MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Jim'll paint it on form. The lettuce! 😂
I see Sunak was at NiftyLift, that was my first job 25 years ago. Nice to see the logo I designed for them is still in use. I did get the impression that the owner was a full on Tory.
I also worked at another company with a full on Tory owner - Dyson - I remember Cameron doing a company tour during his election campaign. What a nob
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11kvk1je4o
He added that the Tory Party was now "unrecognisable" from the party he joined a decade ago.
I am surprised that he only joined the Tory Party a decade ago. I also don't understand how it is now "unrecognisable" from ten years ago....less commitment to austerity?
Still, I'm sure that he will feel very comfortable in the Labour Party.
That’s not quite true – policy is set at conference ahead of time, situation you described is what happened in 2010 with the potential coalition.
What they decide at the conference only really becomes relevant if they get a majority which is never going to happen so who cares.
The lib-dems only exist to get into a coalition so the important decisions get made after the election, after people have already voted for them.
People say 2010 was a long time ago and why can't people move on but the problem is nothing has changed and the exact same thing is going to happen again.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Much of the association wanted him deselected for inactivity and his failure to be present in Bolton for extended periods of time. And he's been asking No 10 for a peerage.
"Explaining his decision to support Labour, Mr Logan said: "The time has come to bring back optimism into British public life."
I dunno, asking for a peerage after essentially being judged useless by your own gang is pretty optimistic.
The lib-dems only exist to get into a coalition so the important decisions get made after the election, after people have already voted for them.
I’m sure they don’t see it that way.
Another Tory shyster, Mark Logan, defects to Starmer’s vacuous morality-free Labour, with his voting record he”ll be cosy on the Labour sofa
Good MPs like Diane Abbott, Faiza Shaheen etc out, Tory shit in.
It's odd that Starmer wants to avoid alienating the electorate but the majority of the electorate wish to see a ceasefire in Gaza. Who's calling the shots here?
I have no preference. This “less than perfect Labour party” are near indistinguishable from the Conservatives.
That's just objectively wrong and might as well have been written by a Tory campaign manager.
Good MPs like Diane Abbott, Faiza Shaheen etc out, Tory shit in.
I can't understand what he's playing at. By all means let the MP "cross the floor" or express an interest in defecting. That still sticks it to the Tories.
But then shut the door in their face. Sorry, don't want any last minute morals here thanks, you stuck with your side through everything they've done, you can't now be claiming that you've just seen the light, coincidentally just as you're about to lose your seat in a GE.
Natalie Elphicke - I mean WTAF?! Mark Logan is marginally better - I mean he has the vaguest hint of principles about him although his voting record is still pretty abysmal. I'd have pushed them straight back at the Tories. Sorry, your circus, your monkeys.
Brothers union representative in the fire brigade has been in touch with him, they’re not very impressed with starmer at the moment
It’s odd that Starmer wants to avoid alienating the electorate but the majority of the electorate wish to see a ceasefire in Gaza. Who’s calling the shots here
Thats just like asking people if they’d like the war in Ukraine to stop or just would you like world peace?
HTF is Starmer supposed to make these things happen? Why is it his fault that there isn’t a ceasefire in Gaza?
Maybe he could stop it raining? I suppose that’s his fault too?
I’m sure they don’t see it that way.
I'm sure they don't.
However, they were struggling for relevancy even before 2010. When there was a clear ideological difference between the Tories and Labour it made sense for there to be a party in the middle. Now there is no middle between Labour and the Tories (unless being slightly less evil than the Tories but more evil than Labour is a reasonable position to take).
Brexit gave them the perfect opportunity to reinvent themselves as the only European party but then they decided there weren't enough votes in it.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66878234
Technically Swinson tried to make them the bomb-throwers for EU membership but people were too busy laughing at her 'I'm running for PM' pitch to notice. But now instead of coming out swinging they are playing in puddles.
If you are a minority party you actually have to go out and convince people of what you believe in, not just follow along with what they seem to be saying. The Lib-Dems had the chance to own an issue (and it's an issue that more and more people are realising can't just be ignored anymore). Instead they chose to continue their slow circling of the toilet bowl, just waiting to finally disappear forever.
