POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

I don't think maths is his strongest subject David.
I also agree with Ian. In normal times the electoral system's checks and balances would adjust the obvious mismatch of man and job but we do not live in normal times.....
HERE'S the latest update on Trump's brain processes....
In a world on edge waiting to see what US President Donald Trump does next in the Middle East, he provided no clear signal when he presented the longest ever State of the Union address. The world's most powerful commander-in-chief decided not to make his comprehensive case for possible military action against Iran during the biggest build-up of American might in the Middle East since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Two decades ago, President George W Bush had travelled across America, and beyond, to lay the groundwork for what turned into a major military intervention, albeit one based on faulty intelligence. Trump may have decided it was not an issue to broach when his political base, who elected him to stay out of forever wars, is far more focused on the state of the economy and the fight on immigration just months before crucial midterm polls. Or it may reflect his repeated claim that he has yet to make up his own mind about which path to pursue. He continues to say he prefers to do a deal rather than unleash a deadly war. The next crucial round of negotiations - the third this month - in Geneva on Thursday is expected to be pivotal to his decision-making. "If President Trump does not receive, through his envoys, an acceptable text from Tehran, he's likely to order some form of military action soon after," assessed a diplomat who's been briefed on this process.
Basically, what is going on is that Trump is waving his big stick but Iran isn't playing his game. They are keeping quiet. You can't make a deal if there is no communication.....

[Stanley]

See THIS report on unemployment.
The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) has risen, edging closer to one million. Official estimates are that 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were Neet in October to December 2025, or 12.8% of that age group. The UK is experiencing a weak jobs market, with young people particularly affected by cuts in hospitality and graduate schemes. The figures show a slight increase from the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, adding more young people were actively looking for work in the last three months of 2025.
This matter seems to be very low key when I fear it is the most important subject for debate that exists. I predict that this is a cloud no bigger than a man's hand but one which under the influence of AI and Quantum Computing is the biggest threat society faces in the future.

[PanBiker]

What happened to proper 5 year apprenticeships? They not only gave lads and lassies skills that could last a lifetime, but supported through the colleges, the instructors and teachers to pass on their skills to thousands each year. I believe some so called training courses only last 3 -6 months now, no good to man nor beast unless you want to know how to make a decent sandwich!

There are hundreds of decent trades that if learnt properly allow a person to buy a house, raise a family and go on holiday. Everyone doesn't need a degree and a £50,000 debt when they are 21 and the job market should not insist on such an accolade before offering employment.

I don't think it's rose coloured glasses but I left school on a Friday, went for an interview with a firm on the Monday, was taken on and told to go to college on Tuesday and sign up for my 5 year City and Guilds Radio, Television and Electronics Mechanics Parts I & II day release course, (full day and an additional evening) once sorted, tip up for in house practical training on the Wednesday. I got paid on the Thursday the going rate for a 16 year old apprentice. Five years later I was 21 and a fully skilled field and bench service engineer in my chosen trade and could tackle anything. The trade was developing and I continued learning when Video Recorders came along, then the Compact Disc players that replaced vinyl, Satellite TV next then computers, continuous learning curve to keep up with the technology.

I'm waffling but I hope you get my drift.

[Tizer]

When I left school at 15 with 3 GCE O levels I got a job with British Northrop as a junior clerk. The pay was minimal (something like 30 shillings a week, I think) but they gave me half a day off to do a beginner's day and evening course in business studies. I wanted to do something scientific but that was impossible without maths and physics O levels but I managed to get a job with Boots Chemists and they trained me as a dispenser. They ran their own correspondence course plus practical training in the dispensary. I also studied independently in the evenings on O level maths and physics at home from books. That took me a year but I passed exams in both subjects. Then got a job as a lab technician, applied to do HNC in sciences but would have to travel to Liverpool Polytechnic - there was nowhere closer at the time. Applied but they said why not take their new full-time BSC Applied Biology course instead? With their help I got a local council grant, so I took the plunge! It meant living in various cheap situations, bedsits, or on friends' sofas etc and some time in the YMCA. But I got the BSc and a career as a scientist!

