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So aggressive he's expected to overturn the ban on new oil & gas drilling in the North Sea ?
Well, indeed - following the lead of Trump and Farage. Starmer Lite.
So aggressive he's expected to overturn the ban on new oil & gas drilling in the North Sea ?
Just when you begin thinking that there is some light at the end of the tunnel, we might finally have a decent PM, he comes out with absolute bollocks like that ^^.
The planet is burning, quick let's dig out some more oil and gas and help it along the way!
There was no ban on “new oil & gas drilling”, it was a stop to new licenses. It was a compromise announced before the last election, and it’s business as usual really if more is extracted under already issued licenses… not ideal, but realistic. And here it begins… he’ll be painted as going for “drill baby drill” by one side, accused of being a “net zero zealot” by the other… neither being really true… and so Labour will be ripped apart again… who’s the next leader?
There was no ban on “new oil & gas drilling”
True but the development of Rosebank and Jackdaw were halted on environmental grounds. Brushing aside those controls would be a clear sop to the Reform/ MAGA agenda.
Anyway… who should keep their jobs? Who should be replaced? Personally I’d like Miliband and Timpson to carry on their difficult work. Mahmood and Lammy need to be moved.
So aggressive he's expected to overturn the ban on new oil & gas drilling in the North Sea ?
Just when you begin thinking that there is some light at the end of the tunnel, we might finally have a decent PM, he comes out with absolute bollocks like that ^^.
The planet is burning, quick let's dig out some more oil and gas and help it along the way!
What difference does it make to climate change if we extract it ourselves or import it from elsewhere? A huge part of our emissions reduction has been to just offshore them along with our industry/manufacturing capacity.
Looks like the first thing he’s going to do is to set the wheels in motion to put Thames Water into some form of public control. I hope he tells the shareholders what they can do with any compensation for their worthless ‘business’ that they’ve run into the ground
Andy Burnham to put failing Thames Water in special administration
Is there actually anything left in the North Sea or is he just placating the gammons?
placating the gammons
Pretty much this.
I hope Burnham is playing a long game - pacifying the gammons in the short term with the drilling and cancelling ID cards, bringing failing utilities into public ownership for the lefties
At least it looks like he’s planning on hitting the ground running, which this government should have used its massive majority to do, right from the off. He’s not got much time and people need to see change. If not then I fear we’re doomed to some disastrous Tory/Reform alliance and it’s bye bye to the NHS, workers rights, the welfare state and all manner of other things we presently enjoy
At least we’ll have someone in number ten who seems to understand this and try to do something about it. With Starmer, we seemed to be just drifting, rudderless, towards this unthinkable conclusion
Is there actually anything left in the North Sea or is he just placating the gammons?
I think there's enough for 2 Muc Off dry bottles.
I’ve read a good few profiles of Andy this week, but this one in the Observer seems to really ‘get’ him and what he’s about:
We can look forward to having the new most unpopular PM ever in six months time. Burnham has the advantage of being an actual human rather than a soulless automaton but it won’t help him. The system is the problem and it runs on rails, changing the manager won’t fix anything.
I hope Burnham is playing a long game - pacifying the gammons in the short term with the drilling and cancelling ID cards, bringing failing utilities into public ownership for the lefties
The Gammons have been placated enough, I wonder if privatising water Companies is even seen as “leftie” anymore?
I think once we scratch the surface we’ll discover He’s just another flavour of centrist…
Of course he’s a “centrist”. What we wait to found out is exactly what kind of mix, and what direction of travel, he chooses.
Basically anyone who seeks to use evidence to inform their policies is labelled “centrist”… leaving the “just implement the dream, ignore the actual effects” people out on one side, and the “make them suffer, make me feel like the country is just for me and mine” out on the other side.
Basically anyone who seeks to use evidence to inform their policies is labelled “centrist”
Nope. No one accuses centrists of using evidence.
Self declared centrists might declare that but then thats why they are the perfect example of the magicians ideal victim. Deluded about their own critical thinking skills. Do you really think the Austrian school supporters dont think they are following the evidence?
Pretty much everyone churns out evidence to support their case. However for obvious reasons it rarely ticks the scientific method boxes and so we have lots of subjectivity in play or, as its otherwise known, ideological interpretations.
If we look at the Uk for example centrist/moderate is generally defined as "left wing" socially and "right wing" economically" eg Blair or Cameron and his hug the hoodie during austerity (note claims dont need to match actual policy).
Whereas if we look at the US they are batshit right wing on any measure.
