74 Posts: 629

  May 14

  IanB2 said:

  Jack Abbott MP - all this is "embarassing for the Labour Party"

  Deeply embarrassing
  shambolic even
  

  0
• eek Posts: 33,915

  May 14

  Sweeney74 said:

  IanB2 said:

  Jack Abbott MP - all this is "embarassing for the Labour Party"

  Deeply embarrassing
  shambolic even
  

  In decades gone by nothing would have been reported but 24 hour news means everything is reported to fill the airspace.
  
  And social media allows us to continually speculate, spread rumors and laugh.

  3
• eek Posts: 33,915

  May 14 edited May 14

  dup

  0
• AnneJGP Posts: 5,444

  May 14

  Usual routine. A few minutes to spare, check the recent discussions, go to the most recent comments, just starting to get engaged, refresh page, Bang, new thread. Amazing how often it happens.

  1
• RochdalePioneers Posts: 32,334

  May 14

  Brixian59 said:

  The sooner MSM understands there is NO CHANCE logically, Logistically or realistically and that Wes Streeting hasnt the remoteist chance of being elected Labour Leader and less chance than Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn, Michael Foot and Robert Jenrick, the sooner this pointless woffle on Streeting will stop

  It really won't. Yer man is done, so it's a question of who and when. Unless you're claiming he will continue on and the challengers will fall back into line and the Labour recovery will deliver polling recovery?

  0
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14

  Well if it's not going to be Wes I need Keir to survive the year. Otherwise I'll be the cleanest guy you've ever seen because I'll be taking a double bath.

  1
• StillWaters Posts: 13,446

  May 14

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  1
• IanB2 Posts: 55,426

  May 14

  Streeting not having strong support in the membership isn't news, but if his pitch is based on parliamentary and media competence, it's a blow for him if he isn't getting significant support from his colleagues. Too many of them perhaps foresee what a dictatorial leader he would likely be?

  0
• carnforth Posts: 9,230

  May 14

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  Kranfield.

  1
• Gallowgate Posts: 22,032

  May 14

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  They surely can’t lose the King’s College brand

  0
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  0
• rottenborough Posts: 72,354

  May 14

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  0
• TheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,566

  May 14

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  1
• LostPassword Posts: 24,196

  May 14

  RochdalePioneers said:

  Brixian59 said:

  The sooner MSM understands there is NO CHANCE logically, Logistically or realistically and that Wes Streeting hasnt the remoteist chance of being elected Labour Leader and less chance than Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn, Michael Foot and Robert Jenrick, the sooner this pointless woffle on Streeting will stop

  It really won't. Yer man is done, so it's a question of who and when. Unless you're claiming he will continue on and the challengers will fall back into line and the Labour recovery will deliver polling recovery?

  The situation is in a fragile sort of dynamic equilibrium. It may all collapse and we'll see Starmer forced to go - I thought that was going to happen when Catherine West spoke out - but at the moment my best guess is that Starmer stays in place indefinitely. Indeed, after this shambles I think there is now a better chance that Starmer survives until the GE.
  
  The one thing that could transform the situation is Burnham taking the Parliamentary Oath to take up a seat as an MP following victory in a by-election. But he needs to find an MP willing to stand down for him (or leaving the House due to ill-health or scandal), he needs to have the NEC approve his candidacy, he needs to become the candidate, he needs to win the by-election.
  
  We've been told repeatedly that Burnham has a seat and is about to announce it, and it hasn't happened yet.

  0
• DavidL Posts: 58,888

  May 14

  Dr Zubir Ahmed must be distinctly underwhelmed by events. Gave up his position yesterday in support of Streeting and Streeting goes AWOL.

  0
• Sandpit Posts: 61,687

  May 14

  Foss said:

  OldKingCole said:

  Starmer still wants Streeting as Health Sec., apparently.
  
  Maybe just so he can keep an eye on him.

  Or to tie him to the same reputation-damaging decisions via cabinet collective responsibility.

  Stop him from being on the outside pissing in.

  1
• dixiedean Posts: 32,561

  May 14

  TheScreamingEagles said:

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  Pity it isn't a head to head then.

