Thread 17: Starmer: Treading softly.

[DuncinToffee]

Lettuce pray

Keep it civil

Cat, dog, flowers tax much appreciated

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5257111-thread-16-starmer-mad-world?page=40

Clip of the TUC interview with Clacton voters

https://bsky.app/profile/implausibleblog.bsky.social/post/3lht4ewgidc23

I am uncomfortable with Labour releasing videos of deportations, no need to appeal to right wingers like that.

That’s hilarious. I just listened to Nick Robinson’s interview with Zia Yusuf which was very interesting on the subject of the NHS. Yusuf is adamant that Reform policy is it will remain free at the point of delivery which is completely at odds with what Farage thinks. I wonder if Farage has changed his mind or Yusuf’s lying? 💭

I do think that much more challenge on those things such as employment rights, social care, the NHS, etc is important as a way to challenge Farage.

It's so so easy to criticise but I don't think people will like some of his thoughts.

I meant the clip of Clacton voters was hilarious, by the way.

I don’t know Duncin, while I’m uncomfortable with it the government has to do something to show how strong it’s being on illegal immigration. Nothing else seems to cut through.

The govt has returned huge numbers of failed asylum seekers and put resources into processing asylum claims faster, but none of it is making headlines.
"Illegal immigrants" aren't the people arriving on boats, those people are asylum seekers, both of which are legal as there is no way to claim asylum before entering the country (bar a couple of exceptional schemes for eg Ukraine and Afghanistan). The point someone becomes an illegal immigrant is when their asylum claim (and subsequent appeals) fail but they remain in the country, or when a work/visitor visa runs out.

It was raids on nail bars, car washes, takeaways.

A car wash near me has very suddenly closed down. Local FB groups are buzzing, as you might imagine…….

I know a few people working with charities that help victims of modern slavery, and have heard a lot of stories about what the victims go through. I hope the gangmasters and traffickers are being tackled robustly, because there's no point punishing the victims (sadly there will always be more people vulnerable to traffickers).
A few high profile operations to tackle modern slavers could make a huge difference to the lives of a lot of people.

Interesting to see Phil Wilson as a whip. Very much a centrist.

Nige less popular than Keir and Ed, wait what, that's not what we are led to believe

https://bsky.app/profile/yougov.co.uk/post/3lhsynb2h3c2s

Who do Britons think would make the best prime minister?

Keir Starmer vs Kemi Badenoch: Starmer +11
Keir Starmer vs Nigel Farage: Starmer +10
Keir Starmer vs Ed Davey: Starmer +8
Kemi Badenoch vs Nigel Farage: Tie
Kemi Badenoch vs Ed Davey: Davey +9
Nigel Farage vs Ed Davey: Davey +5

That tie with Kemi. I guess it was like being asked if you would rather have covid or flu 😅

It is wrong. Like May's "go home" buses. Releasing the stats and facts on deportations is good enough.

Just catching up with thread, some really interesting posts.
I thought Nigel was the second coming as he appears to be revered by so many news outlets, relieved that by according to yougov he really isnt.
very pleased that Gwynne was dealt with quickly awful awful behaviour from him.

Wonder if certain posters will be banging on about that particular poll?🤔

Are these images that would otherwise be unshown ?

The UK landscape is such that Labour could eliminate all immigration problems overnight, and the headlines the next day would be over the fact that Keirs voice coach could have once used an Uber driven by someone who may not be entitled to be in the UK.

(I could have walked past News International offices and I may have seen senior executives wanking over a biscuit.)

Quite. Some people are always going on about how unpopular he is in polls. Seems like he may be - but everyone else is considerably more unpopular.

"Kemi Badenoch vs Nigel Farage: Tie"
I reckon Badenoch will take that as a win!

Yes the deportation videos reminded me of when May was at the HO. Also seem to remember Patel being photographed on a raid.
Totally unnecessary.

The most recent Matt Green film covers this pretty well -

bsky.app/profile/mattgreencomedy.com/post/3lhonrgsfmc2x

I couldn’t agree more.

Yes. I listened to R4 this morn8ng on way to work and the minister said they'd returned 16k migrants in (6 months I think it was).

Anyway rather than say "great what an increase" the response was "well that's not as many as 10 years ago".

The minister was brilliant. Said "no it's not, we'd like to get back to what we were delivering when in government before that".

Brilliant response without pointing out its was higher than last 10 years which was done for them in the dig about it being higher 10 years ago.

Labour suspend MP Oliver Ryan over WhatsApp chat

Anyone finding the Guardian less appealing nowadays ? I used to enjoy the btl comments but now it’s like the negativity once directed at the Tories has doubled in amplitude but at Labour ! Seems no one is happy with them. And every tid bit of decent legislation is just n o t r a d i c a l e n o u g h. Loads of very personal attacks and disinformation about Starmer Reeves and Streeting. I some times forget I’m not in some kind of reform/Tory purgatory. Probably be poo pooed but it really does feel as if the whole moderate demographic has changed on there, I just stick to the recipes and food articles but even Jay Rayner has scarpered along with Ottolenghi.

No, not just you. I don't know what the Guardian wants. Corbyn was too left wing. Starmer too centrist. The Lib Dems in power is the wish, I'd say.

@PandoraSox yes. I noticed how the article about Badenoch yesterday wasn’t open to comments. The majority of the comment btl are either eulogising the man who must not be named or banging out memes like ‘freezing children and grannies’, saw that old chestnut repeated a few times. One poster actually said that reform voters had waited 30 years for jam and so had every right to demand it now ! Just getting a very odd vibe from the place.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/10/labour-was-told-about-vile-whatsapp-group-more-than-a-year-ago-says-ex-councillor

Labour North West needs looking at - not before time. This is quite a damning article.