Dripping with money.
I was working in Barnsley yesterday.
Great redevelopment in the centre. Speaking to the council guys its because they can access grants due to population being high.
Whereas my own town - Worksop is a shit hole town centre currently. (Sat on the side of lots of nice parks - Clumber/Sherwood).One good cinema and one good coffee shop. That's it.
Small population, sod all money going in. Ruined by lack of investment, floods, Pit-closures etc, Brexit worker kick-out.
The grant system is another piss-poor Tory-esque bidding platform that fails smaller Towns as Binners says.
So he's been cleared of breaking lockdown rules then, that should rile the daily fail readership no end.
Interesting to see the hysteria about Starmer being harassed by protesters. If anyone had any remaining questions about how Starmer is protected by the establishment and is absolutely no threat to them you now have your answer. It's also quite illustrative seeing two-faced labour MPs screeching their outrage on twitter and on the news when they did exactly the same to Corbyn as Johnson has to Starmer. They can all f*** right off.
If politicians want a calm, sensible, and mature democracy with intelligent and informed debate, then the the first thing they need to do is to start listening to the people and doing their jobs of representing their interests. The energy price hikes are a perfect example. People are being shafted and only a tiny few politicians on the left are calling out the real issue of profiteering by privatised energy companies. If they refuse to do their jobs, then people will turn to mob tactics, and the far right populists and conspiracy theory nutjobs will have a field day. They can't have it both ways.
Eh what?
Eh what?
My thoughts exactly. That's quite a level of bile.
It's not do much the threat to Starmer himself, more that it represents a wider threat to all elected representatives, especially now we've had two MPs murdered in 5 years.
But anyway, dazh, can you account for your whereabouts on the evening of 7th Feb?
This isn't about Starmer. It is about Johnson.
Roll back to September 2019...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49833804
MPs' fury at Boris Johnson's 'dangerous language'
He knows exactly what he is doing. He has been warned by people working for him, and others on "his side", the damage he is causing. It's all from the Steve Bannon playbook. And it doesn't just work on "the right"... it draws all sorts of people in... with the hope of then aligning them with the right when normal (truthful) means can not.
It's not unreasonable to ask questions of Keir Starmer's record at the CPS...
https://twitter.com/josephattard02/status/1488472026604085249
or his role in the cover up of HMG's role in CIA torture and going for drinks with Jonathan Evans the head of MI5
https://twitter.com/lowkey0nline/status/1442169030182322178
Or indeed his role in the Assange case
However, given the background of those involved in this altercation
https://twitter.com/Helenspicer15/status/1490763300518387729
it doesn't seem too far fetched to suggest this is a convenient avenue for those that would divide us to trivialize all of these matters as folk passionately rush to the defence of a man who is apparently opposing a highly corrupt and immoral Prime Minister
Cornwall was approx 56 – 44 in favour of Brexit and the Lib Dems are still pretty much associated with their reluctance to honour the vote.
The only thing that might go in their favour is that Brexit has already been pretty hard on Cornwall – the fishermen have suffered exactly how Remain forecasted and the region is only receiving £3m from the UK govt in grants compared to the £100m that the EU were offering.
So with that and the present Tory fiasco, maybe there’s hope that the LDs can make a dent.
Cornwall here - we love the Tories so much we don't really care who they are. In Truro - Falmouth they put up a random ex-councillor, obvs they won & then when it came to the local council elections, the county proudly turned them blue.
Since then they have threatened to close all the council run leisure facilities (pools & gyms) cos the London based company that runs them said they were too expensive. So they have seen an opportunity to sell off some prized lands to their developer mates.
We love a bit of self harm down here.
Cornwall here
Devon here **waves from across the Tamar**
sort that jam, cream, scone interface thing out 😉
Every scone gets cut in half... just go jam first on one half, and cream first on the other half... and allow peace to break out across the best corner of the UK... (where they happen to have ****** stupid voting habits).
That’s quite a level of bile.
And completely deserved. You don't have to look far to see why. We've got energy bills going up 50%, probably >100% by the end of the year whilst energy firms make billions. We've got tax working people going up whilst billionaires have doubled their wealth during covid and pay next to no tax. Bankers this week got a tax cut. The very poorest had their benefits cut by 20 quid a week. A whole generation of young people can't afford to buy a house and are being squeezed by avaricious landlords. Prices for food and everyday essentials are sky-rocketing while wages stay the same. And this week the labour party abstained on a vote to cut pensions and benefits. Need I go on?
Apart from a tiny few who are willing to speak their minds and vote with their consciences, MPs of all parties refuse to do anything about any of this. On their current performance they don't deserve respect, they don't deserve politeness, and they don't deserve to be able to go about their business unchallenged. If they want any of these things then they need to start representing the interests of their constituents rather than the interests of billionaires and corporations.
