POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

I agree with you Peter. Isn't it marvellous how some politicians improve with age. (But I can't help thinking it's a pity he didn't see the light while he was PM!)

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report. Some things never change.....
A former senior Labour Party official offered to help secure visits for businesses from government ministers during this year’s party conference in exchange for a fee. In an email seen by the BBC, Liam Didsbury, who until July was the party’s regional director in the North West, told prospective clients he knew how to arrange visits in a way that "appeals" to ministers and their advisors. He said venues for the visits had to be within an hour’s commuting distance of Kings Dock in Liverpool, the location of the party’s annual conference in September. The email was sent by Mr Didsbury through the IEI Group, a company set up in May which he joined as a director in July, after he stopped working for the party. It is understood the Labour Party has not taken forward any such bid with the IEI Group.

[Stanley]

In the absence of any significant political news form UK politicians I look to the US. LINK
With one month to election day, the contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is the electoral equivalent of a bare-knuckle brawl. The race for the White House still appears deadlocked, both nationally and in battleground states, so victory will be decided by the slimmest of margins - every new voter engaged, every undecided voter swayed, could help land a knock-out punch. “In any super close race, where the electorate is divided down the middle, a difference of a percentage point or two could be decisive,” says David Greenberg, a presidential historian at Rutgers University. While party strategists are focused on how to earn that decisive edge, it could just as easily be an event out of their control, an unexpected twist, that upends the campaign in the final weeks. It’s already been a year of political shockwaves - from one candidate surviving two assassination attempts and being convicted of a crime, to another, President Joe Biden, dropping out of the race in favour of his much younger vice-president. However, when the surprises drop in October - think Trump’s Access Hollywood tape or Hillary Clinton’s emails in 2016 - there is scarcely time left to recover or regain momentum after a misstep or bad news cycle. This week alone, there were several new rumbles that could turn into political storms by 5 November.
I watch with bated breath. There is enough bad news in the world without a Trump victory in the States.....

[Tizer]

The October Surprise is a long lived tradition in US politics.

[Tripps]

The October Surprise is a long lived tradition in US politics.

And a newly created one in British politics.


I shall sleep easier tonight knowing that we now have a newly created “Envoy For The Regions & Nations.” to look after my interests. I never knew we didn't have, or actually needed one.

I thought the Tories were bad, but this lot are worse, by a distance.

Good excuse to watch this delightful video again though. . . Sue Gray's Enquiry

[Stanley]

Well! That got my attention. And there was me thinking there was no UK political news. I have decided to keep quiet until I learn more.....

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on Sue Gray for the 'official view' of why she is going.
Sue Gray has quit her role as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, saying she "risked becoming a distraction". She had been caught up in rows over pay, after the BBC's political editor revealed her salary was higher than Sir Keir's, and donations from Lord Waheed Alli. A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed Ms Gray, who became a household name as the Partygate investigator, was taking up a new role as the prime minister's envoy for nations and regions. Labour said Ms Gray would be replaced by Morgan McSweeney, who was previously chief adviser to the prime minister and masterminded Labour’s election campaign.
I don't buy it. I think there is more to it than this. I think Starmer's stance on Winter Fuel and gifts has been more damaging than anyone admits. Has Gray given advice and been ignored? We will probably never know but for a new PM to lose his PA and the Cabinet Secretary as well as having an MP resign, all within the first three months of government looks like bad management to me.....

[Stanley]

HERE'S an intersting question from the BBC's Chris Mason....
When I was leaked Sue Gray’s salary last month, details of her pay were less important than what the leak revealed about the anger of those alongside her in government. In short, they were flipping angry - angry about her perceived power, her abilities, and they accused her of failing to sort out the pay of other special advisers, as they are known. Others, I should point out, felt it all amounted to a personal vendetta and was grossly unfair. But, fair or otherwise, the anger was very real. It presented Sir Keir Starmer with few options: get rid of her, get rid of those unhappy with her, or solve the underlying problems. Solving the underlying problems looked difficult without either of the other two options happening too. And getting rid of all of those unhappy with her would have been difficult too – firstly, there were quite a few of them, and secondly finding them would not have been easy, as they had been making their feelings known discreetly. So did Sue Gray jump or was she pushed?
Read the rest of the article for Mason's thoughts on the matter but it is a question many are asking.
I think I've made my opinion clear.... this is more about Starmer's failings as a manager than anything else but nobody is going to admit that.

