Clever from Streeting in various ways not least that if Burnham stand in a by-election and loses then that is off the table as an idea for rest of this parliament and he's out of the way. If Burnham wins a by-election and loses to Streeting in a contest then there will be no more talk of the King of the North challenging this side of a GE.
@Heathener , welcome back! I thought you'd gone for ever, but welcome back nevertheless @Big_G_NorthWales , my sympathies with you and your good wife's ongoing travails.
Bond yields actually continuining to come off a litle. Either it's all priced in or this is being seen as confirmation the numbers aren't there and Kier can now just sit there ignoring everyone.
Starmer’s so useless, even the bond markets want a change of leadership.
"Reform UK leader Nigel Farage bought a £1.4 million property in cash shortly after receiving a £5m personal gift from billionaire donor Christopher Harborne.".. https://x.com/Kevin_Maguire/status/2054887007634026655
Bang to rights. Ought to damage him badly. Shame it's clashing with the Labour melee.
But won’t damage him in the slightest. See Trump.
Ditto for the stuff coming out about the boob-whisperer.
Clever from Streeting in various ways not least that if Burnham stand in a by-election and loses then that is off the table as an idea for rest of this parliament and he's out of the way. If Burnham wins a by-election and loses to Streeting in a contest then there will be no more talk of the King of the North challenging this side of a GE.
Or they've done a deal.
Streeting can hardly say "I want to stitch up the contest to exclude Andy". As it stands, matters remain in the hands of the NEC who may or may not (a) let Burnham stand in a by-election, and (b) manufacture a timetable which fits with Burnham's putative return. Streeting has no control over these decisions, but presumably wouldn't withdraw from a leadership contest if Burnham's ambitions were thwarted by others.
Keir we come, walking down the Streeting We get the funniest looks from Ev'ry one we meet
Hey, hey, we're the Labour Party And people say we monkey around But we're too busy resigning To put anybody down
(Look, there's a good idea in there. Someone else can make the joke work better.)
I thought love was only true in fairytales, It seems the more I gave the less I got, What's the use in trying, all you get is pain, When I needed Burnham I got Rayne(r)
@SamCoatesSky So @GNev2 has been discussed inside Labour as a possible Andy Burnham replacement - but I'm told it is unclear if he's been approached - so just to ask on here - @GNev2 - any comment?
wtf. What’s the local governance equivalent of losing 7-0 to Barcelona?
I guess we can conclude that either Streeting hasn’t the numbers, reckons he’ll lose if he has to take on Starmer and be seen to be the one who wields the sword, or wants to take on the full field (i.e. including Burnham).
I guess he’d spin the last as it makes him sound the most honourable. Although, as I noted yesterday, if he wins but isn’t seen to beat the full field then you can imagine continued muttering from those around Mr Burnham. So maybe he’s been essentially trapped into this call.
Over to Starmer I guess - I expect he’s going to have to pick or at least indicate a leaving date. Sense suggests early next year (and my interests). Although I’d laugh my @rse off if he tries to get away with staying on until 2028.
Effectively he has wielded the sword, and he can’t really escape from that now.
Wes is supremely self confident and probably wants a full, long contest hoping that his campaigning and debating ability will give him opportunities to land blows on his rivals. Realistically that’s his only chance - to defeat his opponents in close combat and demonstrate to party members that, even if they don’t like his politics, Wes is a proven winner and campaigner. It’s the only realistic path to the top that he has.
Fair points. Although am sure he'll make out that he was acting out of conscience / honour - and pointedly didn't challenge for leader at this point (but if the ball comes out the back of the scrum and all that). And you are absolutley right that the only way he can be seen to win "legitimately" is to have beaten all comers - i.e. including Burnham. But of course he's got to hope that a) a GM MP does stand down, b) NEC lets Burnham stand, c) the folk of that GM constitutency play ball and return Burnham (even though it may feel like they are being taking for plonkers).
BREAKING: Reform UK has LOST minority control of Worcestershire County Council - after being overthrown by a shock rainbow coalition.
The Conservatives have teamed up with the Greens, Lib Dems and independents to form a power-sharing alliance in the last few minutes.
