Van wink 2,994 Posted February 24, 2021 Very difficult for any opposition atm typified for me by Matt Hancock patting John Ashworth on the head for supporting the Government. I thought Starmer was the right man for the job, I am now having some doubts but maybe judge him on his performance over the coming years rather than just the immediate crisis. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,325 Posted February 24, 2021 52 minutes ago, king canary said: I'd assume due to the independence debate- if you're a Scot Nat who wants an independence vote then you vote SNP, if you're a unionist who wants the opposite you vote Tory- voting Labour risks a coalition with the SNP based on the promise independence vote. I agree with your analysis. The problem for Labour is that it shuts them out of Scotland. Is there a position where they could offer independence but differentiate themselves from SNP by offering a closer alignment with the UK, which they could do as a UK party and at the same time reassure Nationalists that they won't be cut adrift, something that could happen under SNP? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,578 Posted February 24, 2021 Just now, Rock The Boat said: I agree with your analysis. The problem for Labour is that it shuts them out of Scotland. Is there a position where they could offer independence but differentiate themselves from SNP by offering a closer alignment with the UK, which they could do as a UK party and at the same time reassure Nationalists that they won't be cut adrift, something that could happen under SNP? Not remotely clued up enough to know to be honest- I'd hope so but I'm not sure. I don't think promising more devolution will cut the mustard though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted February 24, 2021 I doubt that Scotland will vote for independence. They have the best of both worlds and that is why they vote SNP. Why would they vote for anyone else? Why would they want a Tory who is against devolution? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,325 Posted February 24, 2021 5 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said: I doubt that Scotland will vote for independence. They have the best of both worlds and that is why they vote SNP. Why would they vote for anyone else? Why would they want a Tory who is against devolution? Good point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,713 Posted February 24, 2021 I can't do PMQs anymore. How does Starmer combat someone that blatantly lies in Parliament? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dj11 377 Posted February 24, 2021 I have written to the speaker ( Lindsay Hoyle ), on 2 occasions complaining at Johnson not answering the question, or telling lies. I was told to take it up with Johnson!! As far as I am concerned Hoyle is complicit with the Tories, and his independence, is a joke. Hansard should also be a fact checker, and should not only highlight the lies, but the liars should be held to account in the chamber. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted February 24, 2021 1 hour ago, dj11 said: I have written to the speaker ( Lindsay Hoyle ), on 2 occasions complaining at Johnson not answering the question, or telling lies. I was told to take it up with Johnson!! As far as I am concerned Hoyle is complicit with the Tories, and his independence, is a joke. Hansard should also be a fact checker, and should not only highlight the lies, but the liars should be held to account in the chamber. Apparently they don't lie, they don't even mislead, they just answer questions appropriate to facts at the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dj11 377 Posted February 24, 2021 (edited) 26 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said: Apparently they don't lie, they don't even mislead, they just answer questions appropriate to facts at the time. Is that a bit like alternative facts? Or should that be on the Trump thread? Edited February 24, 2021 by dj11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted February 24, 2021 1 hour ago, dj11 said: Is that a bit like alternative facts? Or should that be on the Trump thread? Yes. Alternative facts from an alternative dimension. Trump belongs in the Phantom Zone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jools 584 Posted March 3, 2021 🙃 When one witnesses such a pitiful performance as that above (off the back of such a Brownian socialist budget) one realises that Sir Nigel of Farage and the Reform Party with the right presentation could easily soak up a sizeable number of Parliamentary seats in 2024 👍 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Load of Squit 5,128 Posted March 3, 2021 Sir Nigel of Farage and the Reform Party with the right presentation could easily soak up a sizeable number of Parliamentary seats in 2024 🤣 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted March 3, 2021 32 minutes ago, Jools said: 🙃 When one witnesses such a pitiful performance as that above (off the back of such a Brownian socialist budget) one realises that Sir Nigel of Farage and the Reform Party with the right presentation could easily soak up a sizeable number of Parliamentary seats in 2024 👍 Did you watch it Jools or were you busy at some famous musicians house? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nevermind, neoliberalism has had it 159 Posted March 3, 2021 who would have thought. Sunak hangs everybody out to dry, tomorrow, with more council tax and income tax guaranteed, whilst corporations have got two years to pack up should they not like the extra 4% to come. Starmer, the knight in shining Armour/rich man's nick Griffin, waving the union jack at him talking of what he has not done, but has no suggestions to make himself, another trumpet job. Well, que surprise, looking at his abysmal record in supporting right wing moves, he might have to deliver leaflets all by himself. https://novaramedia.com/2021/03/02/keir-starmer-is-a-long-time-servant-of-the-british-security-state/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,713 Posted March 4, 2021 On 24/02/2021 at 15:00, dj11 said: I have written to the speaker ( Lindsay Hoyle ), on 2 occasions complaining at Johnson not answering the question, or telling lies. I was told to take it up with Johnson!! As far as I am concerned Hoyle is complicit with the Tories, and his independence, is a joke. Hansard should also be a fact checker, and should not only highlight the lies, but the liars should be held to account in the chamber. Peter Oborne had exactly the same idea as you. No response. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFish 1,986 Posted March 4, 2021 18 hours ago, A Load of Squit said: Sir Nigel of Farage and the Reform Party with the right presentation could easily soak up a sizeable number of Parliamentary seats in 2024 Based on Farage's epic Parliamentary Succes record? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Load of Squit 5,128 Posted March 4, 2021 1 hour ago, BigFish said: Based on Farage's epic Parliamentary Succes record? Jools seems to believe that the man who lost to someone dressed as a dolphin will take seats away from Labour. I'm not sure what's more stupid, believing it or typing it and posting it on a public forum. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted March 5, 2021 Not going well for KS in latest polls, as the budget unravells things may change a little, BJ will undoubtedly be getting a lot reflected glory from the vaccine rollout. "In the YouGov poll Tory support rose to 45 per cent, up four points on last week. Labour fell four points, to 32 per cent. The Conservative figure is higher than the party’s vote share at the 2019 election, when Boris Johnson won 44 per cent. Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour was on 32 per cent. It was Labour’s lowest vote share from YouGov since the first poll after Starmer became party leader last April. Asked which of the two leaders they believed would make the best prime minister, 36 per cent chose Johnson, an increase of one point on last week, compared with 28 per cent for Starmer, down three points. Thirty-three per cent said that they did not know." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,713 Posted March 5, 2021 I know Starmer isn't pulling up many trees at the moment but it doesn't make any sense that this government still has the support it does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,325 Posted March 5, 2021 31 minutes ago, Herman said: I know Starmer isn't pulling up many trees at the moment but it doesn't make any sense that this government still has the support it does. It's the vaccine rollout and the end of fear of dying, Herman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted March 5, 2021 It was bound to happen after the vaccine success. Wait until the 1% pay rise creates a tsunami. Unless Borarse has set it up so that he steps in and says he will personally step in and raise it to 5%. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted March 5, 2021 26 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said: It was bound to happen after the vaccine success. Wait until the 1% pay rise creates a tsunami. Unless Borarse has set it up so that he steps in and says he will personally step in and raise it to 5%. U turn alert Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creative Midfielder 1,985 Posted March 5, 2021 4 hours ago, keelansgrandad said: It was bound to happen after the vaccine success. Wait until the 1% pay rise creates a tsunami. Unless Borarse has set it up so that he steps in and says he will personally step in and raise it to 5%. Nothing would surprise me where Johnson is concerned but so far this year we've been very short on u-turns - unlike 2020 where he must have managed one at least every other week and on a few memorable occasions managed several in a single week. Perhaps he made a very solemn New Year's resolution - no u-turns this year - in which case we are definitely due one in the very near future 😀 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted March 11, 2021 (edited) Just watching KS launching the Labour campaign for the Local Elections......I had initially thought he was the right man for the job, sadly my mind is changing, its hard to see what he has brought thats going to inspire any revival in the fortunes of the Labour Party. Totally rudderless atm. Edited March 11, 2021 by Van wink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creative Midfielder 1,985 Posted March 11, 2021 3 hours ago, Van wink said: Just watching KS launching the Labour campaign for the Local Elections......I had initially thought he was the right man for the job, sadly my mind is changing, its hard to see what he has brought thats going to inspire any revival in the fortunes of the Labour Party. Totally rudderless atm. Can't argue with that - sadly given the other candidates for the leadership he was clearly IMO the best choice but that probably says more about the lack of genuine contenders for the job than about KS's qualities. Seems as though its one of those situations where some of the cannier Labour politicians think that becoming leader at the moment would actually be bad for their careers, or in some cases that they are sick of Westminister politics and would rather change career altogether. Can't really say I blame them. 😀 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted March 12, 2021 Politics has moved from policies to personality. Compromise is a dirty word. Progress has to be immediate and people have to blackmailed to even vote. Ultimately, Zola may have been right. Blow it all up and start again. I don't believe in that but we are narrowing our alternatives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creative Midfielder 1,985 Posted March 12, 2021 20 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said: Politics has moved from policies to personality. There is some truth in that but it's still not a good excuse for not having (m)any policies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelansgrandad 6,679 Posted March 12, 2021 50 minutes ago, Creative Midfielder said: There is some truth in that but it's still not a good excuse for not having (m)any policies. We did have policies. But because of Brexit and Corbyn's personality, we now have Blair/Cameron ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock The Boat 1,325 Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) Poor old Starmer. Popular Yougov ratings down from plus 22 last year to minus 6 today. Even worse, his thread falls off the first page of the Pinkun forum. Starmerhas become pretty irrelevant and much of that is due to only a cigarette paper's thickness the difference between Starter and Johnson's policies. Both tax and spend politicians, both lovers of lockdown, both illiberal Liberals. We are currently in a one party state which can't be a good thing. Edited March 21, 2021 by Rock The Boat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFN FC 1,123 Posted March 21, 2021 There's no one to vote for. The politics in this country are a joke. Bring back Guy Fawkes! He might get it right the 2nd time around Share this post Link to post Share on other sites