POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

THIS is the big political problem Labour is facing.....
Nothing has been more important to the Labour Party under Sir Keir Starmer than economic credibility. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out clear fiscal rules, such as getting debt falling as a share of national income by the end of this parliament, and she has made sticking to these rules a crucial test of the government's credibility. That's what makes the recent rise in government borrowing costs potentially so dangerous for Reeves, the Treasury and - arguably - Sir Keir Starmer's entire political project. If the government has to spend a lot more money paying interest on debt, then it is less likely to meet its rules. On current trends, 26 March is set to become a critical date. That is when the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will deliver its latest forecasts, including an assessment of whether the government is on course to meet its fiscal rules or not.
At the moment things aren't looking good. Many said at the time that Starmer and Reeves were being a bit heavy-handed with the gloom and this might have been a factor in depressing industry confidence. When allied to other matters like tax and NI it may be that it was a self inflicted injury.

On another tack, I was wondering yesterday how much different things would be if we hadn't squandered cash on HS2, Aircraft Carriers and nukes..... I know, it's pointless but give it a bit of thought. A good case could be made for saying that the latest economic situation is the logical outcome of Tory Austerity policies which depressed growth and economic activity for over ten years.....

[Tripps]

I'll ease off this subject now that Mr Musk has taken over, and the mainstream are covering it.

Raja Miah - a veteran of this campaign - has had a surge in popularity and is being courted all over the alternative media. Not least The Spectator TV.

Today's development is that the Labour Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, has called for a national enquiry. Had he been a Government minister he would have had to defy a three line whip to make that call, and lost his party membership. That must surely make it the opening salvo in an eventual leadership bid.

A bell rang , and I remembered from when I took an interest in early 2022 a Council meeting where Burnham played a part. I wasn't up to speed then (still not probably) and didnt get the full implication of the situation.

Here is the meeting to receive the last CSE review. Much shouting and drama - and carefully prepared replies to the Public questions being read out by the then leader Amanda Chadderton. She has since been voted out, but got the consolation prize of a job as a researcher for the current Labour Home Secretary. (Perhaps facilitated by James Ignatious O'Rourke McMahon MP - former Oldham Council leader, and now Minister of State for Local Government & English Devolution?)

Here's the Oldhan Council 27 June 2022 for all anoraks. Watch it and you'll be ahead of the pack - as they haven't noticed Andy's U turn yet. Fast forward to 1hr 10 m for AB.

PS for more detail - if you wish - see this video from today. Rajah Miah 10 Jan 25

[Tizer]

I notice that Rachel Reeves is in China chatting up President Xi. That gave me an idea. With all this stupid Trump business with him threatening to buy or takeover, Greenland, Panama and Canada etc I think we should send him a message IN BIG CAPITAL LETTERS on his own social media site saying that our so called `Special Relationship' is OVER and that we're instead going to form a new EurAsian Union (EAU) based on all the countries on the Eurasian Continental plate (which is a genuine single geological entity) and welcoming any other countries that wish to join, such as Australia, India, Canada, etc. I suggest we send Angela Rayner to meet with Putin, he'll like her robust approach! Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves can welcome China to join in and Starmer can do the same with a visit to Brussels and get them on board. We'll all agree to make peace, not war, and do our own trading without the need for America. Ending the wars and stand-offs will pre-empt Trump's claims that he can end wars immediately he becomes POTUS. If you think my idea is crazy just look at America now!

[Tripps]

Have we been reading 1984 again? This sort of thing comes to mind -

Here's a forecast of AI, "As he works in the Ministry of Truth, he observes Julia, a young woman maintaining the novel-writing machines at the ministry", and here's what happens when you split the world up as you suggest.-


"Then Oceana's allegiance switched back again. On the sixth day of Hate Week, as crowds gathered to denounce Eurasia, the Party switched enemies to Eastasia. In a particularly rousing speech against their enemy, the speaker was handed a slip of paper, and in mid-sentence, without pause, without change in content or tone, he changed the name of the enemy he was speaking against to Eastasia. Eurasia was now their dearest friends. Those holding banners denouncing their enemy were suddenly embarrassed to discover they had unaccountably written the wrong name, and quickly trampled and destroyed them".

[Stanley]

Fascinating stuff but I shall stick to the real world, that gives me enough problems without indulging in fantasy.
I don't count your mention of Burnham as fantasy David. I agree with you, he has his eye on Starmer's job and I for one would vote for him given the chance.

