Thread 15 Starmer - Nolite te bastardes carborundorum

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5244293-thread-14-starmer-the-starmeristas-strike-back?page=40&reply=141334312

If anyone is interested in Welsh politics can I recommend Will Hayward’s newsletter, always an excellent read. Today’s is about Reform in Wales and how Farage sees it as a vehicle for driving Reform forward in the rest of the country. He won’t even name a leader for Reform in Wales until after the Senedd elections next year - because he recognises he is the star of the show I suppose. Even though he believes he can take 40 seats without revealing any policies.

Just goes to show how empty intellect is without a heart to go with it.

I think an interesting intersection is occurring between some Conservative policy and Labour. That is the reintroduction (albeit revised) of the academic freedom bill for universities.

One of the oddest things in the last decade has been to watch the growth of a "you cannot speak" movement in universities. There is a freedom to offend in law which appears to be conflated by people with hatred which has lead to "no platforming"

They are two different things so I am glad that this government sees the value. It was a Tory bill, but there is an issue in universities where actually their success depends on free exchange of ideas.

Agreed @bombastix - it is probably also why the US has ended up properly right as a counterbalance to the perceived wokeism/lack of freedom of speech translating to lack of freedom of thought in the US.
We urgently need to get back to centre ground here too - where minorities have equal rights but those rights do not trump the rights of the majority. It is an incredibly difficult balance to achieve. It is ultimately all about proportionality.

As regards the young vote though, is Musk now buying US TikTok and what are the implications. If the US controls pretty much all of social media, that has huge implications on the young vote and lowering the voting age to 16.

Dexra really glad that Dh is getting the care he needs & hope that recovery is going well, look after yourself as well it can be so stressful💐

Mel Stride on BBC this morning talking rubbish. Asserting made up shit as fact and not being challenged by the interviewers. It's really poor journalism.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/15/farage-and-truss-attend-uk-launch-of-us-climate-denial-group-heartland

Farage and Truss attend UK launch of US climate denial group

British arm of Heartland, which has taken oil and Republican funding, to be led by ex-Ukip head Lois Perry

Tbh Mel Stride's blather sounds reassuringly Tory and very silly. Politics as normal in other words ie "serious questions". He is ridiculous

I liked Emma's point reference the external factors and Ken Clarke's comments.

He got battered by Reeves in the Commons yesterday

Beth Rigby had a thread yesterday about the criticism she received about giving Reform too much coverage. The replies reflect a lot of what we are saying on these threads

https://bsky.app/profile/bethrigby.bsky.social/post/3lfotsvh7qc2v

Then you may need to consider your wording more carefully before you post. It came across as exceedingly snobby and condescending.

Rachel from accounts has reduced inflation.

To me the idea that one institution is always better in all things than all others is ridiculous. My DS was advised to apply for his particular unknown for his course because for that course it was considered one of the best and was respected as such. Oxbridge, for this course, is not.

John Redwood may well be deeply brilliant according to one set of very narrow standards. This does not mean he isn't also a very limited thinker.

John Redwood? The John Redwood who is so intelligent that he didn't think to bother learning the Welsh national Anthem when he was SofS for Wales?

He always strikes me as the type of chap who might know the Klingon national anthem, though.

No no no, Rachel from Accounts is only responsible if inflation goes UP, its due to the Tories previous policies when it goes DOWN.

On the loss of voters who are voting to rebel, who voted Labour in because they got fed up of the Tory shambles, who most likely also voted Brexit and are essentially turkeys voting for Christmas if they vote Reform in and will remain so - what to do about this group of people? Who are they? Do they actually matter?

Surely if there is a Reform/Tory coalition then there will also be some plans for a Labour/Lib Dem and Green coalition?

I am worried about Reform in Wales.

I can't remember if it was you or another poster who said that there is a political gap here that can't be filled by the Tories because there is so much hate for them still, but that Reform obviously doesn't have the same baggage.

That obviously wouldn’t be fair. If she’s responsible for all the bad stuff that’s outside of her control, she must be responsible for the good stuff outside her control, no?

That would be very unfair of people starting threads about her otherwise.

Oh there will be some very disappointed Mumsnetters today.

Wonder how they will frame it?

Every time I see his name, that clip plays in my head. I don't even need to bother with YouTube.

Hello, I’ve just found this thread. Am I right in thinking it is general chat about politics with some cat / dog photos? And that the posters are a broad church (so not all Tory or Labour)?

I am rather in favour of Latin and Greek. Latin is used in choral singing. If no one learns these things (for all that they are not modern) then they will be lost forever.

As bad news. Stagflation, you know. Anti-growth. (I can think of one poster who was already dropping this into every thread possible, last week). Terrible news. The country is going to the dogs.

what to do about this group of people? Who are they? Do they actually matter?

Some of them might be your friends and relatives. Honestly, I have been taken aback to find out a friend supports them.

I think they do very much matter. We ignore them at our peril.

I bet I can guess who that is!

yES!