Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Thread 7 Burnham : Teimlo’r hwyl - feel the hwy

1000 replies

DuncinToffee · 30/09/2026 19:01

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

💐 and Brew for anyone who needs them.

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5578332-thread-6-burnham-resitting-and-resetting?page=39&reply=155062947

OP posts:
Thread gallery
90
placemats · 03/10/2026 09:57

On Facebook I follow local MPs and councillors as well as family and friends and local noticeboards.

The amount of hate I see towards the MPs and the councillors is disturbing. These are posts from people whose profile has very little content. Some of them are obsessed to the point of derangement.

Is it any wonder politicians feel unsafe.

Eta. Take for example local councillor will post about roadworks and possible delays. Whilst many say thanks, certain posters will be apoplectic with rage and make degrading personal remarks, especially if they are female.

Chersfrozenface · 03/10/2026 10:23

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 03/10/2026 09:35

It is horrific to think that Anne Widdecombe's death might have been avoided if police had done a better job. But if that's what emerges from this, then I hope that someone will actually take the time to unpick what went wrong and learn from it, instead of turning it into another witch hunt against the police. Unless they deliberately bungled the investigation for political reasons - which seems unlikely - that isn't going to help anyone.

I don't think it was deliberate bungling.

But I think the police, due to bias, believed that Farage was exaggerating or lying.

Generally I don't think the risk from what the security services calls Left-Wing, Anarchist and Single-Issue Terrorism (LASIT) has been taken seriously. CTP was very much concentrating on far right and Islamist threats.

Let's hope the security services and police forces are now paying more attention.

TemperanceWest · 03/10/2026 10:34

Dawn Butler posts some of the abuse she gets. It is horrifying.

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 10:42

TemperanceWest · 03/10/2026 10:34

Dawn Butler posts some of the abuse she gets. It is horrifying.

Jess Phillips as well.

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 10:46

Cheguevarahamster · 02/10/2026 21:11

In other news. Farage is an absolute scuttering gobshite, but a terror threat against him is appalling. No one deserves that.

BBC News - Widdecombe suspect charged with planning terror act against Farage
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv1j3lgrl6gko

I wonder how many false flags £72 million can buy ?

Asking for a friend ?

E2A: I mean we know how much Farage idolises Trump. And imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 10:51

The ridiculous two tier policing rhetoric doesn't help

Reform's Pochin is saying that about this guy:

Kevin Rees, 64, used a homemade bomb to destroy a ULEZ camera in Sidcup, London.

The incident occurred on December 6, 2023, in Sidcup, south-east London, and was motivated by terrorism , according to the judge.

https://news.sky.com/story/retired-engineer-jailed-for-blowing-up-ulez-camera-using-homemade-bomb-13594406

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 03/10/2026 10:51

I suspect threats made against all politicians have increased over the last decade. The Electoral Commission’s report on the 2024 election highlighted the volume of abuse levelled at candidates during the campaign. Women and candidates from ethnic minorities were more likely to report serious abuse.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-11/Report%20on%20the%202024%20UK%20Parliamentary%20general%20election.pdf

Notonthestairs · 03/10/2026 10:55

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 10:51

The ridiculous two tier policing rhetoric doesn't help

Reform's Pochin is saying that about this guy:

Kevin Rees, 64, used a homemade bomb to destroy a ULEZ camera in Sidcup, London.

The incident occurred on December 6, 2023, in Sidcup, south-east London, and was motivated by terrorism , according to the judge.

https://news.sky.com/story/retired-engineer-jailed-for-blowing-up-ulez-camera-using-homemade-bomb-13594406

Diabolical.

‘The explosion damaged a van opposite and blew out the tyre of a nearby car. Shrapnel was also fired through a passing car into the bottom of a passenger seat.
The explosion damaged a nearby wall, front porch, shed and Wendy house. A piece of metal was also carried more than 100m and damaged the window frame of a child’s bedroom. Despite the extensive damage, fortunately nobody was injured.’

from the Met statement

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 03/10/2026 11:52

Chersfrozenface · 03/10/2026 10:23

I don't think it was deliberate bungling.

