Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn't have the best and leading ground forces in Europe is completely deluding themselves.
You can't really compare the UAF to the British Army because they are so different.
The Ukainians have a lot more recent combat. That is both good and bad. Recent experience vs mass casualties thinning out the ranks.
They are a combination of a conscript army (people are literally kidnapped off the street and are on the front line 3 weeks later), foreign mercenaries and a small professional leadership component that clings to Soviet practices. The British Army is professional from top to bottom and steeped in NATO doctrine - again, that's both good and bad.
They never have to make any decisions about systems or procurements or what anything costs because they get what they are given.
In summary, they are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia in a largely static conflict dominated by drones. How good would they be at anything else? Probably not very. Deciding that Ukraine is the model for land doctrine would be as stupid as deciding they (and the Russians) have nothing to teach us.
"They never have to make any decisions about systems or procurements or what anything costs because they get what they are given."
Well, apart from manfacturing a wide range of drones and missiles because they don't have to get donor permission for their use. A range that the world is beating a path to their door to acquire - to plug their own now obvious gaps in air defence.
"In summary, they are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia in a largely static conflict dominated by drones. How good would they be at anything else?"
The Ukrainians are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia - and then rapidly reacquiring it. That process is happening in Crimea, now a useless pinata full of troops who can do nothing and go nowhere - except home. The much-vaunted Crimean warm-water port is already a laughable memory-
How good would they be at anything else? Well, their track record in naval warfare is world class, considering they caused the Black Sea Fleet to beat the retreat despite not having a navy of their own. The Russian air force has been restricted to lobbing glide bombs from distance then scuttling back to base.
Every elite regiment of Russian land forces has been reconstitued multiple times, greatly weakened every time it hapens. Expertise of lasting more than an hour on the battlefield is largely gone Their training functins are shot. They have even run out of prisoners prepared to volunteer to get out.
The Russian rump arms export industry is now a laughing stock, because their glossy sales pitches have been shown up by Ukraine for the puff pieces for shoddy products they are.
Ukraine has brutally exposed every weakness in the Russian armed forces.
Ironically, Burnham needs there to be a contest rather than a coronation in order to drag the process out to September. It is within his power to arrange one. That Burnham considers himself so unprepared might lead people to wonder just what the last few months were all about.
Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn't have the best and leading ground forces in Europe is completely deluding themselves.
You can't really compare the UAF to the British Army because they are so different.
The Ukainians have a lot more recent combat. That is both good and bad. Recent experience vs mass casualties thinning out the ranks.
They are a combination of a conscript army (people are literally kidnapped off the street and are on the front line 3 weeks later), foreign mercenaries and a small professional leadership component that clings to Soviet practices. The British Army is professional from top to bottom and steeped in NATO doctrine - again, that's both good and bad.
They never have to make any decisions about systems or procurements or what anything costs because they get what they are given...
That might have been true at the start of the war, but it now appears wrong, The vast majority of their (constantly evolving) drones, for example, both long and short range, are domestically produced. And their procurement is largely driven by battlefield experience.
Is it a model for how we should run things ? Probably not, But it does provide a very interesting example of how to start reforming a deeply conservative and slow thinking establishment.
(And our army has also suffered a brutal thinning out of ranks, albeit for purely financial reasons.)
Ironically, Burnham needs there to be a contest rather than a coronation in order to drag the process out to September. It is within his power to arrange one. That Burnham considers himself so unprepared might lead people to wonder just what the last few months were all about.
People who actually believe this crap seriously need to seek urgent medical help!
Andy Burnham is expected to appoint a former Blairite cabinet minister who is one of his oldest political allies as his chief of staff as he seeks to overhaul No 10
James Purnell, who served as pensions minister, culture secretary, and work and pensions secretary in the New Labour governments of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is the frontrunner for the role, The Times has been told
He is said to be viewed by Burnham as a “serious figure” who is capable of implementing his radical plans to reform Downing Street and Whitehall
The pair, who entered parliament together in 2001, shared an office as novice Greater Manchester MPs, with Burnham representing Leigh and Purnell holding Stalybridge & Hyde
Burnham frequently joked that he was overlooked for broadcast interviews in favour of Purnell, who was educated in France and Surrey
Purnell is chief executive of Flint Global, a major PR and lobbying firm, a role that may present issues over potential conflicts of interest in government
"We're getting the band back together."
Morning all. From the outside it does look like Back to the Future. Wonder what Mandelson was doing recently as he'll have had time on his hands.
And when watching the next England games, try it in 3D. Very weird ...
The first of all the WC26 games so far with no shot on target in the first half. And have we yet seen one in the second?
Kane had a shot on target but it was an easy save.
And another he put over the bar. Not his best night.
I thought after the first game that Tuchel finally had England playing without fear. What happened ?
The best way to play v alow press is early ball to feetvstrecg re game wing to wing, move them continuously.
The worst way is to have your back 4 and defensive midfielder gfilder playing inane tippy tappy passes in your own half allowing the low press to sit in 2 banks of 4 and recover
We played right into there hands
In summary, England just as toothless in unpicking a low press under Tuchel as Southgate. Given that Rooney made the point about stretching Ghana by moving the ball wide down the wings, either both Southgate and Tuchel are less astute than Rooney or the team won't play as instructed by the manager.
Apart from that, the defence looked vulnerable and lucky to get away with what looked like a stonewall penalty. As there's no sign that England will suddenly learn to unpick a low press, and vulnerable on the break, looks like quarter finals at best.
The word Rooney and manager really do not sit in the same year, let along page on a screen!
Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn't have the best and leading ground forces in Europe is completely deluding themselves.
You can't really compare the UAF to the British Army because they are so different.
The Ukainians have a lot more recent combat. That is both good and bad. Recent experience vs mass casualties thinning out the ranks.
They are a combination of a conscript army (people are literally kidnapped off the street and are on the front line 3 weeks later), foreign mercenaries and a small professional leadership component that clings to Soviet practices. The British Army is professional from top to bottom and steeped in NATO doctrine - again, that's both good and bad.
They never have to make any decisions about systems or procurements or what anything costs because they get what they are given.
In summary, they are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia in a largely static conflict dominated by drones. How good would they be at anything else? Probably not very. Deciding that Ukraine is the model for land doctrine would be as stupid as deciding they (and the Russians) have nothing to teach us.
"They never have to make any decisions about systems or procurements or what anything costs because they get what they are given."
Well, apart from manfacturing a wide range of drones and missiles because they don't have to get donor permission for their use. A range that the world is beating a path to their door to acquire - to plug their own now obvious gaps in air defence.
"In summary, they are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia in a largely static conflict dominated by drones. How good would they be at anything else?"
The Ukrainians are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia - and then rapidly reacquiring it. That process is happening in Crimea, now a useless pinata full of troops who can do nothing and go nowhere - except home. The much-vaunted Crimean warm-water port is already a laughable memory-
How good would they be at anything else? Well, their track record in naval warfare is world class, considering they caused the Black Sea Fleet to beat the retreat despite not having a navy of their own. The Russian air force has been restricted to lobbing glide bombs from distance then scuttling back to base.
Every elite regiment of Russian land forces has been reconstitued multiple times, greatly weakened every time it hapens. Expertise of lasting more than an hour on the battlefield is largely gone Their training functins are shot. They have even run out of prisoners prepared to volunteer to get out...
That's only part of the truth. The Russians also seem to have drone units every bit as experienced and possessing similar expertise to Ukraine. The removal of their Starlink access has reduced their capabilities, though.
But systemic reform is pretty unlikely under the Putin dictatorship.
OTOH, China is increasingly involved as an arms supplier, and who knows how that might extend to the battlefield.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
As demonstrated by the high turnover of PMs since then, realising that they are now accountable and can’t hide behind the EU as an excuse for their unpopular legislation or failings.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
A complete success doesn't usually have two thirds of the country considering it a failure.
Look at the fundamentals, not the brand. They don't support your argument. People don't want to cede regulatory autonomy and jurisdiction to the EU. That is Brexit.
One of my biggest worries with Andy Burnham is that everyone else should arrange their affairs to be personally convenient for him.
So after doing a Judas on Starmer he now expects him to fit into his schedule ! He’s been plotting to become PM almost since the start of Starmers premiership and has had plenty of time to work out what he might do .
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
I'm assuming a fair chunk of the 30% who still think Brexit was the right thing don't however think it has been a success so far. There's a lot of "real communism hasn't been tried" about Brexit. At what point do they think, actually it wasn't a good idea?
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
I'm assuming a fair chunk of the 30% who still think Brexit was the right thing don't however think it has been a success so far. There's a lot of "real communism hasn't been tried" about Brexit. At what point do they think, actually it wasn't a good idea?
To be fair, we haven't sent 20m to the gulag and executed 20m to meet death quotas. So I'm not entirely convinced comparing leaving the EU to communism is necessarily fair.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
As demonstrated by the high turnover of PMs since then, realising that they are now accountable and can’t hide behind the EU as an excuse for their unpopular legislation or failings.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Remainers haven't shut-up about it since the day we voted to Leave 10 years ago, whereas Leavers have and moved on. They confuse our absence of engagement on the subject as disengagement, disillusionment, or acquiescence whereas in fact we've just moved on and are focussed on the challenges of tomorrow. Not the battles of yesterday.
They've never come to terms with it or accepted it and, as almost all Liberals do, they just want to be right and vindicated. A re-run. A re-match. Wipe out the shame so they can feel comfortable with themselves. Meanwhile, they ignore the underlying fundamentals, which explain why even Labour haven't touched it even with a landslide in office.
It's quite sad really. But the psychological problems theirs, not ours.
Brexit has failed. In every dimension. Yes, the impact has not been as bad as some of the more pessimistic forecasts, but it has materially failed to deliver. We are all poorer as a result and that does not sit well with people. Hence why there is an upswing in support to rejoin the EU. It’s as simple as that.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
I'm assuming a fair chunk of the 30% who still think Brexit was the right thing don't however think it has been a success so far. There's a lot of "real communism hasn't been tried" about Brexit. At what point do they think, actually it wasn't a good idea?
You assume a lot of things, mostly based on convenient fantasies that live in your head.
Only yesterday you were claiming Mahmood was shit despite being widely accepted as being the most effective cabinet minister in government- you just don't like the fact she's cut migration numbers.
Brexit has failed. In every dimension. Yes, the impact has not been as bad as some of the more pessimistic forecasts, but it has materially failed to deliver. We are all poorer as a result and that does not sit well with people. Hence why there is an upswing in support to rejoin the EU. It’s as simple as that.
Er, no.
