POLITICS CORNER

[PanBiker]

Aye, couldn't quite believe it when she said she was born middle class, (bit of an understatement) but became working class because she did a short stint at McDonalds.

That comment invoked the start of a female version of the Yorkshire Men sketch......

Two up two down cottage, one open fire in the front room. cold tap in the kitchen, no bathroom, outside tippler next to the coal hole That was Sally's comment. She did say that they had two tin baths though. They got a bathroom and an immersion heater when Sally was 16

[Stanley]

See THIS and reflect that some things never change....
The government could miss its own cladding removal completion date if progress is not made to speed up the process, the UK's spending watchdog has said. In a new report, external, the National Audit Office (NAO) said up to 60% of buildings with dangerous cladding had still not been identified by the government, and at its current rate of progress it was due to miss its own estimated completion date of 2035 for the works. The report follows the conclusion of the Grenfell Inquiry in September, which found risks had been ignored and there was “systematic dishonesty” from those who made and sold the cladding involved in the fire in west London in 2017, in which 72 people died. The government has been contacted for a response.

[Tizer]

Latest important news from US election campaigning...
`Trump 'fired up' about euthanasia of Peanut the squirrel' LINK
Campaigning in Sanford, North Carolina, on Sunday, Vance said Republican White House nominee Trump was “fired up” about Squirrel’s death...."The same government that doesn't care about hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals coming into our country, doesn't want us to have pets," the Ohio senator told supporters in North Carolina....New York congressman Nick Langworthy took to social media over the weekend to express his frustration with the "unannounced raid". The Republican lawmaker said the state's Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul had "misguided priorities". "In New York State, we have sanctuaries for illegal immigrants while innocent pets are killed," he wrote on social media.

[Tripps]

Remember Sue Gray? She did an eponymous enquiry once. . . .

If memory serves - she is now - "Envoy to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for the Nations and Regions" since 2024 Party: Labour Party"

Last heard of - 'taking a break'. Yet to take up for the above new post - specially created for her - or reveal the salary? She demanded and got a higher salary than the Prime Minister for he last gig. She's probably in the long grass somewhere. She is reported as demanding a peerage. I wonder how long they will wait before she gets it.

[Stanley]

I had been wondering where Sue had got to. Thanks for reviving my interest David!



I saw this image in political news this morning and wondered what they were really thinking as they gazed into each others eyes....

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC account of a report from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The Treasury should have disclosed a £9.5bn overspend in the public finances in the run-up to the previous government's Budget "under the law", the head of the UK's official spending watchdog has said. Richard Hughes, chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), told a committee of MPs that the Treasury had questions to answer over why such information was "not provided to us". His comments prompted the committee's chair, Meg Hillier, who is also a Labour MP, to suggest that the Treasury "may have broken the law". The 9.5bn overspend formed the basis of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ claim in her first Budget last week that the Conservatives left Labour with a £22bn "hole" in the public finances. The Treasury and the Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.
Now that we have full access to the Treasury papers it begins to look as though Rachel Reeves' accusations levelled against the outgoing administration has a firm basis in reality. That being the case, there was little sh could do except bring in a punitive budget as she did.
It used to be a given that the Tories were the Party who knew about money and how to handle it. Their economic record since 2010 proves the opposite. Some of us were banging on at the time about the fact that they had failed to grasp what was needed and showed remarkable ignorance of Economics 101 but we were not listened to. Now we see the truth and it is ugly.

[Stanley]

You've all got the drift now. This is not a good morning.

[Big Kev]

The Orange Knob of the Apocalypse, mmmmmm!

[PanBiker]

Aye, the convicted felon lunatic is in charge again and the world order has just become increasingly dangerous. He promised to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza within months, we will see how that pans out. I suppose he is stupid enough to withdraw military support from the Ukraine and ramp it up for the Zionists.

One think that puzzle me is the political system in use in the US. It seems that regardless of how big the electorate is the outcome is decided by a much smaller fraction of the population using their two party only Electoral College model. I would have thought that there was room for a lot more divergence in political thinking from the millions of citizens across the States. A strictly binary system cannot be the best democratic model.

One of Stanley's favourite sayings, "tin hats on lads" that may be more prophetic than just a byline.