But I think the police, due to bias, believed that Farage was exaggerating or lying.

Generally I don't think the risk from what the security services calls Left-Wing, Anarchist and Single-Issue Terrorism (LASIT) has been taken seriously. CTP was very much concentrating on far right and Islamist threats.

Let's hope the security services and police forces are now paying more attention.

You may well be right. There needs to be a proper investigation to understand what went wrong.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/10/2026 11:52

placemats · 03/10/2026 11:04

https://refuge.org.uk/news/refuge-responds-to-sarah-pochin-mp-comment-that-england-should-win-more-world-cup-matches-to-reduce-domestic-abuse/

Sarah is a bundle of contradictions. She stood outside a prison on the first day of early release declaring that this will increase domestic violence.

The below was taken from a UK law firm's website

  • Domestic abuse reports increase by 38% when England lose a major tournament match.
  • Domestic abuse reports increase by 26% when England win or draw.
  • Reports increase by 11% the day after an England match, regardless of the result.

On that basis shouldn't Sarah Pochin be advocating that England no longer take part in major tournaments at all?

SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 12:15

When in doubt, ask AI. However you need to be responsible in your use of AI. Because every question it ingests gets fed back into "the model" to allow to better answer the next question.

To generate the below took a few refinements. At first Gemini didn't know Andy Burham was PM. But when that was poited

The irony of some people using this tragedy for political agendas is not lost on me

explain how russian intelligence could have murdered anne widdecombe as a flase flag operation to relive pressure from agent farage in the anticipation of a snap general election in the UK in 2026. PLace events on a timeline relating to the premiership of andy burnham

This scenario maps out a fictional, highly speculative geopolitical conspiracy theory. In this hypothetical timeline, foreign operatives execute a false-flag operation inside the UK to divert political and media scrutiny away from a key ally during an intense election cycle.

Below is an explanatory breakdown of how such an operation could theoretically be structured, followed by a chronological timeline tracking these events against the fictional premiership of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The Mechanics of the Speculative False Flag

To shift intense pressure away from an embattled political figure like Nigel Farage ahead of a snap election, the operation would rely on strategic misdirection, high-impact violence, and information warfare:

Target Selection: Anne Widdecombe, as a prominent, culturally recognizable right-wing and Eurosceptic figure, serves as the ultimate catalyst. Her sudden death would cause immediate national shock and outrage.

The "False Flag" Framing: The assassination would be meticulously staged to resemble the work of an opposing group—most likely radical left-wing extremists or fanatical anti-Brexit actors. Operatives might leave behind manufactured digital trails, encrypted manifestos, or physical evidence pointing directly to domestic political opponents.

Media Manipulation: Following the event, state-sponsored cyber networks and bot farms would instantly flood British social media. They would amplify the fake evidence, blaming mainstream political opponents or aggressive "woke" commentators for inciting the violence.

The Strategic Pivot: By framing the murder as a left-wing terrorist attack against a right-wing icon, the national conversation would violently pivot. Media focus would shift instantly from investigative scrutiny of Nigel Farage to a massive, emotionally charged debate over national security, political discourse, and the safety of right-wing politicians. Farage would be repositioned from a figure under pressure to a vulnerable target requiring protection, neutralizing ongoing political attacks against him.

