Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Kruger was put up to do the talking about this - perhaps Reform's only talking head who wouldn't look as if he was a bit amused by it all - and appeared to be trying to be solemn in a hostage video, and very obviously thought this fellow Kenyon was such an oik that he hardly remembered which year he left Eton.
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
"Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Coun Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted.
In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey."
In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'."
Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'.
And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." "
The first two are clearly somewhat bawdy jokes/
I don't mind the "hang all 3" comment. Obviously it might be seen as a 'touch strong' but the underlying sentiment he implicitly expresses of not bailing out multibillionaires with taxpayer money is spot on.
I probably wouldn't vote for him in the by-election because I think Reform's policy ideas are fantasy economics but this archeology job of digging up his old tweets wouldn't be the reason.
I have long thought that in time the Conservative party will revert to its pro-European position held for a half century to 2016 under all leaders. This polling suggests that this might not be so far away as it once seemed.
Once the Farage clown car has gone over the cliff, all is set for a cross party approach to Rejoin.
If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender," and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT
Aaron Rupar
Trump posted the exact same (crazy) thing on Truth Social 8 days apart. The cognitive isn't cognitiving.
I have long thought that in time the Conservative party will revert to its pro-European position held for a half century to 2016 under all leaders. This polling suggests that this might not be so far away as it once seemed.
Once the Farage clown car has gone over the cliff, all is set for a cross party approach to Rejoin.
Rejoin is the new unicorns and sunlit uplands policy.
The EU will bend over backwards to give us everything we want and it this miraculously give us the kind of economic boost that escapes France and Germany.
Violent men are very often violent in a domestic setting.
Joan Smith has written a whole book - Home Grown - about how so many terrorists, US gun killers and the like have a history of domestic violence and often embark on violence against the women closest to them before embarking on their more public sprees of violence. It's not though something which can only be laid at the door of those of any particular political persuasion, as you seem to imply. It applies to Islamist terrorists, left-wing terrorists, right-wing ones, mass murderers etc. The common factor is men and domestic violence against women, which is overlooked and not dealt with.
Indeed.
A simple truth - scumbags are never angels who suddenly went bad. It’s never their first crime. They serve a scumbag apprenticeship. They practise.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
They are really walking the line on the "private conversations" and "private citizen at the time" and so on in some cases, as some of the stuff for some of the Councillors is very recent.
One of the troubled Reform Councillors, who is I think not yet defenestrated but possibly in the queue, is actually called Rimmer.
"Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Coun Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted.
In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey."
In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'."
Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'.
And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." "
"Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Coun Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted.
In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey."
In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'."
Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'.
And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." "
The first two are clearly somewhat bawdy jokes/
I don't mind the "hang all 3" comment. Obviously it might be seen as a 'touch strong' but the underlying sentiment he implicitly expresses of not bailing out multibillionaires with taxpayer money is spot on.
I probably wouldn't vote for him in the by-election because I think Reform's policy ideas are fantasy economics but this archeology job of digging up his old tweets wouldn't be the reason.
However, whoever you are, above the age of about 20, regardless of whether you have ambitions in public life, what you tweet and retweet and approve on forums that can be read by billions says something about character, values and judgment. The idea you needn't have any of these before you decide to go into public life isn't how ethics works.
To take for example the now notorious celebrity tweet, we know that the private male mind is not invariably an especially attractive or edifying place. But not being barbarians relies on there being a gap between what may be thought and what should be put into the public domain. Not to know that shouts lack of judgment; the sort of lack of judgment which should be fatal for ambitions to be an MP. The same sort of lack of judgment which demolished Boris.
"Now further historical social media posts apparently made by Coun Kenyon have been highlighted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, which discovered two X accounts linked to the Reform candidate, one of which had been suspended by the platform and the other deleted.
In reply to one poster on X who in January 2022 shared a photograph of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, the @robkenyon1 account said: "Lets be honest he's batting, so why would an attractive female want with someone in a high political position? Must be hung like a donkey."
