Thread 3 Burnham: Receso para reorganizarse

[BIossomtoes]

Welcome to our long running thread for political discussion, general chit chat, a friendly hug and taxes in kind. 💐🍦 for anyone who needs them.

New PM, new thread title, the discussion continues from https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5557787-thread-2-burnham-coragem-e-esperanca?page=1

https://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-paints-himself-as-local-hero-in-fight-for-clacton/

Big spender Farage has spent the grand total of £10,000 on the campaign.

The optics of that, while sitting on at least £5,000,000 aren't great.

Especially if he loses.

More so for his donors if he wins.

https://andrewspreviews.substack.com/p/previewing-the-clacton-by-election

This is also interesting @BIossomtoes regarding the longevity of the count, which makes sense.

The polling sheet is too long, 90cm, so requires two tables and less counters at each table. Occam's razor.

I'd like to think cb can beat Farage. There are a lot of disillusioned voters in Clacton after Farage failed to stop the boats, hold any surgeries, do anything you would expect your MP to do. Not to mention bribery and corruption.

If not, Farage has to face the music, and that will be delicious.

I shall travel with hope until the result.

"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity ...."

"Human genius has it's limits, while human stupidity does not."

Thank you @placemats, that was an interesting read. I hadn’t taken the mammoth size of the ballot paper into account. How easy it would be to make a mistake when voting …

One good thing. Have reapplied for my postal vote today 😄

“Taken together, Q1 and Q2 2026 marked the strongest two quarters of per capita UK GDP growth for four years.”

https://bsky.app/profile/bruceandy.bsky.social/post/3msxtsnvpxs2k

UK economy gains from Gulf ceasefire, World Cup and sunshine - https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-economy-unexpectedly-grows-by-03-june-ons-says-2026-08-13/

im sure UK media will find a more negative story to tell.

So, in fact, exactly what Starmer said would happen. 2 bad years, then improving. FFS why is the U.K. so crap at patience?

It was widely noted after the election that Labour had chosen to front load all the shit work into the start of the government.

The increasing note of desperation from the Reformy types suggests that privately they agree with the pundits that doing this would help boost the economy as the years moved on.

That said, it's worth remembering how Trump was able to tell Americans how bad they were having it under Biden. And to chime with that, I remember years ago a colleague saying that they wouldn't put it past Tony Blair to boost the economy just to make sure the Tories couldn't win.

Do we have an estimated time when the election will be called?

Extra cat tax.

Between 5am and 7am.

Thanks. You never know, we could awake to some happy news.

I’m not holding my breath but wouldn’t it be lovely?

I think I’d prefer the Standards Committee to finish its investigation.
But I suppose either works.

Or rubbish news 😉

It would make my year, I’d pay good money to see that slippery grifting morally bankrupt shite defeated.

Me too. Watching him slink away in barely concealed rage would make my year. Better yet if he lost the plot and flounced. Sadly I think it’s all fantasy.

We can dream.

I love a dream.

I do too. And on the odd occasion they come true.

Whatever happens Crace is writing a special column tomorrow in honour of Farage which I can’t wait to read.

Same, and yes!