[Stanley]

For anyone who is concerned.... see THIS BBC report.
Tom Tugendhat has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership race, leaving three candidates to face another round of voting by MPs on Wednesday. James Cleverly leapt into the lead with 39 votes, jumping from third place at the last vote, after what was seen as a strong performance at last week's Conservative Party conference. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick came in second with 31 votes - losing two votes on last time. Kemi Badenoch came a close third with 30 votes - up two from the last round. Tugendhat received 20 votes. The candidates have no time to rest as MPs will select the final two tomorrow - who will then go to a vote by party membership over the next three weeks.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report into the proposed legislation on worker's rights.
A planned overhaul of workers' rights would give millions of people the right to claim unpaid parental leave and stronger protections from unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. The government is set to announce the details of its Employment Rights Bill, which it says would end the "exploitative" use of zero-hours contracts and "fire and rehire" practices. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner described this as the "biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation". There are 28 separate measures in the bill to be introduced later, most of which will be subject to further consultation and will not take effect before autumn 2026.
And about time too! I have watched worker's rights being eroded for many years now. I can remember a time when we had a Contract of employment, statutory holiday and sick pay, guaranteed hours of work and rates of pay including overtime and a wages board that ensured our wages kept up with inflation. All those have gone now and I wonder whether the new regulations will come anywhere near conditions as they were then.

[Stanley]

Does anyone understand what is going on HERE?
Ex-No 10 chief of staff Sue Gray will not attend a regional investment summit on Friday, after recently becoming the PM's regional envoy. The civil servant was appointed to the newly-created role at the weekend, after leaving her former job amid internal battles over her influence. Government sources said she is taking a break before taking up her new position, and will begin her new duties in the coming weeks. Downing Street is yet to publish details of her responsibilities as Sir Keir Starmer's envoy for the UK's nations and regions. The prime minister is due to chair the first-ever meeting of a new Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland on Friday.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the consequences of loose talk when you are in government.
Discussions about a London port expansion worth £1bn are ongoing as the government tries to resolve a row with the investor. DP World planned to reveal the expansion of its London Gateway port, which it said would create hundreds of jobs, at the government's investment summit next week. However, reports suggested the plan was at risk after Transport Secretary Louise Haigh criticised P&O Ferries, which is part of DP World, for its treatment of staff. Downing Street has distanced itself from those comments as it tries to resolve the spat. And asked on Friday evening about Ms Haigh's comments, the prime minister told BBC political editor Chris Mason in a Newscast interview: "That's not the view of the government." The disagreement began after Ms Haigh told ITV earlier this week that P&O was a "rogue operator" after it sacked nearly 800 seafarers in 2022 and replaced them with cheaper workers.
This is another example coming out of No. 10 of management laxity. It is becoming a possibility that Starmer is not a good manager and someone needs to get a grip!

[Tizer]

I listen regularly to the BBC's Americast podcasts and know they welcome questions from listeners. About 10 days ago I emailed them with a question and got a quick response saying they intended to address my question in their upcoming Monday podcast. Unfortunately it wasn't mentioned and the podcast was again all about the US election. I might as well put my question on record by posting it here...

Hello Americast,
I follow your news regularly and most of it, naturally, is about the upcoming US elections. Let me pose a different question, this time regarding the war in the Middle East. Have US political and military leaders given any indication of what they would do if Russia were to join in by supporting Iran with conventional weapons and ammunition and possibly helping Iran by providing ready-to-use uranium? Let's remember that for the last 10 years Russia and Iran (the latter via Hezbollah) have been working together to help the Syrian regime defeat it's opposition.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks

What prompted me to think about it again was a BBC News Live report this morning about the Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers. Within the report was this: Russia said it was "outraged" and demanded Israel refrain from "hostile actions" against peacekeepers. The incident could provide an excuse for Russia if it decides to get involved, openly or covertly.