[Stanley]

You weren't waffling Ian, you were describing the process that gave us the skilled people we need to run society. My experience was slightly different, when I left school I went as a farm pupil prior to going into agricultural college, I had a place booked at Prees Heath. Unfortunately my boss forgot to register me as an agricultural student and I was nabbed for National service. I didn't resume my education for twenty years but then I went to University fully funded and came out with no debt. The system eventually worked for me.
Proper education like this is is being neglected and underfunded. People are coming out of university with £60,000+ in debts, how can they understand my free ride?
We need to start investing properly in vocational and academic training. Instead we are seeing it used for gesture politics while money is spent like water on vanity projects.....

[Stanley]

See THIS latest waffle from Starmer.
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "keep on fighting" after a devastating by-election loss to the Greens heaped further pressure on the embattled prime minister. Labour slumped to third place in its longstanding stronghold of Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester, with Reform UK finishing second. It marks the first win for the Greens in a by-election, with 34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer becoming the party's first ever MP in the north of England.

The result has led to renewed criticism of Sir Keir's leadership from Labour MPs ahead of May elections in Scotland, Wales and some English councils that are now widely seen as a crucial test of his premiership. Sir Keir had entered the Gorton campaign in a vulnerable position, amid dreadful poll ratings and a damaging series of policy U-turns in recent months that have prompted some Labour MPs to openly question his leadership. Speaking after the result, he pledged to "keep on fighting", insisting he was "getting on with the hard yards" of turning Labour's fortunes around. But his former deputy Angela Rayner - seen as a possible challenger to Sir Keir from the left of the party - said Labour's defeat must come as a "wake up call" and called on the government to be "braver". Others blamed the prime minister's decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, another potential leadership candidate, from standing in the seat, which Labour had previously held for nearly a century. Burnham is yet to comment on the result, and declined to speak to reporters outside an event in Manchester he attended on Friday evening.
What else could he say? The project to have a re-run of the Blair era has failed completely and it's difficult to see how it could possible be re-launched.

[Stanley]

There's been a news report that Starmer is 'Chairing an emergency meeting'..... Now what could that be about.....

[Stanley]

It later transpired it was a COBRA meeting about the US and Israeli aggression on the Middle East.....
This is overshadowing everything else in Politics this morning.

[PanBiker]

Hasn't he sent some of our RAF fighters and pilots to help in the illegalities?

[Stanley]

I don't know Ian.... There is mention this morning of a drone attack on a British base in Cyprus.......

See THIS latest report....
British troops and civilians in the Middle East are being put at risk from "indiscriminate attacks" by Iran, the defence secretary has said, adding that protecting them is his priority. John Healey told the BBC "no-one will mourn" Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. The UK did not participate in the strikes and the defence secretary said it was for the US to set out the legal basis for its actions. He said since the strikes had begun, British military personnel in Bahrain had been "within several hundred yards" of a retaliatory missile and drone strike on Saturday, while two missiles had been fired in the direction of Cyprus. Healey was asked repeatedly on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg if the UK backed the US-Israeli strikes on Iran or thought they were legal. He said while the UK had not taken part in the strikes, "we share, however, the primary aim of all allies in the region and the US that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon". He would not be drawn on whether the UK would be involved in further strikes but said it was attempting to prevent further regional escalation. He also said the UK was reviewing its terror threat level.

[Stanley]

See THIS report......
Sir Keir Starmer has told MPs that the government "does not believe in regime change from the skies", putting him at odds with President Trump over the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. In his first statement to Parliament since the strikes, Sir Keir defended his decision not to permit the use of UK bases for the initial wave of attacks. "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest," he told MPs. However, the situation changed on Sunday when Iran's "outrageous" response became "a threat to our people, our interests and our allies", the PM said.
I don't hold any brief for Starmer normally but in this case I think he is thinking straight......

[Wendyf]

I hope Starmer stands firm.

[Stanley]

Time will tell Wendy but at the moment, with the Iranians attacking us directly in Cyprus, there might be a chance of him becoming more aggressive.

HERE'S the latest report......
Israel says it is carrying out a fresh new wave of strikes in Iran, after the country earlier said it had carried out new attacks on Iran's "leadership compound" on Tuesday - BBC Verify assesses videos of the aftermath - with the IDF saying it also targeted infrastructure in Tehran with strikes. Meanwhile President Trump Donald told reporters at the White House "everything's been knocked out in Iran". He also criticised Prime Minister Starmer and the UK's initial response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, saying "this is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with". The US says it has hit more than 1,700 targets in Iran since it began its military operations on Saturday. Tehran has retaliated with a wave of attacks across the region - here's why the US and Israel attacked Iran. The number of people killed in Iran so far has reached 787, the Red Crescent says, while Tehran residents tell BBC Persian they are worried about the availability of groceries. The UK will send helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus, after attacks on a British base there. France is planning to send a frigate and further air defences to the island too

[PanBiker]

saying "this is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with".