We have full control of migration policy now, free movement has ended, we have regulatory autonomy (which has been used in fields like AI, gene-editing of crops and financial services), we have tax policy flexibility on VAT, we have more flexibility on industrial policy and subsidies, we have been able to sign our own trade deals and set our own tariffs, we no longer have to automatically accept every EU Commission regulation or subject ourselves to ECJ rulings on the compliance of our laws in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, our politics is no longer dominated by the European Council every 6 months, we no longer pay billions into the EU budget, we are no longer subject to Ever Closer Union. Sure, there are some additional border frictions, and that's the trade-off, but we all knew that.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
As demonstrated by the high turnover of PMs since then, realising that they are now accountable and can’t hide behind the EU as an excuse for their unpopular legislation or failings.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Remainers haven't shut-up about it since the day we voted to Leave 10 years ago, whereas Leavers have and moved on. They confuse our absence of engagement on the subject as disengagement, disillusionment, or acquiescence whereas in fact we've just moved on and are focussed on the challenges of tomorrow. Not the battles of yesterday.
They've never come to terms with it or accepted it and, as almost all Liberals do, they just want to be right and vindicated. A re-run. A re-match. Wipe out the shame so they can feel comfortable with themselves. Meanwhile, they ignore the underlying fundamentals, which explain why even Labour haven't touched it even with a landslide in office.
It's quite sad really. But the psychological problems theirs, not ours.
Isn't that just a sign that the unhappy are those agitating for change, as were those who wanted to leave before we did?
The other side is content to claim everything's settled, though the country is split.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
As demonstrated by the high turnover of PMs since then, realising that they are now accountable and can’t hide behind the EU as an excuse for their unpopular legislation or failings.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Remainers haven't shut-up about it since the day we voted to Leave 10 years ago, whereas Leavers have and moved on. They confuse our absence of engagement on the subject as disengagement, disillusionment, or acquiescence whereas in fact we've just moved on and are focussed on the challenges of tomorrow. Not the battles of yesterday.
They've never come to terms with it or accepted it and, as almost all Liberals do, they just want to be right and vindicated. A re-run. A re-match. Wipe out the shame so they can feel comfortable with themselves. Meanwhile, they ignore the underlying fundamentals, which explain why even Labour haven't touched it even with a landslide in office.
It's quite sad really. But the psychological problems theirs, not ours.
Isn't that just a sign that the unhappy are those agitating for change, as were those who wanted to leave before we did?
The other side is content to claim everything's settled, though the country is split.
We have a values split in the country. for sure, which is sad to see.
The thing is: when you talk to ordinary normal people, from all walks of life, in person (rather than on social media) you usually discover it really isn't as bad as all that, and there is much common ground.
Just watching Michelle Obama speech from the Obama Presidential Centre opening. Damn, she's good. In her eulogy to Barack she reminds us he won a peace prize.
They are wonderful. F*** Trump!
As I understand it, Obama was open about being rather embarassed about getting the Peace prize for doing nothing other than winning. Apparently Michelle has forgotten.
I would assume it was a direct and justified ironic jibe to Trump. Do PBers not do irony like Michelle?
Andy Burnham is expected to appoint a former Blairite cabinet minister who is one of his oldest political allies as his chief of staff as he seeks to overhaul No 10
James Purnell, who served as pensions minister, culture secretary, and work and pensions secretary in the New Labour governments of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is the frontrunner for the role, The Times has been told
He is said to be viewed by Burnham as a “serious figure” who is capable of implementing his radical plans to reform Downing Street and Whitehall
The pair, who entered parliament together in 2001, shared an office as novice Greater Manchester MPs, with Burnham representing Leigh and Purnell holding Stalybridge & Hyde
Burnham frequently joked that he was overlooked for broadcast interviews in favour of Purnell, who was educated in France and Surrey
Purnell is chief executive of Flint Global, a major PR and lobbying firm, a role that may present issues over potential conflicts of interest in government
Ironically, Burnham needs there to be a contest rather than a coronation in order to drag the process out to September. It is within his power to arrange one. That Burnham considers himself so unprepared might lead people to wonder just what the last few months were all about.
I agree entirely adding the caveat that Hodges is the source.
Having just been stabbed in the back by Burnham, the expectation is to leave the knife in place until September?
I can't see how this doesn't lead to Rachel Reeves returning to the backbenches. Why is he leaking this to the BBC in this way now? And why would she accept the humiliation?
The BBC understands that if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister then he is expected to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor and offer her a more junior cabinet position.
A close ally of Burnham told the BBC: "Andy really respects Rachel and I'm confident he'll want her in his top team."
Andy Burnham is expected to appoint a former Blairite cabinet minister who is one of his oldest political allies as his chief of staff as he seeks to overhaul No 10
James Purnell, who served as pensions minister, culture secretary, and work and pensions secretary in the New Labour governments of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is the frontrunner for the role, The Times has been told
He is said to be viewed by Burnham as a “serious figure” who is capable of implementing his radical plans to reform Downing Street and Whitehall
The pair, who entered parliament together in 2001, shared an office as novice Greater Manchester MPs, with Burnham representing Leigh and Purnell holding Stalybridge & Hyde
Burnham frequently joked that he was overlooked for broadcast interviews in favour of Purnell, who was educated in France and Surrey
Purnell is chief executive of Flint Global, a major PR and lobbying firm, a role that may present issues over potential conflicts of interest in government
Andy Burnham is expected to appoint a former Blairite cabinet minister who is one of his oldest political allies as his chief of staff as he seeks to overhaul No 10
James Purnell, who served as pensions minister, culture secretary, and work and pensions secretary in the New Labour governments of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is the frontrunner for the role, The Times has been told
He is said to be viewed by Burnham as a “serious figure” who is capable of implementing his radical plans to reform Downing Street and Whitehall
The pair, who entered parliament together in 2001, shared an office as novice Greater Manchester MPs, with Burnham representing Leigh and Purnell holding Stalybridge & Hyde
Burnham frequently joked that he was overlooked for broadcast interviews in favour of Purnell, who was educated in France and Surrey
Purnell is chief executive of Flint Global, a major PR and lobbying firm, a role that may present issues over potential conflicts of interest in government
"We're getting the band back together."