Green Councillor Matt Jenkins is new council leader - with Reform’s minority administration being removed from office after 12 months in power. The new cabinet will feature Tory, Green, independent and Lib Dem councillors - Reform Alan Amos’ attempt to become leader has failed.
My reading is that Streeting knows that if he is to be accepted as leader, and not subjected to future challenge, he would need to defeat Burnham, as well as others, in an open contest. The thing about Streeting is that he's so confident and sure of himself he thinks he could defeat Burnham through his campaigning skills. It's possible he's right.
BREAKING: Reform UK has LOST minority control of Worcestershire County Council - after being overthrown by a shock rainbow coalition.
The Conservatives have teamed up with the Greens, Lib Dems and independents to form a power-sharing alliance in the last few minutes.
Green Councillor Matt Jenkins is new council leader - with Reform’s minority administration being removed from office after 12 months in power. The new cabinet will feature Tory, Green, independent and Lib Dem councillors - Reform Alan Amos’ attempt to become leader has failed.
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot · 16m [Streeting] also lives in the real world and can see Andy Burnham has the most support in the PLP, party and the county, so that’s the train you probably want to be on.
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot · 16m [Streeting] also lives in the real world and can see Andy Burnham has the most support in the PLP, party and the county, so that’s the train you probably want to be on.
I guess we can conclude that either Streeting hasn’t the numbers, reckons he’ll lose if he has to take on Starmer and be seen to be the one who wields the sword, or wants to take on the full field (i.e. including Burnham).
I guess he’d spin the last as it makes him sound the most honourable. Although, as I noted yesterday, if he wins but isn’t seen to beat the full field then you can imagine continued muttering from those around Mr Burnham. So maybe he’s been essentially trapped into this call.
Over to Starmer I guess - I expect he’s going to have to pick or at least indicate a leaving date. Sense suggests early next year (and my interests). Although I’d laugh my @rse off if he tries to get away with staying on until 2028.
I still think Keir could be there until 2028
SKS fans.
Do you think 1,500 Labour councillors lost their seats last week because of, or despite Starmer?
Can't believe everyone is seemingly buying Wes' spin that he wants a contest or all the talents because he wants to beat all comers. He can't launch a contest because he doesn't have 81 backers. If he had 81 backers do we seriously think he'd "wait for Burnham" ?!?
The Tories hate Reform, why would they want to work with them? And you think that's bad, have you heard what Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe think about Reform?
They also likely judge that they will deliver better governance excluding the fukers. More stable as well, so that as Reform's councillors quit / get expelled it doesn't threaten the administration.
@SamCoatesSky So @GNev2 has been discussed inside Labour as a possible Andy Burnham replacement - but I'm told it is unclear if he's been approached - so just to ask on here - @GNev2 - any comment?
No. Just no.
There is no way GM is voting for GNev. The list of people he alienates is almost endless.
Can't believe everyone is seemingly buying Wes' spin that he wants a contest or all the talents because he wants to beat all comers. He can't launch a contest because he doesn't have 81 backers. If he had 81 backers do we seriously think he'd "wait for Burnham" ?!?
Maybe he thinks Burnham would be better or at the very least would result in greater support for Labour
Can't believe everyone is seemingly buying Wes' spin that he wants a contest or all the talents because he wants to beat all comers. He can't launch a contest because he doesn't have 81 backers. If he had 81 backers do we seriously think he'd "wait for Burnham" ?!?
I posted on here over the weekend that Streeting had been told if he wins a contest without Burnham he'd be challenged when Burnham became an MP.
Streeting is banking a bit on Burnham not being an MP by the summer recess.
@SamCoatesSky So @GNev2 has been discussed inside Labour as a possible Andy Burnham replacement - but I'm told it is unclear if he's been approached - so just to ask on here - @GNev2 - any comment?
As a resident of a part of Lancashire under the jurisdiction of the GM Mayor I'd be delighted to have the opportunity to cast my vote amongst the sheer mass of others voting against Labour's Gary Neville
I guess we can conclude that either Streeting hasn’t the numbers, reckons he’ll lose if he has to take on Starmer and be seen to be the one who wields the sword, or wants to take on the full field (i.e. including Burnham).
I guess he’d spin the last as it makes him sound the most honourable. Although, as I noted yesterday, if he wins but isn’t seen to beat the full field then you can imagine continued muttering from those around Mr Burnham. So maybe he’s been essentially trapped into this call.
