Thread 16 Starmer - Mad World

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5251589-thread-15-starmer-nolite-te-bastardes-carborundorum?page=40&reply=141533067

Sorry guys, had to take a step back from politics for a while. It's been depressing but hey ho, 4 years.
Here's a prayer plant.

I think something that would vastly improve life here is a crack down on disinformation and opinions masquerading as fact in certain sections of the media.

The rioters can’t be excused from their actions, but there is a huge issue with lies being spread eg the ones regarding Keir Starmer knowing things about the Southport killer that weren’t made public. He rightly said that for legal reasons he was unable to disclose that information, the people suggesting he could have disclosed more are well aware of that. Including Jake Berry and Chris Philp.

There should be consequences for misleading the public.

Elon is funding Tommy Robinson.

https://inews.co.uk/news/elon-musk-funding-tommy-robinsons-legal-battles-3492964

Elon Musk has agreed to help fund the mounting legal bills of Tommy Robinson, according to claims made by supporters of the jailed far-right leader.
The tech billionaire has been a vocal supporter of the extremist leader, and any financial backing will pose a further problem for Keir Starmer over his attempts to destabilise UK politics.
Musk has not revealed any donations himself, but a message sent out on Robinson’s X and Telegram accounts stated: “We are grateful to Elon Musk and his team at X for agreeing to provide support to Tommy Robinson for two specific legal cases” .

oh brilliant...

just what we need...

@Cheguevarahamster I wish we had an angry 😡 emoji for that news about Tommy Robinson

Wouldn't it be great if there was a law stopping MPs from purposefully posting inflammatory stuff online deliberately misinterpreting laws/processes to get a reaction? Unfortunately, they have relied on the fact that the vast majority of people don't have the knowledge of how parliament works and have no want to learn if it interferes with their hatred.

For example, the "Labour just voted against looking into grooming gangs" when they were well aware they'd added an amendment to kill the bill.

In a way, good.

Either guilty is guilty regardless of wealth.

Or guilty is as guilty as you can afford.

This is one clear chance for the UK to show the world - and more importantly itself - that it's the former, not the latter.

If it turns out that shed loads of money can be clearly seen to buy a court then we have all been fed a load of bollocks about the law we are supposed to obey.

I realise that may sound odd, but asymmetric warfare does work two ways. Call it judo.

What would help is a media focused on the substance of an issue rather than trying to compete with social media conspiracies.

You'd think they'd never read the Contempt of Court Act - and I know that can't be true, it must be part of basic journalism.

oh agreed. the media have played a horrifically large part in this.

i just can’t see what would actually make them stop this now

Of all the things Musk could do with his money and he chooses to defend that piece of filth.

Some on MN will be chuffed though.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/attitudes-to-news/one-in-three-internet-users-fail-to-question-misinformation/

https://nlt.cdn.ngo/media/documents/Fake_news_and_critical_literacy_-_final_report.pdf

My guess is that he has someone to key him into the fault lines of British politics- I don't believe he's spending hours doing that for himself. His idolization of Robinson suggests he that to me.

I also think he's referencing concepts of white replacement theory. I said that on another thread and was told I was hysterical.

I thought I touched a nerve.

I think the online world simply needs policing, just like the real world. I think a lot of youngsters live in two worlds now and it is unacceptable to not safeguard them in both.
I think laws should apply in a similar fashion in both.

Agreed. But a lot of that is people happy to be misinformed if it fits their agenda. They don't want the correct information because it doesn't suit them.

Much like the followers of Andrew Tate/Tommy Robinson, if you give them facts they deny them and claim everything is a conspiracy against these people for being "free thinkers".

It seems like half of the internet needs some serious re-programming from cult mindsets.

I had a quick look at that thread. I don't know what to say. I just hope that some of them are bots rather than real people.

As far as I’m concerned the rioters are generally just looking for a reason to riot.

Reading on the last thread about a lot of benefits being paid to people in work effectively subsidising businesses made me wonder if the Employers NI raise was a way to redress this. I also heard the chairman of Next being interviewed about this and he was saying that retail and hospitality were being unfairly hit by the Employers NI threshold falling from £9100 to £5000. Not having to pay any NI for people earning under £9100 sounds like it would encourage employers to prioritise part time contracts.

As far as I’m concerned the rioters are generally just looking for a reason to riot.

Bit lightweight innit ? A real man don't need no reason to riot.

Gawd, the gammons of today.

(I think my anti-alliteration meds are wearing off).

For some tiny violin news, Farge has admitted he did not make the cut to the key part of the inauguration, Trumpski didn't invite him

I presume Elon's interest in UK politics is based in his hatred of regulation (Online Safety Bill for starters) - he wants politicians that will leave his site to fester in its own waste.
Same goes for all the other tech oligarchs.
Its not about freedom of speech, its all about freedom to make $.

I am sure he has got the first flight back to Clacton. Duty calls and all that.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/21/heathrow-third-runway-rachel-reeves-sadiq-khan

Shouldn’t they be planning airport extensions or new airports elsewhere in the country? To let other regions grow? I never followed the debate clearly but linking infrastructure with other regions should be more important, no? Although maybe it is because they invested so much in Crossrail across London they want to see benefits from that investment?

Perhaps if Netzero is such an important goal, why are we prioritisng Air Travel?

Meanwhile, Makita, a well known Power Tool supplier, apparently? has stopped making petrol powered chainsaws .... that'll save the planet!

Stanstead, Gatwick and Luton also getting upgrades.... i really don't get the climate change agenda.

We desperately need investment in roads and transport in this region, @Araminta1003 - the government won't even guarantee we'll get the funding already promised for projects already underway (and it couldn't be put off - the bridge had become rather rusty)

Keir Starmer refuses to commit to Tyne Bridge's final £6m of restoration funding

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/keir-starmer-refuses-commit-tyne-30823778#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

Net zero is difficult. Trump has effectively ditched it.

China will be the technological world leader, and the political leader soon in net zero technology.

The West cannot compete on price, labour, or knowledge. I think it's a big mistake to make

I think people who repeatedly stand for election could also be classed as politicians in addition to the successful ones. I agree with your assessment of Tommy Ten Names and Tate.
I assume it’s largely aimed at Farage, who was an MP at the time, and maybe at Tories who are now running with misinformation and nonsense the6 know to be untrue.