Thread 45 Starmer: Una nación que olvida su pasado no tiene futuro.

[DuncinToffee]

"Su mejor momento" ✌

Welcome to our long running thread for political discussion, general chit chat, a friendly hug and taxes in kind

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5493002-thread-44-starmer-knolraap-en-lof-schorseneren-en-prei?page=40

I don't think we appreciated how much less safe, though.

As an army brat in the early 70s, my nursery school was the kindergarten at the army barracks. We were targeted in that community (I distinctly remember having to sleep over at a house further away from the NAAFI shop than ours because of it) and we thought it had been a hoax for years until someone was prosecuted for it when I was well into adulthood.

All wildlife featured should be female. Such as lady ferns and holly with berries.

Plus cats and wrens.

No magpies, though. I will personally revolt if they include a magpie.

My entertainment for the day was watching one trying to build a nest in a neighbour's 40' tall monkey puzzle tree in 50mph gusts. It was seriously struggling while being whipped about by all sorts of fast moving spikiness with a 18" twig in its beak. There's a reason why every magpie nest built in that tree has been abandoned.

ETA and a reason why the blackbirds nest underneath it!

The government needs to get rid of Palantir

Palantir CEO promises that his technology will reduce educated women's economic and political power https://newrepublic.com/post/207693/palantir-ceo-karp-disrupting-democratic-power?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_source=Twitter

And for many more reasons.

Absolutely! Here's a quick precis of what Palantir is doing (from a US perspective, but they're sure to be working towards the same everywhere else);

And from the Nerve

https://www.thenerve.news/p/palantir-technologies-uk-government-contracts-size-nuclear-deterrent-atomic-peter-thiel-louis-mosley

Yesterday, Jess Phillips read out the names of the 108 women killed in the UK by men – or where a man has been charged – in the past 12 months.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/12/sons-suspects-almost-one-in-five-killings-uk-women-last-year-study-shows

That makes me so sad every year.

And me. Looking forward to a hypothetical world in which it isn’t necessary for her to do it.

And that world is looking further and further away.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he wishes the party "hadn't bothered" to take minority control of Worcestershire County Council, because of its financial problems.

The Reform-led authority recently approved a council tax rise of almost 9%, one of the largest in its history, in a bid to balance its books and avoid effective bankruptcy amid a budget shortfall.

When questioned about the decision to increase tax, which is higher than the standard 5% normally allowed, Farage said the party had inherited the council and "didn't make it bankrupt".

"Worcestershire, I have to say, we took minority control of a virtually bankrupt council, I wish we hadn't bothered," he said.

When asked whether he wished his party had not won Worcestershire at the polls last year, Farage said: "No, no, no - we didn't win the election, we formed a coalition and we were always [going to be] on a hiding to nothing.

"Take Worcestershire out, because of exceptional circumstances."

A Reform UK spokesman, addressing Farage's comments, said the party had "stepped up" and had done its "civic duty".

He added: "Despite inheriting a catastrophic mess from the Tories and a council that had to be propped up by government bailouts, our team has fought hard to deliver a responsible budget and avoid raising council tax to the maximum."

Reform UK, which had previously pledged to cut tax during its election campaign, took over leadership of the authority from the Conservatives following the local elections in May, but has no overall majority.

Councillors voted through its 2026-27 budget last month, with the tax rise set to add about £145 a year to Band D bills from April.

It has already scrapped £30m in capital spending and is withdrawing vacant job posts in areas including IT, finance and HR as part of a plan to cut millions from its spending.

The government also agreed to finance up to £59.9m in emergency support, to help fill a black hole in the budget.

Farage suggested the average council tax rise by Reform-led authorities may be even lower if Worcestershire was not included.

"It's bankrupt. We didn't make it bankrupt, we inherited it," he said.

"Look at the ones [councils] that we're in control of... of course if you took Worcestershire out, the rise would be even lower than it is."

Tories considering a coalition with Reform need to take particular note of "No, no, no - we didn't win the election, we formed a coalition and we were always [going to be] on a hiding to nothing."

Never let actual work get in the way of a good whinge.

Even a really shit interviewer would have followed up with

"So just the same as the Labour government inheriting a mess from the Tories then ?"

Snowflakes

https://bsky.app/profile/peterstefanovic.bsky.social/post/3mgx2yj5j6s2p

‘The Petrol Retailers Association have withdrawn from the meeting claiming there's inflammatory language being used by Government ministers'

Comments made by Ed Miliband in an interview on #BBCBreakfast have led to fuel companies pulling out of meeting to discuss rising prices caused by Iran war

and

Rachel Reeves: “I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current situation to make excess profits at consumers’ expense. I’m backing drivers and families - and I expect a fair deal at the pump.”

Reeves/Govt will need to do a whole lot more than stern words.

They need to impose price controls asap, they ve a majority, use it, we all saw what Govt can do if it wants, during Covid.... this is a God given opportunity for Labour to be on the front foot, dither and it will be gone.

I suspect "Dither/or nothing at all"

You beat me to it.

I also think it would be generally popular as well? Yes there will be some panicky hand ringing from the usual suspects about how this is Literal Communism and look how that ended. But protecting consumers from excessive profiteering should be a vote winner. (I know petrol companies need to make profits too. But by and large they very much are).

Yep 100%, that was my point but i suspect we will just get more words... Silly really, as lower prices, helps inflation targets.

Petrol profit margins have risen considerably in recent years too, SMs used to almost use Fuel as a loss leader, now its seen as a means to boost overall profits with margins above those of the indie forecourts.

Petrol retailers back on for talks now.

Unison is a the trade union supporting workers in petrol stations.

You never know. They might surprise us.

"When questioned about the decision to increase tax, which is higher than the standard 5% normally allowed, Farage said the party had inherited the council and "didn't make it bankrupt"."

Sigh, nod head, run to the bathroom and laugh 😂

Who gave Palantir the contract in 2023 for five years? Step forward Victoria Atkins, Conservative Party Health minister in the then Government cabinet led by, shuffles memory, Rishi Sunak!

So the contract ends in 2028. 3 +5 makes 8, review for renewal is next year.

Found by AI

A local horse owner has just posted about a flag someone has put up on a lamp next to their field. Apparently it's startling the horses.

Aren't some on this thread a bit horsey ? Might be something to keep an eye out for.