I note that with the poor performance of the Pound and the possibility of interest rate rises, mortgages are in the news again. I listened to the lady who is chief economist at the Skipton Building Society yesterday, she is always a sensible voice. She didn't see any problem with rates because competition in the market was actually lowering rates. I think I'd rather listen to her that the doom-sayers!

[Sue]

An interesting article in THE MILL today. https://manchestermill.co.uk/p/elon-mus ... dium=email

[Stanley]

I read the article Sue and here's what I took away from it. "The politics of populism, by its nature, is a demand for easy answers to complicated questions".
That much is true and I think that Joshi Herrmann has a point.

[Tizer]

Tripps, Your question above `Have we been reading 1984 again?' triggered my memory that about a year ago you wrote a post saying that we were already in World War 3. That prompts me to recommend this book if you haven't ready it before or have forgotten its content. `The Alpha List' by Ted Allbeury, 1979.

Dave Marsh and Charlie Kelly grew up together on the backstreets of Birmingham. Now Charlie is a Labour MP and Dave an Intelligence agent. When Charlie comes under suspicion of passing secrets to the Russians, Dave is given the task of investigating his old friend. He seems to be able to prove his case soon enough, but as Charlie points out, he doesn't know half of what is really going on. He doesn't know about the Alpha List.

[Tripps]

An interesting article in THE MILL today.

Indeed. Thanks for the link.
There is a great deal to read and think about. Too much for now. I doubt I have the intellect or ability to do it justice. If I did - I'd be a retired barrister. I'll come back to it.


You may recalll that I started a subscription to The Mill on your recommendation in 2022. We had a falling out and I felt obliged to cancel my subscription without refund. The article in question was about spiked drinks. Here's a flavour of the "Dear John" correspondence. Anyone struggling with the word "woke" would benefit from a study of her reply.

Molly Simpson The Mill journalist
"As I’m sure you can imagine, it took a lot of bravery from Charlotte to tell me her story, and I really don’t want her to see comments suggesting in any way that she might be responsible for what happened. It might be what you think, but it feels inappropriate to treat her encounter in the hotel as a question of accountability. Above all, I have a duty of care, and I want to protect my sources from any judgement or further distress."

TRIPPS Gentleman Flaneur
"I won't argue further with you, as it would be futile. Just think of what you have done. I have been tried, found guilty, and sentenced without any hearing whatever. I think that's called censorship, and I didn't expect it in this publication. I will of course cancel my subscription to The Mill immediately."


Well - Either I'm right or the rest of the commenters are. There is a truth - it's impossible for there not to be. I doubt we'll discover it on here though. I gently suggest 'public safety' could be improved by people not getting drunk and trusting others who they have only know for a couple of hours to behave themselves. I'd say it was unwise for a 'model' to go to a hotel room and use 'white powder' in that connection. Surely we have some responsibilty for our own 'safety'.
Pay no attention to me. I'm old, and my last experience of Manchester night life was fifty years or so ago. It was a bit different then. No drinks after 10.30pm unless with a full meal! Some good cabarets though.

I love the phrase "the fluid boundary between memory, hearsay and conjecture." I've made a note of it.

[Stanley]

It's quite obvious to me that my political thinking is far shallower than some of my contemporaries..... Accounts like that David make my head hurt and I tend to shy away from them. Perhaps I have led a sheltered life!
See THIS BBC article.....
Kemi Badenoch has called for the PM to sack Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq after she was named in an investigation into claims her family embezzled up to £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh. In a post on X, the Conservative Party leader said: "It's time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq," adding that the PM had "appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption". It follows comments from Bangladesh's new leader, Muhammad Yunus, who told the Sunday Times, that Siddiq should apologise after reports she had lived in London properties with links to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as prime minister of Bangladesh last year and is at the centre of a corruption probe. Siddiq has referred herself to the prime minister's standards adviser and has insisted she has done nothing wrong.
How much of this is genuine concern about ethical standards in Parliament and how much is opportunistic political pot stirring. After all Ms Badenoch is not totally clean in these matters. (I read my Private Eye yesterday.)
I had the same thoughts when I heard Tom Tugendhat banging on about Rachel Reeves going to China on the Today programme yesterday.
I am not a committed supporter of this administration or its policies but I think I can recognise politicking when I see it.

[Tizer]

What irks me most at the moment is the Tories blaming every thing wrong in Britain on a new government which has only just taken over control. A metaphor helps... The parents went away 14 years ago and left the house to be looked after by the teenage kids. They failed to maintain the house, wrecked it by holding parties, allowed it to be flooded, let the blocked loos overflow and now on the day after the parents return the kids complain `Why haven't you got it back to normal yet?'.