The only thing I find disturbing is that it's right wing nutjobs doing the protesting rather than the organised left. We used to have a trade union and labour movement which would fight for the interests of working people. Now, for reasons I can't fathom, it seems they're happy step aside and allow fascist rightwing nutters to prosper from our dysfunctional and corrupt political system.
Anyone else think Lammy was ready to lamp someone at that protest?
I know it’s just polling… can’t resist checking them out though…
https://twitter.com/yougov/status/1490744256650166272?s=21
It amazes me there is still 25% of people who think yeah Johnson is the man for the job. Surely at best it should be "dont know".
Like how roughly the same percent think he is honest!
I get the impression that his unquestioning support is now restricted to your hardline Brexiteers, which let's be honest is like a cult. One based firmly on the denial of the evidence before your eyes
Lab: 41% (+3 from 26-27 Jan)
Con: 32% (n/c)
Lib Dem: 10% (-1)
Green: 6% (-1)
SNP: 5% (n/c)
Reform UK: 4% (+1)
It is the total of the not-conservative votes that should be worrying the Tories
Add the Lib Dem, Green and SNP vote to the labour vote gives 61%
... the conservatives have very few potential allies in a coalition.
… the conservatives have very few potential allies in a coalition.
I'm sure the libdems will find a way of compromising their so-called principles for a taste of power.
Time to GET BOREXIT DONE
I’m sure the libdems will find a way of compromising their so-called principles for a taste of power.
Never say never but I can't see them going there again after last time. Since then, Tories and Labour have shifted to the right.
Someone like Sunak, could be more palatable for Lib Dem voters. However, he has a hint of the William Hague baseball cap about him - to me, this video alone is terminal for his ambitions:
Blimey, it's been days since anyone's bothered to comment on the relevance or excitement of Sir Core Sturmer. What's he doing laying into Stop the War coalition? Is he trying to get some of the reflected glory off Liz Truss?
Less of the cryptic crossword clues Bill… use plain English and we might be able to answer/respond/engage/reply.
There was nothing cryptic about his comment. I guess that Starmer has gone for his usual easy target in lieu of any kind of vision for the country.
Well, I have no idea what he’s about. Have Stop The War said something about Russia that any sane UK political would and should want to distance themselves from? Any links, quotes, clues or hints?
I think that's the case Kelvin.
I hope that's clearer
More needless anti left attacks. Keith needs to learn that the Gammons will never shag him. It's truly a strategy for great political success, kicking it in to your own natural base.
Oh, and the Atlee comparison - now and post war are very, very different times.
What is the point of the Labour party - just to be a less bad version of the Tories?
Thanks for the link Bill,
I read the article:
"Corbyn shocked many Labour backbenchers in the aftermath of the Salisbury poisonings in 2018 when he declined to attribute responsibility for the attacks to Moscow without “incontrovertible evidence”."
"Some Labour strategists believe Corbyn’s apparent ambivalence over Russia’s role in the poisonings was a key reason for the public scepticism about his leadership that contributed to Labour’s disastrous performance at the 2019 general election."
Stop the war were undoubtedly right with regards Iraq and Libiya, but the situation this time feels a little different, Starmer isn't advocating invading another country. Given that we've left the EU, NATO is in a more fragile state than ever and we have Liz Truss as Foreign Secretary, I think Starmer is just trying to present himself as a grown up.
Accusing him of being a warmonger and suggesting he is somehow opposing the French attempts at diplomacy is absurd and doing so only seeks to sow divisions between European and NATO ailies, which is exactly what Putin wants.
Given Corbyn's involvement with Stop the War, what possible incentive is there for Starmer to align himself with them in any way? And give Stop the Wars objectives, how does it help them having an RT stooge so prominently involved?
I can see why Starmer wants to distance himself from this
https://twitter.com/talkRADIO/status/1492179633739083783?t=Rb4Jz2iHVXxPnhcDnWJKmQ&s=19
'Grown up? You're always arguing the elderly are reactionary and now you're using the term as a metaphor for 'sensible politics' (with a bit of killing of working class kids). Make your mind up. When politics is failing internally, find an external enemy, real or imagined. They're all at it. I'll wager ten bob there'll be no war but everyone will go home declaring a victory.
"you’re using the term (grown up) as a metaphor for ‘sensible politics (with a bit of killing of working class kids)"
I see what you did there...
Neither of us want war,
I think Corbyn is a moron,
You think Starmer is a red Tory,
Ergo, I want young working class people to die?
"What is the point of the Labour party – just to be a less bad version of the Tories?"
Only if they want to get elected.
When politics is failing internally, find an external enemy, real or imagined.
