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Brits more pessimistic than optimistic about Starmer being replaced – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,214
edited 3:59PM in General
Brits more pessimistic than optimistic about Starmer being replaced – politicalbetting.com

With Starmer set to be replaced as PM, how does this make Britons feel about the future of the UK?All BritonsMore optimistic: 21%No difference: 43%More pessimistic: 24%2024 Labour votersMore optimistic: 34%No difference: 38%More pessimistic: 19%yougov.com/en-gb/daily-…

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  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    First!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 60,116
    Second like Streeting?
  • eekeek Posts: 34,175
    So a 3% difference when 38% really don't see things being different.

    My suspicion is that that tells you more about the mental state of the people being questioned more than anything useful
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 10,171
    So Tories and Reform supporters feel more pessimistic about the future with Burnham in charge.

    Could that be because they see Burnham as a bigger threat to their parties? Seems logical.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,177
    edited 4:07PM
    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 32,746
    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
  • eekeek Posts: 34,175
    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
    And as that's the best they can find it also shows how clean Burnham is relative to say Kemi let alone Farage
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    On topic: the Westminster village might have misread the room again? How surprising.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    edited 4:13PM
    Barnesian said:

    So Tories and Reform supporters feel more pessimistic about the future with Burnham in charge.

    Could that be because they see Burnham as a bigger threat to their parties? Seems logical.

    By the same token I'm more optimistic because the people who will most miss Keir Starmer and his subterranean approval ratings are Nigel Farage and Reform.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 32,746
    eek said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
    And as that's the best they can find it also shows how clean Burnham is relative to say Kemi let alone Farage
    He's not one motivated by money. Nor is his Missus.
    That's why they have lived in a nondescript street in Golborne for twenty years.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 32,746
    edited 4:18PM
    Deleted duplicate.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 19,793
    kinabalu said:

    Barnesian said:

    So Tories and Reform supporters feel more pessimistic about the future with Burnham in charge.

    Could that be because they see Burnham as a bigger threat to their parties? Seems logical.

    By the same token I'm more optimistic because the people who will most miss Keir Starmer and his subterranean approval ratings are Nigel Farage and Reform.
    This is key. Anything that makes a Farage government less likely is good.

    Indirectly benefits the Tories for the same reasons.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 16,746
    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Those who are vehemently anti-Burnham (and of course anti-Labour) are looking around for any old schtick they can use to destabilise the possible new Prime Minister.

    Tweets from 15-20 years ago, the wife etc, etc.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 9,668
    dixiedean said:

    eek said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
    And as that's the best they can find it also shows how clean Burnham is relative to say Kemi let alone Farage
    He's not one motivated by money. Nor is his Missus.
    That's why they have lived in a nondescript street in Golborne for twenty years.
    I hear they'll be moving upmarket round about July 18th.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 29,013
    stodge said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Those who are vehemently anti-Burnham (and of course anti-Labour) are looking around for any old schtick they can use to destabilise the possible new Prime Minister.

    Tweets from 15-20 years ago, the wife etc, etc.
    Politics as normal.

    All sides do that.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 7,978
    stodge said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Those who are vehemently anti-Burnham (and of course anti-Labour) are looking around for any old schtick they can use to destabilise the possible new Prime Minister.

    Tweets from 15-20 years ago, the wife etc, etc.
    I hope that the Prime Messiah is spotless
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    edited 4:23PM
    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

  • PJHPJH Posts: 1,156
    eek said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
    And as that's the best they can find it also shows how clean Burnham is relative to say Kemi let alone Farage
    My thoughts too. The Right Wing Media have had a year or more to go over Burnham's past in microscopic detail. If they had found anything in his private life affecting his suitability for office, we would have heard all about it. He certainly won't have been given Farage's easy ride.

    This gives me some comfort, as although to me he appears to be a self-publicist who has a rather grander view of his own ability than appears to be supported by a more neutral assessment, he at least doesn't have the same personal defects as Johnson, who in other ways he resembles. I say this as someone who is unimpressed by him, and I think he will prove to be worse than Starmer. But I'm relieved we might be led by someone who doesn't appear to be on the make.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,736
    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Possibly the only good thing about that is it shows it's not just this country that has lost its mind.