  0
• IanB2 Posts: 55,426

  May 14

  Martin Lewis's completely unscientific FB poll:
  
  Labour supporters wanting a contest = 1,000, not wanting a contest = 5,000
  Non-Labour wanting a contest = 1,300, not wanting a contest = 2,700

  0
• Foss Posts: 2,726

  May 14

  carnforth said:

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  Kranfield.

  Sounds like a Bond villain.

  0
• LostPassword Posts: 24,196

  May 14

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Miliband is happy to wait for Burnham.

  0
• Pulpstar Posts: 81,143

  May 14

  DavidL said:

  Dr Zubir Ahmed must be distinctly underwhelmed by events. Gave up his position yesterday in support of Streeting and Streeting goes AWOL.

  Sacks of shit the lot of them, if it's not Starmer chucking Olly Robbins under the bus it's Wes letting his bag carrier lead the charge and then making an about turn behind him.

  2
• rottenborough Posts: 72,354

  May 14

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  
  
  ‪Glen O'Hara‬
  ‪@gsoh31.bsky.social‬
  · 1h
  
  University-world: it's not really whether you'll be shoved together in a merger, it's just when and with whom. Not the least of the ways the sector is just like British carbuilding in the 60s and 70s.
  
  https://bsky.app/profile/gsoh31.bsky.social/post/3mlsmmtkeuc2p

  0
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14 edited May 14

  TheScreamingEagles said:

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  Cheers thanks. So best is that magnificent man again. Andy Burnham. Maybe I should stop fighting the obvious. Sometimes the obvious answer is correct. I need to have another think about it - a really good think. It's looking like there'll be ample time to do that.

  0
• rottenborough Posts: 72,354

  May 14

  IanB2 said:

  Martin Lewis's completely unscientific FB poll:
  
  Labour supporters wanting a contest = 1,000, not wanting a contest = 5,000
  Non-Labour wanting a contest = 1,300, not wanting a contest = 2,700

  PB posters wanting a contest = 100, not wanting a contest = 1

  2
• IanB2 Posts: 55,426

  May 14

  kinabalu said:

  TheScreamingEagles said:

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  Cheers thanks. So best is that magnificent man again. Andy Burnham. Maybe I should stop fighting the obvious. Sometimes the obvious answer is correct. I need to have another think about it - a really good think. It's looking like there'll be ample time to do that.

  Burnham's agenda for political and electoral reform, as well as appealing to a lot of Labour members, will pull in support from the other centre-left parties.

  1
• Pulpstar Posts: 81,143

  May 14 edited May 14

  Seemingly noone on the left wants the PM's job particularly badly, and the right (Wes, Mahmood) can't get the numbers to make a challenge. If the left is waiting for the King of the North to ride in, all Starmer needs to do is just keep the NEC (Not my decision, loss of Manchester mayoralty to Reform) from Burnham gaining a seat and he can carry on indefinitely

  2
• CatMan Posts: 3,833

  May 14 edited May 14

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  Or the SDP - Liberal merger (which should have happened like this )
  
  https://youtu.be/QnAVnjq0c4E?si=fM-9XnlZjZagBJpx&t=276

  1
• Heathener Posts: 7,116

  May 14 edited May 14

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Hello everyone. Long long absence. I literally circumnavigated the globe instead of fussing about UK politics, although Trump-Putin & Co seem be doing their best to end humanity's presence.
  
  Anyway, no this would NOT be a dream ticket and would certainly NOT unite the party. Wes Streeting is an oily shit whose only interest is Wes Streeting. He has changed his views whenever there's any opportunity to increase his own standing. And who can ever forget those nasty tweets about wanting to kick a dog or push women under trains? He is a turd of epic proportions and I hope he gets his comeuppance very soon.
  
  This has nothing to do with Keir Starmer who may be the most unimpressive PM of my lifetime. But don't let that mean that little rat Wes Streeting gets in.
  
  There. Glad to have got that off my chest.
  
  xx
  
  p.s. how are you all? Have I missed any major personal news these past two years?

  5
• turbotubbs Posts: 23,190

  May 14

  rottenborough said:

  IanB2 said:

  Martin Lewis's completely unscientific FB poll:
  
  Labour supporters wanting a contest = 1,000, not wanting a contest = 5,000
  Non-Labour wanting a contest = 1,300, not wanting a contest = 2,700

  PB posters wanting a contest = 100, not wanting a contest = 1

  Popcorn sellers wanting a contest = 100, not wanting a contest = 0

  1
• OldKingCole Posts: 37,421

  May 14

  Heathener said:

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Hello everyone. Long long absence. I literally circumnavigated the globe instead of fussing about UK politics, although Trump-Putin & Co seem be doing their best to end humanity's presence.
  