In one deleted post on X, @robkenyon1 said: "Next door neighbour said 'Little blowy today eh?' I said to her 'The Mrs is home in 20mins so ok if you're quick'."
Elsewhere the account seemed to cast doubt on climate change, calling it a 'middle class problem' in one 2021 post and in another asking if school children would be taught 'about the ice age and that the world has been getting warmer since then'.
And in reply to another post in April 2020 during lockdown which said billionaire businessmen Richard Branson, Philip Green and Joe Lewis had been 'bailed out by taxpayer money to support their workers', @robkenyon1 said: "Hang all 3." "
I'm surprised as many as 1 in 6 Reformies voted Remain. That slightly cuts across my take that Farage's pool is the voter coalition that delivered us Brexit and Boris. Still, it mainly is.
False “recall” of past votes is a thing. Which pollsters have previously noted.
Famously Kennedy who won one of the closest elections ever against Nixon in 1960. By 1963 a large majority "recalled" voting for Kennedy.
Yes, but whether it is false recall or selective mortality, it is clear that weeks away from the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote that the British public think Brexit a mistake.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Kruger was put up to do the talking about this - perhaps Reform's only talking head who wouldn't look as if he was a bit amused by it all - and appeared to be trying to be solemn in a hostage video, and very obviously thought this fellow Kenyon was such an oik that he hardly remembered which year he left Eton.
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Kruger was put up to do the talking about this - perhaps Reform's only talking head who wouldn't look as if he was a bit amused by it all - and appeared to be trying to be solemn in a hostage video, and very obviously thought this fellow Kenyon was such an oik that he hardly remembered which year he left Eton.
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
When they are polling behind the Tories. He'd be sobbing with regret then.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Kruger was put up to do the talking about this - perhaps Reform's only talking head who wouldn't look as if he was a bit amused by it all - and appeared to be trying to be solemn in a hostage video, and very obviously thought this fellow Kenyon was such an oik that he hardly remembered which year he left Eton.
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
When they are polling behind the Tories. He'd be sobbing with regret then.
If the Restore bandwagon gets rolling then Reform could end up the third party of the right.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Which is why - I know I sound like a broken record on this but someone has to keep saying it - we should take such crimes much more seriously and deal properly with minor offences like voyeurism, indecent exposure etc because they are indicative of a propensity to behave badly and not dealing with them sends out the wrong message.
I have long thought that in time the Conservative party will revert to its pro-European position held for a half century to 2016 under all leaders. This polling suggests that this might not be so far away as it once seemed.
Once the Farage clown car has gone over the cliff, all is set for a cross party approach to Rejoin.
Rejoin is the new unicorns and sunlit uplands policy.
The EU will bend over backwards to give us everything we want and it this miraculously give us the kind of economic boost that escapes France and Germany.
That's how you win - a positive hopeful message. It will easily beat all the 'we'll have to join the euro, yada yada' project fear nitpicky borefest from the establishment status quo mongers.
If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender," and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT
This is a word-for-word repost from one he posted last week.
Violent men are very often violent in a domestic setting.
Joan Smith has written a whole book - Home Grown - about how so many terrorists, US gun killers and the like have a history of domestic violence and often embark on violence against the women closest to them before embarking on their more public sprees of violence. It's not though something which can only be laid at the door of those of any particular political persuasion, as you seem to imply. It applies to Islamist terrorists, left-wing terrorists, right-wing ones, mass murderers etc. The common factor is men and domestic violence against women, which is overlooked and not dealt with.
Indeed.
A simple truth - scumbags are never angels who suddenly went bad. It’s never their first crime. They serve a scumbag apprenticeship. They practise.
I was once at a talk by an anti-terrorism policeman. He said they hardly every arrested anyone on anti-terrorism charges as theya re hard to prove. They would just keep an eye on the until they could catch them in the act of something else (e.g. firearms possession) and send them away for a stretch. Nearly all active terrorists are scumbags anyway, apparently.
If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender," and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT
This is a word-for-word repost from one he posted last week.