    I keep Canada in mind as a hopeful alternative.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    Burnham won't have Starmer's utter tin-ear for politics, so an improvement on that front, but that will only carry him for so long.

    Ultimately, as @Cyclefree said, the problem is Labour's policies.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Is it Brexit? Trump?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 32,746
    Reform need to stop doing politics by X.
    A couple of people have mentioned outside canvassers bringing up the scandal of Burnham's "million pound house".
    To folk who've actually been to Golborne.
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,721
    stodge said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Those who are vehemently anti-Burnham (and of course anti-Labour) are looking around for any old schtick they can use to destabilise the possible new Prime Minister.

    Tweets from 15-20 years ago, the wife etc, etc.
    As they do with any leader

    Farages schooldays for example
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,219
    Clear partisan divide here. While 2024 Labour and Green voters are optimistic about the more leftwing Burnham replacing Starmer as PM, Tory and Reform voters are more pessimistic about the future of the country post Starmer with Burmham. LD voters equally divided
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,736
    Casino_Royale said:

    Burnham won't have Starmer's utter tin-ear for politics, so an improvement on that front, but that will only carry him for so long.

    Ultimately, as @Cyclefree said, the problem is Labour's policies.

    Ultimately, the problem is we are more skint than Edward III subtracted from Louis XVI and it's far too easy to think that crony capitalism by a comfortable cabal in business and politics who are still doing very nicely for themselves is to blame.

    Partly, of course, because there are far too many people in business and politics who are doing very nicely for themselves at our expense, often by very dubious means.

    But the proposed solutions of putting more of the same who are pretending to be different - Musk, Trump, Meloni, Orban, Hanson, Farage, Milei - in power is making things worse rather than better.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 60,206
    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,921
    Casino_Royale said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Is it Brexit? Trump?
    Massive cultural divide between the cities and rural areas.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Burnham won't have Starmer's utter tin-ear for politics, so an improvement on that front, but that will only carry him for so long.

    Ultimately, as @Cyclefree said, the problem is Labour's policies.

    Ultimately, the problem is we are more skint than Edward III subtracted from Louis XVI and it's far too easy to think that crony capitalism by a comfortable cabal in business and politics who are still doing very nicely for themselves is to blame.

    Partly, of course, because there are far too many people in business and politics who are doing very nicely for themselves at our expense, often by very dubious means.

    But the proposed solutions of putting more of the same who are pretending to be different - Musk, Trump, Meloni, Orban, Hanson, Farage, Milei - in power is making things worse rather than better.
    The proposed solutions of those who pretend to be on the side of the common man, increasing tax and regulatory burdens on businesses to fund greater welfare spending and populist nationalisations that lead to worse services, driving up gilt rates in the process and increasing our borrowing, aren't the answer either.

    That makes us even more skint, depresses growth and investment and leads to reduced economic security and worse quality of life.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Farage is self-sabotaging.

    Maybe at some level he thinks people will find his "don't care" routine refreshing, but he forgets this isn't America and he isn't Trump.

    Fair play really matters in the UK.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    edited 4:42PM
    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    ydoethur said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Possibly the only good thing about that is it shows it's not just this country that has lost its mind.

    I keep Canada in mind as a hopeful alternative.
    Canada only elected a Liberal, rather than a Conservative, because of nationalism not in spite of it.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 16,746
    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    The more interesting aspect, which you don't mention, is the complete dismantling of the Liberal-National Coalition.

    https://demosau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Capital-BriefDemosAU-Federal-Poll-June-2026-FINAL.pdf

    The Demos poll would still have Labor close to a majority with One Nation between 55 and 60 seats and the LNP Coaliton reduced to marginal status at 4-11 seats.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,832
    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Russell Kane's spoofs of Andy Burnham's "normal guy" routine are very funny.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    Casino_Royale said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Farage is self-sabotaging.

    Maybe at some level he thinks people will find his "don't care" routine refreshing, but he forgets this isn't America and he isn't Trump.

    Fair play really matters in the UK.
    Opponents need to never let up about it, even though Reform will obviously call it settled and a distraction - the fact he received such a gift, however reasonable he and the party consider that to be, is true so he cannot claim otherwise, and any criticism about it is personal opinion and fair game.