• June 2026 – Burnham Returns to Westminster: Andy Burnham successfully returns to Parliament after winning the by-election for MP for Makerfield, setting the stage for a dramatic leadership transition within the Labour Party.
• Early July 2026 – The Staged Intelligence Operation: In this speculative scenario, foreign intelligence operatives execute a deniable operation on British soil. On 8–9 July 2026, Ann Widdecombe is fatally attacked at her home in Devon. Operatives intentionally plant misleading digital or physical clues to frame domestic left-wing or anarchist extremists.
• 11 July 2026 – Farage Drives the Narrative: As counter-terrorism police take over the investigation, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage publicly capitalises on the tragedy, declaring it a "premeditated" and targeted hit. This masterfully shifts intense media scrutiny away from his party's funding controversies and redirects public anxiety toward political violence and national security.
• 16–20 July 2026 – Andy Burnham Becomes Prime Minister: Following Sir Keir Starmer's departure, Andy Burnham is elected leader of the Labour Party and formally kisses hands with King Charles III to become Prime Minister. He inherits a country deeply polarized by the Widdecombe murder and the resulting security panic.
• Late Summer / Autumn 2026 – The Snap Election Build-Up: To secure a clear mandate for his new "National Care Service" and regional devolution agendas, PM Burnham signals the anticipation of a snap general election. However, his campaign launch is completely derailed by the lingering geopolitical fallout of the false-flag operation, forcing the new Labour government to play defense on national security while Farage's political position remains protected by the narrative shift.

Chersfrozenface · 03/10/2026 12:23

Very, um, creative.

I shall file the above away and revisit it next June, if that is when the trial goes ahead as currently listed.

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 12:34

Talking about creative, or actually AI so not that creative..

Thread 7 Burnham : Teimlo’r hwyl - feel the hwy
OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 12:36

Chersfrozenface · 03/10/2026 12:23

Very, um, creative.

I shall file the above away and revisit it next June, if that is when the trial goes ahead as currently listed.

Thank you 😀

Focaults Pendulum and all that.

Also: Southport.

SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 12:42

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 12:34

Talking about creative, or actually AI so not that creative..

Er, wasn't the Bayeaux embroidery made by the losers ?

Chersfrozenface · 03/10/2026 12:46

SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 12:42

Er, wasn't the Bayeaux embroidery made by the losers ?

On the instructions of the winners, to be fair.

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 12:53

SerendipityJane · 03/10/2026 12:42

Er, wasn't the Bayeaux embroidery made by the losers ?

Grin

The rats are chasing the cats

Is Badenoch (surrounded by men in dresses) Harald or William 🤔

And the Healey caricature looks worryingly antisemetic

It makes you wonder what the prompts were and if it was signed off by Badenoch

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 03/10/2026 12:59

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 12:34

Talking about creative, or actually AI so not that creative..

He’s right. It is fucking weird.

placemats · 03/10/2026 13:08

Just back from my flu jab. Incredibly efficient. In and out in less than five minutes.

It's a lovely warm day today, so getting the flu jab seems incongruous.

LittleBowSheep · 03/10/2026 13:15

Evenstar · 03/10/2026 08:52

I don’t believe there was political bias at all, just incompetence. I do think that unfortunately media pressure for fast answers in high profile cases can play a part as well.

I do think there needs to be a full investigation into this.

However, I also think the media and the public in general need to be told to wind their necks in and stop demanding instant information regarding live investigations. This habit has increased to the point where people now expect to be told of the ethnicity and residence status in every case from the very start.

Let's go back to allowing the police to just get on with their enquiries and everyone else to stop trying to be an armchair detective. Where mistakes are made by the police, that also needs to be thoroughly investigated.

LizzieW1969 · 03/10/2026 13:17

placemats · 03/10/2026 13:08

Just back from my flu jab. Incredibly efficient. In and out in less than five minutes.

It's a lovely warm day today, so getting the flu jab seems incongruous.

I’ve just had mine too. I qualify for a free jab because of receiving carer’s allowance.

placemats · 03/10/2026 13:20

DuncinToffee · 03/10/2026 12:34

Talking about creative, or actually AI so not that creative..

It's undeniably rubbish, like the Conservative party.

LizzieW1969 · 03/10/2026 13:20

LittleBowSheep · 03/10/2026 13:15

I do think there needs to be a full investigation into this.

However, I also think the media and the public in general need to be told to wind their necks in and stop demanding instant information regarding live investigations. This habit has increased to the point where people now expect to be told of the ethnicity and residence status in every case from the very start.

Let's go back to allowing the police to just get on with their enquiries and everyone else to stop trying to be an armchair detective. Where mistakes are made by the police, that also needs to be thoroughly investigated.

I think it’s making it very hard for the police to investigate cases these days.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.