I think once we scratch the surface we’ll discover He’s just another flavour of centrist
Of course he’s a ‘centrist’!
Or as those of us who are actually sane and don’t fall into the left or right loon camps like to refer to them… not an extremist headbanger
Good luck with being anything other than that and trying to actually get elected in this country. Solidarity comrades, and all that bollocks.
One day you lefties might actually learn this. What am I saying? Of course you bloody won’t! You learnt absolutely nothing from the disastrous Corbyn experiment! Idealogical purity trumps everything even if it instantly renders you totally unelectable! I may be completely politically irrelevant but check out my middle class virtue signaling! I’ve got a Palestinian flag and some dungarees
You can go a bit more right or a bit more left but don’t scare the horses. That’s the reality of the world we live in. Andy has been centre left in Greater Manchester and it’s gone very well. He’s balanced being principled and trying to create s more equal society while also remaining business friendly and encouraging investment. He now wants to do that on a national level. Not rocket science, is it? 🙄
Good luck with being anything other than that and trying to actually get elected in this country.
That was the argument for supporting Starmer, wasn't it? Remind us how that turned out.
Well it delivered power, which Andy will now have 3 years to do what he wants to do
What have you lot ever delivered? Other than disgruntled, sanctimonious whining from impotent, powerless opposition.
Your happy place … ‘winning the argument’ 🙄
Or as those of us who are actually sane and don’t fall into the left or right loon camps like to refer to them
Thanks for proving the point. The way you spew hard right attack lines since you are deluded about your own intelligence that you are easy prey. Your entire post is slogan after slogan fed to you which you vomit back up in the delusion it demonstrates your mental superiority.
Now all of us are vulnerable (I know I have written stuff and gone "wait thats just a handy line I read somewhere" and I know there will be more) and all of us will be fooled to some extent but the ones who are most vulnerable are those who feel they arent. Both you and kelvin show that level of delusion.
Your happy places … ‘winning the argument’
Again thanks for vomiting up another slogan fed to you.
Have you thought trying to think for yourself for once?
The way you spew hard right attack lines
I’m centre left, which just proves how extreme our usual suspects are.
I’ll just remind you… you deliver nothing from opposition. But then all some people need is to bask in the warm, comforting glow of their own self-righteousness
It must be lovely.
Again thanks for vomiting up another slogan fed to you.
Have you thought trying to think for yourself for once?
How many ****ing times?!!! Christ, you lot think a lot of yourselves, don’t you?
Thwapping each other off while saying that anyone who doesn’t share your infinite, yoda -like wisdom is some brainless drone, incapable of independent thought and a mere unthinking lackey to the military-industrial complex
Dear god that patronising and condescending shite was boring in the 1970’s from people who lived in a squat. How do you think it’s playing now from someone who no doubt lives in a 3-bedroom suburban semi?
Have you ever stopped to think for a second why everyone either hates ‘The Left’ or in most cases just laughs at your earnest, hectoring, joyless and humourless sanctimonious?
Give your head a wobble
Or as those of us who are actually sane and don’t fall into the left or right loon camps like to refer to them
Thanks for proving the point. The way you spew hard right attack lines since you are deluded about your own intelligence that you are easy prey. Your entire post is slogan after slogan fed to you which you vomit back up in the delusion it demonstrates your mental superiority.
Now all of us are vulnerable (I know I have written stuff and gone "wait thats just a handy line I read somewhere" and I know there will be more) and all of us will be fooled to some extent but the ones who are most vulnerable are those who feel they arent. Both you and kelvin show that level of delusion.
That was a lot of words to say nothing to be honest
Dear god that patronising and condescending shite was boring in the 1970’s.
I know its the way we announce anyone who disagrees as being sixth formers and ideologically pure. Oh no thats you isnt it?
As ever you are demonstrating your trumpian approach of every accusation is a confession.
I have to say I was so so on Burnham but since you seem to be treating him as the messiah I will have to conclude he is a ****. Tad harsh on him but its a good default when considering your ****wittery.
Bingo! You never fail to disappoint
Just for you Reg. Solidarity comrade
I have to say I was so so on Burnham but since you seem to be treating him as the messiah I will have to conclude he is a ****.
How very 6th form of you 😂
anyway, by his own confession…
https://youtube.com/shorts/xlBGhbOal6w?is=KkwK2VWOeaKCqiTE
You can go a bit more right or a bit more left but don’t scare the horses. That’s the reality of the world we live in. Andy has been centre left in Greater Manchester and it’s gone very well. He’s balanced being principled and trying to create s more equal society while also remaining business friendly and encouraging investment. He now wants to do that on a national level. Not rocket science, is it?