Over to Starmer I guess - I expect he’s going to have to pick or at least indicate a leaving date. Sense suggests early next year (and my interests). Although I’d laugh my @rse off if he tries to get away with staying on until 2028.
I still think Keir could be there until 2028
SKS fans.
Do you think 1,500 Labour councillors lost their seats last week because of, or despite Starmer?
Bit of both probably. If Starmer had fallen on his sword and had been replaced before last week, Labour would still have lost seats.
I think we Labour/Green voters have to start taking this seriously. We can't have another irritating year where nothing solid gets done. Just fiddling around with rubber boats ans no clear direction.
I thought Streeting's message read out on the one o'clock news was good. Very good infact. He is without doubt the most articulate and clear thinking of the possibles. I had reservations that he might be lightweight. Could be but what does that make Burnham?
My choice would be Streeting whatever Burnham does. I just hope they get a move on.
One stood down in Hackney as a council employee .. teacher. Also one similar in Camden. Also aiui the Mayor of Hackney ... Zoe Garbutt iirc... has I think not taken her councillor position.
I have not checked it all and traced it as I am on a phone but I think that loses them largest party status in Hackney.
Can't believe everyone is seemingly buying Wes' spin that he wants a contest or all the talents because he wants to beat all comers. He can't launch a contest because he doesn't have 81 backers. If he had 81 backers do we seriously think he'd "wait for Burnham" ?!?
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot · 16m [Streeting] also lives in the real world and can see Andy Burnham has the most support in the PLP, party and the county, so that’s the train you probably want to be on.
Can't believe everyone is seemingly buying Wes' spin that he wants a contest or all the talents because he wants to beat all comers. He can't launch a contest because he doesn't have 81 backers. If he had 81 backers do we seriously think he'd "wait for Burnham" ?!?
@SamCoatesSky So @GNev2 has been discussed inside Labour as a possible Andy Burnham replacement - but I'm told it is unclear if he's been approached - so just to ask on here - @GNev2 - any comment?
No. Just no.
There is no way GM is voting for GNev. The list of people he alienates is almost endless.
What about Nicky Butt?
I can't think of examples of Nicky Butt being quite so publicly antagonostic (though from what I understand tgerr is a heavy streak of 'don't you know who I am?' about him which is a bit charmless.)
It's not just that GNev is an ex ManU player - which will rile supporters of all GM's other clubs. It's that he is such a particular talent for saying things people take exception to. I know we lament modern politicians who never dare give offence and therefore deal solely in platitudes, but Neville goes far far too far the other way: he appears to go out of his way to give offence.
While the Mad King is in China and his lackies [Ed: lackeys] back home are claiming to have control of the Strait, it appears Iran just hijacked a UAE ship
Oh dear. This follows the news that UAE had bombed Iran "secretly" just before the ceasefire started early in April. There's a chance this conflict becomes a lot more complicated now, and harder to bring to a resolution.
I think governments and people more generally need to be prepared for the possibility that the Strait of Hormuz doesn't reopen (until it's made largely irrelevant by pipelines).
One stood down in Hackney as a council employee .. teacher. Also one similar in Camden. Also aiui the Mayor of Hackney ... Zoe Garbutt iirc... has I think not taken her councillor position.
I have not checked it all and traced it as I am on a phone but I think that loses them largest party status in Hackney.
No on the last. Hackney is a clear Green majority.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
No problem with them not backing Reform, but I do have a problem with them coalitioning with the Green Party. Though perhaps the difference is between being a larger or smaller coalition partner.
@SamCoatesSky So @GNev2 has been discussed inside Labour as a possible Andy Burnham replacement - but I'm told it is unclear if he's been approached - so just to ask on here - @GNev2 - any comment?
No. Just no.
There is no way GM is voting for GNev. The list of people he alienates is almost endless.
One stood down in Hackney as a council employee .. teacher. Also one similar in Camden. Also aiui the Mayor of Hackney ... Zoe Garbutt iirc... has I think not taken her councillor position.
I have not checked it all and traced it as I am on a phone but I think that loses them largest party status in Hackney.