    Same with Polanski and his boob hypnosis - no explanation that he doesn't believe it now takes away how either he was a con man or unbelievably stupid, and it being 10+ years ago doesn't magically make it not so.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,921
    kle4 said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
    The thing about hopecasting is that when your hope becomes real you need to move to the next target of your wishful thinking.

    The Burnsiah will become a concrete reality very soon. Some people are just getting into hopecasting market for the next one.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,736
    edited 4:44PM
    stodge said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    The more interesting aspect, which you don't mention, is the complete dismantling of the Liberal-National Coalition.

    https://demosau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Capital-BriefDemosAU-Federal-Poll-June-2026-FINAL.pdf

    The Demos poll would still have Labor close to a majority with One Nation between 55 and 60 seats and the LNP Coaliton reduced to marginal status at 4-11 seats.
    Bob Menzies must be turning in his grave.

    John Gorton even more so.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,873
    Malmesbury said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Is it Brexit? Trump?
    Massive cultural divide between the cities and rural areas.
    Canada was going to to vote Conservative last year, then Trump was elected and started giving "Give me Canada you Hosers" speeches.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 60,206
    Casino_Royale said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Farage is self-sabotaging.

    Maybe at some level he thinks people will find his "don't care" routine refreshing, but he forgets this isn't America and he isn't Trump.

    Fair play really matters in the UK.
    I think it's just a case of "what got you here won't get you there" syndrome.

    Being a contender for PM is a different game to the one he's been playing for most of his political career and some of the techniques he's learnt are no longer helpful.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    stodge said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    The more interesting aspect, which you don't mention, is the complete dismantling of the Liberal-National Coalition.

    https://demosau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Capital-BriefDemosAU-Federal-Poll-June-2026-FINAL.pdf

    The Demos poll would still have Labor close to a majority with One Nation between 55 and 60 seats and the LNP Coaliton reduced to marginal status at 4-11 seats.
    What exactly caused this dismantling? Broke under pressure of One Nation rising, or was it on the cards for awhile?

    Albanese should give hope to Burnham, as unless he self sabotages he has broken the trend of 1-3 year PMs they had gone through since 2010.

    If Meloni can last a few more years she too shows how you can break away from constant PM changes as part of your political culture.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,614
    kle4 said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
    He's not Burnham, which is a good start.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Yes, sadly for Nige, the conclusion that this stinks to high heaven will be reached without undue difficulty by anyone with an ounce of that 'commonsense' which Reform and its supporters pride themselves on.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 23,111
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    The funny thing here is that Lord Glasman presumably thinks he's helping Al Carns by saying this.
  • eekeek Posts: 34,175
    Malmesbury said:

    kle4 said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
    The thing about hopecasting is that when your hope becomes real you need to move to the next target of your wishful thinking.

    The Burnsiah will become a concrete reality very soon. Some people are just getting into hopecasting market for the next one.
    Roughly 30% of the population are hopecasting that Farage will fix the problems that they've pinned on him being able to fix.

    Got to say all I want is a Government that can actual present things and not randomly release half baked ideas such as Digital Id cards...
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    CatMan said:

    Malmesbury said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Is it Brexit? Trump?
    Massive cultural divide between the cities and rural areas.
    Canada was going to to vote Conservative last year, then Trump was elected and started giving "Give me Canada you Hosers" speeches.
    That does show their lead was more shallow than they thought it was, and the Carney switchover worked out very well indeed, but several Conservative leaders are struggling because of the Trump effect, since even if they don't support Trump, some number of their supporters do.

    Kemi might be able to say almost no current Conservative voters support Trump, but that would be because almost all of those who did have moved over to Reform (where is still not universal).
  • boulayboulay Posts: 9,060
    kle4 said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
    I’ve warmed to him. A few months ago he was giving it large on social media doing ice climbing with the marines and joining parts of Arctic exercises which I thought was a bit egotistical however I have since seen him doing talks on social media and he seems to have his heart in the right place, no mad policies and it would be nice to have someone who cuts through the bullshit and straight talks which is what he has been doing online. Fair enough I’m a Tory so clearly he has no hope with the Labour left but I don’t think he would be a bad choice.

