Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

Some time back with briefly looked at the future of public schools and the cost of such education. Sad to say my alma mater announced that its to close its doors after 100 years this autumn. Flagging demand for private education post COVID, particularly from overseas students, was the primary underlying cause and the 20% VAT hike the straw that broke the camel's back. To be honest I dont really have any afiliation with the place any more, but if this is typical I hope a largeproportion of the new VAT revenue is being put into state education budget otherwise that system will become (even more?) stressed with new pupils.

That it has probably destroyed an entire village community that was dependent on it for 175 jobs is merely collateral damage I suppose, but hey, equality of opportunity is further enhanced by some more levelling gown.

[Andy_Faber]

This one to rA is, IMO, out of step with the tone and feel of rAs post. Line 1. I think the you isn't referring to AF but to moderators in general. Line 2 reinforces that thought. Line 3 shows that it's a lighhearted post. I see it as an over reaction.

thanks RP, I'd accept your observations if they related to anyone else but rA, who's been on my case regarding moderator issues for many years.

[SithHappens]

What do we think about the possibility of Burnham running for MP? Noises are if he gets in could be lined up to replace Starmer.

Looking at the polls it looks close between Labour and Reform. Will he need a safer seat as won't look good if he fails at the first hurdle (Although Farage failed several times before)

Personally if Starmer were to be replaced id rather have seen Rayner in his place but I suspect the media's witch hunt on her was their acknowledgement she would be a popular choice for PM.

[SithHappens]

On TTR, Hope he is just taking a break. No secret we don't often see eye to eye but I hope all is OK with him.

[SithHappens]

When I started to read this I thought it was another anti Starmer post in the making....

😆

[SithHappens]

Just reading Zack Polinski and Zia Yusuf rumored to run in the same by election

[SithHappens]

Having a conversation with myself lol. But suggestions Rayner backing Burnham. What Odds on her doing so as a route back into the cabinet?

[ramAnag]

thanks RP, I'd accept your observations if they related to anyone else but rA, who's been on my case regarding moderator issues for many years.

Lol! ‘On your case’. Get over yourself.
Look Andy, we disagree about virtually everything politically which is probably not the best basis for any ‘relationship’.
As far as moderator issues are concerned, imo a moderator’s job is to remain impartial and act as a peace maker and arbitrator. You seem to me to have been the antithesis of that, but it doesn’t really matter any more as, from what you said earlier, the role appears to have been made redundant.

[swaledale]

Davos. Love it. Fantaface lies as if his life depended on it. Economy up. Jobs up. Unemployment down. Inflation beaten, China has no working wind farms (generated 989 TerraWatt Hours in '24, '25 figures will be considerably higher. For comparison, in '23 the UK used 309TWH, the USA 407TWH, ergo China could power both the US and UK from wind energy). Everything he said was false apart from him getting the European NATO countries to pay more into NATO. He then spoilt it by claiming the US paid almost 100% of NATO's costs last year. It was 62%.

He then says he won't invade Iceland (meaning Greenland, of course), Has a meeting with Mark Rutte and leaves with exactly what he already had. The ability to build his Golden Dome, or part of it, on Greenland. Something he could already do under the original NATO Treaty signed in 1951.

Now you have MAGA mutts online claiming he "played" NATO". More proof, if it was needed, that there's dumb, dumber and MAGA.

What it does show is that Eurpe including the UK need to get their act together on defence and stop totally relying on the US. Which makes one of the moans about the EU supposedly wanting an EU defence force even more ironic, given that in conventional war fare the UK on its own would be ****ed quite quickly!

Not that those with rose tinted glasses and poor memories over what happened in WW2 will ever see that, though they might wince when the bill comes in. What pirce sovereignty now, and how well will Farage's brown nosing of Trump go down with the voters? Another area where Reform have a big weakness, unless Reform supporters are dumb enough to want ICE style goon squads roaming the streets!

Still it does provide a bargaining chip for Starmer when seeking closer trade alignment with the EU, offering that the UK pay its way in contributing towards Europes defence.

The big question of course is whether other EU leaders will recognise what needs to be done, or just vainly hope that after the Ornage deranged lunatic's passing, matters will return to where they were, with the US acting as Europes security blanket.

[swaledale]

God you’re so extreme and use the tactic of misinterpretation so regularly.

Who has said that we should ‘remove ambition’? Who has criticised anyone for having ambition? MP’s point was that when ambition outweighs ability, as it clearly does, imo, in Jenrick’s case, then you have a problem. My point was, that I’ve come across many people in many walks of life who’s ambition has unrealistically exceeded their ability - from kids at school who think they’re going to be pro footballers to Liz Truss believing she’d be a successful PM - and it invariably ends in tears.

Deliberately provocative like his "mate" and then gets offended and sulks when he gets the same response or when asked as he frequently does, for the evidence to back up what one has posted. I guess boys will be boys though.

[ramAnag]

Having a conversation with myself lol. But suggestions Rayner backing Burnham. What Odds on her doing so as a route back into the cabinet?

Always admired Andy Burnham, but then I’m seemingly also one of the remaining reduced number of Starmer supporters.
Don’t necessarily see the former as direct competition for the PM but he would be a good addition to the Parliamentary Party in terms of character and communication skills (God knows they need it!). An alternative leader in waiting perhaps.
Rayner? Not sure. Think she was probably hard done to, but she does have a tendency to shoot herself in the foot.

[SithHappens]

Trumps murder squad at it again

[Ram Pant]

Trumps murder squad at it again

Shot a 37 year old for holding a phone that they thought was a gun...

[SithHappens]

Shot a 37 year old for holding a phone that they thought was a gun...

Was armed, which i still can't get my head around being legal, but disarmed then shot.

[SithHappens]

Burnham blocked from running as MP. People gonna say Starmer behind it.