Thread 22 Starmer - Running up to local elections

[BIossomtoes]

Here we go. Previous thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5305431-thread-21-starmer-casting-nasturtiums?page=40&reply=143731831

Where have I said that I am voting for Reform? I usually vote Lib Dems in local elections but haven't actually said on this thread or any other who I will be voting for this time.

Of course there's not enough space on a leaflet to go into detail, not sure why you think that's an excuse, it's not a manifesto.

Because one or all parties doing it doesn’t make it right and doesn’t make one party better and more notable than another.

All parties should be saying what they’ll do rather than empty bullet points of empty promises that can’t be held anti account over.

There isn't a lot of common ground between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives, particularly since Brexit.
Although I suppose even Badenoch acknowledges they are good at fixing local projects.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband is hosting the IEA / UK govt summit on energy security today.

Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen are expected to hold talks on sidelines of London energy summit to finalise plans for a defence pact and an agreement on the sensitive area of fishing rights, paving the way for negotiations on a broader economic deal.

https://www.ft.com/content/92734ac6-5ada-4784-b694-44043d85244e

He was brilliant on BBC R4 this morning. I was really impressed with how he handled the interviewer not letting him answer because he wanted some kind of gotya and how he explained the plan, how they are doing it, why and their aim.

whilst in the subject did anyone else get the BBC questionnaire recently? I did and responded a lot about how they shouldn’t have people affiliated with any political al party in jobs let alone the top spots and presenting political programmes.

Also I’ve heard short excerpts during my day but has Trump just basically announced he’s in Putins side/ in his pocket? He’s desperate now because Zelensky didn’t roll over to him for Putin.

If I was Trump I’d avoid any windows for the time being 😉

The adults are back in the room!

And also, a move seems to be afoot to create a youth mobility scheme for British/European 18-30 year olds:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/23/labour-letter-youth-mobility-scheme-brexit-eu-brussels

Interesting article from David Henig summed up by ‘a reasonable first step’.

Am trying not to think about a giant waste of time and money Brexit has been.

https://www.tradeandbusiness.uk/news/progress-made-ahead-of-uk-eu-summit

Jessica Elgot wrote an article in the Guardian on the EU reset saying

How will Keir Starmer go about his quietly bigger EU reset? In the most boring way possible...

boring is good imo

And mine. We’ve had enough political drama to last a life time.

I see farage has continued to be as "misinformed" as ever.
Told outright 2 lies whilst canvassing in my area - local papers quickly highlighted the nonsense.

Today he said that too many SN children are diagnosed online by GPs.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHERE DOES HE GET THIS TRIPE FROM?

It's as if he has no knowledge of the issues at all. Does he not have researchers? Are they just not very good?
Or do he just ignore facts in preference for made up stories that fit his agenda?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHERE DOES HE GET THIS TRIPE FROM?

The US? Channeling RFK jr

Yes, my first thought was RFK jr. Blame tax take on SN.

Doesn't exactly bode well for councils if they were to get control.

But absolutely disgraceful to have so little understanding of the process of diagnosis and then to hold court based on utterly false information.

It would be embarrassing if it were not for the fact that he wants to PM and Jenrick and pals would usher him in in a heartbeat.

That’s exactly what he does.

The bigger issue is that people just drool over it and believe him.

He doesn't get called out on his lies, the media just lets him say whatever he likes.

What really makes me sick is that he dresses it up with faux concern - he's worried that children are rendered 'victims' by lazy GPs over diagnosing SN over fecking Zoom.
Putting aside the fact that that isnt how it fucking works, i would suggest he's not in the least bit worried. I'd suggest that he's actually quite pleased.
He wants to cut tax and SN is a much easier target that THE ENORMOUS DROP IN GDP DUE TO BREXIT.

Shades of Badenoch and the pamphlet suggesting autistic children get economic advantages.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHERE DOES HE GET THIS TRIPE FROM?

Whatever some random saw fit to scribble on the back of a fag packet for him

GPs refer to a Consultant Paediatrician if, in my case, a toddler (18 months and walking) isn't doing well in milestones. It took a further 3 years and many more consultations and tests to get a diagnosis of autism. That was so we could get him into school (he was accepted into mainstream one to one which was our preferred choice).

I thought the Guardian article quoted him as saying "over diagnosis of mental health" rather than SN or does mental health now come under SN.

My son is autistic he doesn't have mental health problems.

He does sometimes suffer with anxiety but that is due to his autism not a separate mental health problem.

"So many of these diagnoses, for Send before 18, for disability register after 18 – so many of these have been conducted on Zoom, with the family GP."

From the Guardian.

As if we even have a 'family' GP.

https://www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/news/comments-by-nigel-farage-on-send-are-fake-news-says-national-autistic-society/

Nigel Farage’s comments are wildly inaccurate and show that he’s completely out of touch with what autistic children and adults have to go through to get a diagnosis or any support at all. For the record, absolutely no one has got an autism diagnosis through the GP – this is just incorrect, wrong, fake news. Children with SEND and disabled adults, including autistic people, are not victims who are being ‘over diagnosed’. They are people who face huge delays and long fights to get the most basic support across every aspect of their lives, including diagnosis, education, health and social care. Spreading misinformation only perpetuates stigma and makes life harder. We’re calling on all politicians to drop the political point scoring and stand up for their autistic and other disabled constituents: http://bit.ly/4jyLHiv

National Autistic Society

That was a swift deletion @Notonthestairs - you must have been caught by a MN algorithm!