[PanBiker]

I had the same thoughts when I heard Tom Tugendhat banging on about Rachel Reeves going to China on the Today programme yesterday.
I am not a committed supporter of this administration or its policies but I think I can recognise politicking when I see it.

I heard that as well regarding her abandoning domestic financial matters. Has he never heard of internet banking. I am fairly sure she could do all the necessary on a laptop with an internet connection if push came to shove.

On the previous matter what has happened to bringing concerns up in Parliament rather than posting on social media?

[Stanley]

"On the previous matter what has happened to bringing concerns up in Parliament rather than posting on social media?"

Social media is the new vehicle for Populist Politics Ian. Trump reckons Tik Tok won him the election in the US that's why he trying to stop the banning of it.

I went searching for a report on the Cummings/Musk relationship and could only find references in the Right Wing press. I refuse to use them as evidence. The only thing I found close to the report was THIS news item saying that Reform don't like Musk. Read it if you are interested!

[Tizer]

There have been reports in most newspapers, eg...
`Dominic Cummings ‘advising Elon Musk’ amid attacks on Sir Keir Starmer' Evening Standard
[NB. When the Manage Settings thingy comes up click it, then click on Reject This applies to many web sites these days - you just have to search out where the Reject button is.]

[Tripps]

When the Manage Settings thingy comes up click it, then click on Reject This applies to many web sites these days

But not the BBC. They pretend to help you but I have not yet been able to reach the "reject all" button.

[Stanley]

THIS got my attention....
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will remain in her role "for the whole of this Parliament", Downing Street has said, as she faces criticism over the falling pound and rising government borrowing costs. The pound fell to $1.21 on Monday, its lowest level since November 2023, while one measure of the rate at which the government can borrow money hit its highest level since 2008. Borrowing costs are rising for many countries across the world, but some have argued that decisions made in the Budget appear to have made the UK more vulnerable. The Conservatives said the chancellor was "hanging on by her fingernails". When asked at a press conference earlier whether Reeves would remain chancellor for the whole of the Parliament, the prime minister declined to answer, but did then say she had his "full confidence" and was doing a "fantastic job"
Normally this can be the kiss of death in politics but in this case I am looking at what made it necessary for Starmer to say it. He was driven to do it by Badenoch's relentless attack on the government for purely political reasons. She should pause and ask herself at what point do such tactics become disloyal and destructive. She is doing it to paste over the cracks in her own efforts to revive the Tories.
The right wing press are no better. I see that the 'lettuce campaign' has been revived...... Reeves is definitely not Truss MkII

[Tizer]

This will be interesting to see how these people defend their beliefs and intentions...
`The tricky questions facing Trump's nominees for top jobs' LINK

[Stanley]

See THIS for what I see as delayed justice.
The embattled and heavily criticised chair of the miscarriages of justice review body the Criminal Cases Review Commission has resigned. Helen Pitcher had been criticised for the agency's failings in relation to the Andy Malkinson affair, which saw Mr Malkinson spend 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit. Ms Pitcher told the Times in an interview that she had been made a scapegoat. Mr Malkinson called Ms Pitcher's statement "shameless", adding: "I know what it truly is like to be a scapegoat." The BBC understands Mrs Pitcher spoke to the newspaper before telling ministers or senior members of the commission that she was resigning. A government source said Ms Pitcher had "jumped as she was pushed", as the prime minister had received an independent recommendation to advise the King to remove her from office. Last summer, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood began the formal process of sending a recommendation to the King that Ms Pitcher should go, after personally concluding that she was not fit to head the CCRC. That decision came after a damning independent report into how the CCRC had mishandled Mr Malkinson's pleas for help, and how the chair herself had presented its work on his case.

[Tripps]

An interesting article in THE MILL today. https://manchestermill.co.uk/p/elon-mus ... dium=email

I read this and found it intense, detailed, and complex - in fact too much to take in immediately - if ever.

Raja Miah has now replied in great detail - including some interesting background on the supporters of The Mill. of which I (and I suspect many of their subscribers) were unaware. Near the end of the piece.

In fairness - here is a link to that reply. Raja Miah responds to Joshi Hermann.

It lasts nearly two hours - I don't expect anyone to watch it all (or perhaps any of it) - but since The Mill's attack on him was posted here -it's only right that his refutation is similarly posted.

