OT This rotten Govt.Yet more scandal.

[MillerBill]

A further episode of this callous government, when the brutal Troubles Bill, was voted through yesterday, giving the right of witch hunting of our veteran soldiers to continue.There is no wonder, we cannot encourage numbers to join up, when this government is more on the side of their opponents in war,than they are protecting the rights of our own.We have never had such an unpatriotic shower as this!!

[UlleyMiller]

A further episode of this callous government, when the brutal Troubles Bill, was voted through yesterday, giving the right of witch hunting of our veteran soldiers to continue.There is no wonder, we cannot encourage numbers to join up, when this government is more on the side of their opponents in war,than they are protecting the rights of our own.We have never had such an unpatriotic shower as this!!

Wasn't this a carryover motion regarding a 2023 bill which was a problem for many involved? I wasn't aware of any vote to pass a bill.

[Spuddy Speight]

Sir Keir Starmer's political career is on a precipice. He can't help himself, can he? Remember Jackanory? Some cracking tales on there too.

The local elections are due to take place in some areas on Thursday, 7th May 2026.
I'm sure he's already convinced the electorate to vote for his party with speeches about 'change'.

[UlleyMiller]

Sir Keir Starmer's political career is on a precipice. He can't help himself, can he? Remember Jackanory? Some cracking tales on there too.

The local elections are due to take place in some areas on Thursday, 7th May 2026.
I'm sure he's already convinced the electorate to vote for his party with speeches about 'change'.

Governments get (almost routinely) hammered in local elections that occur halfway through their term. The news, opposition, and anyone wanting attention online always drum it up to be a seismic event, but it's an indicator of practically nothing. Turnouts are low, local and national matters get blurred, the whole thing is a mess.

Cameron got hammered halfway through his first term and won in 2015. Blair got hammered in the late 90s and won the GE in 2001, same again in 2002/3 and won the GE in 2005. Major got hammered in 1991 and won the GE in 1992. If anyone clutches at straws, getting battered in local elections is probably a better indicator of the standing government to be a safe bet at the next GE.

[howdydoo]

Governments get (almost routinely) hammered in local elections that occur halfway through their term. The news, opposition, and anyone wanting attention online always drum it up to be a seismic event, but it's an indicator of practically nothing. Turnouts are low, local and national matters get blurred, the whole thing is a mess.

Cameron got hammered halfway through his first term and won in 2015. Blair got hammered in the late 90s and won the GE in 2001, same again in 2002/3 and won the GE in 2005. Major got hammered in 1991 and won the GE in 1992. If anyone clutches at straws, getting battered in local elections is probably a better indicator of the standing government to be a safe bet at the next GE.

Thanks for the Latest political party broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party:

Pretending that losing your local council is just a 'clerical error' and definitely not a massive sign pointing to your general election prospects. It is the perfect showcase for a leadership team that has turned 'failing upwards' into a refined art form:


Keir Starmer: The man who prides himself on being 'Mr Rules' is currently spending his time explaining to Parliament how he 'unintentionally' misled them over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. It turns out 'full due process' is just lawyer-speak for 'I didn't bother to check if my new US Ambassador failed his security clearance.' If he can?t manage a vetting form, good luck to him with the country.

Rachel Reeves: Our Chancellor, whose 'fiscal rules' seem to involve breaking every promise made to pensioners while delivering the highest tax take in British history. She?s currently trying to sell the public on 'war bonds' to plug an ?18 billion hole in the defence budget?because nothing says 'economic stability' like asking for a loan to keep the lights on.


Angela Rayner: The former Deputy PM who resigned in a tax huff over her property dealings, only to spend her 'time out' undermining her own government's immigration policy as 'un-British.' She?s hovering around the Cabinet like a bad smell, just waiting for Keir to trip over his own briefcase so she can launch her leadership bid.


David Lammy: The Foreign Secretary who describes his strategy as 'Progressive Realism,' which in practice means accidentally endorsing Azerbaijan?s territorial land-grabs on Substack and infighting with the Chancellor over the budget. He?s managed the rare feat of making Boris Johnson?s diplomacy look like the height of Victorian etiquette.


