Andy's first U turn

I take it this is a response to my comment about Cooper’s demotion.

I applaud your gymnastics, but if you seriously think that being Health Sec is on a par with being Foreign Secretary then I can only say that I think you’re trying to fool yourself.

Health and social care, particularly the NHS, is one of the main measures on which the success or failure of a government is measured. It’s always in the top three public concerns in voting intentions polls. There’s nothing ignominious in being appointed to take responsibility for it.

TBF, establishing political talent takes a while. There may be some reputations to be made over the next three years.

Even so, I do agree that both Starmer’s and Burnham’s cabinets look pretty amateurish.

Cooper is a big-hitter IMO, but she’s been demoted a long way down. God knows why she agreed to take health and social care. It’s a pretty ignominious appointment after Home and Foreign Sec.

It seems odd to me that the Harper family suddenly realises the implications just as a new PM is in place.

Goof grief Blossom, seriously? His mother contacted the press when the family were informed that two of his killers would be released. Nothing to do with Burnham.

I agree that leaders don’t need to be liked and popular

You can’t be a leader without followers and you need to be liked and popular to have those. We’ve already seen how disastrous it is for a PM not to take the PLP with him. That’s why they wanted to trade Starmer in.

Early release has been a policy for several years, it began with Sunak. It seems odd to me that the Harper family suddenly realises the implications just as a new PM is in place. I know this will probably cause righteous indignation to rain down on me but objectively manslaughter of anyone is wrong, why do we think one life is more valuable than another? Because that’s what we’re saying here. If other prisoners who committed manslaughter are being released halfway through their sentence justice says they should all be. We don’t have a two tier legal system nor should we have.

Jesus. The Harper family "suddenly realised" because they were suddenly informed that their son/husband's killers were about to be released.

There have always been higher penalties for killing a Police Officer because they put their lives on the line to protect the public. An assault on a police officer is an assault on society.

Having lived through the 14 years of austerity where the Conservatives demolished the public sector I think that the two years Labour have been in power have seen significant improvements.
2900 additional prison places with a further 5000 on the way.
more than the Tories ever did.
does that appease your need for outcomes rather than talk?

Having lived through the 14 years of austerity where the Conservatives demolished the public sector I think that the two years Labour have been in power have seen significant improvements.
2900 additional prison places with a further 5000 on the way.
more than the Tories ever did.
does that appease your need for outcomes rather than talk?

Looks like the complexities of sentencing are difficult for you, too.

I can understand it is difficult for you if you are confused by it. Many other people are not confused at all.

PMs can talk about anything they want. If it hacks the voters off, they'll let that be known democratically. Currently Burnham's net favourability is slightly positive, which is comparatively good for recent PMs.

Because talking about things before you know the true situation leads to confusion and annoyance which is exactly what has happened.

PMs cannot talk their thought processes through in public.

Having lived through the 14 years of austerity where the Conservatives demolished the public sector I think that the two years Labour have been in power have seen significant improvements.
2900 additional prison places with a further 5000 on the way.
more than the Tories ever did.
does that appease your need for outcomes rather than talk?

Which is being done.
can you not see that?

Another three years of Labour and that inherited line will fade. They’ll be accountable for policies.

He asked for a review of the policy which seemed to be at odds with both public opinion and what a decent society would want.
Despite those that may not wish to hear it, it is a legacy of 14 years of Tories and what they did to the criminal justice system and prison and probation pertaining to this thread.
AB led the devolution for NPS manchester and understands the issues.

All 43 chief Constable have written to him.
it is an emotive subject and I understand that other families whose loved ones have been killed by a driver are feeling the same.
However, in society there does need to be more deterrent for those who kill and injure police officers and other crown servants.
we police by consent.

Andy is saying - tell me how we change the law to make this happen.

whixh is what we need for a shit load of other laws and policies we have inherited