(Well, except for Mandy...)
If it ever came to it, Teams from the Scrubs*?
* For the lawyers, innocent until proven guilty.
“All suspects are guilty. Period. Otherwise they wouldn’t be suspect, would they?”
One of my biggest worries with Andy Burnham is that everyone else should arrange their affairs to be personally convenient for him.
I'm really hanging onto the hope that things can only get better but every day the doubts grow. Labour have taken a hell of a gamble here.
Will he challenge their cherished beliefs, and get them to vote for the reforms and changes that are needed to make things better? Or just pander to their prejudices and try and tax and borrow even more?
We just don't know. But he has run to Starmer's left so far.
Brexit has failed. In every dimension. Yes, the impact has not been as bad as some of the more pessimistic forecasts, but it has materially failed to deliver. We are all poorer as a result and that does not sit well with people. Hence why there is an upswing in support to rejoin the EU. It’s as simple as that.
In one dimension, Brexit is magnificently successful. Its potency in "owning the Remainers" is as strong now as that first blinking Friday morning when they initially took in what had happened.
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
Ironically, Burnham needs there to be a contest rather than a coronation in order to drag the process out to September. It is within his power to arrange one. That Burnham considers himself so unprepared might lead people to wonder just what the last few months were all about.
I agree entirely adding the caveat that Hodges is the source.
Having just been stabbed in the back by Burnham, the expectation is to leave the knife in place until September?
Are there any other examples of politicians spending ages agitating for change so effectively that they didn't really have a realistic plan for what would happen after their victory?
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
It's not just the PM. If he is really going to change things he needs to get his cabinet with their feet under the desk looking at what they can and should do and feeding that back to the centre. He absolutely needs that time and its a bit alarming that he cannot see that.
Messrs Starmer and Burnham have done their best to keep the Brexit 10th anniversary off the front pages, its almost completely worked.
Wonder if their meeting ironed out some differences, and if Starmer still has some petulance towards his removal.
Reeves in the 2nd row of the Burnham MPs photo op looks odd, the way she appears to jump ship in an effort to keep her job, or a position close to it.
Re the football last night. I thought the Ghana late penalty shout was more of a penalty than McGinn's the other day. Most of the top teams have an off day somewhere in the group stage, I wouldn't read too much into the final score. England still very strong favourites to win their group.
My guess is Steve Clarke will go for a ultra cautious line up this evening, try to get a draw or narrow defeat for Scotland, 3 points minus 1 GD may be enough. I can see Dykes or Che Adams leading the line on their own
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
There are plenty of Executive actions he could take, were he to decide they were necessary.
Doing things often comes with a long lead time - you can't just rock up in the Commons and make an announcement and have things happen. The sooner Burnham is in post and able to start the machinery of government moving in his preferred direction the better.
Being in post and being able to go around and sound like a nice person - and hopefully have a coherent story to sell about what his government intends to do - is pretty much the job. He has to have a direction and convince people to follow him.
The longer the current drift continues the harder it will be for Burnham to do that.
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
He’s just implying that Casino is having a bad day.
Yes and as a consequence there’s no value to his comment. He’s done it before but I’m sure values you’re white knighting. It wasn’t even something I was asking you
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
He’s just implying that Casino is having a bad day.
Given the weather at the moment, I'd surprised we are not all having a bad day. Glad I don't have to commute today. The Tube will be a nightmare. If only we could get Singapore Mass Transit to run the underground in London.
One of my biggest worries with Andy Burnham is that everyone else should arrange their affairs to be personally convenient for him.
I'm really hanging onto the hope that things can only get better but every day the doubts grow. Labour have taken a hell of a gamble here.
It all has painfully strong May-to-Johnson vibes. Except Johnson had a bit of recent Cabinet experience to know what some of the urgent questions were, and a leadership election to give some time buffer.
Burnham is as green as my lawn after Monday night's downpour. But, as in 2020, there is nobody else. And, in an echo of 2019, Burnham won't have Burnham on the outside, urinating in.
Anyone who thinks Ukraine doesn't have the best and leading ground forces in Europe is completely deluding themselves.
Exhibit A - Vladimir Putin.
I was just trying to work out the last time Russia was involved in a war that lasted over four years (discounting the 2014 invasions of Crimea and Donbas). I keep coming back to the Kazakh rising of the 1830s-1840s.
Afghanistan? Unless you are differentiating between Russia and the USSR which would be a little specious
And I might just as well say that you're obsessed with your own brand of politics. It's an empty statement.
Jein.
Those sceptical of the EU were aided by the obvious and contemptible reneging on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and the lack of seriousness with which Comrade Merkel and others took Cameron's renegotiation attempt. And, of course, the two utterly abysmal Leave and Remain campaigns.
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
He’s just implying that Casino is having a bad day.
Given the weather at the moment, I'd surprised we are not all having a bad day. Glad I don't have to commute today. The Tube will be a nightmare. If only we could get Singapore Mass Transit to run the underground in London.
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
As demonstrated by the high turnover of PMs since then, realising that they are now accountable and can’t hide behind the EU as an excuse for their unpopular legislation or failings.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Remainers haven't shut-up about it since the day we voted to Leave 10 years ago, whereas Leavers have and moved on. They confuse our absence of engagement on the subject as disengagement, disillusionment, or acquiescence whereas in fact we've just moved on and are focussed on the challenges of tomorrow. Not the battles of yesterday.