Maybe he could stop it raining? I suppose that’s his fault too?
Thats a bloody good idea binners, d’ya think he’d also turn the temperature up a bit if I donate to his “be more Tory” campaign?
Starmer gave the green light, 'israel has a right...' if you remember. Even if he can't stop the weather, the least he could do is protest on basic humanitarian grounds. And he hasn't.
I watched the TV news earlier. Both Lab and Con were trying to outdo the other on how they'll cut taxes, NI, VAT, etc. while increasing police, decreasing NHS waiting lists, etc, etc.
I'd prefer it if Labour treated the electorate as intelligent and said, "That's Tory nonsense, it's unaffordable. Junior doctors still haven't had their pay dispute settled, so how will they cut NHS lists without doctors?"
But no, we'll join the absurdity race... Labour are painting themselves into a corner and defeat within five years
HTF is Starmer supposed to make these things happen?
How is he supposed to call for a ceasefire?
Dunno, maybe he can pop across the sea and ask the Irish government how they managed to call for a ceasefire?
It's a bit of a tricky one!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68577381
HTF is Starmer supposed to make these things happen? Why is it his fault that there isn’t a ceasefire in Gaza?
On here he was to blame for it in the first place, then when he finally called the vote for a ceasefire it didn't happen instantly, again, another failure for Starmer 😡
Good MPs like Diane Abbott, Faiza Shaheen etc out, Tory shit in.
I think Faiza has the makings of a good MP, so not sure what's going on behind the curtain there, but you're pushing it stating Abbott is a good MP 🤣
As for the tory shit, both MPs mentioned aren't standing again at this election, Elphicke was just a stunt to rub the tories nose in it, Logan is basically just stating his parties dead, neither are going to be Labour MPs, they are just soundbites being used to sway more middle of the road voters to Labour hopefully.
I think Faiza has the makings of a good MP, so not sure what’s going on behind the curtain there, but you’re pushing it stating Abbott is a good MP
Why has she repeatedly been elected by her constituents then?, you may have posted a laughing emoji but your posts are anything but.
Maybe he could stop it raining? I suppose that’s his fault too
No, it's just his fault being on the wrong side of just about every progressive and pragmatic solution to Tory failure. (In fact he's known to take stray Tories in.)
I mean, I know some of the crowd would like this thread to be just about Sunak's sinking ship (sign posted ages ago.) - but it's not gonna be.
I watched the TV news earlier. Both Lab and Con were trying to outdo the other on how they’ll cut taxes, NI, VAT, etc. while increasing police, decreasing NHS waiting lists, etc, etc.
Because both parties have been ridiculous about the way economics actually work in our country - leading us down a cul-de-sac.
Pretty inevitable when you look at the fiscal rules being almost identical.
Doesn't need to be like this
Anyone watching the Blue on Blue between Farage and Morgan on QT?👍😂
Why has she repeatedly been elected by her constituents then?
Nothing against DA but since the seat was created, in 1950, it has been held by Labour, on a pretty large majority. She'd have had to be spectacularly bad to not be elected, and while we supposedly vote for a person and then affiliation, I think we all know that isn't really how it works.
I used to live in the Henley on Thames constituency.... BoJo was repeatedly elected with a huge majority. Because he was a really good MP??
Labour stronghold
I thought lefties alienated Labour supporters? Isn't that the entire premise of the centrist argument? When did that unshakable centrist rule no longer apply?
Support for Diane Abbott has significantly increased since she first became an MP. More of her constituents vote for her than constituents for Starmer.
My understanding is that the only measure of success for centrists are election results, in that respect Diane Abbott has been massively successful.
Anyway the Guardian is still running with the story, along with the rest of the media:
Leading Black figures criticise Labour’s ‘disgraceful’ treatment of Diane Abbott
Starmer has played a real blinder. I reckon that screwing this up provides an insight into what to expect his premiership to be like. Things are going to liven up after he's moved into Number 10
Why has she repeatedly been elected by her constituents then?