The Greens are massively ahead on councillor numbers in Hackney, so losing 2 will not have changed that.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
No problem with them not backing Reform, but I do have a problem with them coalitioning with the Green Party. Though perhaps the difference is between being a larger or smaller coalition partner.
Local politics very often comes down to local personalities. I take TSE's word for it that the leader of the Reform group is a prize bell-end, precluding any possibility of any sort of deal, or toleration of Reform running the council.
I guess the people of Worcestershire will find out what the new council does. I'd be surprised if the Tories on the council agreed to support a bunch of Green policies that you'd find massively objectionable.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
No, it will not end well for the Conservatives in that county.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
You enter the meeting - the reform leader is a pompous ass who is both annoying and useless. I can easily see how the Tories go - we can't work with him, but the Green people seem sane maybe....
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I think the Green demographics have changed a bit in recent years. There seem to be a lot of ex-Fabians, and centre lefties, people from the Heritage space (think archaeologists rather than the old human-hating Environmentalists) and the (always few in numbers) Corbynite old lefties with the problems you describe. Plus the hangovers from the Green party of old.
And that's the English Greens. Scottish Greens are different again.
Of course that doesn't mean there isn't a fair share of weirdos and extremists that you'd find in any Party or politics-discussing website.
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
DavidL - Some gangsters are competent, and some aren't. For examples of both, read Jimmy Breslin's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight:
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight is the story of Papa Baccala, a Brooklyn Mafia boss, and Kid Sally Palumbo, a would-be capo who "couldn't run a gas station at a profit even if he stole the customers' cars". There's also Kid Sally's grandmother, who will go to extravagant lengths to see her boy make his mark. A love interest? Sure. Kid Sally's sister tumbles for an artistic type who rides a bicycle and has recently arrived from Calabria...
The high adventure begins with a six-day bike race that is only partly responsible for a rash of obituary notices reading: "Died. Suddenly". Eventually it all gets worked out in fine Sicilian fashion -- and, in the end, everybody gets his, in a manner of speaking.
It's about a leadership struggle, based on real events in New York City. For example, Kid Sally is based on Joe Gallo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gallo
For the record: I found the book great fun -- but then I don't mind gangsters bumping each other off. And you can learn something about New York City politics from the book.
We haven't had any sort of response form the Downing Street bunker yet. No letter in reply. No appointment of a new Health Secretary - have any of the earlier ministerial resignations been replaced? Seemingly nothing.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
We haven't had any sort of response form the Downing Street bunker yet. No letter in reply. No appointment of a new Health Secretary - have any of the earlier ministerial resignations been replaced? Seemingly nothing.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
It's unlikely, but he may not be able to find someone willing to nail their colours to the mast and take a new roll from him.
If there's not even a challenge now Keir is a genius operator.
Or everyone is waiting for this mythical MP standing down for Burnham.
Lets assume there isn't a challenge today. And that he appoints a replacement Health Secretary.
You think that settles the matter?
I mean, no, in that clearly lots of MPs want Starmer to go, but if Starmer doesn't resign, and most of the people who want Starmer gone are waiting for Burnham to become an MP, then the matter could stay unsettled for a long time.
I don't want Andy Burnham as, quite aside from his politics, his sense of entitlement and arrogance really grates on me.
exactly so.
But it's Buggin's turn, apparently
It's their Party and he's clearly popular inside it.
It would look entitled enough if Labour were in opposition and this was simply about leadership of the party but this is about leadership of the country
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
I’d agree about the Green councillors. They’re probably bunny hugging NIMBYs there
But reform anti British/more anti Brit than the Greens. You’re having a laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
We haven't had any sort of response form the Downing Street bunker yet. No letter in reply. No appointment of a new Health Secretary - have any of the earlier ministerial resignations been replaced? Seemingly nothing.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
Starmer and Reed are visiting a housing development so nothing much till Starmer returns to no 10
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I think the Green demographics have changed a bit in recent years. There seem to be a lot of ex-Fabians, and centre lefties, people from the Heritage space (think archaeologists rather than the old human-hating Environmentalists) and the (always few in numbers) Corbynite old lefties with the problems you describe. Plus the hangovers from the Green party of old.
And that's the English Greens. Scottish Greens are different again.