They've never come to terms with it or accepted it and, as almost all Liberals do, they just want to be right and vindicated. A re-run. A re-match. Wipe out the shame so they can feel comfortable with themselves. Meanwhile, they ignore the underlying fundamentals, which explain why even Labour haven't touched it even with a landslide in office.
It's quite sad really. But the psychological problems theirs, not ours.
If you have access, you might want to give this a read, for balance:
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.
He must clean out the stables, get shot of most of the mediocre cabinet who are less than useless. Get some new blood in with ideas and start massive changes to the whole crap structure. Until benefits are cut , triple lock changed , do something to sort out the shambles of a tax system and immigration sorted ( ie the illegal parts and the laissez faire policy of letting any old distant family member follow ) they will continue to slide to oblivion.
I suspect you will be disappointed…
There's some real talent in the Cabinet, they just need a leader and to be allowed to communicate properly
Who? That’s a genuine question although I’m instinctively less of a fan-boi than you
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
There are plenty of Executive actions he could take, were he to decide they were necessary.
Doing things often comes with a long lead time - you can't just rock up in the Commons and make an announcement and have things happen. The sooner Burnham is in post and able to start the machinery of government moving in his preferred direction the better.
Being in post and being able to go around and sound like a nice person - and hopefully have a coherent story to sell about what his government intends to do - is pretty much the job. He has to have a direction and convince people to follow him.
The longer the current drift continues the harder it will be for Burnham to do that.
Indeed. And there is also the smaller matter of appointing Secretaries of State, Ministers and all the others on the Government payroll, only after which new detailed planning and executive decision making across government can start to take place. The idea of unnecessarily leaving all that in limbo for another 2 months is nuts.
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
He’s just implying that Casino is having a bad day.
Yes and as a consequence there’s no value to his comment. He’s done it before but I’m sure values you’re white knighting. It wasn’t even something I was asking you
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
He’s just implying that Casino is having a bad day.
Given the weather at the moment, I'd surprised we are not all having a bad day. Glad I don't have to commute today. The Tube will be a nightmare. If only we could get Singapore Mass Transit to run the underground in London.
The Lizzie Line has lovely Aircon. The Central Line probably never will. Some problems are so fundamental that changing the people at the top doesn't solve them.
Andy Burnham is believed to be replacing Policemen with cats.
Making Cars drive in reverse so we can see where we've been.
Making the Royal family play for England in the World Cup.
Funding a UK mission to Mars....
We'll everyone else is making stuff up!
Peter.
You need to read this.
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
Tbf your overreaction makes you look slightly unhinged.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
Er, no. Read and act on it.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
Everything alright Casino?
Why do you always react like this when challenged
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
When did I do that?
And when did Casino challenge me? Did you even read what you are replying to, idiot.
More than you joey Deacon. All your posts, aside from wankfests about 5G are vague posts implying some special knowledge. ‘I have it on good authority….’
Casino is not a bad chap, I don’t agree with virtually anything he says and don’t particularly like some of his more “charged” responses but I was just asking what was up as it seemed out of character. I would hope people would do the same for me.
No wonder the UK is fucked, asking people how they are has some weirdo jumping in implying something untoward.
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
It’s always unacceptable to attack a spouse. But Rishi Sunak’s wife got the same sort of shit. Don’t recall PB keen to shut that down.
And I might just as well say that you're obsessed with your own brand of politics. It's an empty statement.
Jein.
Those sceptical of the EU were aided by the obvious and contemptible reneging on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and the lack of seriousness with which Comrade Merkel and others took Cameron's renegotiation attempt. And, of course, the two utterly abysmal Leave and Remain campaigns.
I would just say on Brexit the remain campaign was terrible and even so I expected, no doubt with many others, it would win but then it didn't
I voted remain but frankly those who complain now should reflect on why they lost and it wasn't all Cameron's fault
I do not see a pathway to rejoin for years and even then the EU may well be unrecognizable and to be fair Macron's proposals of outer countries associated membership seems the sensible way forward
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
He knows what to expect. He is an experienced politician, with a decade as an MP including 3 cabinet roles before his time as Mayor of Englands second most important metropolis.
Sure, we are in the interlude for a couple of weeks before he is officially confirmed, but the reason that it is a coronation is that the party is pretty much united behind him from Streeting to left wingers like Clive Lewis.
It is symptomatic of our attention deficit disordered world that we expect stuff to happen instantly. The absence of frenetic activity is seen as drift. It isn't.
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
He can take the salary, the fancy car with a policeman driving it, and get in the air miles visiting other world leaders on that nice plane they let him use. Maybe even take some time to think about what he’s actually going to do, relaxing in the country house that is Chequers.
Not that it is surprising but Jones not running means it will be a coronation as I’ve been saying for days.
I think the term "coronation" is being widely and wrongly used by too many in a perjorative sense.
A coronation doesn't mean that we've not been having a contest. It's been gripping and has lasted for too long already. In that contest the incumbent has already been dragged kicking and screaming from office. The fact that there is now only one candidate head and shoulders above all the rest simply reflects the fact that those who wanted the top job haven't been able to force a ballot by being unable to get the necessary nominations, or have just given up knowing that they would face overwhelming defeat in any case. The likes of Streeting and Jones would undoubtably have run if they could have reached the magic number of 81, Streeting tried to and failed a month ago and Jones never had a hope in hell.