If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender," and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT
This is a word-for-word repost from one he posted last week.
Obviously thinks it's a masterpiece of sardonic wit.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Banging 10 point final tiebreak ongoing in FAA vs Altmaier
Slightly ruined by McEnroe bantering all over it. Past his sell by imo.
Much like Blair, then.
Seriously. You had your turn, now it's somebody else's. If you want to champion a specific cause, splendid. If you want to privately offer advice, I'm sure that channels to Downing Street remain open. Just don't be shocked if the incumbents don't take your advice. Nobody needs a five thousand word screed on how your sucessors are getting it all wrong.
Not every problem in this country is due to baby boomers refusing to leave the stage and get a hobby, but... sheesh.
I’ve now walked nearly two thousand miles around France and Spain that is all connected
I think that there’s a good chance that I’m the only living person to have walked my walk. Especially if walking the Camino de Santiago in reverse in twenty days is a factor
Is it weird that I find this potential uniqueness enjoyable?
Two thousand miles is a double Proclaimers
Isn't it quadruple?
No. 500 miles ... and 500 more.
Yes, solarflare is right. But well done Blanche whatever!
Yes, well done. Apparently it's fairly common that some people do walk from their home to Santiago then turn round and walk home like the original pilgrims did.
Banging 10 point final tiebreak ongoing in FAA vs Altmaier
Slightly ruined by McEnroe bantering all over it. Past his sell by imo.
Much like Blair, then.
Seriously. You had your turn, now it's somebody else's. If you want to champion a specific cause, splendid. If you want to privately offer advice, I'm sure that channels to Downing Street remain open. Just don't be shocked if the incumbents don't take your advice. Nobody needs a five thousand word screed on how your sucessors are getting it all wrong.
Not every problem in this country is due to baby boomers refusing to leave the stage and get a hobby, but... sheesh.
He talks a good high-falluting game, that's a genuine compliment, it's important, and he was/is a great communicator, but the fact is if he'd come to power with today's global and domestic environment, post GFC low growth, outside the EU, Trump and Putin, tight as a drum public finances, instead of when he did in 97 with things broadly ok except for chronically underinvested public services and plenty of scope for increased spending to fix that, he'd have struggled as much as SKS except with a toothy grin and bit more panache.
But he is saying the government should go along with the murderous campaigns of Trump and Netanyahu. You know I always had an element of sympathy with him about Iraq, that maybe given what was known at the time it made some sense, even though it looks like a disaster now. Thst maybe there were things he couldn't tell us. But reading this it is now clear that he has a very distorted view. So of the Labour Prime Ministers in my lifetime I think Harold Wilson should be rated ahead of Tony Blair because he kept us out of Vietnam.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting "I surrender, I surrender" while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary "Documents of Surrender," and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn't even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT
He might have a slither of a point that his opponents are not likely to acknowledge even when he has achievements worthy of the name, but the problem applying that to Iran is it still looks like a war he went looking for so he could solve it.
Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.
The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account.
Vorderman, who last week posted a video in which she described Kenyon as a misogynist who made “disgusting comments”, told the Daily Mirror on Tuesday that she wanted “an apology from Rob Kenyon, to me, and to all the other people he’s abused online”.
In 2021, Kenyon responded to a social media post about Vorderman in which another user wrote: “My god I’d love to smell and lick your arsehole”, by saying: “He’s only saying what we’re all thinking”.
Danny Kruger, who joined Reform last September, defended Kenyon’s comments, telling BBC Radio 4 on Monday that while they were “inappropriate”, they were not viewed as serious enough within the party for Kenyon to be pulled as their byelection candidate. Kruger said he was “not going to judge people for what are essentially regarded at the time and intended as private conversations”.
Kruger was put up to do the talking about this - perhaps Reform's only talking head who wouldn't look as if he was a bit amused by it all - and appeared to be trying to be solemn in a hostage video, and very obviously thought this fellow Kenyon was such an oik that he hardly remembered which year he left Eton.
