Thread 18 Starmer: All sides of the House agree apart from the Trump bootlickers

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5264338-thread-17-starmer-treading-softly?page=40&reply=142243865

Well it is and the declaration of unity is a vacuous statement.

Remember that China has very close ties to Cuba.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Cuba_relations

Badenoch is looking at what is happening in the world right now and thinks this to be a good idea

UK must be willing to ‘disengage’ from international bodies, Kemi Badenoch to say

“We cannot put virtue signalling ahead of a realistic assessment of our national interest”, the Conservative leader will say in a foreign policy speech on Tuesday

It's working

M&S Hit by Customer Boycott Over GB News Adverts After Presenter Labels LGBTQ+ People ‘Paedos’

Thousands of customers are threatening to stop using the supposedly LGBTQ+ inclusive retail giant

https://bylinetimes.com/2025/02/24/ms-hit-by-customer-boycott-over-gb-news-adverts-after-presenter-labels-lgbtq-people-paedos/

Badenoch would slot us straight into Trump's pockets.

I dont think we should forget how skint the Conservative party is. A boost from US linked funds must be on her mind.

Not a peep from them in response to my 3 FB messages.

Heinz have been seen on GBNews too.

M&S on marketing in clothing and homeware:

• We will never knowingly advertise in media or on websites that contain extremist views or explicit content.

From this site:
https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/sustainability/our-products/responsible-marketing

She really is pathetic.

Virtue signalling? Is opposing Trump and Putin carving up Ukraine between them "virtue signalling?" Is belonging to the UN "virtue signalling"? Is that what she means?

It's notable how very little is mentioned about Badenoch by the Tories on MN. Wonder why?

If anyone is interested, M&S's creative agency is Mother:

https://www.motherlondon.com

I've tried hard to find out who their media buying agency is, but without success, which is interesting. (I still have friends in the industry, so might ask them)

Unfortunately, I haven't used them in 15 years for reasons we needn't go into.

I don't think this is a case of "oops, the algorithm".

I am taking the radio silence (not) reported from M&S as their tacit approval of this advertising strategy.

If GBNews want to attract advertisers, the path is clear. Register as a grown up news channel and let OfCom rule the waves.

Popped up just ...

Keir Starmer will make a statement to the Commons today on Defence and Security.

It’s widely expected he’ll pledge to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence before he flies to meet President Trump in Washington tomorrow.

As I understand it that was on the cards anyway. But if Trump wants to think it's down to him, no harm done.

I was hearing that the reason it wasn't previously a top priority is that behind the scenes there is a move to transfer control of defence spending from the MoD to the treasury.

St. Kemi is a bright young thing, and presumably has no understanding of the fact that even within my own lifetime, the UK has shown it's own brand of USAphobia. If her Big Idea is to scoop up voters who and in thrall to the US, she may be disappointed.

After watching bits of her speech, I can see why they don't mention her, especially after making Reeves and Rayner the main focus of their attacks

Badenoch is such a disappointment to them.

Some protest on the news stands, this morning.

Close up for those on phone screens.

About 50 artists have released a silent album as part of the same protest.

In my local Sainsbury's, someone does that with Private Eye

Never mind me, I hadn't clocked it were different papers making the same point.

Very good.

https://bsky.app/profile/reformexposed.bsky.social/post/3liwuhplpfk2c

Derek Wilson, Reform UK candidate who posted multiple times about assassinating the Prime Minister, has been arrested.

I think he is back home now, according to his daughter's FB account.

Big moment in the Commons.

Keir Starmer confirms that UK defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Commits to 3% in the next parliament.

That's a much more rapid increase than anyone was expecting.

Starmer says it'll be paid for by cuts in foreign aid.

Pleasing lack of Farage's face, thus far.

I've reported as your message chain has your full name. I hope you don't mind.