You could apply that logic to JRM but I doubt many would describe him as a good MP.
Didn’t realise the dilapidated state of the UK was Labours fault till now
Well apparently on STW it's all Starmers fault.
I also don’t understand how it is now “unrecognisable” from ten years ago….less commitment to austerity?
Mr Johnson purged all those with a moral compass, is probably the biggest change @ernielynch (Those like Dominic Grieve).
Scrolling up this page and back its quite remarkable to see virtually no mention of any political issue or policy change that would interest the average British voter: record immigration, record worklessness, rocketing crime, tanking economy, etc
Odd.
Ed Davey arriving for an interview on the finer points of the Libdem pension policy
https://twitter.com/i/status/1796203642837495910
Abolish the royal family, form a republic. There you go. May as well start at the top.
The frothing about Abbott continues.
I've been at a branch meeting this evening - with CLP next Monday.
No reference to Diane Abbott in discussions either before or after this evening's session - as there won't be at the forthcoming CLP.
I'm sure this is a big deal in metropolis central but out in the shires - where the election will be won or lost - it's a complete non-event.
The frothing will continue for a few days with those who think this really matters; then, business as usual.
Not sure how starting with the royals will help key issues such as
record immigration, record worklessness, rocketing crime, tanking economy, etc
But it can't hurt
The frothing about Abbott continues.
I’ve been at a branch meeting this evening – with CLP next Monday.
No reference to Diane Abbott in discussions either before or after this evening’s session – as there won’t be at the forthcoming CLP.
You’ll be amazed to hear that it’s also been met with a collective shrug in East Lancashire in one of the most marginal seats in the country, with the smallest Tory majority
The tragedy of the North London/Westminster bubble is they continually fail to even remotely grasp how self-obsessed they are and with just how much disinterest it’s viewed by the rest of the country
We’ll just stand still here while the whole ****ing world revolves around us 🙄
Diane Abbott has one of the safest Labour seats in the known universe. The fact she still an MP proves it!
Scrolling up this page and back its quite remarkable to see virtually no mention of any political issue or policy change that would interest the average British voter: record immigration, record worklessness, rocketing crime, tanking economy, etc
Unemployment is pretty much the lowest it's been since 1974.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/timeseries/mgsx/lms
It’s odd that Starmer wants to avoid alienating the electorate but the majority of the electorate wish to see a ceasefire in Gaza. Who’s calling the shots here?
You seem to have a pretty good idea. Why don't you come out and say it?
The tragedy of the North London/Westminster bubble is they continually fail to even remotely grasp how self-obsessed they are and just how it’s viewed by the rest of the country
This has nothing to do with "the North London/Westminster bubble". The whole media is treating it as a lead general election campaign story.
How do you think that North London dictates what the BBC broadcasts or the Guardian prints?
Is it some great North London conspiracy? Do I need to get the tinfoil out?
This has nothing to do with “the North London/Westminster bubble”. The whole media is treating it as a lead general election campaign story.
That’ll be the whole media that is all collectively based where exactly? I forget…
The tragedy of the North London/Westminster bubble is they continually fail to even remotely grasp how self-obsessed they are and with just how much disinterest it’s viewed by the rest of the country
Does anyone banging on about Abbott and Corbyn on this forum live in North London? I thought you were all network administrators from Cleethorpes.
I'll be out canvassing - door knocking and talking with real voters - on Saturday in the Newark constituency which is where jenrick is currently squatting.
If ANYONE mentions Diane Abbott on the door step I will be absolutely stunned - but will definitely report it here.
It may be a hot topic in some of the coffee houses, tea shops and organic food shops of the metropolis but, where most people live, the discussion will be about anything but Diane Abbott and Kier Starmer
Diane Abbott has one of the safest Labour seats in the known universe. The fact she still an MP proves it!
If it's "one of the safest Labour seats in the known universe" it is because she has made it that.
When she was first elected she had less than an 8,000 majority, which is not considered to be a particularly safe seat. At the last general election her majority was 33,000.