[Stanley]

THIS caught my eye. The shadow of Trump looms large across politics even before he takes over as POTUS.
What I am looking for is for someone to tell the truth about the US base on Diego Garcia. If you are interested I recommend you get hold of a book called 'Body of Secrets' by James Bamford (The man who wrote 'Puzzle Palace in the 1980s, one of the best books ever on the US intelligence agencies.)
Body of secrets is an anatomy of the NSA, an agency so secret that for many years it was denied that it existed. The NSA run Menwith Hill and they also run an intelligence gathering facility on Diego Garcia. Bamford says it is their most valuable asset, mainly because of its geographic location.
This explains why it was handed over to the US with no debate in Parliament and explains the lack of information now.
LINK Here's a copy for £3 on Bookfinder....

[Stanley]

See THIS article by Chris Mason......
2 hours ago
"We couldn't just leave it" is how one senior figure in government put it to me. In other words, the political reality was that demonstrable action was essential: ministers realised they had to act because for weeks now, there had been a loud and very angry public argument about child sexual exploitation. The biggest catalyst of anger is a smothering sense of inertia - a collective sense of a state failure to confront monstrous crimes, deliver justice and prevent it continuing to happen. These were the propellants for the blaze of rage fanned by the world's richest man, Elon Musk, via his social media platform X, demanding a national public inquiry. The Conservatives, Reform UK and others made the same argument and the government found itself buffeted around by the noise of the outrage. And while the government's political opponents made their cases the most bluntly, there were voices within Labour also publicly calling for its response to go further, such as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, saying there should be a "limited" national inquiry. The announcement from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper does not amount to setting up a national public inquiry, but it is a clear nod to the demands of those who want one.
So what happens now? We must wait and see I suppose.

[Tripps]

So what happens now? We must wait and see I suppose.

A couple of points. The statement from the Home Secretary was forced upon her by a "letter before action" (twenty pages long) from Maggie Oliver the former GMP police officer, and veteran Rochdale CSE whistle blower and campaigner. She threatened a Judicial Review if there was no action.

Raja Miah has been intervieviewed again - not by the BBC I'm afraid - that will be the day - but worth a look to get a historical perspective of the struggle, and form an opinion of the man. Raja Miah Heretic Interview 16 Jan 2025

His info on voting malpractice is interesting and there may be lessons fo Pendle. David Whipp spoke of "discrepancies" in Bradley Ward after the elections last year.

Form whatever conclusion you wish from what you see and read. I will read Maggie Oliver's biography while I'm waiting.

PS He speaks much more of Warren Bates who I have mentioned before.All a bit spooky I'd say.

[Stanley]

HERE'S the BBC contribution to the debate.....
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has "utterly rejected" the idea a new series of grooming gangs inquiries have been set up because of pressure from Elon Musk. In recent weeks, multi-billionaire Musk has repeatedly used his social media platform X to attack the government and call for a fresh national statutory inquiry into child sexual exploitation. The government resisted the calls, but on Thursday announced a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries. Data protection minister Sir Chris Bryant told the BBC it was "certainly true" that Musk had sparked more debate. But Nandy told BBC Breakfast the government had not been pushed into it by social media.
She would say that wouldn't she.....
I know it sounds terribly uncaring David but I have to spend all my time surviving and can't afford to dig the way you do. I rely on good reliable correspondents like you to keep me abreast. Thank you for doing so!

[Stanley]

Trump's impending inauguration looms tomorrow so it's perhaps a good time to read THIS report by Laura Kuenssberg.....
"Everybody's nervous – because they simply don't know what he is going to do." That is the basic truth about Trump for governments, business bosses, military chiefs, and maybe you feel it too as he gets ready to make his incredible political comeback official. He will take the Oath of Office for the second time on Monday, becoming the most powerful man in the Western world and in charge of the UK's biggest trading partner. Soon after, he can sign executive orders that might affect how the UK makes a living or defends itself. The range of risks is enormous. The opportunities are too. Trump and his team are different this time round, more prepared, with a more aggressive agenda perhaps, but his delight in keeping the world guessing seems undimmed. It's this uncertainty accompanying Trump that Whitehall and Westminster find so shocking. How can the UK prepare for what it can't yet know?
There is much more....... My own prediction is that this isn't going to end well. We thought Brexit made the UK a laughing stock, this could be even more damaging but this time for the US.

[Stanley]

There's only one item of political news this morning and see THIS for Keir Starmer's totally predictable reaction.....
Sir Keir Starmer has sent congratulations to Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration as president on Monday saying the UK and US would "continue to build upon the unshakeable foundations of our historic alliance". The prime minister said they would "tackle "global challenges" and "focus on shared opportunities ahead for growth", adding the "special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States will continue to flourish for years to come".
The right noises but meaning nothing. Trump couldn't care less about the mythical 'special relationship', read his lips..... "Make America Great Again"
We must watch and wait.....