Not that it is surprising but Jones not running means it will be a coronation as I’ve been saying for days.
I think the term "coronation" is being widely and wrongly used by too many in a perjorative sense.
A coronation doesn't mean that we've not been having a contest. It's been gripping and has lasted for too long already. In that contest the incumbent has already been dragged kicking and screaming from office. The fact that there is now only one candidate head and shoulders above all the rest simply reflects the fact that those who wanted the top job haven't been able to force a ballot by being unable to get the necessary nominations, or have just given up knowing that they would face overwhelming defeat in any case. The likes of Streeting and Jones would undoubtably have run if they could have reached the magic number of 81, Streeting tried to and failed a month ago and Jones never had a hope in hell.
Parliament is in recess from mid July to early September.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
He can take the salary, the fancy car with a policeman driving it, and get in the air miles visiting other world leaders on that nice plane they let him use. Maybe even take some time to think about what he’s actually going to do, relaxing in the country house that is Chequers.
He can sit in limbo until September with no power
He can sit in charge from mid July with the summer recess to plan and prepare with all the information he needs at his fingertips.
Unless Farage, Loee, Tommy and Kemi instigate turning an incident in to full scale riots he has time and space. If they do his communication skills will be put to good use.
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
He knows what to expect. He is an experienced politician, with a decade as an MP including 3 cabinet roles before his time as Mayor of Englands second most important metropolis.
Sure, we are in the interlude for a couple of weeks before he is officially confirmed, but the reason that it is a coronation is that the party is pretty much united behind him from Streeting to left wingers like Clive Lewis.
It is symptomatic of our attention deficit disordered world that we expect stuff to happen instantly. The absence of frenetic activity is seen as drift. It isn't.
Agreed
He actually has far more Westminster and Mayoral experience than any of the other Party Leaders.
The notion, portrayed by the desperate right wing media that anyone can come in and do and know everything is utter clap trap.
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
He knows what to expect. He is an experienced politician, with a decade as an MP including 3 cabinet roles before his time as Mayor of Englands second most important metropolis.
Sure, we are in the interlude for a couple of weeks before he is officially confirmed, but the reason that it is a coronation is that the party is pretty much united behind him from Streeting to left wingers like Clive Lewis.
It is symptomatic of our attention deficit disordered world that we expect stuff to happen instantly. The absence of frenetic activity is seen as drift. It isn't.
Agreed
He actually has far more Westminster and Mayoral experience than any of the other Party Leaders.
The notion, portrayed by the desperate right wing media that anyone can come in and do and know everything is utter clap trap.
And I might just as well say that you're obsessed with your own brand of politics. It's an empty statement.
Jein.
Those sceptical of the EU were aided by the obvious and contemptible reneging on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and the lack of seriousness with which Comrade Merkel and others took Cameron's renegotiation attempt. And, of course, the two utterly abysmal Leave and Remain campaigns.
I would just say on Brexit the remain campaign was terrible and even so I expected, no doubt with many others, it would win but then it didn't
I voted remain but frankly those who complain now should reflect on why they lost and it wasn't all Cameron's fault
I do not see a pathway to rejoin for years and even then the EU may well be unrecognizable and to be fair Macron's proposals of outer countries associated membership seems the sensible way forward
Brexit was pushed over the line by Boris Johnson selecting the leave and not the remain letter from his jacket pocket.
Remember without Brexit we most likely wouldn't have enjoyed the Johnson premiership. Every cloud...
Given Brexit was the biggest political fuck-up post WW2, those 30% are remarkably forgiving. What a waste of ten years.
I completely disagree with you.
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
A complete success doesn't usually have two thirds of the country considering it a failure.
Look at the fundamentals, not the brand. They don't support your argument. People don't want to cede regulatory autonomy and jurisdiction to the EU. That is Brexit.
Sorry.
You keep trying that deflection but it doesn't alter the fact that the voters consider we were wrong to Brexit by a 2-1 majority.
Polls on rejoining are pointless unless the terms are known.
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.
He must clean out the stables, get shot of most of the mediocre cabinet who are less than useless. Get some new blood in with ideas and start massive changes to the whole crap structure. Until benefits are cut , triple lock changed , do something to sort out the shambles of a tax system and immigration sorted ( ie the illegal parts and the laissez faire policy of letting any old distant family member follow ) they will continue to slide to oblivion.
I suspect you will be disappointed…
Don't I know it , I prophesise that he will be a DUD, usual thick socialist policies , doling out cash to spongers and losers and wrecking the economy. It will be a short honeymoon.
Boris folded cash to dpongrrd, Truss trashed the economy
The first of all the WC26 games so far with no shot on target in the first half. And have we yet seen one in the second?
Kane had a shot on target but it was an easy save.
And another he put over the bar. Not his best night.
I thought after the first game that Tuchel finally had England playing without fear. What happened ?
The best way to play v alow press is early ball to feetvstrecg re game wing to wing, move them continuously.
The worst way is to have your back 4 and defensive midfielder gfilder playing inane tippy tappy passes in your own half allowing the low press to sit in 2 banks of 4 and recover
We played right into there hands
In summary, England just as toothless in unpicking a low press under Tuchel as Southgate. Given that Rooney made the point about stretching Ghana by moving the ball wide down the wings, either both Southgate and Tuchel are less astute than Rooney or the team won't play as instructed by the manager.
Apart from that, the defence looked vulnerable and lucky to get away with what looked like a stonewall penalty. As there's no sign that England will suddenly learn to unpick a low press, and vulnerable on the break, looks like quarter finals at best.
