Continuation of AR housing thread

[TheNuthatch]

Continuation of the Angela from housing thread. For those who want to moan about the government and share thoughts and articles.

Oh yes, the Falkland comments.

😀

Starmer is definitely basking in the Falklands effect. His first positive headlines since Labour won.
Other than showing UK support for Z, I'm struggling to see the point of yesterday's meeting of leaders. It lasted approx 30 mins, and I can't see that anything has changed.
Starmer's press conference just looked like he was milking it tbh. I don't believe for a moment that Starmer has any Trump whispering abilities.

It's a lot of hot air atm

If Z signs the deal with no change to wording, which appears to be the case Starmer hasn't convinced on anything.

He and others did likely advise Z poorly as only a couple of days later Mandelson says sign.

Yes, I'm failing to see how anything has changed. Macron is saying that it will take anything between 5-10 years to get Europe in a position in which it was feasible to act without the support of the US.

Which I think is a good aim but it isn't going to help Zelenskyy. It's just Thursday's plan plus additional support in theatre and rhetoric only.

Starmer will have to spin what remains of patriotism in the country (presumably they'll be digging out those problematic portraits of Churchill taken down and left in storage back on the wall shortly?) and galvanising it into enough goodwill that the public can stomach the cost of all this. We'll be looking back on the £22bn black hole with nostalgic longing by the Autumn budget.

After it's signed there's no leverage for anyone demanding US security.

They won't have to say yes. Also Russia still need to sign and troops are domestic audience optics for Starmer and co rather than doing much.

They can only be there if US backs them up, so really it's dusting for show.

Next up the other side, and what they'll sign.

Good point about the Churchill memorabilia going back up in No.10. He may even re-hang the portrait of Thatcher in the study. It's good to see Starmer has flip flopped on abolishing the monarchy.
I was half expecting him to make a big show of himself outside buckingham palace and jump in the chopper with Z, James Bond style!

😁 I think Thatcher might remain on the shit list.

Haha until the next lot are in anyway, she and others will be back up

Looks like Trump hasn't softened over the weekend. He's meeting advisors later today to see about the withdrawal of military aid committed by Biden.

Can't work out if the band is going to be called Coalition of the Willing or Europe Plus. (Plus what though? fingers crossed, America)

It's getting worse.

I don't like all these noises about withdrawing from NATO.

Elon is backing calls to leave NATO.

Hopefully this is just a performance get the rare earth deal over the line.

😁 xpost

I think they'll keep squeezing until it's signed

Not sure why Z is stalling after saying he'd sign

I can't imagine what would be left by way of a threat beyond pulling out of NATO, maybe a full evacuation of McDonald's?

I'll gladly help them with that.

I'd be running behind shouting, "Leave the milkshakes, come on, be reasonable".

Sorry, not very sensible. 😬 It's just got out of hand now. It's like the end of a Mel Brook's movie and the cast have started tearing down the set. I'm just a bit disbelieving about how quickly it is going so badly.

Why's he stalling signing anyway? Another week is what exactly?

This came up, so they might do their deal

Trump-Putin summit now being 'fast-tracked,' CNN reports

I hear you. I'm out of sorts, and worried too, but we have to laugh sometimes whilst we try and make sense of it all 😁.

I remember Biden committing a huge sum just before he left office. He obviously knew what was coming. Its a shame Europe had their fingers in their ears.

Commons statement at 3.30pm today. Maybe we'll learn something new.

If this is brinksmanship, Z is taking it a bit too far. Unless he's convinced that the US will pull out regardless.

I'm wondering if Europe are saying hold let's see if we can change something.

Meanwhile Trump meets to withdraw aid, and starts thinking about Putin meeting. I think they might up the ante to get it over the line.

I'm not sure about the NATO part, I hope not.

I don't think there was any new news there, was there? Just everything we've heard before tagged to the caveat that it's only possible if the US is co-operative. That not all the EU countries are as enthusiastic.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks for the update, I can't listen to those things, the voice is too much

Stephen Flynn just asked PM about Trump meeting advisors re withdrawing previously promised support to Ukraine.

PM said he was now aware of this, and as far as he's concerned, that is not the direction of travel.