Of course that doesn't mean there isn't a fair share of weirdos and extremists that you'd find in any Party or politics-discussing website.
I think that also the Greens are a highly decentralised party, with a congregational approach to policy, so local Green parties are very different across the land, from light Green to Dark Green on the environnment, from soft left to Corbynite in terms of socio-economic policy.
So there may well be common ground between Tories and Greens in many localities, though also clear differences. Local government often winds up with odd coalitions of interests.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
I’d agree about the Green councillors. They’re probably bunny hugging NIMBYs there
But reform anti British/more anti Brit than the Greens. You’re having a laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's tight, as both seem to despise most of the country as it is now (not merely criticise how it is run), but one waves british flags and other doesn't.
I think the explanation is that the Worcs Tories have met the Reform councillors and you haven't. If they are old-fashioned rural public-service type Tories they quite possibly find the Faragists more than they can stand.
The idea that Carns is relatable makes little sense.
No one knows who he is No one knows what he believes in
Most people don't give a damn that he was in the Army
He might be ready to step up after the GE defeat if he still had a seat. But not now.
People love a blank slate. Briefly.
That's rather how we got SKS.
I suspect Al Carns will equally supprise on the downside. The overwhelming evidence is that if you have a functional brain or spine, you are unlike to also be a Labour MP.
Not very polite but it amused me so I gave it a Like.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
I’d agree about the Green councillors. They’re probably bunny hugging NIMBYs there
But reform anti British/more anti Brit than the Greens. You’re having a laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's tight, as both seem to despise most of the country as it is now (not merely criticise how it is run), but one waves british flags and other doesn't.
I don’t think either are especially anti British. Just share a different view.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
Alan Amos being leader of the Reform group explains everything.
We haven't had any sort of response form the Downing Street bunker yet. No letter in reply. No appointment of a new Health Secretary - have any of the earlier ministerial resignations been replaced? Seemingly nothing.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
Starmer and Reed are visiting a housing development so nothing much till Starmer returns to no 10
Without a contestant Starmer can let this drift for a while longer. As it stands Starmer has nothing further to lose. His premiership is over. It is simply about time scale now.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I think the Green demographics have changed a bit in recent years. There seem to be a lot of ex-Fabians, and centre lefties, people from the Heritage space (think archaeologists rather than the old human-hating Environmentalists) and the (always few in numbers) Corbynite old lefties with the problems you describe. Plus the hangovers from the Green party of old.
And that's the English Greens. Scottish Greens are different again.
Of course that doesn't mean there isn't a fair share of weirdos and extremists that you'd find in any Party or politics-discussing website.
Well, quite.
"Some" Greens are everything that has been suggested, and more besides. On the other hand there are plenty of Greens who used to Lib Dems, and a surprising number that used to be green welly Tories. So applying Chalk Farm metropolitan arrogance and presuming to lecture some perfectly harmless local councilors who don't want to see their local council turned into a grandstanding shit show run by American funded neo-fascist fuckwits is a bit silly. Just because you think Reform is a good thing does not mean that locals on the mean streets of Bromsgrove agree with you.
If it does turn out that Farage has been more than just a bit naughty with the 5 million quid of crypto crookedry then hopefully the whole house of cards comes crashing down.
They did not back Reform in the Senedd either and it is the right approach
Which is fine. They are not obliged to ally with reform. But allying with the frigging GREENS in preference to Reform is an insult to every right wing voter in Worcestershire. Why not ally with Corbyn? Whats she difference?
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I'd guess the Green councillor corps varies a lot by location. In any case Reform are more anti British than the Greens are.
I’d agree about the Green councillors. They’re probably bunny hugging NIMBYs there
But reform anti British/more anti Brit than the Greens. You’re having a laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Can I refer you to Caroline Lucas' excellent recent book. Neither country nor flag belong to any party, right or left.
We haven't had any sort of response form the Downing Street bunker yet. No letter in reply. No appointment of a new Health Secretary - have any of the earlier ministerial resignations been replaced? Seemingly nothing.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
Starmer and Reed are visiting a housing development so nothing much till Starmer returns to no 10
Without a contestant Starmer can let this drift for a while longer. As it stands Starmer has nothing further to lose. His premiership is over. It is simply about time scale now.