    Would also be fucking funny him meeting Hegseth, Vance and Trump and see them try and accuse the UK of not being there when he could just flash his military cross and ask them how their service in the special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan went.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    kinabalu said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Yes, sadly for Nige, the conclusion that this stinks to high heaven will be reached without undue difficulty by anyone with an ounce of that 'commonsense' which Reform and its supporters pride themselves on.
    "The guy gave me £5m just to be nice" is not persuasive to you? Such wokeness.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,219
    edited 4:57PM
    stodge said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    The more interesting aspect, which you don't mention, is the complete dismantling of the Liberal-National Coalition.

    https://demosau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Capital-BriefDemosAU-Federal-Poll-June-2026-FINAL.pdf

    The Demos poll would still have Labor close to a majority with One Nation between 55 and 60 seats and the LNP Coaliton reduced to marginal status at 4-11 seats.
    I think that overestimates the One Nation position. In the South Australia election in March Labor won a majority of seats and One Nation got 4% more votes than the Coalition but the Coalition won more seats than One Nation after preferences.



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_South_Australian_state_election
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,542
    I'm in the No difference column. Whilst there's life there's hope, of course, but I find it hard to view Mr Burnham as the great hope of the nation. That may just be my ignorance of him & what he stands for, so I'll wait & see what happens.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,736
    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 9,668
    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    "He understands the next war"

    Oh dear. That is one aesthetically unappealing sentence.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 21,261
    Northern_Al said:

    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
    How do you feel about abolishing VAT on cat food?
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,574
    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 9,668
    bondegezou said:

    Northern_Al said:

    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
    How do you feel about abolishing VAT on cat food?
    Absolutely not. But dog food, yes, as there are two in my household, both belonging to my better half.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    Barnesian said:

    So Tories and Reform supporters feel more pessimistic about the future with Burnham in charge.

    Could that be because they see Burnham as a bigger threat to their parties? Seems logical.

    Or that they’re just more miserable b**tards in general?

    Does being right wing make you miserable or being miserable make you right wing?
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,574
    kle4 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Yes, sadly for Nige, the conclusion that this stinks to high heaven will be reached without undue difficulty by anyone with an ounce of that 'commonsense' which Reform and its supporters pride themselves on.
    "The guy gave me £5m just to be nice" is not persuasive to you? Such wokeness.
    "We met in a pub, can't remember which one, never seen him before, it was in east London I think; what date? No idea. No, I wouldn't recognise him if I saw him again."

  • kle4kle4 Posts: 104,123
    edited 5:01PM
    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Danny Kruger is a thoughtful seeming individual, but I don't know where the idea he might not be comfortable in Reform as it develops comes from. Long before he crossed to them he seemed a much better fit with them, possibly more than some of the less principled ones who jumped because they lost a leadership contest and the Tories are lower in the polls.

    I'd think some of the others would be more likely to want to come back (but not be accepted) than Kruger would at choosing to do so.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    dixiedean said:

    eek said:

    dixiedean said:

    Nigelb said:

    The Burnham's wife story seems rather thin.

    The CAZ was set up (in 2022) in response to a legal mandate from the then Tory government; reportedly, Burnham recused himself from involvement in the details because his wife had done marketing work for one of the companies involved.

    Two years later she became a marketing director of said company.

    It was publicly aired both in 2022 and 2024.

    Unless there's something new, this is warming over pretty thin, old gruel, but good luck to the UK press in explaining exactly why this is a scandal.

    Heavily deployed Online in Makerfield to little effect.
    And as that's the best they can find it also shows how clean Burnham is relative to say Kemi let alone Farage
    He's not one motivated by money. Nor is his Missus.
    That's why they have lived in a nondescript street in Golborne for twenty years.
    We just have to hope he doesn’t have £90,000-worth of pens hidden somewhere in a upstairs drawer?
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 13,519
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Lord Glasman? Who?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,219
    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Even hypothetical seats with Burnham PM still have Labour losing over 100 seats and only a point or two above Reform. Far too soon to say what the next general election result will be
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    BlancheLivermore said:

    I’ve been off yesterday and today, but I’m working the next seven days straight

    I’m dreading the next couple..

    Please be kind to your posties this week

    It’s too hot to be posting any letters, so at least I am doing my bit
  • eekeek Posts: 34,175
    edited 5:06PM
    HYUFD said:

    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Even hypothetical seats with Burnham PM still have Labour losing over 100 seats and only a point or two above Reform. Far too soon to say what the next general election result will be
    Give it a couple of years and most people will be questioning what £5m gets you off Farage...