  Anyway, no this would NOT be a dream ticket and would certainly NOT unite the party. Wes Streeting is an oily shit whose only interest is Wes Streeting. He has changed his views whenever there's any opportunity to increase his own standing. And who can ever forget those nasty tweets about wanting to kick a dog or push women under trains? He is a turd of epic proportions and I hope he gets his comeuppance very soon.
  
  This has nothing to do with Keir Starmer who may be the most unimpressive PM of my lifetime. But don't let that mean that little rat Wes Streeting gets in.
  
  There. Glad to have got that off my chest.
  
  xx
  
  p.s. how are you all? Have I missed any major personal news these past two years?

  Welcome back!

  3
• LostPassword Posts: 24,196

  May 14

  kinabalu said:

  TheScreamingEagles said:

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  Cheers thanks. So best is that magnificent man again. Andy Burnham. Maybe I should stop fighting the obvious. Sometimes the obvious answer is correct. I need to have another think about it - a really good think. It's looking like there'll be ample time to do that.

  If the NEC hadn't blocked Burnham for the Gorton and Denton by-election we wouldn't be in stasis now. Either Burnham would have won, and the leadership contest would now have started, or he would have lost, and his supporters in the PLP would know they needed to support someone else to replace Starmer, and so a leadership contest would likely have now started.
  
  And, y'know, the argument that Burnham should remain Mayor of Greater Manchester to avoid Reform winning an election to replace him isn't terrible.
  
  We had a succession of Blairites touted as the person who would stand against Brown, and in the end none of them did. No-one was willing to stand against Brown once he was PM either. The chances of Starmer surviving to the next GE are increasing (checks Guardian politics live blog before clicking "post comment")

  0
• turbotubbs Posts: 23,190

  May 14

  I'm starting to think we are going to see a dip in GDP this month because all of PB is endlessly refreshing PB and other social media rather than actually working.

  2
• DavidL Posts: 58,888

  May 14

  Heathener said:

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Hello everyone. Long long absence. I literally circumnavigated the globe instead of fussing about UK politics, although Trump-Putin & Co seem be doing their best to end humanity's presence.
  
  Anyway, no this would NOT be a dream ticket and would certainly NOT unite the party. Wes Streeting is an oily shit whose only interest is Wes Streeting. He has changed his views whenever there's any opportunity to increase his own standing. And who can ever forget those nasty tweets about wanting to kick a dog or push women under trains? He is a turd of epic proportions and I hope he gets his comeuppance very soon.
  
  This has nothing to do with Keir Starmer who may be the most unimpressive PM of my lifetime. But don't let that mean that little rat Wes Streeting gets in.
  
  There. Glad to have got that off my chest.
  
  xx
  
  p.s. how are you all? Have I missed any major personal news these past two years?

  Welcome back.

  1
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14

  Pulpstar said:

  Seemingly noone on the left wants the PM's job particularly badly, and the right (Wes, Mahmood) can't get the numbers to make a challenge. If the left is waiting for the King of the North to ride in, all Starmer needs to do is just keep the NEC (Not my decision, loss of Manchester mayoralty to Reform) from Burnham gaining a seat and he can carry on indefinitely

  Which would be great for my £££. What we have here is a conflict of interest between the health of the nation and my betting book. Real test of my moral fibre. Not sure I'm passing it.

  1
• Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,222

  May 14

  I was quite taken with William Glenn's theory that it was all to do an orderly Streeting takeover but make them look like enemies. We've known Streeting was the annointed successor for some time.

  0
• maaarsh Posts: 3,652

  May 14

  DavidL said:

  Dr Zubir Ahmed must be distinctly underwhelmed by events. Gave up his position yesterday in support of Streeting and Streeting goes AWOL.

  His was the move that made me think something must be coming, so long after cabinet. Indeed sold a pup so far.

  2
• Heathener Posts: 7,116

  May 14 edited May 14

  p.s. I'm totally uninspired by Labour, which is a polite way of saying that they are the most dishonourable bunch of tosspots and wannabe tories ever to be elected in this country ...
  