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
I've met Kruger, he seems to be thoughtful and has some deep convictions, but I think for that very reason having made the decision to switch he is not likely to rethink his situation any time soon, and is more likely to double down. Those with deeply held convictions may switch less often, but probably commit a lot more when they do.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
Tony Blair obviously wants Wes Streeting to be next leader.
Not going to happen. Even if Andy were not about to get an unparalleled narrative boost if he wins the by-election, Wes is just not popular with Members.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
Banging 10 point final tiebreak ongoing in FAA vs Altmaier
Slightly ruined by McEnroe bantering all over it. Past his sell by imo.
Much like Blair, then.
Seriously. You had your turn, now it's somebody else's. If you want to champion a specific cause, splendid. If you want to privately offer advice, I'm sure that channels to Downing Street remain open. Just don't be shocked if the incumbents don't take your advice. Nobody needs a five thousand word screed on how your sucessors are getting it all wrong.
Not every problem in this country is due to baby boomers refusing to leave the stage and get a hobby, but... sheesh.
Lol, predictable centrist poster railing against an actually effective PM.
Blair was supported by the usually Conservative Britain because he understood what would be tolerated and what wouldn't.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
Is it time we commented on the terrible split of the utter looney vote between The Official Monster Raving Loony Party and Count Binface Party?
If only these two whackos purveyors of sound politics and judgment could get their collective act together this country would be on the way to glory.
The beef goes way back. The Count gained prominence as Lord Buckethead, then OMRLP got involved with the rights holder (apparently it was an existing character) and stood a candidate under that name, forcing him to run under a different persona, and indeed beating the OMRLP Lord Buckethead.
I like Count Binface a lot - he puts a lot of effort in to being a joke candidate, releasing musical numbers and an entire book which is not that bad I have to say.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
Banging 10 point final tiebreak ongoing in FAA vs Altmaier
Slightly ruined by McEnroe bantering all over it. Past his sell by imo.
Much like Blair, then.
Seriously. You had your turn, now it's somebody else's. If you want to champion a specific cause, splendid. If you want to privately offer advice, I'm sure that channels to Downing Street remain open. Just don't be shocked if the incumbents don't take your advice. Nobody needs a five thousand word screed on how your sucessors are getting it all wrong.
Not every problem in this country is due to baby boomers refusing to leave the stage and get a hobby, but... sheesh.
He talks a good high-falluting game, that's a genuine compliment, it's important, and he was/is a great communicator, but the fact is if he'd come to power with today's global and domestic environment, post GFC low growth, outside the EU, Trump and Putin, tight as a drum public finances, instead of when he did in 97 with things broadly ok except for chronically underinvested public services and plenty of scope for increased spending to fix that, he'd have struggled as much as SKS except with a toothy grin and bit more panache.
I imagine he had more talent for the job, he might do better, and it has been commented that he releases some genuinely thoughtful ideas from time to time, so that's good.
But I think his time swanning around with world leaders and billionaires has made him forget he has not been involved in domestic UK politics for a long time and he probably doesn't have the insight or touch that he used to, in a very different era.
When you are so removed from the cut and thrust of day to day politics his opinings should get little more attention than any other think tank, which is to say not much since they mostly exist to justify preconceived ideas.
The amount of tedious waffle involved in getting round to saying we should cosy up to Trump is quite something.
Lost his touch.
Did he really? I didn't get that far. That rather disqualifies the whole thing then. Time to say goodbye to Tony, I think. We'll always have that bright new morning in May.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
Does Blair set these out in his piece (I've not read it)? Saying 'do whatever it takes' is not helpful as it is just urging without ideas. Saying 'do whatever it takes, including x, y, and z', is helpful, as they can then actually be considered and assessed.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
He says "by any means necessary" so there aren't any limits, you can do anything that accomplishes this specific goal. Remove the fencing at Calais so people can get into lorries again like they used to in the good of days, that will stop the boats at a stroke.
"It is one thing when in opposition to indulge this perennial delusion that when we lose seats to the right the country is really signalling it wants Labour to move left; it is dangerous to do it in government."