Does he not realise that Churchill has been dead for 60 years.

I heard that the Kim Jun variant that leads North Korea has tipped his hat in the ring. He said he recognises the Illegal war being prosecuted against Iran by The USA and Israel. He also stated that if Iran asks, North Korea would supply Iran with the necessary armaments to settle the matter once and for all with both Israel and the United States. Alluding I think to their nuclear missile capability.

Could be another brink moment in the offing like Cuba in 1962.

[Stanley]

I was wondering how long it would be before he poked his oar in. You're right Ian, we have the potential for a massive escalation......

THIS matter, which David alluded to earlier, heads domestic political reporting.....
Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid has said she has never seen anything to make her suspect her husband has "broken any law" after her spouse David Taylor was arrested on suspicion of spying for China along with two other men. Earlier, the Metropolitan Police said the men, aged 39, 43 and 68, had been arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act. All three men, who have not been named by police, remain in custody. Searches were carried out at properties in London, Cardiff and East Kilbride on Wednesday. Following Taylor's arrest, Reid said in a statement that she is "not part of" her husband's business activities. She added: "Neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children's privacy." Reid, who was elected as the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven constituency in 2024, added that she had never been to China nor had she ever spoken on any China-related matters in the House of Commons. "I have never asked a question on China-related matters," she said. "As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests." She added that she is a social democrat who believes in "freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections" and not any sort of "admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party's dictatorship".
David was correct, she is indeed Jimmy Reid's grand daughter.

[Tripps]

This is a comment from the Going Postal website. It's an aquired taste, and most of the comments are rubbish - but now and then -

I could have written it myself.

I'm utterly dismayed and can barely watch, as one stupid government measure after another is announced.
Lately we've heard excuse after excuse about our defence capability, despite having the 6th larges defence budget of any country in the world, with 10 times as many admirals than ships. Yet are unable to send one ship to defend Cyprus from air attacks.
Now we're told that our "government" is to spend up to £40000 per family, to deport people who should never be here in the first place, because of so called "human rights" laws.
These policies are nothing less than insane, and an insult to those of us who pay taxes.
This government is intentionally destroying our country and way of life.
I'm glad my life is nearer its end than beginning and pity those who are younger and trying to make their way in life.
Rupert Lowe and Restore are the only ones who seem to care, and should have a field day exposing this wanton destruction to voters. |Which assumes there are still enough who really care about our country.

[Stanley]

I'm not sure about 'intentionally destroying our country', I put it down to incompetence and lack of old fashioned application but I can sympathise with the writer because he makes important points about the way we spend our defence budget. Just one example, how many years have we been hearing about the problems involved in designing and building a light armoured vehicle for moving troops?

HERE'S the latest report on the failed asylum seekers....
Updated 9 hours ago
Families of failed asylum seekers will be offered up to £40,000 to leave the UK under a trial scheme announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood said the government would seek to forcibly remove failed asylum seekers if they do not accept "incentive payments" of up to £10,000 per person, capped at four per family, within seven days. The scheme is expected to target about 150 families living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, and the Home Office estimates it could save £20m if successful. However, the Conservatives and Reform UK said the payments would incentivise people to come to the UK illegally. Mahmood unveiled the scheme as she sought make the "Labour case" for restricting support to some asylum seekers in a speech to a left-leaning think tank on Thursday. The government already runs a voluntary returns programme, under which asylum seekers who choose to leave the UK can receive up to £3,000 in financial support. Mahmood said housing a family of three in asylum accommodation costs up to £158,000 per year.

[Stanley]

See THIS report of Badenoch urging Starmer to take action.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stepped up her calls for the government to authorise the RAF to strike Iran's missile launch sites. The UK has given permission for the US to use British bases to conduct defensive strikes on the facilities, but has not taken part in the action itself. RAF jets have been shooting down missiles and drones fired by Iran at allies in the region. However Badenoch told BBC Breakfast: "They need to do more than that, they need to stop the missile sites, you need to go to the source."
Does she think we have the capability?