[Stanley]

Like many others I suspect, I am totally baffled by what the IDF is being allowed to get away with in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. You're suggestion is another level of worry Peter. As I say so often, I am glad I am old and will not be around much longer to see the outcome of what is happening now.

Meanwhile, closer to home, THIS got my attention this morning.
Scotland's former First Minister Alex Salmond has died suddenly at the age of 69. The former MP and MSP, who led the country between 2007 and 2014, became ill while attending an international conference in North Macedonia. The North Macedonian government said Mr Salmond had lost consciousness at the Inex Olgica hotel, near the city of Ohrid, at about 15:30 local time on Saturday. Local media reports said he collapsed during a lunch and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Alba party, which he led, believe the cause of death to be a heart attack, according to the Press Association news agency.
He was one of the most capable politicians of recent times. I contrast what I see from Starmer with what we saw from Alex Salmond.... There is no comparison.

[Tizer]

Salmond had too big an ego for my liking. I still remember when he first launched himself over ten years ago on the election voting papers as `The Alex Salmond Party'.

[Stanley]

Perhaps you need a big ego to be a dominant politician Peter.... One thing is certain, he was a better political tactician than we have seen South of the Border for many years. As I said yesterday, I contrast him with what we are seeing from Starmer and his cronies.

THIS assessment of the first 100 days by Laura Kuenssberg is worth reading. She covers most of the points and is quite fair I think.
The next milestone is the Budget..... Just over a fortnight to go before we see what Rachel Reeves has in store for us.....

[Whyperion]

Someone might like to ponder just what the UK might be importing to the South East. A steady infrastructure and housing build to up the UK population to 65million plus tourists does seem to point to a strain on what we can supply, so more food for one, oil or other (bio) fuels, but the main thing surley is more plastic Chinese tat for every Halloween of partywear , sweets and generally stuff that is fit only to burn as it wont fit in landfill. Whatever else may be true I cannot see any UK port expecting to increase UK exports higher than their past physical peaks - the only cars we export are stolen BMWs in parts for Africa these days

[Stanley]

I'm sorry to say I think THIS is a classic case of shutting the stable door after the horse has gone but I wish them well.
Calls are growing to ban smartphones in schools in England by law, as education experts and unions back an MP’s attempt to push a new law through Parliament. Children “doomscrolling for hours a day” is causing widespread harm, according to Josh MacAlister, the Labour MP and former teacher behind the private member's bill being introduced in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Most schools in England already have a ban or restrictions on phone use, after government guidance was introduced earlier this year. But Mr MacAlister wants to turn the guidance into law, as well as bringing in what he calls “seatbelt legislation” for children’s social-media use.

[Tripps]

Hard to tell fact from fiction. . . . Follows on from the post above I'd say.

"Children “doomscrolling for hours a day” is causing widespread harm, according to Josh MacAlister, the Labour MP "

[Stanley]

I watched the video David. Brilliant..... as you say it's difficult to distinguish the boundary between truth and parody.
The origins of some of the confusion might be found in the fact that all of our politicians seem to believe they have power and are in control. I was particularly aware of this when I heard Starmer making his motivational speech at his 'Investment Conference'. Nobody mentioned the fact that the smoothing over of the row initiated by a Minister calling for a boycott of P&O Ferries will involve some concessions to the company, or the fact that the letter from industrialists boosting UK as an attractive place to invest was quite obviously part of a spin campaign orchestrated by No 10 to boost the conference. Then we had the argument that making it more expensive to hire workers by raising NI rates was a good thing as it meant they would be happier and there fore spend more money bolstering GDP.... Really? (I shall stop, I am babbling!)