With Labour trailing Reform and the Greens in some polls and facing a loss of 2,000 councillors next week, it?s heartening to see that 'influence' is the one thing this group definitely isn't having on the voters.

I admire your commitment to the cause. It takes a special kind of dedication to look at this total car crash and conclude that local results don't matter?it?s the political equivalent of saying the iceberg didn't matter because the Titanic?s band was still playing a lovely tune."

[MillerBill]

Yet another stabbing assault today in London against two Jewish people,who are in a serious condition.When is this govt. going to ban this hostile Iranian regime?Other EU countries have banned this radical hard left terrorists group.This is like the 1930's in Germany.We allow all these hate marches spreading their hostility.WHY ??????? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KerrAvon]

Thanks for the Latest political party broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party:

Pretending that losing your local council is just a 'clerical error' and definitely not a massive sign pointing to your general election prospects. It is the perfect showcase for a leadership team that has turned 'failing upwards' into a refined art form:


Keir Starmer: The man who prides himself on being 'Mr Rules' is currently spending his time explaining to Parliament how he 'unintentionally' misled them over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. It turns out 'full due process' is just lawyer-speak for 'I didn't bother to check if my new US Ambassador failed his security clearance.' If he can?t manage a vetting form, good luck to him with the country.

Rachel Reeves: Our Chancellor, whose 'fiscal rules' seem to involve breaking every promise made to pensioners while delivering the highest tax take in British history. She?s currently trying to sell the public on 'war bonds' to plug an ?18 billion hole in the defence budget?because nothing says 'economic stability' like asking for a loan to keep the lights on.


Angela Rayner: The former Deputy PM who resigned in a tax huff over her property dealings, only to spend her 'time out' undermining her own government's immigration policy as 'un-British.' She?s hovering around the Cabinet like a bad smell, just waiting for Keir to trip over his own briefcase so she can launch her leadership bid.


David Lammy: The Foreign Secretary who describes his strategy as 'Progressive Realism,' which in practice means accidentally endorsing Azerbaijan?s territorial land-grabs on Substack and infighting with the Chancellor over the budget. He?s managed the rare feat of making Boris Johnson?s diplomacy look like the height of Victorian etiquette.


With Labour trailing Reform and the Greens in some polls and facing a loss of 2,000 councillors next week, it?s heartening to see that 'influence' is the one thing this group definitely isn't having on the voters.

I admire your commitment to the cause. It takes a special kind of dedication to look at this total car crash and conclude that local results don't matter?it?s the political equivalent of saying the iceberg didn't matter because the Titanic?s band was still playing a lovely tune."

I am sure that Ulley can speak for himself if he wishes, but as an impartial observer, I must say that I enjoyed the irony of you accusing him of making a party-political broadcast before reciting the talking points from the like of the Telegraph, Express and Daily Mail (all available in the comfort of your own home, courtesy of Twitter).

The Daily Mail. A newspaper that ran 19 front pages on the subject of Raynor?s tax issues whilst those of Nadhim Zahawi and now Tice were deemed to be barely worthy of a mention.

But propaganda aside, I agree with the thrust of your point. It is difficult to see how a Starmer run Labour Party could win the next GE. It is difficult to see what the party really stands for at the moment.

That makes me a bit of a political refugee. The Greens seem a bit bonkers, but I will wait to see what their policies actually are. The super wealthy who used to fund the Tories to keep them that way at the expense of the majority of people have realised that they are a busted flush and so are now backing Reform.

Maybe I am a LibDem after all?

And of course, nobody is willing to talk about the real issue, which is that the country can no longer afford to keep us in the lifestyles that we expect.

[KerrAvon]

Yet another stabbing assault today in London against two Jewish people,who are in a serious condition.When is this govt. going to ban this hostile Iranian regime?Other EU countries have banned this radical hard left terrorists group.This is like the 1930's in Germany.We allow all these hate marches spreading their hostility.WHY ??????? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Iranian regime? I think Netanyahu and Trump have been trying to ‘ban’ them, but it has all gone a bit wrong. If you mean the IRGC, my understanding is that it would take a change in the law, but the bigger question is what would it achieve? Did proscribing the likes of the IRA make its members suddenly decide to hang up their guns and Semtex?