I don't think Starmer led the Stop the War Event where Corbyn and his fellow travelers are going NATO baddddd. He doesn't have much of a choice but to call it out if he wants to be PM. UK opinion is positive for NATO as most voters remember the cold war
They’re all at it. I’ll wager ten bob there’ll be no war but everyone will go home declaring a victory.
You understand the principles of deterrence?
Even the ancient Chinese understood defeating your enemy without fighting was preferable
“What is the point of the Labour party – just to be a less bad version of the Tories?”
Only if they want to get elected.
They aren't going to get elected. And even if they cobble together a coalition with plaid and the SNP they won't be able to govern effectively because of EVEL.
On a personal note, I'm now back to voting Green or spoiling the ballot
There was 0 need to attack stop the war. He could have said nothing. He his virtue signalling to the right, that's all. He's an empty vessel prosecuting vapid politics.
I don't comment in this thread much but I'll break the habit.
I couldn't give a toss about Labour "winning the argument", I really don't. Such niceties are for another era.
The Tories have to be ousted by any legal means. I'll vote for any left/ centrist party in my area of it deposes the Tory that currently "represents" me.
Get. Them. Out.
I mean, ****, I don't even care if they (Labour) indulge in a bit of flag waving if it gets the votes. Then steer the country back toward the direction it needs to go. Until the votes are won there is no hope of change.
larrydavid, I sympathise with you more than it might appear but a protest vote or a spoiled ballot serves only one party when all is said and done and you know which party that is.
As I said, sod moral/ ethical protests at the ballot box, we can no longer be that self indulgent.
Get. Them. Out.
(Rant over and genuinely not picking an argument with you Larry, I'm very much a pacifist but I'm also learning to be a realist.)
Good for you Larry.
Virtue signalling is definitely a bad thing.
Personally I'll vote whatever way to try to stop the tories.
I am centralist scum though... 😂
He could have said nothing.
i bet he wished Stop the War said nothing on Ukraine
Once you had Corbyn and Diane do their bits he was in a bind, ignore and be tainted or respond with both barrels
Stop the war were undoubtedly right with regards Iraq
Absolutely. They seemed right at the time to me (and I supported them) and have been proven doubly right in hindsight (in my opinion). But when Russia annexed Crimea, they basically said that was all the fault of the EU & NATO, and didn’t have a word of criticism against Russia. If more of Ukraine falls to advancing Russian troops, they’ll just shrug and say it’s all the fault of the West again. If the Baltic states fall later, they’ll say the same. They’re only against advancing forces if they are Western forces.
My point is that centerism doesn't work and doesn't lead to lasting real change.
New Labour. We had sure start, minimum wage etc which was good. But we also had Iraq, buy to let explosion and pfi. It also reached an accomodation with austerity. And in the medium term all the good stuff was swept away by that austerity.
The lib Dems 2010-15. The less said the better.
The SNP: for all the Indy stuff they are a third way party. A few good policies but 0 structural change.
We've tried it, it doesn't work. The direction of travel is the same, only the speed changes.
That said, I want significant political, social and economic change. Not everyone wants that and would prefer the status quo with the edges taken off, which is a valid position and that's what Starmer seems to be aiming at.
Keir Starmer's pledge to introduce a "Prevention of Military Intervention Act" could cause serious problems for the unity of NATO in future military adventures.
If voters feel it is important to have a government strongly committed to NATO then the obvious choice are the Tories.
Whatever political acrobatics Starmer performs.
"Keir Starmer’s pledge to introduce a “Prevention of Military Intervention Act” could cause serious problems for the unity of NATO in future military adventures."
Yes it could, but it probably won't.
I don't know the metrics behind "probably won't" but I think "highly probable" is a reasonable assessment, based for example on Starmer's view of the Iraq War, which according to him was, quote :
“not lawful under international law because there was no UN resolution expressly authorising it”
Whether legal or not, plenty of NATO countries refused to get involved in the initial invasion in 2003.
What is the point of the Labour party – just to be a less bad version of the Tories?”
Only if they want to get elected
Brilliant.
So we want all the same stuff as the Tories but with bells on.
Liberals despising the Tories but getting excited at Starmer aping their best bits is the most profoundly stupid thing I've ever read
Half expecting Starmer to dye his hair blonde and the usual crew come out with yeah he's got to get elected based on what made Johnson popular.
The Tories being electable is down to the Tories being good at Tories. If everyone is not ready for some form Socialism and redistribution at the end of this term then they are either rich or clueless.
Labour have to find an alternative and progressive route.
Keith will never introduce an act which might constrain military intervention. Never because he won't be legislating on anything and if he ever could he wont because it won't appeal to gammons and pro intervention centerists. It's not going to happen.