Bad when Rooney has better guidance than you , he did not exactly flourish as a manager
Comments
https://www.dailymail.com/columnists/article-15921077/DAN-HODGES-Team-Burnhams-fury-Starmer-refusing-stay-September-Andys-not-going-close-ready-Prime-Minister.html
Well, apart from manfacturing a wide range of drones and missiles because they don't have to get donor permission for their use. A range that the world is beating a path to their door to acquire - to plug their own now obvious gaps in air defence.
"In summary, they are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia in a largely static conflict dominated by drones. How good would they be at anything else?"
The Ukrainians are the world's best at very slowly ceding territory to Russia - and then rapidly reacquiring it. That process is happening in Crimea, now a useless pinata full of troops who can do nothing and go nowhere - except home. The much-vaunted Crimean warm-water port is already a laughable memory-
How good would they be at anything else? Well, their track record in naval warfare is world class, considering they caused the Black Sea Fleet to beat the retreat despite not having a navy of their own. The Russian air force has been restricted to lobbing glide bombs from distance then scuttling back to base.
Every elite regiment of Russian land forces has been reconstitued multiple times, greatly weakened every time it hapens. Expertise of lasting more than an hour on the battlefield is largely gone Their training functins are shot. They have even run out of prisoners prepared to volunteer to get out.
The Russian rump arms export industry is now a laughing stock, because their glossy sales pitches have been shown up by Ukraine for the puff pieces for shoddy products they are.
Ukraine has brutally exposed every weakness in the Russian armed forces.
The vast majority of their (constantly evolving) drones, for example, both long and short range, are domestically produced. And their procurement is largely driven by battlefield experience.
Ukraine expands e-Points defence procurement system
https://www.army-technology.com/news/ukraine-expands-e-points-defence-procurement-system/
Ukraine is also partnering with numerous European manufacturers to set up domestic and European joint ventures.
MARKET ACCESS
https://www.defenceukraine.com/en/programs/market-access/
Kyiv’s new approach to defence industrial cooperation with European partners
https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2026-04-27/build-ukraine-kyivs-new-approach-to-defence-industrial
Even the new defence minister was appointed for his procurement successes.
Ukraine’s tech prodigy becomes new minister of defense
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-state-tech-prodigy-becomes-new-minister-defense-mykhailo-fedorov/
Is it a model for how we should run things ? Probably not,
But it does provide a very interesting example of how to start reforming a deeply conservative and slow thinking establishment.
(And our army has also suffered a brutal thinning out of ranks, albeit for purely financial reasons.)
And when watching the next England games, try it in 3D. Very weird ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce372ep1xlgo
The Russians also seem to have drone units every bit as experienced and possessing similar expertise to Ukraine. The removal of their Starlink access has reduced their capabilities, though.
But systemic reform is pretty unlikely under the Putin dictatorship.
OTOH, China is increasingly involved as an arms supplier, and who knows how that might extend to the battlefield.
https://x.com/michaeldweiss/status/2069549497793818904
"Dan knows what I'm talking about."
I am one of the 30%, and am very happy with Brexit and consider it a complete success.
Was uncomfortably hot in Yorkshire, hope it eases up, especially for those who had it worse.
I wonder what the UK reaction would have been to the EU’s new deportation law, if we were still members?
Sorry.
On the Burnham thing: he became an MP specifically to become Prime Minister. If he isn't ready, whose fault is that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ9UQxzG2po
Please please please stop signing your posts, "Peter"; it makes you look a REAL wally and like you live on a different planet.
We all know you're PeterCairns. It's literally written on the top of every post you submit. No-one else does it. Because it's totally unnecessary.
Your sign-off of every post with your first name like it's a letter to a newspaper makes you look quite mad and is making your content unreadable.
They've never come to terms with it or accepted it and, as almost all Liberals do, they just want to be right and vindicated. A re-run. A re-match. Wipe out the shame so they can feel comfortable with themselves. Meanwhile, they ignore the underlying fundamentals, which explain why even Labour haven't touched it even with a landslide in office.
It's quite sad really. But the psychological problems theirs, not ours.
Only yesterday you were claiming Mahmood was shit despite being widely accepted as being the most effective cabinet minister in government- you just don't like the fact she's cut migration numbers.
Just ignore him Peter.
Ben
We have full control of migration policy now, free movement has ended, we have regulatory autonomy (which has been used in fields like AI, gene-editing of crops and financial services), we have tax policy flexibility on VAT, we have more flexibility on industrial policy and subsidies, we have been able to sign our own trade deals and set our own tariffs, we no longer have to automatically accept every EU Commission regulation or subject ourselves to ECJ rulings on the compliance of our laws in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, our politics is no longer dominated by the European Council every 6 months, we no longer pay billions into the EU budget, we are no longer subject to Ever Closer Union. Sure, there are some additional border frictions, and that's the trade-off, but we all knew that.
That's what I voted for.
The other side is content to claim everything's settled, though the country is split.
The thing is: when you talk to ordinary normal people, from all walks of life, in person (rather than on social media) you usually discover it really isn't as bad as all that, and there is much common ground.
You're the only poster who should be consistently ignored on this site.
Your posts add zero value.
* For the lawyers, innocent until proven guilty.
Having just been stabbed in the back by Burnham, the expectation is to leave the knife in place until September?
The BBC understands that if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister then he is expected to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor and offer her a more junior cabinet position.
A close ally of Burnham told the BBC: "Andy really respects Rachel and I'm confident he'll want her in his top team."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyl91qlyr1o
https://youtu.be/5HO70-Rk3jE?is=pBGINhFRJVn7rK89
I believe with the exception of Truss, since Cameron, no one has had a plan.