Diane Abbott has more than quadrupled the Labour majority in her seat. How many Labour politicians can claim to have done that?
There is a reason why MPs right across the party, including Keir Starmer, have described Diane Abbott as a trailblazer.
That’ll be the whole media that is all collectively based where exactly? I forget…
Don't tell me - it's NORTH LONDON! It's a conspiracy!!!! 🤣🤣
Frank, have you just joined the Labour Party or something? Is this your first election campaign? I find it a tad strange that you should be referencing your Labour Party membership in every recent post.
Froth, froth, froth.
Ernie, give it a rest; no-one is doubting or questioning her achievements and their significance.
A suggestion - look to the future; the past has already happened so continued frothing will achieve absolutely nothing.
IF you really want a Labour government - move on.
no-one is doubting or questioning her achievements and their significance.
LOL! Are you being serious?!?!
Why do you think I pointed out that Diane Abbott has more than quadrupled her majority? What do you think it was in response to?
I am very happy to move on and leave the issue of Diane Abbott but a few individuals seem determined to keep discussing how unimportant she is.
It may be a hot topic in some of the coffee houses, tea shops and organic food shops of the metropolis
Its fascinating how close you come to the right wing loons ranting about that nasty london.
Odd how you havent mentioned the others who are getting purged by the glorious leader as well.
Don’t tell me – it’s NORTH LONDON! It’s a conspiracy!!!! 🤣🤣
I prefer to leave the tinfoil-helmeted conspiracy theories to those on ‘The Left’, as they seem to spend most of their time revelling in them. As this whole Diane Abbot nonsense amply demonstrates. It’s all apparently part of ‘a purge’ isn’t it, according to Diane herself? Not being remotely melodramatic there then eh?
The whole thing is a total irrelevance to 99.9999% of the electorate, but the north London/Westminster media are absolutely obsessed with it
Nobody cares. Bigger fish to fry than what’s going on in north London and far more relevant and pressing issues to address, which the eternally London-centric media seems to have zero interest in covering
but the north London/Westminster media are absolutely obsessed with it
Well that's the Guardian for you, always printing stories and writing editorials about issues which their readers are not in the least bit interested in.
Do you still get your hardcopy of the Guardian btw binners, or have you abandoned it since your swing to the right?
Ernie - for clarity, I'm a long standing and active member of the Labour Party.
Nice try by you to divert attention away from the irrelevance of Diane Abbott and perceptions of how she has/hasn't been treated by the Labour Party.
Face the facts, this is all a complete irrelevance.
The Labour Party and it's GE campaigning moves on; Diane Abbott is not a consideration.
I'll ask the PPC, recently elected East Midlands mayor, CLP and branch members if they have any views about Diane Abbott and let you know.
My prediction of their response? It's completely irrelevant - other than to those who value ideological purity above the pragmatic objective of delivering a Labour government.
I have more important things to do than continue posting about a subject which is completely irrelevant in the context of the upcoming GE.
I’ve entered the 21st century Ernesto. I’ve got my digital subscription for the Guardian nowadays, but I do get the physical paper at the weekend so I can read it over my champagne and smoked salmon as I sit on the terrace in my smoking jacket
binners - if I bring my own glass, can I scrounge a glass of your finest socialist champagne?
Also happy to bring blinis.
Do let me know.
other than to those who value ideological purity
Sorry who are you talking about here?
Starmer and his supporters with the purging of anyone who dares question the glorious leader or?
Curious how alongside your habit of copying the hard rights ranting about that nasty london you are now going for projecting your own sides faults on others.
Feel free to pop round any time old chap. My footman will escort you to the terrace
Face the facts, this is all a complete irrelevance.
I don't think that the Diane Abbott is issue as such is particularly important, which is why I haven't suggested that it is. I am much more concerned about more important stuff.
What is highly irrelevant though is the disquiet that Kier Starmer's mismanagement of the whole issue has caused among Labour politicians - this evening the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party wade in and publicly gave her support to Diane Abbott.
And of course the huge media interest it has generated - it is currently dominating the general election campaign. It represents a massive cockup by Starmer.
