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

I agree. It's a symptom of the shallow style over substance mindset that pervades UK politics. See also the obsession with school uniform.

…because they aren’t constantly leaking and trailing stuff in the press…

You have got to be kidding.

My exact initial thought was
the Tory and what’s app scandal of old.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard someone talking in R4 earlier basically saying the journo is shit and discredited so we
shouldn't pay any attention to what they are reporting.

Just listening again “thisnisbthe guy that pedals in hoaxes. No one was texting war plans”.

wonder if he was told they were going to come clean before he did that announcement!

There are receipts

Even when phones go missing

I thought they’d already acknowledged the authenticity of the messages?

Meanwhile, back on planet UK, following the email I posted upthread to my MP, a weighty 2 page/3 side reply hit* my doormat today from my MP in her role as MP on HoC stationary.

Nothing to see so lets move on. However the speed, length and sheer weight** of reply suggests the party is very sensitive to this.

*Given the weight of the paper, a small child could have been hurt had they been beneath the letterbox.

**Seriously. It must be 120g/sqm paper. HoC headed. The ink probably weighed a gramme or two.

Hand written?

No. And cyclostyled signature.

tut tut

In other news the grifter/terrible actor Laurence Fox has been charged with with a sexual offences after he ‘shared an upskirting photo on social media.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/crime/laurence-fox-charged-sexual-offence-sharing-upskirting-photo/

I saw that about Fox. What on earth possessed him to share such a picture?

Also saw that Ant Middleton - prospective Reform Mayoral candidate - has been banned from being a company director because he has £1 million unpaid tax. He's buggered off to Dubai. As Nick Candy said the Reform-ers really do love that ex pat lifestyle.

Farage must be feeling chipper - the KC has found credible evidence that Lowe and friends unlawfully harrassed two women.
That does leave Lowe free for another populist party. Presumably he's on the phone to Musk as I type.

I saw that about Fox. What on earth possessed him to share such a picture?

These people really aren't that bright.

The paradox of being wealthy, is you don't need to be clever.

The corollary of that is that qualifications aren't a reflection of intelligence. (But we all knew that anyway).

The invite to the WH is in the post

Repugnant men are repugnant. Part 13927.

Fun fact: Liz Truss spent such a short time as prime minister that the government website now has "past prime ministers" in the wrong order:
https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers

One assumes this is because the people who wrote the (otherwise very good) website didn't anticipate that you would ever have two prime ministers starting the job in the same year as one another

Voluntary extra tax. I've just spotted our first blossom of the Spring, about 3 gardens over, so here is a blurry, heavily cropped pic of it 🌸

I live a bit of blossom. Its so pretty and truely means better weather is on the way ☀️

So do I. This is my favourite time of the year - blossom, daffodils, spring lambs - it’s lovely watching the world come back to life after the winter.

Nope. You said before you thought they were and I believe events showed they probably weren’t. Papers are gossiping. That’s not the same thing.

this is…umm…interesting regarding the journalist in the war WhatsApp

‪Greg Proops‬ ‪@gregproops.bsky.social
·
5h
He drinks a whiskey drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
He sends a text that reminds him of the war plans
He sends a text that reminds him of the war crimes
#Hegseth

PMQ's over, time for the Spring Statement

Summarised as nothing, nothing, nothing, oh, we're going to cut UC for disabled people by more than we let on, last week. 😡

This, from the BBC, did tickle me. Clearly for the benefit of those people who like to forget that England has a northern bit.

"She confirms plans for investment in Barrow - a town in north-west England where the UK's nuclear submarines are maintained - in order to create thousands of jobs in the area."

Good summary

Still ignoring brexit and now the 🍊as well