The reality is it won't matter how well business is doing when the only equality we have is that we all resemble findus crispy pancakes.
One day you lefties might actually learn this. What am I saying? Of course you bloody won’t! You learnt absolutely nothing from the disastrous Corbyn experiment! Idealogical purity trumps everything even if it instantly renders you totally unelectable! I may be completely politically irrelevant but check out my middle class virtue signaling! I’ve got a Palestinian flag and some dungarees
You ok hun?, 😘
And btw, I’ll wait 6-12months before I pass judgement on Burnham 🙂
Well it delivered power, which Andy will now have 3 years to do what he wants to do
It's ok, I get it. You want Starmer with a northern accent. Congratulations, you've won.
You ok hun
Better than ever babes. We might actually be witnessing something positive happening tomorrow.
I may of course be being completely naive but its always a better alternative to the utterly depressing nihilism of ‘The Left’
I live in hope.
I’ll be spending this week out delivering leaflets to get Bev elected as Manchester Mayor so she can carry on where Andy left off
It's ok, I get it. You want Starmer with a northern accent
Like I said… I may of course be being completely naive but its always a better alternative to the utterly depressing nihilism of ‘The Left’
You want Starmer with a northern
sounds okay. Better by far than available alternatives. What do you want?
Tomorrows MEN Cover by the genius that is Stan Chow
That was the argument for supporting Starmer, wasn't it?
The Labour psyco-drama. Create uneasy alliance but fail to win election, leader resigns, crisis of conscience far left/right candidate succeeds, piles up votes in urban strongholds or swing vote constituencies, fails to win parliamentary majority, is ripped apart by press and kicked out by remaining MPs, internecine war, right/left of the party win internal election, create uneasy alliance, fail to win election....
repeat for 130 years...
Like I said… I may of course be being completely naive but its always a better alternative to the utterly depressing nihilism of ‘The Left’
And we arrive at what we have. Labour with a massive majority but afraid to use it
repeat for 130 years...
That's a bit unfair, the right of labour have been able to win elections in the last 50 odd years. I was half tempted to rant about my frustrations about the Your Party farce but I'll leave it at just one sentence.
So, does the mystery box get unopened and unpacked today all in one go, or do we have two years of surprises being dropped one by one? Let’s hope there’s both something for everyone and it’s all stuff that real progress can be shown on before the next election. A big ask.
Of course he’s a ‘centrist’!
Or as those of us who are actually sane and don’t fall into the left or right loon camps like to refer to them… not an extremist headbanger
I think my point got missed (or maybe I never made it).
There seems to be a lot of “hopeful projection” on display as we sail into yet another new government. As much of a Great Bloke as Andy seems to be I am bracing myself for various disappointments.
I’m fine with him proving that incorrect, but if the last decade has proven anything it’s that the role of UK PM is almost impossible, and even keeping the job for more than half the full term should probably be considered a win.
The levels of compromise and watering down of policy that the new PM is forced into will dictate how many of us see him, regardless of where he you might sit on the political spectrum.
Not a response to anyone, just thinking aloud.
I'm hoping he, initially, can just provides a bit of positivity and optimism to the country. It's needed as much as the change itself.
I think the new reality is that whatever party and PM is in power now, there is a concerted effort online to undermine them. I think vested interests with access to lots of money and influence make this even more targeted if the PM happens to be a Labour one.
Some (most?) of these people with influence don't even care about the direction the country takes ( up or down) because they have no interest in the country... They likely don't even live here, it's about exploiting division and chaos to make money.
Labour with a massive majority but afraid to use it
McSweeny has already spoken about how they spent zero time in the run up to the election thinking about policy. Sue Grey - the very able civil servant drafted in, realised very early on that that there was no meat on the bones, and it was the reason (partly) that she fell out of favour when she started to criticise McSweeny internally. They weren't afraid to use it, they just had no plan.
leaders are either policy/vision or personalities or competent. Mostly they are one of those things, Corbyn, Truss, Johnson had each one of those qualities, rarely are they all three. Starmer is that rare politician who has managed to rise to the top (which means at least that he must be driven) who lacks all of them. I think lots of people (myself included) who realised that he didn't really have any big ideas ("There's no such thing as Starmerism") and understood that like Corbyn, (and unlike Johnson) hated to have a camera pointed at him, hoped that at the very least he'd be competent. Turns out he wasn't even that.