The whole story could be killed off instantly and the general election campaign refocused if Labour was to announce that Diane Abbott will be the candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
But for whatever reasons I assume that Morgan McSweeney and David Evans haven't decided to do that. Perhaps they think that it will make Starmer look weak, who knows?
Edit: On reflection I guess the most likely explanation for this totally unnecessary crises is that Morgan McSweeney and David Evans believe that it will make Starmer more appealing to Tory voters and Daily Mail editorial writers.
It may be a hot topic in some of the coffee houses, tea shops and organic food shops of the metropolis
Yes, exactly, just like you in the provinces live on Wotsits, Prime Energy, and the salt of whippets' tears.
PCA - stereotyping...as was I; to make a point.
Do you have anything meaningful to say?
No? Move on.
Anyway back on the subject of people actually campaigning in this election: Rishi Sunak wore a £750 little backpack while visiting two of the UK's poorest areas.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-750-pound-backpack-32916558
Anyway the Daily Telegraph are lovin it:
Angela is a Northern lass, ain't she?
Rishi Sunak wore a £750 little backpack while visiting two of the UK’s poorest areas
I’ve noticed Rishi is already dressing like he’s in California. Making a statement?
Another Tory MP quitting, this time to run as an independent
https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1796307834872668299?t=CK9rSJz1hNvRCkiwlp_0WA&s=19
I know if someone crosses the floor in the normal course of events then it's just tough, what's the case during the election campaign? I know the labour list is only part declared, others not sure, and deadline is next week, but if someone is nominated as of then, and then defects can they be replaced or do you end up with eg no Tory candidate and an extra Indie? Presume not two labour as while they may be defecting to join labour they equally at that stage wouldn't be on the list as labour?
Also happy to bring blinis.
A proper champagne socialist would know that blini is the plural.
Presume not two labour as while they may be defecting to join labour they equally at that stage wouldn’t be on the list as labour?
They have until the 6th (or thereabouts) to announce their candidates although for a lot of seats its already been selected.
Once the closing date has been hit then its game over. The Rochdale byelection is a good recent example where post nomination closure Labour withdrew support for Azhar Ali. He was still the official Labour candidate and appeared as such on the voting form but unofficially wasnt and so labour did without.
So if someone decided well actually although I am on the paper as tory I am now standing as Labour then you would have an unofficial labour candidate and an official one or as it is technically known a complete ****ing headache.
Another Tory MP quitting, this time to run as an independent
He hasn't really quit though, according to the link he was kicked out of the Tory Party two years ago:
He was then an independent MP until the General Election was called.
So not voluntary, although apparently he hasn't been found guilty of anything.
So not voluntary, although apparently he hasn’t been found guilty of anything.
I am curious. Did Ukip refuse him (unlike Anderson with his being booted from Labour and then the tories) or does he just disagree with them for some reason.
Why bother with the small - irrelevant - stuff?
Get actively involved in getting a Labour government.
Right - as I'm (perceived to be) one of those provincial types...not from the metropolis...back to my late evening snack of wotsits, brown ale and whippet tears flavoured crisps.
Some people don't understand the difference between stereotyping and having a laugh - poor bastards.
or does he just disagree with them for some reason.
Probably that I guess.
Some people don’t understand the difference between stereotyping and having a laugh – poor bastards.
Typical woke lefties!
I think that PCA's comment concerning "the salt of whippets’ tears" was perhaps intended to be light-hearted 💡
it: On reflection I guess the most likely explanation for this totally unnecessary crises is that Morgan McSweeney and David Evans believe that it will make Starmer more appealing to Tory voters and Daily Mail editorial writers.
Is this such a crime , trying to appeal to Tory voters I mean not daily mail columnists .
I grant you that I would rather they didn't go so far that ex BNP voters feel comfortable voting for labour but to win an election, especially when you lost the last one badly, you need to convince people to change the way they voted last time .
I'd rather have that conversation about going too far with a labour government in power than another 5 years of what's left of the Tories. I think Mick lynch said even the worst labour government is better than the best Tory one , and that's kind of the point isn't it .
