Thread 35 Starmer: Old and smelling of roses

[DuncinToffee]

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Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5418471-thread-34-starmer-conference-swanwiches-and-a-deputy-leader-contest?page=40

Well, the Telegraph has morphed into the Mail, so it is no surprise.

According to the Guardian 970,642 were eligible to vote.

Edit to change 7 to 6

"The Guardian’s deputy political editor, Jessica Elgot, has shared her reaction to Lucy Powell being elected as Labour’s new deputy leader:

Powell’s election is a sign of the disillusionment of Labour members – but there is a much much bigger and more worrying sign. Turn out was just 16%.

This is likely to be the case because a large number of trade union levy payers – who also get a vote – are unlikely to have turned out to vote."

Not the best article from Andrew Marr imo.
Stating, "Britain has become ungovernable."
Not terribly helpful . I completely disagree with him that the Labour establishment had underestimated the difficulties they were facing.
They get it, but the media seems childlike in its reporting and to expect everything can be turned around in 18 months is farcical.
He states " The new government were also doing much that was good ," continuing to say that " very little of this sticks in the mind of the voter ."
Not difficult to answer that one is it Andrew, the media do not report Labour's successes and I do not see why they would apparently be "gleefully " reporting on the UK's difficulties with such regularity.
Labour said right from the off that things would be worse before they got better but it seems we all wanted a quick fix.
Given the ruination by the Tories (and I thought your comment @serendipity about the Brexit vote was very interesting) and the global situations we are living through Labour need time.
In my opinion.

Trouble is they haven’t got time. We live in a society that demands instant gratification, it’s become like a tantrumming toddler that demands its sweets right now.

No party is going to give instant gratification so as we are fucked anyway, might as well stick with Labour

@blossom I hear you.
We need to change this attitude but how?
On QT on thursday I watched Mariella Frostrup refuting the claims about Jess Phillips and was really heartened by her words.
The bayonets were being sharpened for yet another go at a female Labour MP.

This is true. But Labour needs to ignore all the populist rabble rousing and stop reacting every time Reform starts screaming. Ignore and get on with the job in hand.

I like this from Powell

Telegraph: Lucy Powell saying “Because let’s be honest, we’ve let Farage and his ilk run away with it. He wants to blame immigration for all the country’s problems. We reject that”

It’s good, isn’t it? I’m immensely cheered that common sense prevailed in Caerphilly too.

I posted Marr because usually he is on the money about Labour. A few months back he did an extended piece on Starmer which effectively asked if he was the last of his kind, ie a PM from Labour or Tory, the post war political world we’ve had since 1945. I thought it was interesting.

Social media seems to have broken the cosy narratives of the press and Tory v Labour. It’s broken that narrative for voters, everything is fluid, people feel unsettled. I agree expectations are high, and unrealistically so. But look at this governments majority. It has been timid when given a huge amount of power- people notice that, and they have given it for a reason. They will just as soon as give it to someone who will not be next time, I think.

I see we are being monitored again. Amazing given we are apparently so old and smelly.

I think Marr raises valid points.
But we knew that from the moment Labour committed to the Tories fiscal rules that they were going to make life harder for themselves than they need to.
The Conservatives spent £10 billion on an NI cut we couldnt - can't - afford.

i'd love for them to be more aggressively anti Brexit - only the most moronic voters still cling to it and they'd happily follow Farage over the cliff.

Farage is pedalling the idea that he could get a better deal from the EU which is palpable nonsense.

If Labour dont make hay from this the Lib Dems will.
It wont just be Plaid that benefits from their timidity.

Farage is peddling a no deal

Interesting thread on his interview with Mishal Hussein by Roland Smith

Listening to this (so you don't have to).

Unsurprisingly, Farage says he would end alignment with the EU. And he still thinks we can play hardball with the EU to get a much better deal - shades of 'they need us more than we need them'. No question, he would take the UK to 'No Deal'.

https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:cbvszoqtcywxew6vdl2uyghj/post/3m3ytzje5ac2o

And on top of that, it's not just Labour membership who vote. I voted and I'm not a Labour member. Pleased to see my vote clinched it, clearly 😄

I mean, honestly, what kind of idiot believes a no deal Brexit will benefit the UK.

We lost 4-6% of GDP last time around!
Why make it worse?

This is funny and well played 👏

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2ler3xnv8o
A warning has been issued after fake letters were posted through letterboxes, claiming people would have to house refugees if they flew St George's flag.
The letter said that "patriotic" households displaying the country's flag will temporarily house refugees because "we know you would be proud to assist your country".

Blatant racism here from the Reform MP

https://bsky.app/profile/implausibleblog.bsky.social/post/3m3zfb2oekk2u

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, “It drives me mad seeing adverts full of black people, full of Asian people, full of anything other than white"

Followed by that time Sarah Pochin said, "My kids say: mum, you're such a moron" 👀

Reform councillor says he's worried about vulnerable people - that's the joke right?

Sarah Pochin has a whopping majority of 6. SIX. (If put in capitals it sounds better).

Businesses advertising “drives her mad”?
Really?

What sensitive souls Reform are.
❄️

Better not mention cats then

Reform is having a day of action, to get out on the streets and sign up members.

They don't seem to be bothering with my part of the UK 🤣. Anyone else seem them?

I'm watching the results unfold in the Irish Presidential election and am genuinely shocked that Donegal gave front runner Catherine Connolly 80% of the vote.

Cat gif