    That stench is going to be hard to remove and it's going to be a continual joke by the next election..
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,024
    Same song, new lyrics:

    https://x.com/GBPolitcs/status/2069426033510502571

    England fans in Boston singing “Andy Burnham’s a w@nker”.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    Northern_Al said:

    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
    Isn’t Burnham, based on his book, a believer in returning schools oversight to local authorities?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 60,116
    Northern_Al said:

    bondegezou said:

    Northern_Al said:

    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
    How do you feel about abolishing VAT on cat food?
    Absolutely not. But dog food, yes, as there are two in my household, both belonging to my better half.
    "You keep dog food in your fridge???"
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 18,599
    British people need to stop being such miserable c**ts.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    Ronaldo scores after 6 mins v Uzbekistan.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,574
    kle4 said:

    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Danny Kruger is a thoughtful seeming individual, but I don't know where the idea he might not be comfortable in Reform as it develops comes from. Long before he crossed to them he seemed a much better fit with them, possibly more than some of the less principled ones who jumped because they lost a leadership contest and the Tories are lower in the polls.

    I'd think some of the others would be more likely to want to come back (but not be accepted) than Kruger would at choosing to do so.
    The overlap between the evangelical Etonian (which is an identifiable thing) and its posh social conservatism, and both Reform's plutocrat chancer wing and its Southport rioter pure rage wing in small and fragile.

  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 60,116
    Andy_JS said:

    Ronaldo scores after 6 mins v Uzbekistan.

    First to score in 6 World Cups!
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 29,013
    edited 5:08PM
    ydoethur said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    Burnham won't have Starmer's utter tin-ear for politics, so an improvement on that front, but that will only carry him for so long.

    Ultimately, as @Cyclefree said, the problem is Labour's policies.

    Ultimately, the problem is we are more skint than Edward III subtracted from Louis XVI and it's far too easy to think that crony capitalism by a comfortable cabal in business and politics who are still doing very nicely for themselves is to blame.

    Partly, of course, because there are far too many people in business and politics who are doing very nicely for themselves at our expense, often by very dubious means.

    But the proposed solutions of putting more of the same who are pretending to be different - Musk, Trump, Meloni, Orban, Hanson, Farage, Milei - in power is making things worse rather than better.
    Milei should not be on that list, he is not pretending to be different, he has been - and doing a good job.

    Milei is a marked improvement on Peronists and his other predecessors.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,635
    eek said:

    HYUFD said:

    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Even hypothetical seats with Burnham PM still have Labour losing over 100 seats and only a point or two above Reform. Far too soon to say what the next general election result will be
    Give it a couple of years and most people will be questioning what £5m gets you off Farage...

    That stench is going to be hard to remove and it's going to be a continual joke by the next election..
    W-A-Y too large a number to ever go away with voters.

    That's assuming it doesn't legally bite him on the arse.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,585
    kle4 said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Farage is self-sabotaging.

    Maybe at some level he thinks people will find his "don't care" routine refreshing, but he forgets this isn't America and he isn't Trump.

    Fair play really matters in the UK.
    Opponents need to never let up about it, even though Reform will obviously call it settled and a distraction - the fact he received such a gift, however reasonable he and the party consider that to be, is true so he cannot claim otherwise, and any criticism about it is personal opinion and fair game.

    Same with Polanski and his boob hypnosis - no explanation that he doesn't believe it now takes away how either he was a con man or unbelievably stupid, and it being 10+ years ago doesn't magically make it not so.
    The other thing about the £5m is that bringing it up really seems to annoy Farage. And that isn't a great look for him.