Then I saw THIS.
Proposals to give weight loss jabs to unemployed people living with obesity could be "very important" for our economy and health, the prime minister has told the BBC. Sir Keir Starmer said he acknowledged that more money was needed for the NHS, and the government also needed to "think differently" to ease pressure on the health system. His comments came after Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the jabs could be given to help people get back into work. Some injections are already prescribed on the NHS for the treatment of obesity, and also for people with diabetes. Sir Keir told the BBC the jabs would be "very helpful" to people who want and need to lose weight.
Are they serious? Am I missing something here? Imagine the lady in David's video announcing this.....

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report of Jenrick's policies and recognise that what we are looking at is far-right Tory politics.
Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick has said he would reduce benefits spending in order to enable cuts to income tax. In a speech, the former minister said unemployed claimants should face tougher sanctions if they refuse to take up suitable job offers. He also vowed to tackle "misuse" of the sickness benefits system, arguing it was "medicalising normal human experiences”. He added that reducing economic inactivity to pre-Covid levels could save the taxpayer £12bn, equivalent to cutting the basic rate of income tax by 2p. The pledges largely echo proposals set out by the Tories ahead of the election.
I doubt if his cuts would be confined to unemployment benefit. Listening to stuff like this makes my blood run cold....

[Stanley]

I'm sorry to say that THIS BBC article got my attention....
The wife of a Conservative councillor has been jailed for 31 months after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire. Lucy Connolly, whose husband serves on West Northamptonshire Council, posted the expletive-ridden message on X on the day three girls were killed in Southport. The 41-year-old childminder called for "mass deportation now" and added: "If that makes me racist, so be it." Judge Melbourne Inman KC told Birmingham Crown Court the sentence for these offences was intended to "punish and deter". The hearing was told Connolly, of Parkfield Avenue in Northampton, sent a WhatsApp message on 5 August joking that the tweet to her 10,000 followers had "bitten me on the arse, lol". Connolly previously admitted intending to stir up racial hatred.
There is more, even worse stuff in the article.
There are some thoroughly nasty people in this world (Not all Tories....) and I suppose it's a good thing to be reminded of the fact.

The rest of the political news is mainly more speculation about the Budget.... The sooner it's out there the better, until that happens we are going to be inundated with speculation......

[Tripps]

Some confusion seems to surround recent reports that a hundred Labour supporters were being recruited to go to America and work in support of Kamala Harris in important swing states, in the last few crucial days of the campaign. How much this would achieve is a matter of speculation.

I think that could surely be classified as interfering in another country's elections - something widely condemned, when for instance the Russians take an interest in ours. They tried to justify it by saying Farage did the same for Trump. He was an ordinary member of the public at the time, not a sponsored Government delegation.

Looks like that now the scheme has been revealed they may have scrubbed it.

Stick to your knitting would be my advice to Sir Keir - there's plenty to go at here.

PS The gist of this came from Guido Fawkes - I went back to check for updates, and it's been taken down. Watch this space.

PPS - Elon Musk isn't too chuffed either. Trigger warning link to Daily Mail " What would Starmer think if president Trump sent a team to campaign against him in UK?" Quite. . .

They haven't quite got the hang of this Government thingy yet.

[Stanley]

I totally agree with that post David..... When I first heard mention of it on R4 I thought I had misheard but no, they were actually intending to send campaigners over to the States. Madness for all the reasons you lay out. I'd like to know who dreamed that one up but surely Starmer knew what was being proposed? I have heard mention that Starmer has a group of cronies in No 10 and this sounds like something dreamed up by sofa management after a good lunch......
Is it just me or are we short of constructive policies and proposals? Or are they not good political news?

[Stanley]

The only politics that matters this morning is HERE
Fergal Keane pecial correspondent, BBC News Published 19 October 2024. Warning: This piece contains graphic descriptions of death and injury

There is no conscience. There is no humanity. There are only leaders who watch and do not act. This is what Ahmed al-Dalou believes, as the images of his family burning replay in his mind. He says his life is gone. It died in the inferno of al-Aqsa compound with his boys and wife in the early hours of Monday 14 October, after an Israeli strike.

There is more in the article and we all need to read it. What is happening in the Middle East is a tragedy that could be stopped now but is being allowed to continue.... We need to be asking "Why". Is it as simple as keeping Netanyahu in power?