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
'midwit process driving centrists'
You've been hanging out with that weird online right crowd, haven't you.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
He says "by any means necessary" so there aren't any limits, you can do anything that accomplishes this specific goal. Remove the fencing at Calais so people can get into lorries again like they used to in the good of days, that will stop the boats at a stroke.
It specifically states illegal immigration is the problem that must be solved, 'whatever it takes'. The failure of the state on this is a fundamental pillar of why so many hate the govt.
Correction, Count Binface actually lost to the new Lord Buckethead in 2019.
But he did get 1% in the 2021 London Mayoral election, more than UKIP's Mr Gammosn (yes, really) and Piers 'somehow the worst Piers and the worst Corbyn' Corbyn. And 1% in the 2024 mayoral, and triple the OMRLP vote at some other by-elections.
Still the Conservative vote pretty split. Nonetheless if Remainers remain a plurality of Conservative voters consistently in polling then the chances of a former Remainer leading the Conservative Party in future and ultimately replacing Kemi like Hunt or Tugendhat increase . Plus they would be more likely to squeeze anti Reform tactical votes in Tory held seats from Labour and the LDs
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
He says "by any means necessary" so there aren't any limits, you can do anything that accomplishes this specific goal. Remove the fencing at Calais so people can get into lorries again like they used to in the good of days, that will stop the boats at a stroke.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
'midwit process driving centrists'
You've been hanging out with that weird online right crowd, haven't you.
Just fed up of the handwringing. It is eroding the social contract and shows us up as a nation to be absolute fools.
The fact that so many cannot see this fascinates me.
"It is one thing when in opposition to indulge this perennial delusion that when we lose seats to the right the country is really signalling it wants Labour to move left; it is dangerous to do it in government."
It is a funny line though. Many of the Tories have of course made that exact calculation having lost to Labour massively and believing they need to move a lot more to the right, but in fairness that is their natural direction and they can point clearly to people who have made that exact switch explicitly.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
The problem is that significant numbers of those immigrants have a good enough story that they would qualify for refugee status - hence why we haven't rushed to have overseas processing centres - they would result in 10 times as many applicants and probably twice as many valid refugees arriving.
And yes I know that for processing centre you meant Rwanda but you should be clearer...
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
The problem is that significant numbers of those immigrants have a good enough story that they would qualify for refugee status - hence why we haven't rushed to have overseas processing centres - they would result in 10 times as many applicants and probably twice as many valid refugees arriving.
And yes I know that for processing centre you meant Rwanda but you should be clearer...
Gah. Another 'if only we could do something' - the something is change the terms of qualification. MASSIVE MAJORITY and still they won't do anything.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
He says "by any means necessary" so there aren't any limits, you can do anything that accomplishes this specific goal. Remove the fencing at Calais so people can get into lorries again like they used to in the good of days, that will stop the boats at a stroke.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
The problem is that significant numbers of those immigrants have a good enough story that they would qualify for refugee status - hence why we haven't rushed to have overseas processing centres - they would result in 10 times as many applicants and probably twice as many valid refugees arriving.
And yes I know that for processing centre you meant Rwanda but you should be clearer...
Gah. Another 'if only we could do something' - the something is change the terms of qualification. MASSIVE MAJORITY and still they won't do anything.
The terms of qualification are international law - it's rather difficult to override that
Blair's essay, which he pitches as trying to be deadly serious about the future, does not mention climate change, heat crisis, the vast water supply crisis, vast, absolutely vast, migration due to climate breakdown. Millions may leave, for example, India when it is 50 degree+
If you are going to pitch for a cleared-eyed view of the future and the kind of politics that is needed in response then this absence is terrible.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
Hold on a second...
The only time the government decided that asylum was all too difficult was the fag end of the Conservative government.
They largely did give up on trying to process arrivals, which is why we ended up warehousing people wherever space could be bought at disgraceful financial and human cost.