Sorry double post
The problem with appealing to Tory voters is that you're never going to enact the change we need - and like my outlaws who have always voted Tory (they're quite wealthy) - they are never convinced that Starmer is anything other than a Marxist, despite him having to act like a class A tool to prove he's not.
The argument should be - here are things the Tories have ruined and here is what we need to do to fix them. The mechanics and arguments are solid enough to make a case for government spending for example.
Instead we get 'here are more right-wing hors d'oeuvres' to get you interested. It's a terrible way of doing things. And on top of that you're brain-washing hundred of Centrists into thinking you're going to reveal, when in power, lots of nifty little progressive ideas that will barely scratch the surface.
All you're doing in the end is convincing the electorate that the free-market should be operated correctly and with stability and the rest will wake care of itself.
Mechanically and pragmatically this concept is doomed to failure.
There is one pool of resources and labour available to the state and adding a layer of inefficiency by way of profit to essential services is categorically not the best way to allocate them - if you want to fix a lot of Tory-damaged society. But I guess Centrists falsely believe following the Conservative way despite all the evidence is the only way to get elected.
If you don’t appeal to people who voted Tory in the past you’ll never win an election and be enable to enact the change we need
Has Starmer said or done anything to make you believe he'll enact those changes once he has the keys to number 10?
A proper champagne socialist would know that blini is the plural
And a regular person would know that either ‘blini’ or ‘blinis’ is acceptable usage in English. Everyone wins!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blini
reminds me a bit of folks wrangling their way around the plurals of hippopotamus and octopus. Only weirdos would go with ‘hippopotomi’ and ‘octopodes’ though.
Has Starmer said or done anything to make you believe he’ll enact those changes once he has the keys to number 10?
In all honesty I'm not sure . I think he's wrong on some things , I think not getting rid of the 2 child cap is indefensible when you look at what effect it would have on child poverty and I would of liked him to of argued harder for the 27 billion on green matters . I'd also like him, or anyone to be fair ,to start having a grown up conversation about Brexit and maybe undoing some of the damage.
What I am 100 percent sure on is that the first step to getting anywhere with anything is getting the Tories out for a long time and to rebuild the whole system , so right now he's the only option .
Has Starmer said or done anything to make you believe he’ll enact those changes once he has the keys to number 10?
There are no keys to No. 10.
What I am 100 percent sure on is that the first step to getting anywhere with anything is getting the Tories out for a long time and to rebuild the whole system , so right now he’s the only option .
Well, he's going to be the next PM so it's absolutely true that he's the only option. What he does with that opportunity is much less clear.
There are no keys to No. 10.
There isn't a keyhole in the front door. Which isn't the same thing.
I agree, Rone. Both Labour and LibDems need to spend more time convincing people who benefit from more socialist policies to vote for them rather than vote for Tory policies that will make them sicker, poorer, less well educated, in more precarious jobs, in a more polluted environment, eating dodgier foodstuffs, with fewer rights... .
They need to convince people that the vast majority of people will have a higher quality of life under labour/LibDem.
Labour/Libdem should also be hammering home how useless the Tories have been on even their flagship policies such as immigration where those nice European carers have gone home and been replaced with unqualified African carers working under conditions that amount to modern slavery. It's not even Brexit that has sent the Europeans home, it's the hostile environment which is Tory policy rather than the withdrawal agreement. The withdrawal agreement is the minimum Britain has to do for Europeans already in the UK, the UK can unilaterally make Britain attractive to Europeans.
I think that Corbyn/Abbott policies belong in the past because the world has changed in th elast 30 years but have no problem with them being in the Labour party as back benchers. I'd just like to hear the shadow front bench telling me how their policies are going change people's lives for the better. Never have I seen less policy and more petty infighting a month before an election and just days before postal voters will be voting..
Edit: just scrolled through the Guardian headlines for stuff about Labour/Libdem/greens. Something about a Labour "cull" of the left and a podcast about Dianne Abbott, that's the Guardian. I'm not going to raise my blood pressure with what the Mail or Telgraph have to say.