As for hate marches, I think that you are going to get a bit of flack from the likes of Musk and Trump if you try to stop Tommy Robinson et al. spouting his bile in London every few Saturdays (in the summer only for some reason).

[howdydoo]

I am sure that Ulley can speak for himself if he wishes, but as an impartial observer, I must say that I enjoyed the irony of you accusing him of making a party-political broadcast before reciting the talking points from the like of the Telegraph, Express and Daily Mail (all available in the comfort of your own home, courtesy of Twitter).

The Daily Mail. A newspaper that ran 19 front pages on the subject of Raynor?s tax issues whilst those of Nadhim Zahawi and now Tice were deemed to be barely worthy of a mention.

But propaganda aside, I agree with the thrust of your point. It is difficult to see how a Starmer run Labour Party could win the next GE. It is difficult to see what the party really stands for at the moment.

That makes me a bit of a political refugee. The Greens seem a bit bonkers, but I will wait to see what their policies actually are. The super wealthy who used to fund the Tories to keep them that way at the expense of the majority of people have realised that they are a busted flush and so are now backing Reform.

Maybe I am a LibDem after all?

And of course, nobody is willing to talk about the real issue, which is that the country can no longer afford to keep us in the lifestyles that we expect.

I merely provided some pointers on Google AI it did the rest.

As for your main issue: The world is changing too fast. This country is unrecognisable from 40 to 50 years ago. I've lived through it. I stated on here 10 years ago the end was nigh for our major political parties. What's taking their place is a major cause for worry. Not going to end well.

[UlleyMiller]

I am sure that Ulley can speak for himself if he wishes, but as an impartial observer, I must say that I enjoyed the irony of you accusing him of making a party-political broadcast before reciting the talking points from the like of the Telegraph, Express and Daily Mail (all available in the comfort of your own home, courtesy of Twitter).

The Daily Mail. A newspaper that ran 19 front pages on the subject of Raynor?s tax issues whilst those of Nadhim Zahawi and now Tice were deemed to be barely worthy of a mention.

But propaganda aside, I agree with the thrust of your point. It is difficult to see how a Starmer run Labour Party could win the next GE. It is difficult to see what the party really stands for at the moment.

That makes me a bit of a political refugee. The Greens seem a bit bonkers, but I will wait to see what their policies actually are. The super wealthy who used to fund the Tories to keep them that way at the expense of the majority of people have realised that they are a busted flush and so are now backing Reform.

Maybe I am a LibDem after all?

And of course, nobody is willing to talk about the real issue, which is that the country can no longer afford to keep us in the lifestyles that we expect.

The point I made was around the furore of mid-term elections and had no political agenda, oddly. Getting excited (one way or t'other) about governments getting hammered is as repeated as it is futile. The last few months tend to determine GEs in all cases except those where a government has served a few successive terms, where it's a steadier build to a changing of the guard.

Starmer is managing the odd feat of being simultaneously decent and awful... hitting a good deal of targets, keeping more manifesto promises than we may expect, but failing to inspire the public, badly managing any PR challenge that comes his way, and (probably far more expected, but earlier than usual) allowing the age old Labour divisions to erode his authority.

Both red and blue have gradually fallen into the trap of responding too quickly to public opinion in the last few years and we now expect change too early, both from policy and in leadership. The media increasingly control things far more effectively, even down to farcical TV channels... although I'm sure the only viewers of these are down to curiosity or the draw of comedically stupid output. Reform are naturally going to exploit this perfect storm but (again, back to the point I made) the run-in to the GE will very likely be different to what we see now, and I think the splitting of votes between three right wing parties (if Restore UK remain in the conversation... and I understand they may have the financial backing to do so) will give Labour an easier time than many think.

Starmer (and Labour as a party) need to learn quickly and start holding firm on what they stand for. As a left glancing centrist, I'd hoped they'd be more Blair than Corbyn, but the reality right now is that they're more Matt Hamshaw than (insert pretty much any other Rotherham manager).