And you know what? Doing the boring stuff better is helping in a way that shouting "Rwanda" didn't. Numbers are fairly solidly down over the last 12 months or so. Still too high, but well down. A thousand over 4 days is way better than a thousand a day.
But to return to my main thought. Harold Wilson was not writing think-tank essays telling Blair what to do in 1997. Partly because he was dead, but mostly because there shouldn't be many things more ex- than an ex-Prime Minister.
Blair's essay, which he pitches as trying to be deadly serious about the future, does not mention climate change, heat crisis, the vast water supply crisis, vast, absolutely vast, migration due to climate breakdown. Millions may leave, for example, India when it is 50 degree+
If you are going to pitch for a cleared-eyed view of the future and the kind of politics that is needed in response then this absence is terrible.
Maybe Larry Ellison had a quiet world with him before release.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats; BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget; DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
The boat thing is so bonkers. Absolute midwits saying how aCKSHully wE CaNT dO anyTHing ABout iT when Labour have such a large majority.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
It's great to say do whatever it takes to stop the boats - but the followup question is what can be done that isn't already being done?
I don't know, perhaps an overseas processing centre? Perhaps coming out of the ECHR? Perhaps criminalising arriving without a passport? Perhaps deem small boat arrivals a terror risk. But no, the midwit process driving centrists just want to wring hands and say it is all too difficult.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
The problem is that significant numbers of those immigrants have a good enough story that they would qualify for refugee status - hence why we haven't rushed to have overseas processing centres - they would result in 10 times as many applicants and probably twice as many valid refugees arriving.
And yes I know that for processing centre you meant Rwanda but you should be clearer...
Gah. Another 'if only we could do something' - the something is change the terms of qualification. MASSIVE MAJORITY and still they won't do anything.
The terms of qualification are international law - it's rather difficult to override that
You mean the 75 year old convention designed for a world with far less mobility than today? The one that basically has no penalities if it is ignored?
Comments
At what point in proceedings will it become clear to Kruger, who is decent and bright, that he has made a monumental error of judgment?
I don't mind the "hang all 3" comment. Obviously it might be seen as a 'touch strong' but the underlying sentiment he implicitly expresses of not bailing out multibillionaires with taxpayer money is spot on.
I probably wouldn't vote for him in the by-election because I think Reform's policy ideas are fantasy economics but this archeology job of digging up his old tweets wouldn't be the reason.
I have long thought that in time the Conservative party will revert to its pro-European position held for a half century to 2016 under all leaders. This polling suggests that this might not be so far away as it once seemed.
Once the Farage clown car has gone over the cliff, all is set for a cross party approach to Rejoin.
Trump posted the exact same (crazy) thing on Truth Social 8 days apart. The cognitive isn't cognitiving.
The EU will bend over backwards to give us everything we want and it this miraculously give us the kind of economic boost that escapes France and Germany.
A simple truth - scumbags are never angels who suddenly went bad. It’s never their first crime. They serve a scumbag apprenticeship. They practise.
Ben Riley-Smith
@benrileysmith
Some news… I’m very excited to say I have been appointed the new political editor at The Sunday Times!
To take for example the now notorious celebrity tweet, we know that the private male mind is not invariably an especially attractive or edifying place. But not being barbarians relies on there being a gap between what may be thought and what should be put into the public domain. Not to know that shouts lack of judgment; the sort of lack of judgment which should be fatal for ambitions to be an MP. The same sort of lack of judgment which demolished Boris.
Ditto Jenrick.
Mine is a £42600 pizza wheel.
https://x.com/JournalistJill/status/2059238600449851903
It was featured in Ukraine the Latest this afternoon:
https://youtu.be/bPVaAdd6aPc?t=2327
It is not the obit, but a new article published today about his "life in Godalming". My bad.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/a73c35a4e30247c7
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/dog-shotgun-nebraska-convenience-store?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Was Peter Murrell a guest at your wedding in the past 20 years? If so, what did he get you? DMs are open
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/scores-and-schedule
Edit: this is quotes, I suppose we have to wait for the actual thing.