    It is similar with Polanski. He also seemed to be annoyed to be asked about the boob stuff - you're a political leader, what did you expect?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,196
    Andy_JS said:

    Re Australia, it's interesting how little publicity there's been of the fact that multiple opinion polls over there are showing that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party could go from zero seats in the House of Representatives to almost winning an overall majority.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Voting_intention

    https://theconversation.com/one-nations-surge-continues-in-polls-as-andy-burnham-set-to-become-next-uk-pm-285609

    Yet another example of the extreme volatility of politics in the social media age. We had this in 2024. And are all too likely to have it next time out.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,574
    HYUFD said:

    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    Even hypothetical seats with Burnham PM still have Labour losing over 100 seats and only a point or two above Reform. Far too soon to say what the next general election result will be
    Up to a point. But a function of a site called 'Political Betting' is to discern outcomes (a) before they happen and (b) before the betting markets have seen what you can see. It's never too early to read chicken entrails and smell the zeitgeist. Reform are toast. DYOR.

  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    Northern_Al said:

    bondegezou said:

    Northern_Al said:

    ydoethur said:

    Northern_Al said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Al_Carns has about as much chance of getting the MP nominations and defeating Burnham with the members as his near namesake, Northern_Al.
    I dunno. I'd vote for you as Prime Minister even though I'd have some reservations about your line on the DfE.
    Cheers mate. I hereby offer to recuse myself from any DfE or associated education decisions. In fact, I may even abolish the DfE, just for you.
    How do you feel about abolishing VAT on cat food?
    Absolutely not. But dog food, yes, as there are two in my household, both belonging to my better half.
    "You keep dog food in your fridge???"
    Mr Dog’s food is mostly in the freezer. He has so much in there that sometimes I struggle to fit in my own Waitrose frozen herbs and the odd pizza or two. If I want to splash out on something like handmade frozen Bradford curries (a shout out to Chef Akila) I have to very carefully choreograph the delivery date in relation to his food delivery dates and then live on curries for the fortnight thereafter, with complete disregard to the gastrointestinal consequences.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 55,647
    OnlyLivingBoy said:

    British people need to stop being such miserable c**ts.

    If only we could get some relief from our relentlessly grey, cloudy, drizzly weather. If the day arrives when it turns all hot and sunny I am sure we all become paragons of happiness.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    edited 5:17PM
    IanB2 said:

    Barnesian said:

    So Tories and Reform supporters feel more pessimistic about the future with Burnham in charge.

    Could that be because they see Burnham as a bigger threat to their parties? Seems logical.

    Or that they’re just more miserable b**tards in general?

    Does being right wing make you miserable or being miserable make you right wing?
    Or worse, both at the same time, thus creating a self-fueling frenzy which moves the poor souls afflicted from a slightly downbeat, tad right of centre position, anxious about the public finances, to apoplectic ethno-fascist in the space of a few weeks.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 3,245
    Those with Burnham mania please explain.

    Are you just going to left with soggy underwear and a sense of shame?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    BlancheLivermore said:

    I’ve been off yesterday and today, but I’m working the next seven days straight

    I’m dreading the next couple..

    Please be kind to your posties this week

    Genuine thanks for the valuable work you and your colleagues do.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,442
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Isn't Glasman embedded in MAGA?

    https://bylinetimes.com/2025/04/01/blue-labour-on-maga-square-maurice-glasmans-journey-to-trumpism/
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,177
    edited 5:20PM
    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    a) so what ?
    b) I prefer Dura's take.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 3,245
    edited 5:23PM
    Battlebus said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Isn't Glasman embedded in MAGA?

    https://bylinetimes.com/2025/04/01/blue-labour-on-maga-square-maurice-glasmans-journey-to-trumpism/
    Glasman's long traced the arc of the rainbow from sort of left to maga rewarded right
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,519
    Andy_JS said:

    Head in hands moment.

    "Stop training so many medical students, demand doctors
    BMA members vote to cut intake as competition for specialist posts is ‘at an all-time high’" (£)

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/23/stop-training-medical-students-demand-doctors/

    Got to keep the salaries up old boy
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 7,978
    I’m cooking tuna tonight

    My sous vide obsession continues. I’m quite excited to see how tuna will turn out

    What will happen to its colour and texture? Salmon stayed orange, but got some lovely texture

    Will tuna stay red?

    What other non white fish do we eat than tuna and salmon

    Bloody racist pescatarians
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 3,245
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Ronaldo scores after 6 mins v Uzbekistan.

    First to score in 6 World Cups!
    At least he gets something, deservedly
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 51,000
    I understand the next England WC match.