Comments
Or they've done a deal.
@Big_G_NorthWales , my sympathies with you and your good wife's ongoing travails.
We get the funniest looks from
Ev'ry one we meet
Hey, hey, we're the Labour Party
And people say we monkey around
But we're too busy resigning
To put anybody down
(Look, there's a good idea in there. Someone else can make the joke work better.)
No one else is at Changi airport is talking about the Streeting resignation. Disappointing.
Note to Wes Streeting - you don't launch a coup by firing a water pistol into the prevailing wind.
It seems the more I gave the less I got,
What's the use in trying, all you get is pain,
When I needed Burnham I got Rayne(r)
Will anyone actually manage to get a vacancy to arise though?
Catherine West now on Radio 4 saying Keir Starmer could win a leadership election and not ruling out voting for him
BREAKING: Reform UK has LOST minority control of Worcestershire County Council - after being overthrown by a shock rainbow coalition.
The Conservatives have teamed up with the Greens, Lib Dems and independents to form a power-sharing alliance in the last few minutes.
Green Councillor Matt Jenkins is new council leader - with Reform’s minority administration being removed from office after 12 months in power. The new cabinet will feature Tory, Green, independent and Lib Dem councillors - Reform Alan Amos’ attempt to become leader has failed.
https://x.com/tomedwardsbbchw/status/2054864434015723674
Given how much of a Max Verstappen Alan Amos is, I am not surprised the Tories have done this.
The thing about Streeting is that he's so confident and sure of himself he thinks he could defeat Burnham through his campaigning skills.
It's possible he's right.
“NEW: Politics UK understands around 1,600 new members have joined Labour since last Thursday
The vast majority cited support for Keir Starmer as the reason”
PB centrist Dads signing up?
BREAKING: Reform UK has LOST minority control of Worcestershire County Council - after being overthrown by a shock rainbow coalition.
The Conservatives have teamed up with the Greens, Lib Dems and independents to form a power-sharing alliance in the last few minutes. 2/3”
What are they thinking? Refusing to ally with Reform but quite happy to ally with quasi-Marxist, quasi-Islamist Greens?
This kind of shit will doom them with right wing voters. They cannot be trusted. They are still Cameroon wets, whatever Kemi claims
https://x.com/tomedwardsbbchw/status/2054863889808937351?s=46
I am keen to hear how her thermos coped with her travels
* There are lots and lots of them in Worcestershire, and two per lamppost.
Jessica Elgot
@jessicaelgot
·
16m
[Streeting] also lives in the real world and can see Andy Burnham has the most support in the PLP, party and the county, so that’s the train you probably want to be on.
Now about a seat…
https://x.com/jessicaelgot
Jessica Elgot
@jessicaelgot
·
16m
[Streeting] also lives in the real world and can see Andy Burnham has the most support in the PLP, party and the county, so that’s the train you probably want to be on.
Now about a seat…
https://x.com/jessicaelgot
Do you think 1,500 Labour councillors lost their seats last week because of, or despite Starmer?
a) has no timely way of becoming an MP, or
b) does not have the numbers for a challenge
They also likely judge that they will deliver better governance excluding the fukers. More stable as well, so that as Reform's councillors quit / get expelled it doesn't threaten the administration.
Streeting is banking a bit on Burnham not being an MP by the summer recess.
Bring it on, i say!
"Dear Wes,
I know you've coveted this position for a long time, but it's mine and staying mine as you seemingly can not get 81 backers"
Yours,
Starmer
I thought Streeting's message read out on the one o'clock news was good. Very good infact. He is without doubt the most articulate and clear thinking of the possibles. I had reservations that he might be lightweight. Could be but what does that make Burnham?
My choice would be Streeting whatever Burnham does. I just hope they get a move on.
One stood down in Hackney as a council employee .. teacher. Also one similar in Camden. Also aiui the Mayor of Hackney ... Zoe Garbutt iirc... has I think not taken her councillor position.
I have not checked it all and traced it as I am on a phone but I think that loses them largest party status in Hackney.
He finished behind both Milibands in 2010, that should have been a career ender.
My reading is this could as likely fizzle out as not.