Tomorrow will be a day off from the heatwave.
Edit - It's free to read here
https://institute.global/insights/politics-and-governance/the-labour-party-is-playing-with-fire-over-its-future-and-the-future-of-the-country
In his 5000+ word essay Tony Blair calls Andy Burnham, among other things, “delusional” and “dangerous.” Extraordinary intervention here:
https://institute.global/insights/politics-and-governance/the-labour-party-is-playing-with-fire-over-its-future-and-the-future-of-the-country
If only these two
whackospurveyors of sound politics and judgment could get their collective act together this country would be on the way to glory.Seriously. You had your turn, now it's somebody else's. If you want to champion a specific cause, splendid. If you want to privately offer advice, I'm sure that channels to Downing Street remain open. Just don't be shocked if the incumbents don't take your advice. Nobody needs a five thousand word screed on how your sucessors are getting it all wrong.
Not every problem in this country is due to baby boomers refusing to leave the stage and get a hobby, but... sheesh.
Yep.
As just about every PBer said immediately when it was announced.
Do keep up.
But - also - surely means he can't keep Reeves???
Opinion editorial, roughly. It's a US phrase, but everyone's watched too much West Wing...
Still, odd timing. What's his game? Is he working to save Keir? Don't know.
But reading this it is now clear that he has a very distorted view.
So of the Labour Prime Ministers in my lifetime I think Harold Wilson should be rated ahead of Tony Blair because he kept us out of Vietnam.
Lost his touch.
WARNS ministers to do “whatever it takes” to stop the boats;
BLASTS Rachel Reeves’ national insurance rise in her first Budget;
DEMANDS North Sea drilling to prioritise cheaper bills
The Sun.
Blair would have got it done. Didn't he say something about the British public not tolerating the unfairness of illegal immigration in his autobiog?
Blair was supported by the usually Conservative Britain because he understood what would be tolerated and what wouldn't.
I like Count Binface a lot - he puts a lot of effort in to being a joke candidate, releasing musical numbers and an entire book which is not that bad I have to say.
There are so many things that could be done, which are not being done.
But I think his time swanning around with world leaders and billionaires has made him forget he has not been involved in domestic UK politics for a long time and he probably doesn't have the insight or touch that he used to, in a very different era.
When you are so removed from the cut and thrust of day to day politics his opinings should get little more attention than any other think tank, which is to say not much since they mostly exist to justify preconceived ideas.
I’m up for the lols.
46
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8484p7ggmo
"It is one thing when in opposition to indulge this perennial delusion that when we lose seats to the right the country is really signalling it wants Labour to move left; it is dangerous to do it in government."
You've been hanging out with that weird online right crowd, haven't you.
But he did get 1% in the 2021 London Mayoral election, more than UKIP's Mr Gammosn (yes, really) and Piers 'somehow the worst Piers and the worst Corbyn' Corbyn. And 1% in the 2024 mayoral, and triple the OMRLP vote at some other by-elections.
The fact that so many cannot see this fascinates me.
Nicola Sturgeon on Newsround in 2022 talking to school kids about the cost of living crisis
‘My husband does most of the shopping in my household but he notices the way things are going up in the supermarkets’
And yes I know that for processing centre you meant Rwanda but you should be clearer...
If you are going to pitch for a cleared-eyed view of the future and the kind of politics that is needed in response then this absence is terrible.
The only time the government decided that asylum was all too difficult was the fag end of the Conservative government.
They largely did give up on trying to process arrivals, which is why we ended up warehousing people wherever space could be bought at disgraceful financial and human cost.
And you know what? Doing the boring stuff better is helping in a way that shouting "Rwanda" didn't. Numbers are fairly solidly down over the last 12 months or so. Still too high, but well down. A thousand over 4 days is way better than a thousand a day.
But to return to my main thought. Harold Wilson was not writing think-tank essays telling Blair what to do in 1997. Partly because he was dead, but mostly because there shouldn't be many things more ex- than an ex-Prime Minister.