Thread 2. Starmer, return of the Labour government

[L1ttledrummergirl]

Yes, lame but the last thread was nearly full.

As there is just 6 months before Trump (should he win) becomes Potus and Starmer has ruled out rejoining the SM, rhetoric aside, there is little Labour can do to improve relations with the EU, let alone improve defenses, the new defence review won't even report for another year!!

Labour, on Europe, are a huge disappointment.

The "plan" seems to be that Vance and Trump wont do the things they keep saying they will do.....

Trump cannot seek re election in 4 years time, he will have no restraint in his 2nd term & will do what he wants.

Labour, on Europe, are a huge disappointment

Maybe give them a chance. They have been in power less than a fortnight! We don't know what may happen further down the line.

Rayner pretty much batted away the Vance comment.

Well, I think he said quite a lot of fruity things in the past as well. Look, I don’t recognize that characterisation. I’m very proud of the election success that Labour had recently. We won votes across all different communities, across the whole of the country. And we’re interested in governing on behalf of Britain and also working with our international allies.

So I look forward to that meeting [with Vance] if that is the result [ie if Trump wins]. It’s up to the American people to decide.

@Alexandra2001 there would be no point in Labour trying to join the SM. The EU countries are too busy with internal politics to want to start full on negotiations with the UK again. It took too much time for very little outcome last time. I think the best the government can do is work piece by piece and gradually build up to it. They are working on the veterinary agreement and the agreement for musicians touring Europe. I'm sure there are others too. There are so many policies they have waiting in the wings it will be interesting to see what is in the Kings Speech. But I think with EU a lot is happening behind the scenes.

@absquatulize How to say "I'm ignorant" using other words.

Who's going to tell him that Pakistan, which is an Islamic state, has nuclear weapons? And so does India, which used to be the country with the most Muslims I think it's been overtaken

That will blow his tiny mind

I'll also add to others that have said that there is nothing wrong with Islam.

At the moment, I'd say that it's Christianity (in various forms) that has a lot to answer for.

"Trump cannot seek re election in 4 years time, he will have no restraint in his 2nd term & will do what he wants."

I would not put it past him to stay on after his 4 years; it all seems to be lined up for him to have a good go.

This. It worked for Putin.

I’d heard somewhere that Trump was aiming to be conciliatory with his choice of Vice President, and when I heard Nicky Hailey was attempting the Republican event I was hopeful that she’d be Vice President. I’ve felt deflated since the assassination attempt as that has almost sealed the election and sick when I heard the news about Vance.

Labour, on Europe, are a huge disappointment

In his first days as FS, Lammy met up with his counterparts in Poland, Germany and Sweden.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-lammy-european-union-foreign-secretary-jonathan-reynolds-poland-b1169254.html

😮
WTF

Love that picture!

Cat update: exploratory x ray and other checks under sedation next week, biiiiig vet bill (I save rather than paying for insurance for 5 cats, there's enough in the pot).

Big Orange is worth it. No, not that big Orange!

Asked to summarize recent events ChatGPT suggested:

Vaughan Gething has quit:-

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cleyl8ln66et

This. I feel like Labour are being surprisingly good on EU stuff so far. I feel optimistic.

I often think a lot of our currentproblems were because too much government bandwidth was expended on Brexit and not enough on running the country. So personally I hope Labour concentrate on resolving specific difficulties and don't waste time trying to re-enter single market etc which I doubt the EU will willing to spend much energy on for many years.

Too much bandwidth on Conservative Party navel gazing generally while supposed to be governing.

Not surprised Vaughn Gething has gone. It’s a shame but he was never my choice. Jeremy Miles to replace him?

@pointythings - we also self-insure. Two (sometimes three) Siamese cats are just too expensive and over the years, we've definitely saved money touch wood We're fortunate that we have sufficient savings to be able to cope with any eventuality

I self insure for our four mogs as well. With 40 odd years of multiple cat ownership I'm definitely quids in so far (fingers crossed too).

Labours very first job regarding the EU is to get whatever bollocks Boris signed the UK up to working. Nothing will happen until that is done. The Eu has already signalled it has zero interest in amending any of that since it is what the UK ordered.

Anyone who doesn't understand that, and is "disappointed" probably wasn't paying attention during the campaign.

Truss, Fartage and Johnson all present at the RNC

I was way ahead until Bengal princess Cordelia developed a heart condition…still ahead though I’m sure.

I still hope the EU will have mercy on us and draw a line under all the rubbish that passed before.

I'm surprised there were even that many there for an irrelevant speaker.

As this was clearly aimed at me.....

So i cannot be disappointed that Labour have ruled out so much to do with the EU?

Its cobblers that i wasn't paying attention, i've mentioned it plenty of times on here pre GE & that Labour lack any sort of vision for the UK..... aiming for far faster growth is a fine goal but it will take years to achieve (if at all) & without far closer EU alignment, he is just making it harder for this to be achieved.

On the deal Bojo struck, it cannot work, its shit, it will have to be completely re negotiated when it can be looked at again. which is 2025/26, so after the min 12 to 18months of talks, we will be heading into the next GE period of 2029.
The EU are not just going to make life easier for the UK with nothing asked for in return.