It's not just that GNev is an ex ManU player - which will rile supporters of all GM's other clubs. It's that he is such a particular talent for saying things people take exception to. I know we lament modern politicians who never dare give offence and therefore deal solely in platitudes, but Neville goes far far too far the other way: he appears to go out of his way to give offence.
I think governments and people more generally need to be prepared for the possibility that the Strait of Hormuz doesn't reopen (until it's made largely irrelevant by pipelines).
Though perhaps the difference is between being a larger or smaller coalition partner.
And Reform plus Tory wouldn't have been a majority.
I predict it will not go well for them. There or elsewhere. It will just make drifting right wing voters make the full leap to Reform
The Greens are detestable and anti-British and completely penetrated by pro Palestinian nutters and crypto (not even that crypto) Islamists
I guess the people of Worcestershire will find out what the new council does. I'd be surprised if the Tories on the council agreed to support a bunch of Green policies that you'd find massively objectionable.
But it's Buggin's turn, apparently
"Steven Swinford
@Steven_Swinford
Wes Streeting's allies say he had the numbers but decided this morning not to trigger a leadership contest for two broad reasons:
1) He would have had to rely on significant numbers of ministers and aides on the payroll, meaning a wave of resignations. It would have disembowelled the government
2) He concluded that a contest would be deemed illegitimate if Andy Burnham was not able to take part. And that if he had pushed for a rapid contest and won it Burnham would have come for him later. It was a question of legitimacy
3) He realised that he had to 'put up or shut up'. Having told Starmer to his face that he had lost confidence in his leadership - much as the letter suggests - he could not continue in govt
It leaves a deeply unhappy, bitterly divided Labour Party with the millstone of 94 MPs (now including Streeting) hanging around Sir Keir Starmer's neck
Nothing is resolved. Starmer remains in power for now. The question now is for how long.
What will Burnham do next? And perhaps more pertinently what will the Cabinet do? Proceed as if none of this has happened?
We have a damaged prime minister, a deeply divided Labour Party and no resolution in sight. All with the prospect of a huge cost of living crisis coming down the tracks this Winter...
2:15 PM · May 14, 2026"
https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2054913370323567018
And that's the English Greens. Scottish Greens are different again.
Of course that doesn't mean there isn't a fair share of weirdos and extremists that you'd find in any Party or politics-discussing website.
I am sure he has learned much about the cut and thrust of politics whilst Mayor, but he has forgotten his manners.
It's about a leadership struggle, based on real events in New York City. For example, Kid Sally is based on Joe Gallo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gallo
For the record: I found the book great fun -- but then I don't mind gangsters bumping each other off. And you can learn something about New York City politics from the book.
Is it possible that Starmer's undecided as to whether to continue?
1. No, quite simply didn't have the numbers.
2. Not having the numbers this is the best spin he can put on things.
3. True, makes his fibs for 1 & 2 look more plausible having an obvious truth in there.
It's quite possible that it was only when it came to the moment of decision that the whole dawning realisation overcame his ego.
Or everyone is waiting for this mythical MP standing down for Burnham.
You think that settles the matter?
but this is about leadership of the country
Personally i think Wes had no shot and the bulk of the discontented are waiting on the king in the north, so a challenge waits a few months.
But reform anti British/more anti Brit than the Greens. You’re having a laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣
For a man with his CV, Starmer has been a dreadful disappointment.
He cannot make a decision and stick by it, he is a terrible man manager and his communication skills are the worst of any postwar Prime Minister.
Time to say goodbye.
So there may well be common ground between Tories and Greens in many localities, though also clear differences. Local government often winds up with odd coalitions of interests.
Arguably nationalists are anti British
"Some" Greens are everything that has been suggested, and more besides. On the other hand there are plenty of Greens who used to Lib Dems, and a surprising number that used to be green welly Tories. So applying Chalk Farm metropolitan arrogance and presuming to lecture some perfectly harmless local councilors who don't want to see their local council turned into a grandstanding shit show run by American funded neo-fascist fuckwits is a bit silly. Just because you think Reform is a good thing does not mean that locals on the mean streets of Bromsgrove agree with you.
If it does turn out that Farage has been more than just a bit naughty with the 5 million quid of crypto crookedry then hopefully the whole house of cards comes crashing down.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/another-england/caroline-lucas/9781804941591