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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
PandoraSocks · 14/01/2026 15:34

cardibach · 14/01/2026 13:53

Just laughed out loud at a PMQs clip. Starmer, at the end of an answer to something about U turns, highlighted the number of PM and cabinet changes in the last Tory government - finished up by saying ‘in 14 years they had more positions than the Kama Sutra. No wonder they are knackered and left the country screwed’.
I’m going to hell for being so puerile aren’t I?

There are some knickers in a twist about that. Apparently it is misogynistic. This is coming from people who are regularly...misogynistic. 🤦‍♀️

BIossomtoes · 14/01/2026 15:34

Efacsen · 14/01/2026 14:59

Wouldn't a proper poll/survey cost money? Whereas the half-arsed self-selected sample is completely free!

Of course. I’d really like to know a lot more about this poll. When was it conducted? How long was it open? Where was it publicised on the site? All questions I very much doubt I’ll ever get answered.

BIossomtoes · 14/01/2026 15:36

PandoraSocks · 14/01/2026 15:34

There are some knickers in a twist about that. Apparently it is misogynistic. This is coming from people who are regularly...misogynistic. 🤦‍♀️

How is it misogynistic? Presumably he meant heterosexual sex. Nice to see him come back with something genuinely witty. Hopefully it’s the start of a good run.

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 15:37

Efacsen · 14/01/2026 14:59

Wouldn't a proper poll/survey cost money? Whereas the half-arsed self-selected sample is completely free!

YouGov are eye-wateringly expensive. But they bring a lot of expertise to the subject, However they can't force their clients to actually accept it.

When I was doing IT strategy I was in a few meetings with YouGov. When I pointed out the flaws in a poll I had done, they said they were fully aware, but that was what the customer wanted. Apparently it was very common for "companies" to put out polls where the result was already known.

(Funny, I was posting this for the title (and chorus). However it seemed like it's a song "Our Nige" could belt out after Andrea Jenkyns has got everyone pumped at cunt Karaoke in October

)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFOi0pfroiU

Efacsen · 14/01/2026 15:50

BIossomtoes · 14/01/2026 15:34

Of course. I’d really like to know a lot more about this poll. When was it conducted? How long was it open? Where was it publicised on the site? All questions I very much doubt I’ll ever get answered.

Agree - MNHQ were pretty evasive about all those things on that thread in 'Media Requests' despite PP repeated questions

.

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 15:58

Efacsen · 14/01/2026 15:50

Agree - MNHQ were pretty evasive about all those things on that thread in 'Media Requests' despite PP repeated questions

.

Edited

The only way to evaluate the accuracy of a poll is to have the actual questions and responses before anyone has "curated" them.

Just as a trivial example, occasionally a question like "Who do you think would make the best PM ?"

Kier Starmer
Kemi Badenoch
Ed Davey
Nigel Farage

Now if you were told on the basis of that question alone that "52% said Nigel Farage would be the best PM", you may form a particular series of thoughts.

However if you then learned that the question was (a) mandatory and (b) only have the options I presented, your thoughts may be somewhat different.

All of this was known 45 years ago at least. If it's a shock to anyone then they've not been paying attention.

DuncinToffee · 14/01/2026 16:14

One for the IMF bail out crowd

1970s-style debt crisis update –

UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year
https://www.ft.com/content/0574b088-2cc1-453a-b14c-041ff6218b19

edit to add another link as article is behind paywall
https://bsky.app/profile/iankmsmith.ft.com/post/3mcffperszk2p

UK borrowing costs fall to lowest in more than a year

Rate cut bets and easing tensions over government borrowing fuel gilts rally

https://www.ft.com/content/0574b088-2cc1-453a-b14c-041ff6218b19

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 16:17

One for the IMF bail out crowd

I doubt they will hear you as they appear to be buried beneath a bunch of VAT on private school disasteristas

Piggywaspushed · 14/01/2026 16:23

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 16:12

Interesting.

placemats · 14/01/2026 16:36

PandoraSocks · 14/01/2026 15:34

There are some knickers in a twist about that. Apparently it is misogynistic. This is coming from people who are regularly...misogynistic. 🤦‍♀️

Is it misogynistic because the delicate flower that's the opposition leader Kemi Badenoch a, trembles lips, woman?

