Thread 19 Starmer - A Coalition of the Willing

[DuncinToffee]

.https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5276594-thread-18-starmer-all-sides-of-the-house-agree-apart-from-the-trump-bootlickers?page=40&reply=142583752

previous thread

Missed it again…Will try and catch up today. (PMQs)
I heard a bit of Trump’s speech on the news earlier. The longest ever given to the combined houses apparently - and still managed not to say anything comprehensible.

Kemi Badenoch still defending her friend JD Vance.

Her spokesman insists he wasn't calling Britain a "random country" and condemns those taking part in a "Twitter pile on" against him.

Conservative chief whip texted critical Conservative MPs yesterday to reprimand them

FFS he absolutely was referring to Britain and France as 'random countries' and it's pathetic that they've tried to spin otherwise.

A 'Sorry, I got that wrong' mends fences a lot quicker than 'No you didn't just hear what you just heard'.

Treating people like they are too dim to understand.

Since 2014, Ukraine has agreed to over 17 ceasefires with Russia, all of which were violated.

www.chathamhouse.org/2025/01/rapid-ceasefire-ukraine-could-lead-donald-trump-russian-trap

Have to admit I hadn't realised quite how many times Russia had broken ceasefires in Ukraine. Can't think why anyone would believe Putin now.

Thank you for the link @Notonthestairs. Poor Ukraine and poor Zelenskyy. What a fucking mess.

Except Trump. Not at all gullible.

Badenoch must be the only MP to think that.

She is joined by Andrew Griffith

I thought I couldn’t dislike (and scorn the ‘abilities’ of) Badenoch more. I was wrong.

Good to see that Tate is now facing charges in Florida

That’s excellent news and the “meltdown” is the icing on the cake.

Isn't Florida Trumps base ?

Nice to see it's a state case, not a federal one too. Presidential pardon won't work.

Be shame if the internet were to buzz with tinfoil hat theories that Trump duped them into returning, wouldn't it ? Especially if Elon Musks role suggesting it were to be publicised.

Interesting

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has become notably less enthusiastic about defending Donald Trump and his administration over the past week or so. He used to be the Trump team’s biggest cheerleader in UK politics. But when JD Vance, the vice president, appeared to belittle the value of British troops yesterday, while Kemi Badenoch defended him, Farage said Vance was “wrong, wrong, wrong”.
Some new polling helps to explain this. Just over two weeks ago Trump had a net favourability rating of +38 with Reform UK supporters in the UK, according to YouGov. Now it is down to -8. To achieve a popularity collapse that rapid requires a Liz Truss level of awfulness.

As predicted.

Farage has come too far to let some weird yank pull the rug now. People attracted to Reform are much more likely to be supportive of the armed forces in their faux patriot mode.

Thing is what is Farages boss going to say ?

Macron

“I want to believe that the US will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case,” he said.

Nige must have seen this poll, 45% still like him though

In 2.5 weeks, Donald Trump has gone from a +38 net favourability rating among Reform UK voters to -8

All Britons
Favourable: 15% (-7 from 16-17 Feb)
Unfavourable: 80% (+7)

Reform UK voters
Favourable: 45% (-21)
Unfavourable: 53% (+25)

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51739-how-have-recent-developments-in-ukraine-affected-favourability-ratings

It is all a bit surreal, isn't it?

I wonder if Starmer will give a speech to the Nation. I do think that people are worried at the moment.

Yes please

Ed Davey

Right now, Kemi Badenoch is doing more to defend JD Vance than the US is doing to defend Ukraine.

Wasn't he still at that trump rally where musk had the chainsaw though? That was bonkers and such a surreal thing to choose to attend

I think that would be playing to Badenoch's extremely poor hand.

Let's wait a few days.

All this Trump business is reminiscent of the last years of the Tory government when each day would bring a fresh new hell.

Remember how relieved we felt in July 2024? The grown ups are now in charge.

"Let's wait a few days. "

Agree. I am not necessarily expecting the US to change course but it would be good for the government to just focus on whatever diplomacy can achieve. Get on with defence policy to protect our interests etc.

"People in Britain today are angry: not just disappointed, not just disillusioned, but angry. They are angry at the state of Britain; angry at the total absence of leadership; angry at the absence of vision; angry at the hypocrisy and double standards; and they are angry at the incessant incompetence of a Government they no longer respect and increasingly despise.”

Remember how relieved we felt in July 2024? The grown ups are now in charge.😂

Random quote from where exactly?

I guess a few Reform supporters will follow Farage anywhere.