  ... however I do really rather like Andy Burnham and I know a LOT of people way way outside the party who similarly admire him. If Labour have any remote semblance of sanity left, unlikely I grant you, they will get him into No.10 before the next G.E.
  
  The last Labour politician like him I know who reached parts that others couldn't reach was Tony Blair.

  0
• StillWaters Posts: 13,446

  May 14

  Gallowgate said:

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  They surely can’t lose the King’s College brand

  Institution is KCL
  Marketing brand is King’s College
  business school becomes the Cranfield School of Management

  0
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14

  Heathener said:

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Hello everyone. Long long absence. I literally circumnavigated the globe instead of fussing about UK politics, although Trump-Putin & Co seem be doing their best to end humanity's presence.
  
  Anyway, no this would NOT be a dream ticket and would certainly NOT unite the party. Wes Streeting is an oily shit whose only interest is Wes Streeting. He has changed his views whenever there's any opportunity to increase his own standing. And who can ever forget those nasty tweets about wanting to kick a dog or push women under trains? He is a turd of epic proportions and I hope he gets his comeuppance very soon.
  
  This has nothing to do with Keir Starmer who may be the most unimpressive PM of my lifetime. But don't let that mean that little rat Wes Streeting gets in.
  
  There. Glad to have got that off my chest.
  
  xx
  
  p.s. how are you all? Have I missed any major personal news these past two years?

  I'm now 65.

  1
• Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,222

  May 14

  OldKingCole said:

  Heathener said:

  rottenborough said:

  Streeting stands aside for Miliband in exchange for being made CoE?
  
  Miliband-Streeting dream ticket unites the party?
  

  Hello everyone. Long long absence. I literally circumnavigated the globe instead of fussing about UK politics, although Trump-Putin & Co seem be doing their best to end humanity's presence.
  
  Anyway, no this would NOT be a dream ticket and would certainly NOT unite the party. Wes Streeting is an oily shit whose only interest is Wes Streeting. He has changed his views whenever there's any opportunity to increase his own standing. And who can ever forget those nasty tweets about wanting to kick a dog or push women under trains? He is a turd of epic proportions and I hope he gets his comeuppance very soon.
  
  This has nothing to do with Keir Starmer who may be the most unimpressive PM of my lifetime. But don't let that mean that little rat Wes Streeting gets in.
  
  There. Glad to have got that off my chest.
  
  xx
  
  p.s. how are you all? Have I missed any major personal news these past two years?

  Welcome back!

  Is Leon banned?

  0
• TheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,566

  May 14

  turbotubbs said:

  I'm starting to think we are going to see a dip in GDP this month because all of PB is endlessly refreshing PB and other social media rather than actually working.

  Aside from the elections in 2024 these past few days have been PB's busiest days since July 4th-7th 2022 and the 20th of October 2022.
  
  (The Queen's death attracted a lot of visitors but not as much as a fall of a PM.)

  1
• rottenborough Posts: 72,354

  May 14

  
  (((Dan Hodges)))
  @DPJHodges
  ·
  6m
  Told the cabinet delegation to see Starmer has started to go in. Going in individually.

  1
• DavidL Posts: 58,888

  May 14

  turbotubbs said:

  I'm starting to think we are going to see a dip in GDP this month because all of PB is endlessly refreshing PB and other social media rather than actually working.

  On the plus side none of our politicians are doing actual work either so you have to offset the damage they would otherwise have caused.

  1
• StillWaters Posts: 13,446

  May 14

  rottenborough said:

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  
  
  ‪Glen O'Hara‬
  ‪@gsoh31.bsky.social‬
  · 1h
  
  University-world: it's not really whether you'll be shoved together in a merger, it's just when and with whom. Not the least of the ways the sector is just like British carbuilding in the 60s and 70s.
  
  https://bsky.app/profile/gsoh31.bsky.social/post/3mlsmmtkeuc2p

  UCL is continually trying to eat the School I was involved with. To date unsuccessfully

  0
• StillWaters Posts: 13,446

  May 14

  turbotubbs said:

  I'm starting to think we are going to see a dip in GDP this month because all of PB is endlessly refreshing PB and other social media rather than actually working.

  Might that not lead to an increase in gdp?