We just don't know. But he has run to Starmer's left so far.
So what difference does it make if Burnham takes over in mid July or September?
Because if he takes over in mid July he can't actually do anything until September in any case.
By "do anything" I mean actually change anything of substance. Of course he can talk on TV and do photo opportunities and generally go around sounding like a nice person.
How did they work out?
https://poemsontheunderground.org/the-leader
Messrs Starmer and Burnham have done their best to keep the Brexit 10th anniversary off the front pages, its almost completely worked.
Wonder if their meeting ironed out some differences, and if Starmer still has some petulance towards his removal.
Reeves in the 2nd row of the Burnham MPs photo op looks odd, the way she appears to jump ship in an effort to keep her job, or a position close to it.
Re the football last night. I thought the Ghana late penalty shout was more of a penalty than McGinn's the other day. Most of the top teams have an off day somewhere in the group stage, I wouldn't read too much into the final score. England still very strong favourites to win their group.
My guess is Steve Clarke will go for a ultra cautious line up this evening, try to get a draw or narrow defeat for Scotland, 3 points minus 1 GD may be enough. I can see Dykes or Che Adams leading the line on their own
Starmer has been found to be useless as PM. Now Burnham is suggesting that Starmer be inconvenienced. Rather than firing some subordinates.
Implying the poster has mental health issues/sone trauma
Doing things often comes with a long lead time - you can't just rock up in the Commons and make an announcement and have things happen. The sooner Burnham is in post and able to start the machinery of government moving in his preferred direction the better.
Being in post and being able to go around and sound like a nice person - and hopefully have a coherent story to sell about what his government intends to do - is pretty much the job. He has to have a direction and convince people to follow him.
The longer the current drift continues the harder it will be for Burnham to do that.
And I might just as well say that you're obsessed with your own brand of politics. It's an empty statement.
Burnham is as green as my lawn after Monday night's downpour. But, as in 2020, there is nobody else. And, in an echo of 2019, Burnham won't have Burnham on the outside, urinating in.
Those sceptical of the EU were aided by the obvious and contemptible reneging on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and the lack of seriousness with which Comrade Merkel and others took Cameron's renegotiation attempt. And, of course, the two utterly abysmal Leave and Remain campaigns.
https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/06/18/ten-years-on-how-the-brexit-vote-changed-britain
Kind regards
Ian
It looks like Burnham is not ready for what is about to happen to him in the next 3 weeks as his whole life comes under 24/7 scrutiny with the press pack seeking gotchas from day one
I notice his wife has come under attack already which frankly is unacceptable
He seems to planning a Blairite style of government and if so how on earth does he hold his party together
I have no idea how he will cope with International affairs as he has no experience whatsoever in this field
Mind you concentrating on domestic policies is why he won Makerfield and according to Trevor Phillips the dog that didn't bark there was Gaza and that is a lesson that domestic issues concern voters way beyond international other than for the UK to have an effective defence strategy and budget
I hope he navigates through the maze confronting him but would caution expectation that he will see labour achieving a poll lead and sustaining it
And when did Casino challenge me? Did you even read what you are replying to, idiot.
NEW THREAD
There might be a wider lesson there.
Take care hun 😘
No wonder the UK is fucked, asking people how they are has some weirdo jumping in implying something untoward.
Be careful you don’t want another mental health episode or get another flounce, in treble figures now sunshine. Seriously. With love.
I voted remain but frankly those who complain now should reflect on why they lost and it wasn't all Cameron's fault
I do not see a pathway to rejoin for years and even then the EU may well be unrecognizable and to be fair Macron's proposals of outer countries associated membership seems the sensible way forward
Though I’m not averse to Spoons although I wouldn’t join the 9 o’clock groggers
Plus is 10am here.
Sure, we are in the interlude for a couple of weeks before he is officially confirmed, but the reason that it is a coronation is that the party is pretty much united behind him from Streeting to left wingers like Clive Lewis.
It is symptomatic of our attention deficit disordered world that we expect stuff to happen instantly. The absence of frenetic activity is seen as drift. It isn't.
A coronation doesn't mean that we've not been having a contest. It's been gripping and has lasted for too long already. In that contest the incumbent has already been dragged kicking and screaming from office. The fact that there is now only one candidate head and shoulders above all the rest simply reflects the fact that those who wanted the top job haven't been able to force a ballot by being unable to get the necessary nominations, or have just given up knowing that they would face overwhelming defeat in any case. The likes of Streeting and Jones would undoubtably have run if they could have reached the magic number of 81, Streeting tried to and failed a month ago and Jones never had a hope in hell.
His time will come, as will Streeting's.
He can sit in charge from mid July with the summer recess to plan and prepare with all the information he needs at his fingertips.
Unless Farage, Loee, Tommy and Kemi instigate turning an incident in to full scale riots he has time and space. If they do his communication skills will be put to good use.
It's a no brainier.
Soonest in
Soonest mending
He actually has far more Westminster and Mayoral experience than any of the other Party Leaders.
The notion, portrayed by the desperate right wing media that anyone can come in and do and know everything is utter clap trap.
He actually has far more Westminster and Mayoral experience than any of the other Party Leaders.
The notion, portrayed by the desperate right wing media that anyone can come in and do and know everything is utter clap trap.
Remember without Brexit we most likely wouldn't have enjoyed the Johnson premiership. Every cloud...
Polls on rejoining are pointless unless the terms are known.