Thread 26 Starmer: Cats, Rebels and Orange Chaos

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5349605-thread-25-starmer-cheers-for-a-falling-out-among-thieves?page=40&reply=145224605

"Same for those with severe or profound learning disabilities or otherwise complex neurological disabilities. By adulthood, any "improvements" are going to be hard won and marginal and likely rely on the sort of scaffolding that counts as "care" in the first place."

Absolutely right.

It wouldn't be so bad if those later reviews then worked to up the level of support provided.

However they are only ever intended to cut benefits.

PM listens to back benchers concerns is not quite a catchy headline.

And now there is PM regrets 'island of strangers' comment to get to grips with.

(from Starmer's interview with the Independent)

The slow dispatch of Morgan McSweeney

Didn't they used to do this when it was DLA? Then George Osborne brought in the reforms and moved it over to PIP? I think that's what happened. The problem started there, which also started the rhetoric that people are taking advantage of the system etc. The awfulness was ramped up with Osborne.

I do miss the dulcet tones of the wonderful late Vincent Hannah. @DuncinToffee

And most of those in opposition who are now in the Cabinet, were very vocal in their opposition of the PIP system. Oh the irony.

ETA. Vincent Hanna.

I loved Vincent Hanna. Very amusing, wry style.

Chris Mason does not compare

My MP replied this morning ... keeping their WriteToThem stats up 😀

A group of starlings landed on my neighbour's bird feeder, the noise

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/52437-first-yougov-mrp-since-2024-election-shows-a-hung-parliament-with-reform-uk-as-largest-party

Once people see how Reform do when running a few councils, I think their support will reduce.

I think the overall message is that we are looking at a hung parliament whatever.

All the long term data suggests this. It's how large numbers work.

The "event horizon" so to speak is when the 2 largest parties combined vote drops below 50% of votes cast. At that point it's hard to argue however power is wielded, it is in anyway representative, let alone democratic. (I leave it to the reader to decide if those two things are equivalent and if not which is preferable 😀)

This is why the silent dog is the APP Committee on electoral reform. By far the largest such committee despite the absence of Reform (who clearly have no interest in electoral reform now).

The hung parliament was projected for the 2005 elections when Labour got a majority of 66. A hung parliament didn't happen until 2010. And we all know what happened next. @SerendipityJane

What has happened since the 21st century is a drop of voter turnout from the 70% to 60% and that's the concern.

It's been inching closer - remember even a downward trend can throw a brief spike.

FPTP simply isn't going to "work" with more parties. Since no one has addressed whether "democracy" and "representation" are equivalent I guess the answer must be that as long as we have a "government" (i.e. a party with a majority in Westminster) then representation is irrelevant. As indeed it has been for so long in Englands history,

Imagine a result that returned a parliamentary majority on 40% of votes cast. Which suggests that about 70% of the population did not vote for the ruling government

Imagine a workplace where 30% of the employees organised everything for the other 70%.

Meals ? Vegans can fuck off.
Toilets ? Well that 30% is probably 80% male. So no need for female toilets.

And so on.

Obviously the permathickies of this world like Badenoch and Jenrick would think such a situation is a Good Thing. However the more sanguine minds have already started casting the runes for such scenarios because if you want to know what a civil war looks like, you may just find out.

Even I would struggle to feel bound to a government based on 30% of the population.

I'm off out tonight on a quiz gathering with friends I cherish. It's a success because despite all our differences, we come together to support those in involved in artistic employment.

Sorry. Bollocks.

Either interpretation of this claptrap reflects poorly on Starmer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3rxrg2pnjo

Sorry I'm sure this has been said before but why didn't the newly elected government commit themselves to doing a review before announcing all this stuff? Then there'd be less need for tons of U turns. Why can't they get a grip on how this all looks?

It's hard to escape the conclusion that whilst the Tories were well and truly ejected in 2024, the people advising them didn't go anywhere. And here we are.

It's hard to believe that anyone with even half a brain could have come up with three existential crises for a new government in a year by accident.

The bitter irony is we know that next election, neither Tories nor Reform will be expected to adhere to Labours budget plan.

Well neither the Tories or Reform will @SerendipityJane so no need to worry or be sorry.

The BBC is tasked with being impartial .
This principle is enshrined in the BBC's royal charter.
How are they doing ?

I would really like to know why they think that the Reform party would be good for the UK.

Aknowledging that you made a mistake and apologise for it is a rarity in politics these days

It certainly is. It’s a great shame no credit is given for it.