  2
• nico67 Posts: 8,322

  May 14

  rottenborough said:

  
  (((Dan Hodges)))
  @DPJHodges
  ·
  6m
  Told the cabinet delegation to see Starmer has started to go in. Going in individually.

  Cabinet ministers have denied this. Is this more tripe coming out of the Streeting camp ?

  0
• Heathener Posts: 7,116

  May 14

  Sorry if I sound angry.
  
  It has taken me two years of fuming to be able to return to this forum. When I voted Labour I didn't expect to get a pathetically pale replica of a right-wing Conservative Government.
  
  This Labour Gov't can rot in hell as far as I'm concerned. I have sworn that I would NEVER EVER again vote Labour.
  
  The only person who might persuade me otherwise would be Andy Burnham.

  2
• noneoftheabove Posts: 27,947

  May 14

  kinabalu said:

  Pulpstar said:

  Seemingly noone on the left wants the PM's job particularly badly, and the right (Wes, Mahmood) can't get the numbers to make a challenge. If the left is waiting for the King of the North to ride in, all Starmer needs to do is just keep the NEC (Not my decision, loss of Manchester mayoralty to Reform) from Burnham gaining a seat and he can carry on indefinitely

  Which would be great for my £££. What we have here is a conflict of interest between the health of the nation and my betting book. Real test of my moral fibre. Not sure I'm passing it.

  The logic behind 2027 still stands. It is better for all to wait. If any of them take over now, they will be kicked out before the next election.

  1
• kinabalu Posts: 50,688

  May 14 edited May 14

  LostPassword said:

  kinabalu said:

  TheScreamingEagles said:

  kinabalu said:

  Do we have data on how the main contenders poll vs Farage? I bet @HYUFD does?

  https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/2054790826857734295

  Cheers thanks. So best is that magnificent man again. Andy Burnham. Maybe I should stop fighting the obvious. Sometimes the obvious answer is correct. I need to have another think about it - a really good think. It's looking like there'll be ample time to do that.

  If the NEC hadn't blocked Burnham for the Gorton and Denton by-election we wouldn't be in stasis now. Either Burnham would have won, and the leadership contest would now have started, or he would have lost, and his supporters in the PLP would know they needed to support someone else to replace Starmer, and so a leadership contest would likely have now started.
  
  And, y'know, the argument that Burnham should remain Mayor of Greater Manchester to avoid Reform winning an election to replace him isn't terrible.
  
  We had a succession of Blairites touted as the person who would stand against Brown, and in the end none of them did. No-one was willing to stand against Brown once he was PM either. The chances of Starmer surviving to the next GE are increasing (checks Guardian politics live blog before clicking "post comment")

  Yep. The one concrete fact in the swirl of rumour, leak and machination is that HE is not gone until he has either (i) set out a timetable or (ii) been challenged. Neither has happened and it's now a question of how long can both things continue not to happen. I type this at 1 pm on Thursday 14th May 2026.

  0
• IanB2 Posts: 55,426

  May 14 edited May 14

  Wes resigns
  
  Not so quiet on the Wes-turn front, now!
  
  The MPs and activists and many voters are unhappy that the PM isn’t being left-wing enough, so Starmer’s being challenged from the right; this might not turn out as well as Wes is hoping.

  0
• Big_Ian Posts: 92

  May 14

  And we're off!

  0
• londonpubman Posts: 3,865

  May 14

  BOOM

  0
• Sweeney74 Posts: 629

  May 14

  finally
  

  0
• viewcode Posts: 28,763

  May 14

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Cranfield University is fifty-ish miles away from London. It's close to Newport Pagnell Service Station. Just between Jn14 and Jn15 on the M1. The closest town is Northampton.
  
  These are not obvious partners.

  1
• Stereodog Posts: 1,374

  May 14

  StillWaters said:

  rottenborough said:

  StillWaters said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Bet you it will be named KCL.
  
  Like when Union Bank of Switzerland merged with Swiss Bank Corporation to form UBS. Which definitely didn’t stand for Union Bank of Switzerland

  
  
  ‪Glen O'Hara‬
  ‪@gsoh31.bsky.social‬
  · 1h
  
  University-world: it's not really whether you'll be shoved together in a merger, it's just when and with whom. Not the least of the ways the sector is just like British carbuilding in the 60s and 70s.
  
  https://bsky.app/profile/gsoh31.bsky.social/post/3mlsmmtkeuc2p

  UCL is continually trying to eat the School I was involved with. To date unsuccessfully

  If it's any consolation, I did my best to eat them out of house and home at an alumni event yesterday.

