Thread 53 Starmer: Insania Aestiva

[DuncinToffee]

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£5m reasons why they are struggling

Sounds Freak Zone worthy!

On musicals, I wouldn't seek one out but I might enjoy one in good company. That's not something that ever happens to me.

Double tax. One the absolute riot of wild flowers on the hill leading up to the chemist I visited last week - sown by the council about 10 years ago and thriving ever since. The other is my hair's temporary relief at the end of the hot humid weather - instead of being wider than the door frame it made me a silly little ringlet. It's humid again, today, so it didn't last.

Depends how you pronounce the - y

Here’s my tax for this thread, more photos of my 3 furry friends! Although the ginger one is an interloper. 🤣

Oh look, it’s today’s No Shit News Story! as we say in my family. Aren’t their ranks of followers over represented in domestic violence statistics too?

Interesting article by Nazir Afzal. I like the subtlety of ‘because in that moment, he is’ [on the side of the person he is talking to].

@DuncinToffee thought you might appreciate this take on protecting women and girls

I thought I didn't like musicals until I went to sed Hadestown with DD1. Loved it. We have also seen Hercules this year and are planning to do Phantom next year for her birthday.

Flat Cat tax today.

I don't like the way Burnham has played this, but I love how scared certain folk are of him. And the decline of Reform is also good fun.

I don't mind musicals, but I'm not keen on operettas (stuff like The Vagabond King, The Merry Widow etc) despite the fact that my mum was regularly the leading lady in Leeds, and Headingley Amateur Operatic Societies, at The Grand Theatre in Leeds. Saw too many of them growing up!

Some of the best musicals I've enjoyed recently were Cabaret (the recent staging in London, where the whole theatre is kitted out like sleazy nightclub), Standing at The Sky's Edge (about a council estate development in Sheffield, with music and lyrics by Richard Hawley), Matilda, by Tim Minchin, and finally an ALW one - Cinderella.

Carousel is also a fabulous musical - the songs are amazing. Although I've never actually seen that, just been in it! My school was famous (in the local community) for the musical that we would perform every year. The show would run for a week and always sold out.

Anyway, back to politics ...

I liked that article about Starmer and Burnham and it summarised just how I feel about both men. What a shame they couldn't work together. Could you have joint prime ministers?!

I think he will be good at PMQs. His amiable nature and sense of humour vs Badenoch's raging spite will be a strange mix.

Is today Starmer's last PMQs?

Second to last PMQs today - NATO next week then last one on 15th July

Agree with you about Badenoch vs Burnham - will make her look even more unhinged except to her fangirls of course

.

I think so too. I think he’ll laugh at her and take the piss in an amicable way which will make her incandescent. It’s going to be interesting.

I agree about PMQs, Burnham’s humour will fare well against Badenoch’s spite. She definitely won’t like it.

There is a 37% drop in small boat nunbers this year (first two quarters 1 Jan - 25 June )

It's not big news 🤔

And this despite stupendously boat favourable weather...

Doesn’t suit the narrative I expect.

It wouldn’t be. Because, after all, it doesn’t fit the agenda of the right wing press, does it? They want to keep up the narrative of ‘uncontrolled immigration’.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/01/happy-vowel-key-indicator-social-class-manchester-accents-study

You say potato, I say potato.

@BIWI I loved Standing at the Sky’s Edge too! and earlier this summer I saw Ballad Lines at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) and it was incredible - if it’s picked up for a bigger run somewhere I completely recommend. Centres the stories of women and autonomy over several generations of a family. It’s available on Spotify if you are interested.
Cabaret in its current version in London is one of the best theatrical experiences I’ve ever had, from entering the theatre to leaving it. I’ve also been in Carousel (twice) but it’s not my favourite. It’s a bit ‘of its time’ and therefore problematic these days!

I make an exception for Cabaret. We saw the Will Young production a few years ago and it was superb. Off to check out the current production now.

It’s totally immersive and atmospheric. I saw it when Eddie Redmayne was Emcee and Jessie Buckley was Sally. Incredible.

What a cast, how lucky you were @cardibach.

It was amazing @BIossomtoes and only £30 a ticket because I got myself on a priority booking list

Badenoch doesn’t seem to realise she’s on a loser talking about defence. Starmer gave her the figures on how much defence spending has increased under Labour. She can only see one option for funding anything more - cutting welfare. Utterly useless.
Edit: sorry, I’m watching PMQs and getting irate

Badenoch is busy arguing that the previous government's record on defence is irrelevant

Is it just me, or are Lib Dem questions getting more and more Tory sounding?