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Thread 41 Starmer : "Alban Arthan" the returning of the light

997 replies

DuncinToffee · 11/01/2026 19:49

Previous thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5461238-thread-40-starmer-prettig-kerstfeest-nollaig-shona-hyvaa-joulua-nadolig-llawen-god-jul-feliz-navidad-bouan-noue-nollaig-chridheil?page=40

Welcome to 2026 for political discussion, general chat and taxes in kind.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
89
SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 10:23

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 10:09

Simon Hoare, chair of the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee said:

Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?

That is very well put!

It's also a direct criticism of his country. What exactly are they doing to rein him in ?

MsJinks · 23/01/2026 10:33

Notonthestairs · 23/01/2026 10:22

She couldn't immediately condemn it because she needed to work out how Twitter was reporting it first.

Boris Johnson method of watching the crowd and pretend to be leading the way.

Exactly - though Badenoch seems a bit slower at this ‘skill’.
I think Nige is a bit stuck between U.K. rock and Trump’s hard place.
Thank goodness he’s not leading the U.K. - we’d be 5xth state very shortly.

Notonthestairs · 23/01/2026 10:37

Farage's silence should give his patriotic supporters pause for thought.
But it wont because they are banking on him offering them tax cuts.

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 10:47

.

Thread 41 Starmer :  "Alban Arthan"  the returning of the light
PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 10:53

Notonthestairs · 23/01/2026 10:37

Farage's silence should give his patriotic supporters pause for thought.
But it wont because they are banking on him offering them tax cuts.

I don't want this to happen as it is my nightmare, but if Reform took control of Wales, the tax promises would be put to the test (if they are in Reform's manifesto for Wales, I don't think one has been published yet). I am sure some excuse would be found not to cut income tax.

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 10:54

Fans of irony will notice that as a very clickworthy story, this is starting to grow.

MsJinks · 23/01/2026 10:57

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 10:53

I don't want this to happen as it is my nightmare, but if Reform took control of Wales, the tax promises would be put to the test (if they are in Reform's manifesto for Wales, I don't think one has been published yet). I am sure some excuse would be found not to cut income tax.

All the council tax promises have been broken - no real explanation for it either.
I guess I would go with ‘fool me once’ (not that I’d ever consider voting Reform) but obviously many do not.

cardibach · 23/01/2026 10:57

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 10:53

I don't want this to happen as it is my nightmare, but if Reform took control of Wales, the tax promises would be put to the test (if they are in Reform's manifesto for Wales, I don't think one has been published yet). I am sure some excuse would be found not to cut income tax.

The thing that worries me about the Senedd is I can’t find any manifestos. The only one on Plaid’s page when I looked (last week I think) was the 2024 one for Westminster elections. If even Plaid can’t be bothered to write a specific Senedd manifesto it’s a poor show.

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 11:01

A UK with backbone would make Trumps visit contingent on an apology. I'd sign up for that.

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 11:13

cardibach · 23/01/2026 10:57

The thing that worries me about the Senedd is I can’t find any manifestos. The only one on Plaid’s page when I looked (last week I think) was the 2024 one for Westminster elections. If even Plaid can’t be bothered to write a specific Senedd manifesto it’s a poor show.

Manifestos are usually published just a few weeks before an election, aren't they? In 2021 I think they came out around the start of April. I suppose things can change so rapidly in politics publishing too soon might be unwise.

OP posts:
MsJinks · 23/01/2026 12:10

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 11:01

A UK with backbone would make Trumps visit contingent on an apology. I'd sign up for that.

Is he coming here again? Ugh

placemats · 23/01/2026 12:47

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 10:53

I don't want this to happen as it is my nightmare, but if Reform took control of Wales, the tax promises would be put to the test (if they are in Reform's manifesto for Wales, I don't think one has been published yet). I am sure some excuse would be found not to cut income tax.

You'd be paying for your prescriptions for a start.

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 13:06

Removed as image didn't attach

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 13:09

Chapeau@

Thread 41 Starmer :  "Alban Arthan"  the returning of the light
cardibach · 23/01/2026 14:05

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 11:13

Manifestos are usually published just a few weeks before an election, aren't they? In 2021 I think they came out around the start of April. I suppose things can change so rapidly in politics publishing too soon might be unwise.

That’s probably the case. It would help if there was a vision for Wales out there though.

Cheguevarahamster · 23/01/2026 14:10

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 13:32

I heard this live this morning, and it was incredibly powerful. Did you hear the poem as well? It was deeply moving. I only wish that coward Trump would listen to some of the callers— he might actually learn something. But that would require empathy, which he so clearly lacks.

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 14:13

Cheguevarahamster · 23/01/2026 14:10

I heard this live this morning, and it was incredibly powerful. Did you hear the poem as well? It was deeply moving. I only wish that coward Trump would listen to some of the callers— he might actually learn something. But that would require empathy, which he so clearly lacks.

I couldn't watch to the end, I had something in my eye.

PandoraSocks · 23/01/2026 14:16

I heard the poem too. There was also a caller a bit later on who spoke about his son who committed suicide after serving in the armed forces. Trump wouldn't care about any of this. As you say, he has no empathy. He is a black hole of a human being.

Cheguevarahamster · 23/01/2026 14:27

Where is Farage (and fellow plastic patriot and racist Tommy ten names) whist Trump insults the armed forces? Tumbleweed..

SerendipityJane · 23/01/2026 14:37

Cheguevarahamster · 23/01/2026 14:27

Where is Farage (and fellow plastic patriot and racist Tommy ten names) whist Trump insults the armed forces? Tumbleweed..

The BBC do seem at rather a lose end, having lost 80% of their content. Long may it continue.

Farage will ooze again when the media aren't going to raise this story.

Notonthestairs · 23/01/2026 14:52

Cheguevarahamster · 23/01/2026 14:10

I heard this live this morning, and it was incredibly powerful. Did you hear the poem as well? It was deeply moving. I only wish that coward Trump would listen to some of the callers— he might actually learn something. But that would require empathy, which he so clearly lacks.

Yes I had a long drive this morning and heard the call in this morning. It was very moving. Everyone that called in was so dignified and rightly proud of their service/the service of their loved ones.

I was in the car long enough to hear Simon Marks round up from the US and was dismayed by his description of the Fox summary of DAVOS. Trump put the Europeans in their place apparently. No mention of his climbdown regarding Greenland/the rejection of his Board of Peace nonsense/his confusion regarding Greenland and Iceland.
I know we shouldn't expect better from Fox but it does mean that large parts of the US will be quite unaware of how they are perceived elsewhere.
Then again i dont suppose that matters to them.

Also should mention that both Al Carns (Minister for Armed Forces) and Ben Obese-Jecty have given excellent statements today regarding the role of our military and NATO and their own service.