Thread 20 Starmer - Spring Statement

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5286167-thread-19-starmer-a-coalition-of-the-willing?page=40&reply=142981585

Agreed.

All are welcome, providing you adopt the hive-mind….

"It's telling that, despite the gravity of the thread, certain posters elect to revert to child-like behaviour."

Someone once did that on a book thread !

The thread is about the Spring Statement, and posters are posting photos of cats.

Yes, that is what I call ‘sad’. Actually, its bloody tragic.

😂

Another big name disappearing from the High Street

WH Smith high street arm sold to Hobbycraft owner in £76m deal
The deal will see the WH Smith name erased from town centres, with the wider business switching its full focus to its more lucrative travel arm.

https://news.sky.com/story/wh-smith-high-street-arm-sold-to-hobbycraft-owner-for-76m-13337092

Apparently, one is required to comment on this - not simply forward it.

Interesting. On the rare occasions I go into Hobbycraft that's pretty empty as well.

Nice respectful - non-bullying way to introduce oneself

I only pop into WH because the main post office is there, can't remember the last time I bought a book or stationery there.

I expect the WHS here is one of the stores that will be closing. Unsurprising really because the only customers I ever see in there are for the post office.

really only go in when I am going through Kings Cross.

Bit of a shame really as I used to love it. All that lovely stationery. Brambly Hedge was all the rage when I was at primary.

Yy thank you such intricacy & skill absolutely amazing.

All are welcome if you are politely agree to disagree and don't attempt to derail the thread. I was nervous to join the thread yonks ago but have always found posters very welcome. Peace and love and all that.

Same here & my two fairly local WHS branches only ever seem to have queues for the post office part, I remember frequenting WHS every Saturday in my youth & listening to the latest 45’s in the booths the singles were 50p & agonising which record to spend my pocket money on (first single I ever bought was Harry Neilsons “Without you”)

Wh Smith used to be amazing but it's been shit for about 20 years. It's so expensive and the stores are usually so grubby. I do feel sorry for the staff.

I'm amazed that WHS has lasted this long as a high street presence - their shops have seemed very run down, and a bit pointless for years now.
Two sad reflections from it though. Firstly this could really bugger up post office services if Hobbycraft find they don't fit with their model, and secondly there are quite a few places where WHS is the last bookshop in town.

I bet that went down well. Unless of course, no one was enjoying the book!

The perennial boring butler debate on the long running book thread manages to be civilised (team butler here even if I didn't like the character)

I'm another in the amazed they lasted so long camp. They've been a little bit shit for most of this century. It's been harder and harder to pick up my occasional Burda magazine in there, over the past year or so.

Ooh, I really can admire the stitch work in that. It will have taken months. 😍

Smiths and Boots are the only shops of any name left on my town. Boots next no doubt.

It's amazing isn't it. It was from an exhibition at Bankside earlier this month. I wish it was on longer. The pieces were beautiful. https://www.banksidegallery.com/exhibitions/127-the-broderers-exhibition-2025-the-art-of-embroidery/overview/

Yes you did.

I have no inclination or interest in searching people's history on MN via AS, you were having a dig at me plain and simple if you read your comment "Haha" was how you started off your post to Piggy about me...

I'm a long term poster and nothing to do with recent events...that's an excuse you are now making to back track on your appalling behaviour.

The Guardian is reporting the departure of Starmer’s Comms Director, Matthew Doyle. It’s written up as being Doyle’s choice, but I think one could be forgiven for being sceptical about that.

One view would be that the No.10 strategy and comms operation is failing badly, what with Sue Gray being given the boot and now Doyle.

Another view would be that the PM’s and government comms had been poor and this might help with presentation and is a strong move.

I also see that one of the two replacements - Steph Driver - is loathed by the Labour left for having been implicated in secret goings-on to undermine Corbyn when he was leader.

This government’s turning out to be every bit as interesting as the last few!