Thread 21 Starmer - Casting Nasturtiums

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5298316-thread-20-starmer-spring-statement?page=40&reply=143217222

Respectful and supportive discussion of things political and beyond

Cat, dog, flowers, haberdashery tax most welcome

Hopefully his constituency will recall him ASAP unless he has the decency to resign first.

He's a mayor, too. He's due to leave that post in May but a month early would not hurt.

I am NOT defending Norris in anyway at all, and if he is found guilty then I will be amongst the first to express my disgust.

But, as far as I'm aware he has only been arrested on suspicion at this stage. Please let the process take place.

I agree, it's better to to comment on an ongoing case.

Aye, but how long will this drag on for, even if he is found not guilty and how effectively will he be able to serve his constituents?

I was getting quite annoyed by a BBC article about the Men's Health Strategy particularly a stat about the leading causes of men's death under 50 so I went off to check the leading cause of female death under 50 (TW : suicide) . Then I checked the source and the BBC had actually misquoted Wes...he specifically said under 35 . (I actually think that is in fact road deaths but will check)

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/health-secretary-opens-first-mens-health-summit

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvge2nz70vlo

Don't know if anyone wants to discuss this (I am very interested in health topics). I agree Men's health needs work but there are massive flaws in (primitive) cancer screenings, especially prostate cancer and womb cancer, that both need addressing. Men's life expectancy took a knock in Covid, but so did women's. Men are still projected to catch up by 2030.

The maternity scandals are horrifying and lack of attention to menopause is shocking. The speech actually says it's not an either/or in quite a considered way - but only the Tories are quoted by the BBC as caring about women's health. 'Men die quicker but women are sicker' remains true...

There are LOTS of reasons where average life expectancy isn't where it should be , all complex. Not sure how we address most of them without really long term focus on underlying inequalities which impact health.

Oh, and dementia research, Wes?

Leading cause of death for men at all ages remains heart disease - which does suggest some lifestyle factors . For women it is Alzheimers.

BTW have checked and suicide is leading case of death for both sexes under 35. Big difference in number of deaths, however.

Liver cancer and disease is on the rise and has become the biggest killer of those aged 35-49.

Which is , of course, poverty related..

https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/liver-disease-is-now-the-biggest-cause-of-death-in-those-aged-between-35-49-years-old-new-report-reveals/

According to today's Guardian, the PM is considering an economic reset which might include raising taxes and changing the Chancellor's the fiscal rules.

Badenoch is again saying that Labour's welfare cuts haven't gone far enough and she seems to be still agreeing with Vance on free speech (sky)

Good. I said ages ago that they should use what has happened since Trump got in as a reason for a rethink.

Does she say what she would do? Bring back workhouses? Whip the poor from parish to parish?

Badenoch can say what she wants, really. She is going to be out of a job soon. Maybe after the local elections if the Tories do badly.

https://news.sky.com/story/labour-mps-yuan-yang-and-abtisam-mohamed-denied-entry-and-deported-from-israel-13343009

Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed denied entry and deported from Israel

The MPs say they were "astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities" and they should be free to talk on issues on the Middle East "without fear of being targeted". Israel's UK embassy says they were denied entry because they had "accused Israel of false claims".

It is probably a good thing that she doesn't get pressed on what she would do, safer to hide behind the 'no policies' mantra.

i am interested in health inequalities but think the complexity of the various factors is overwhelming and can’t very well be summarised in any one speech or article. It goes far beyond differences between men & women. It’s access to healthcare, numbers of GPs, poverty, housing, critical health infrastructure, investment in scanning equipment. Regional differences playing a huge part in all of the above. How long you spend on a waiting list which in turn influences mental health and poverty. And the multipliers - disabilities, homelessness etc.

The regional differences are what most annoy me to be honest.
sorry - that’s a bit of a wafty, throw my hands up in the air, response I know!

A long time, as happened with Andrew Rosindell.

In part because of the mismanagement of the justice system over many years. Led at various points by Chris Grayling, Liz Truss and Dominic Raab.

No surprises there then.
She spoke at the same ARC conference as ADL.
and don’t forget how skint the Conservatives are - bit of USD wouldn’t go amiss if donors are heading to Farage. Of course Farage would claim that.

Labour have an advert with Farage and Badenoch's faces merged. Now, I am not a fan of that kind of campaigning but it is spot on.

I also read that more than 60 candidates standing for Reform are defectors from the Conservatives.

Badenoch was on tv earlier defending Israel saying“every country should be allowed to police its borders.”

This came as a surprise to Richard Fuller when he was interviewed on Lewis Goodall. He came across very decently, supporting his fellow mps.

Presumably with a Russian translation ?

Farage is Putins poodle. It's embarrassingly easy to prove it. A shame the media isn't interested.

Richard Fuller is shadow chief sec to the treasury BTW

Not at all. I tend to agree Focusing on 'men's health' is overlooking other entrenched inequalities.

I want to see Labour positively campaigning. Not the " if you don't vote for us you'll get a Tory" angle.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wait-times-slashed-for-80000-thanks-to-boost-in-cancer-detection

I suspect that hides quite a lot of facts about the issues with the screening though. Prostate screening is archaic and survival rates of thyroid cancer have not dropped despite more cases being found. So some people's wait times may drop but their treatment may not necessarily be better.