    A highly controlled performance, tight at the back, lots of possession, pop one in. 1/0. None of this sloppy 4/2 nonsense.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,442
    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Farage is going to lose the "normal guy" and charisma/charm battle with Andy Burnham. Not sure what he can do about it. Serious situation for Reform imo.

    Agree. for practical purposes write off any chance of a Reform government in 2028/9. The balloon has burst, scattering five million used pound notes and great thoughts about celebrity bottoms into the air.

    I hope the Tories will have Danny Kruger back in due course. But not the others.
    It's noticeable that someone like Kruger has made no impact in Reform such is the control of Farage. A waste to both Reform and to himself. However if he stays any longer, then questions will be asked about his judgment.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 23,111
    LostPassword said:

    kle4 said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kle4 said:

    I see Farage and his generous friends are back in the news again. I'm sure his punchy response went down very well, but it does feel like one of those situations where even a finding that he was not obliged to declare it would still overall be a net negative, because I would think most people on the street don't care about the fine details, they just know that no one gifts someone else £5m without a) expecting something in return, or b) getting something in return even if there really was nothing expected.

    You don't need to say 'Give me X' when you gift someone £5m to do with as they please, we all know we'd be very accommodating to that person in future if it happened to us, which is why it doesn't feel like it matters much whether Farage is right he did not have to declare it - we know he is in the dude's pocket, whether he thinks of it that way or not, whether either of them do. The strings are there whether you intend them.

    Farage is self-sabotaging.

    Maybe at some level he thinks people will find his "don't care" routine refreshing, but he forgets this isn't America and he isn't Trump.

    Fair play really matters in the UK.
    Opponents need to never let up about it, even though Reform will obviously call it settled and a distraction - the fact he received such a gift, however reasonable he and the party consider that to be, is true so he cannot claim otherwise, and any criticism about it is personal opinion and fair game.

    Same with Polanski and his boob hypnosis - no explanation that he doesn't believe it now takes away how either he was a con man or unbelievably stupid, and it being 10+ years ago doesn't magically make it not so.
    The other thing about the £5m is that bringing it up really seems to annoy Farage. And that isn't a great look for him.

    It is similar with Polanski. He also seemed to be annoyed to be asked about the boob stuff - you're a political leader, what did you expect?
    JCorbz was much the same- I embody the true will of the people, how dare you question me? Revolting as BoJo was in many ways, he at least gave the impression of understanding that it was all a game.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,177
    edited 5:29PM
    boulay said:

    kle4 said:

    williamglenn said:

    https://x.com/camillahmturner/status/2069447965853249989

    Lord Glasman, the Labour peer and founder of the influential Blue Labour group, said he is supporting Al Carns to be the next PM.

    "He's a soldier, he understands defence and he understands the next war," Lord Glasman told the Telegraph.

    Is that the dude people kept ramping as the next PM basically because he has a good jawline?
    I’ve warmed to him. A few months ago he was giving it large on social media doing ice climbing with the marines and joining parts of Arctic exercises which I thought was a bit egotistical however I have since seen him doing talks on social media and he seems to have his heart in the right place, no mad policies and it would be nice to have someone who cuts through the bullshit and straight talks which is what he has been doing online. Fair enough I’m a Tory so clearly he has no hope with the Labour left but I don’t think he would be a bad choice.

    Would also be fucking funny him meeting Hegseth, Vance and Trump and see them try and accuse the UK of not being there when he could just flash his military cross and ask them how their service in the special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan went.
    He's not a complete idiot, but if you think Burnham is entitled, then a guy, who's been a junior minister and MP for all of two years, claiming now is his time, is off the ****ing charts.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 40,512
    Uzbekistan score v Portugal but waiting for VAR check.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,196
    Andy_JS said:

    Uzbekistan score v Portugal but waiting for VAR check.

    Disallowed. Harsh I thought. Brilliant shot.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 60,116
    Andy_JS said:

    Uzbekistan score v Portugal but waiting for VAR check.

    Foul - no goal.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 29,033
    Taz said:




    @viewcode

    I’m sorry I didn’t nick this of Twitter in time for this thread.

    Good afternoon @rcs1000 and/or @TheScreamingEagles

    Is it possible that the photo discovered by @Taz above can be used at the top of https://www.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2026/06/22/the-long-running-series-is-cancelled/ instead of the existing one please?
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