BIWI · 14/01/2026 16:37

Re the poll - as an ex-market researcher it’s something that really pisses me off. MN have ‘proper’ insight staff these days, and they should know much better that what they’re doing is really not good quality research or data. It’s typical of entities that are involved in PR that do this kind of shoddy work.

I’m embarrassed for Mumsnet.

placemats · 14/01/2026 16:41

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 16:12

Excellent news for a Wednesday which is a wonderful distraction from imagining Boris and Carrie in Kama Sutra positions, especially if the man is much older.

Piggywaspushed · 14/01/2026 16:59

And, lo, I have just seen my previous comment in live action on Black Mumsnetters.

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 17:05

BIWI · 14/01/2026 16:37

Re the poll - as an ex-market researcher it’s something that really pisses me off. MN have ‘proper’ insight staff these days, and they should know much better that what they’re doing is really not good quality research or data. It’s typical of entities that are involved in PR that do this kind of shoddy work.

I’m embarrassed for Mumsnet.

Oh dear ...

https://www.thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2026/01/14/tommy-robinson-deletes/

Tommy Robinson deletes 'gay sex ad' attack after user points out YouTube ads personalised

Shithouse racist Tommy Robinson deletes gay sex ad after social media user points out ads are based on personalised content

https://www.thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2026/01/14/tommy-robinson-deletes/

pointythings · 14/01/2026 17:51

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 16:17

One for the IMF bail out crowd

I doubt they will hear you as they appear to be buried beneath a bunch of VAT on private school disasteristas

I read that as 'disasterias', as in when the wisteria overgrows your house so much that it collapses. But then it has been a trying day at work, and DS may not be able to get into his flat tonight because it is inside a cordon zone drawn up due to unexploded ordinance being found in a street in Plymouth.

SerendipityJane · 14/01/2026 18:03

pointythings · 14/01/2026 17:51

I read that as 'disasterias', as in when the wisteria overgrows your house so much that it collapses. But then it has been a trying day at work, and DS may not be able to get into his flat tonight because it is inside a cordon zone drawn up due to unexploded ordinance being found in a street in Plymouth.

The war casts a long shadow.

I hope all are well and safe. There's every chance someone could be killed over a century after the end of WW1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_harvest

Iron harvest - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_harvest

Newb13 · 14/01/2026 19:02

New joiner here.

Need an outlet for my views! This is the place it seems!

DuncinToffee · 14/01/2026 19:12

Hi Newb13

OP posts:
PandoraSocks · 14/01/2026 20:18

Newb13 · 14/01/2026 19:02

New joiner here.

Need an outlet for my views! This is the place it seems!

Welcome newb13! Always good to have a new voice join us!

Feel free to share your thoughts! x

Alexandra2001 · 14/01/2026 20:28

@Newb13 Hi ..Enjoy!

Newb13 · 14/01/2026 20:29

Thank you everyone.

It’s a tough old world out there, and our government represent the best of us - despite all the issues.

The alternatives in the shape of Reform (and the Tories) are simply too terrible to contemplate.

DuncinToffee · 14/01/2026 20:32

pointythings · 14/01/2026 17:51

I read that as 'disasterias', as in when the wisteria overgrows your house so much that it collapses. But then it has been a trying day at work, and DS may not be able to get into his flat tonight because it is inside a cordon zone drawn up due to unexploded ordinance being found in a street in Plymouth.

What will happen if he can't get to his flat? Does he get accommodated in a hotel?

OP posts:
pointythings · 14/01/2026 20:41

DuncinToffee · 14/01/2026 20:32

What will happen if he can't get to his flat? Does he get accommodated in a hotel?

I think if that happens they end up in local sports halls, so not great. But fortunately his building is just outside the cordon, so he's home. It's likely this will still be ongoing in the morning though, so it's going to be commute from Hell. On the other hand he's had his first week's feedback and they're delighted with him.