[Tripps]

For the record - Donald J Trump has been quite comfortably, elected President by the people of the USA. This despite the obvious handicap of being a white heterosexual man with ginger hair, and having at least 35 felony counts against him. I thought it might happen, but kept quiet as I'm usually wrong in such matters.

I try to stay fairly neutral, but having seen the Democratic candidate Kemala Harris, over the last few weeks, I wondered why she was constantly throwing her head back and loudly laughing, and having heard her speak, I decided that the word vacuous was probably invented for her use. I think the West has had a narrow escape.

All the right (left) people are having severe conniptions, and Emily Maitlis is said to have been taken off air from her live TV programme for swearing. Rory Stewart has "bet the maximum he was allowed" by the bookmaker on Harris to win, and of course lost. He mustn't have got the memo from CCHQ that politicians should only bet when they have knowledge of the result.

Even our resident intellectual, Bob Bliss recently descended into cheap insults - "Mar a Lardo" Very disappointing.
********

PS I posted on here a couple of weeks ago -
I try not to get involved in other peoples' battles, but last night during a cutaway from Sky News, watched quite a bit of Trump's Madison Square Gardens rally. I heard him promise not to tax workers' overtime or tips, (a big thing in America) , and to make car loans 'tax deductible' so long as the car was made in the USA. He also promised to halve energy bills within a year of being elected, and reminded the worshippers that he was the only President in the last 82 years who had not taken the nation to war. (He mentioned ISIS as unfinished business).
That might get a few votes. . .

Looks like it did. . .

[Stanley]

You could be right about vacuous David.
I think the key word now in many cultures will be trepidation.
I commiserated with my US correspondents.... Martha responded with an interesting comment that reminded me of the different way national politics is regarded in a federal system as big as the US. (She and Roger have just finished moving back to the States after making a brave attempt to settle in the UK.....) She said that it wasn't as bad for them as for many as they lived in a Blue state. (Minnesota)
(Bob hasn't got that advantage..... Missouri is regarded as a safe red state)

I saw THIS in the political news this morning and it seems a fair assessment.
Now we must wait and see...... Chris Mason used a word, 'unpredictable', I think he may be right.....

[PanBiker]

Republicans have the Senate and the House of Representatives I believe so that means that he has complete unbridled power to do what he wants. He is effectively immune from prosecution as well in spite of the fact that he is a convicted felon on 34 different charges. In a proper and fair democracy his Presidency would not be allowed. Loose cannon comes to mind.

[Tripps]

In a proper and fair democracy his Presidency would not be allowed.

Don't like the result? - call for a change to the electoral system.

Did you know that Chris Mason came from Grassington, and is a former pupil of Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton.

[Stanley]

"Did you know that Chris Mason came from Grassington"
No I didn't! How come you know things like this David......

[PanBiker]

Don't like the result? - call for a change to the electoral system.

I would if I could. It's bad enough in this country trying to get a fairer and more diverse political system away from the adversarial, two sword lengths apart model we have now.

In the US you only have to look at the difference in vote totals, only 3% apart but decided by only 7 from 52 states. We are at least streets ahead and away from the two party state of the Whigs and Tories we used to have. They are still messing about with it. All we need is a new assembly hall in the round and some form of PR.

Old story though, existing systems always suit those in power who are then reluctant to change, which may upset the apple cart even if fairer and better representative of the electorate.

[Stanley]

Very true Ian but I have a funny feeling we may be in for a surprise or two. Governing is not the same as campaigning. Let's wait and see what Trump actually does.
One thing that struck me was Starmer banging on clinging to that old cliche 'The Special Relationship'. It may not count for much when it comes to tariffs and NATO.

See THIS this report of Lammy's opinion about Trump's memory span....
The foreign secretary has dismissed his previous criticism of Donald Trump as "old news" and insisted he would be able to find "common ground" with the president-elect. When he was a backbench MP in 2018, David Lammy described Trump as a "tyrant" and "a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath". But in his first interview since Trump's victory, he told the BBC's Newscast podcast the president-elect was "someone that we can build a relationship with in our national interest". Lammy praised his election campaign as "very well run", adding that: "I felt in my bones that there could be a Trump presidency."
Really? I think this is wishful thinking and about as convincing as believing there is such a thing as a special relationship. The nature of the American political system is that Trump is now campaigning for the mid-term elections in 2026/27. The national interests of the UK are of no interest to him. The sooner everyone starts working on that premise the better!

