Election Year or Fear!

[ramAnag]

Thanks, though I predict a riot on Saturday.

Oh thanks, Nostro! Such vision. Tends to be what happens at Tommy Robinson gigs, especially with his assembled collection of anti immigrant influencers, a disgraced MP, flagsha**ers and roundabout painters all enjoying a day out on cheap lager.
Chuck in the other demonstration and 100,000 football fans all on the same day and yes?I?d say there is a chance of a bit of ?bovver?. Doubtless it?ll all be the fault of immigrants in your head.

[MadAmster]

Good description GP.

[SithHappens]

Looks like we are going to have a leadership challenge with Streeting and Rayner looking likely. Burnham looks to be getting a route into parliament as Labour MP Josh Simon's makes way for him.

Labour appear to be doing exactly what the Tories did and rather than getting behind Starmer they are imploding and going to replace him. Constant changing of PM's is not what this country needs for stability, if Labour Mps elect a new leader they deserve what happens to them, if they think the new leader will be treated any differently than Starmer has been then they don't deserve to be in government.

A united party would have more chance of defeating the media and Reform but they won't like this. Serve them right if Starmer announces a snap GE.

[ramAnag]

Looks like we are going to have a leadership challenge with Streeting and Rayner looking likely. Burnham looks to be getting a route into parliament as Labour MP Josh Simon's makes way for him.

Labour appear to be doing exactly what the Tories did and rather than getting behind Starmer they are imploding and going to replace him. Constant changing of PM's is not what this country needs for stability, if Labour Mps elect a new leader they deserve what happens to them, if they think the new leader will be treated any differently than Starmer has been then they don't deserve to be in government.

A united party would have more chance of defeating the media and Reform but they won't like this. Serve them right if Starmer announces a snap GE.

He won’t, but in every other respect I agree with you. Given the mess left after fourteen years of the Tories what do people expect within 22 months? Eventually I believe Burnham will make a good PM, but at this moment in time anyone daft enough to take on the mantle can expect a speedy end to their career.
As a nation we have become close to ungovernable, not least because of the media, the impact of the super rich and the devastation caused by Trump, but I think you’re right, Labour needs to stay united…sadly that bird may have flown.

[SithHappens]

Yet another new Reform councilor resigns after being outed as a **** star.

What awful vetting took place here, did the **** industry wouldn't want to be to look so bad by having a reform councilor in their films.

That said the **** industry and Reform do have something in common, they are both full of massive pricks.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Yet another new Reform councilor resigns after being outed as a **** star.

What awful vetting took place here, did the **** industry wouldn't want to be to look so bad by having a reform councilor in their films.

That said the **** industry and Reform do have something in common, they are both full of massive pricks.

I imagine they used the same vetting process that was used for appointing US Ambassadors - oh but at least this elected official seems to have had the balls to resign instead of clinging on to power until his party kick him out

[SithHappens]

I imagine they used the same vetting process that was used for appointing US Ambassadors - oh but at least this elected official seems to have had the balls to resign instead of clinging on to power until his party kick him out

Agree, Think Farage should just resign.

[ramAnag]

Hmmm. Net migration down to 171,000 for last year. The lowest since 2021. Just saying.

[MadAmster]

Hmmm. Net migration down to 171,000 for last year. The lowest since 2021. Just saying.

ah but yes but no but... the small boats. That's the argument they use. 41K on them last year. How many will get asylum?

Over 95% of the migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats claim asylum, with an average overall grant rate of approximately 62% for small boat arrivals since 2018

Overall, of the nearly 200,000 migrants who arrived via small boats since 2018, only about 7,612 have been returned, just shy of 4%. The primary nationalities returned are Albanian, Turkish, and Iraqi. That means that around 75K who were denied asylum are still in the UK. The vast majority of those whose asylum claims were rejected have not been removed. Deportations from the UK face various challenges, including legal appeals, human rights protections, and the fact that many refused applicants cannot be safely returned to their countries of origin.

From June 12th, the outer borders of the EU will be "shut". Migrants will be dealt with and adjudged at the EU border. Thos with little chance of getting asylum will be sent back whence they came. IMO, the UK should get involved and help. That way we could get our hands on photos, fingerprints, DNA of those refused and those accepted. We should also negotiate that any who pass through the EU and then try the small boat route to the UK can be sent back to the EU. Just as we could in the Dublin Agreement which Johnson scrapped despite the EU offering to keep the repatriation clause... However, it's far too sensible an idea for HMG to try to follow

[ramAnag]

ah but yes but no but... the small boats. That's the argument they use. 41K on them last year. How many will get asylum?

Over 95% of the migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats claim asylum, with an average overall grant rate of approximately 62% for small boat arrivals since 2018

Overall, of the nearly 200,000 migrants who arrived via small boats since 2018, only about 7,612 have been returned, just shy of 4%. The primary nationalities returned are Albanian, Turkish, and Iraqi. That means that around 75K who were denied asylum are still in the UK. The vast majority of those whose asylum claims were rejected have not been removed. Deportations from the UK face various challenges, including legal appeals, human rights protections, and the fact that many refused applicants cannot be safely returned to their countries of origin.

From June 12th, the outer borders of the EU will be "shut". Migrants will be dealt with and adjudged at the EU border. Thos with little chance of getting asylum will be sent back whence they came. IMO, the UK should get involved and help. That way we could get our hands on photos, fingerprints, DNA of those refused and those accepted. We should also negotiate that any who pass through the EU and then try the small boat route to the UK can be sent back to the EU. Just as we could in the Dublin Agreement which Johnson scrapped despite the EU offering to keep the repatriation clause... However, it's far too sensible an idea for HMG to try to follow

Asylum claims down 12%. Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels since 2025 down 32%. Net migration down. Minimum wage up. GBP doing a great deal better against other currencies than it was post Brexit. Credibility with our European neighbours increased. He’s a useless b@stard that Starmer isn’t he?