  0
• Sweeney74 Posts: 629

  May 14

  IanB2 said:

  Wes resigns
  
  Not so quiet on the Wes-turn front, now!

  Wes Side's Story:
  In a letter shared on X he says he has "lost confidence" in Keir Starmer's leadership and it would be "dishonourable and unprincipled" to remain in government.

  0
• BatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 7,126

  May 14

  Streeting has gone for it. Thank God

  0
• Pulpstar Posts: 81,143

  May 14

  So he was a traitor after all !

  1
• Foss Posts: 2,726

  May 14

  PopBitch thinks there's already been a Streeting leadership challenge video filmed.

  0
• OnlyLivingBoy Posts: 18,463

  May 14

  Wesignation!

  8
• viewcode Posts: 28,763

  May 14

  13:01 Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy21gpr1kzt?post=asset:9d87068a-00a2-4de6-8808-9733c24ec90f#post

  0
• LostPassword Posts: 24,196

  May 14 edited May 14

  IanB2 said:

  Wes resigns
  
  Not so quiet on the Wes-turn front, now!
  
  The MPs and activists and many voters are unhappy that the PM isn’t being left-wing enough, so Starmer’s being challenged from the right; this might not turn out as well as Wes is hoping.

  Ah well. I'm wrong again!
  
  Still, life would be a bit dull if I was right about everything.

  2
• GIN1138 Posts: 23,257

  May 14

  There we go!

  0
• eek Posts: 33,915

  May 14

  viewcode said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Cranfield University is fifty-ish miles away from London. It's close to Newport Pagnell Service Station. Just between Jn14 and Jn15 on the M1. The closest town is Northampton.
  
  These are not obvious partners.

  Cranfield has had big problems for a while, the question was who was going to take them over.
  
  https://bsky.app/profile/gsoh31.bsky.social/post/3mlsnak5t2c2t is unreferenced but shows how large the issues at Cranfield were.

  1
• Foss Posts: 2,726

  May 14

  viewcode said:

  FrancisUrquhart said:

  King’s College London has signed an agreement to merge with Cranfield University, creating a new UK “super-university” that would rival many of its international competitors in size and research output.
  
  The merger would result in KCL taking on another 5,000 mainly postgraduate students and become the second largest mainstream university in the UK, with about 47,000 students, overtaking the University of Manchester and behind only University College London.
  
  Under the agreement the two institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, with a name yet to be formally decided.
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university

  Cranfield University is fifty-ish miles away from London. It's close to Newport Pagnell Service Station. Just between Jn14 and Jn15 on the M1. The closest town is Northampton.
  
  These are not obvious partners.

  Slightly closer than London Oxford Airport then.

  2
• FrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,955

  May 14

  Big_Ian said:

  And we're off!

  And they’re off! A clean break for the pack as they thunder towards the first of thirty fences. It’s a heavy track today—thick with policy papers and polling data—but they’re showing no hesitation.
  
  Wes Streeting takes an early lead on the inside rail. He’s looking lean, efficient, and keeping a very close eye on the private sector hedges. He’s jumping with a clinical precision that suggests he’s been practicing his delivery for months.
  
  Just a length behind him, Angela Rayner is making up ground on the outside. She’s got a massive stride, showing plenty of fire and absolutely no fear of the bigger obstacles. She’s taking the "Council House Leap" with total confidence, ignoring the critics in the grandstand.
  
  Andy Burnham is sitting comfortably in the middle of the pack. He’s the "King of the North" today, looking like he’s got plenty of stamina for the long haul. He seems to be running his own race, perhaps eyeing a different finish line than the rest of them.
  
  Al Carns is the dark horse here, maintaining a steady, disciplined pace. He’s navigating the mud with the tactical awareness of a veteran, keeping his head down and avoiding the early skirmishes.

  5
• Nigelb Posts: 89,625

  May 14

  Actually quite a good resignation letter (discounting the self serving NHS puffery).

  0
• maaarsh Posts: 3,652

  May 14

  Letter reads like he doesn't have the numbers but fair play for doing something at least

  0
• TheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,566

  May 14

  NEW THREAD

  0