[Stanley]

Anyone who wasn't sure what Starmer's political aims were should read THIS......
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Tony Blair's former chief of staff as his national security adviser. Veteran diplomat Jonathan Powell will begin the role next month, it is understood, taking over from Sir Tim Barrow, who has held the role since September 2022. Mr Powell, who was No 10 chief of staff between 1997 to 2007, played a key role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday peace deal in Northern Ireland. The appointment comes at a crucial time, given conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and Donald Trump's return to the White House in January. Sir Keir said Mr Powell's experience made him "uniquely qualified" to advise ministers on global security challenges. Downing Street has also confirmed that another Blair aide, former No 10 deputy chief of staff Liz Lloyd, will be joining as Sir Keir's director of policy delivery and innovation.
So it's definitely Blair influenced. One can't help wondering how much Starmer is consulting with Bliar..... He'll be asking Sunak round to No 10 for tea next.....

[Stanley]

Have a look at GTHIS.
Alan Milburn, a former Labour health secretary, has been made a top health adviser in the government as ministers look to reforming the NHS. Milburn, who served under Tony Blair from 1999-2003, is known for his connections to private healthcare sector, having worked as a consultant to several firms since he left public office. In an interview with the Times newspaper, external, he said the NHS needed "big reforms" to make it "fit for the future," arguing it was "in the worst state" he'd even seen. But his appointment as a lead non-executive director on the board of the health department has sparked concerns due to his links to private healthcare.
All I will say is that I am not overjoyed by his return.....

[Tripps]

Some of us who have been paying close attention spotted this back in July.

"It's becoming apparent that Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is behind the scenes, probably pulling many strings. Several of his past team are now in office, and the appointment of Alan Milburn, and the refusal of the new Health Minister Wes Streeting, to confirm that the NHS would remain free of charge may come as a bit of a surprise, and will not please those traditional hard working loyal party activists"

The rumour (denied by him today of course) that Peter Mandelson will be the next ambassador to the USA, adds to the idea that there are forces behind the scenes directing things.

Hush child - that's just a conspiracy theory. . .
********

There was me thinking Ukraine had gone quiet, when up pops Tony Radakin on the TV to say that Russia is taking 1500 casualties (dead and wounded), on a daily basis presently, and that we would support Ukraine as long as necessary. He wasn't asked how we would tell when 'we' have won. He's the top man in the Defence Staff, and a qualified barrister too, (but Tony to me and you) and his curious name got me to look him up. Sounds from his name, that he's from Star Wars or somewhere Eastwards. I looked and was amazed to see he was born in Oldham! - wisely leaving at the age of five years. There seems to be no information at all anywhere, as to the origins of his foreign sounding name. It was similarly impossible to get any information of the personal circumstances of Pendle's new Labour MP.

Teach me to be nosey. . .

[PanBiker]

It was similarly impossible to get any information of the personal circumstances of Pendle's new Labour MP.

Here is a starter for you, was with him today at the remembrance service in Barlick.

Jonathan Hinder MP

[Stanley]

I have to admit that my heart fell into my boots when I saw that Mandelson is being touted as a future ambassador to the US.... As far as I am concerned, the fact that we haven't heard a peep out of Bliar is certain proof that he is involved. We all know he can't resist publicity.

I know we aren't supposed to comment on these things but I tripped over this snippet when I was looking to see what was on the web about Mandy and his bids for Chancellor of Oxford University and ambassador to the US..... Who is Peter Mandelson's husband? He has lived with his husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva, a Brazilian translator, since March 1998.

[Tizer]

I've read that Mandelson, like Trump, wants Ukraine to give Russia the territories they've invaded. Also like Trump he seems to have forgotten that when Ukraine got independence from Russia back in the early 1990s it gave away its nuclear weapons in an agreement where Europe and the USA promised in exchange to defend the country against Russia and any other aggressor.

[Tripps]

I know we aren't supposed to comment on these things

Why not?

I have come to assume that all MP's, unless shown to be otherwise are gay. The cohort is certainly over represented in Parliament.

Isn't he related to Manny Shinwell?

[Stanley]

I don't think so David. On his mother's side, Mandelson is a grandson of Herbert Morrison. Perhaps that's what you were thinking of.

[Tripps]

Mandelson is a grandson of Herbert Morrison. Perhaps that's what you were thinking of.

Yes - the velcro memory has failed me. . . .