POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report....
Updated 1 hour ago
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has backed Volodymyr Zelensky as a "democratically elected leader" after Donald Trump described the Ukrainian president as a "dictator". Sir Keir called Zelensky on Wednesday evening and told him it was "perfectly reasonable" for Ukraine to "suspend elections during wartime as the UK did during World War Two", Downing Street said. Trump had earlier criticised Zelensky, saying he had done a "terrible job" and claiming "he refuses to have elections" in Ukraine.
Starmer has done the right thing and publicly supported Zelensky. One hopes that Trump's statements are so outlandish and ridiculous that they are universally rejected but unfortunately too many people have irons in the fire that require Trump's support and fear opposing him.
Perhaps the question we should be asking is how much of Trump's rhetoric is aimed at the question of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and how much is aimed at persuading his US supporters that he is keeping one of his key election promises.
Also, though it is a side line.... how important is the economic prize of Ukraine's mineral resources?

[Whyperion]

Putin Also Wants Ukraine's People, Destroy Culture and Make Them Russian

Is Trump the US' First Democratically Elected Dictator ? I am awaiting a revision to the US Flag, blue cross with stars on on a red background. And A National Holiday to Celebrate the President in Perpetuity's Birthday

[Tizer]

Also, though it is a side line.... how important is the economic prize of Ukraine's mineral resources?

Ukraine has massive reserves of essential minerals and rare earths. Trump has already demanded that Ukraine gives 50% of them to the US in exchange for all the military hardware it has sent to Ukraine but Zelensky has refused.

[Stanley]

Trump talks about the evils of dictators in his diatribes against Zelensky but the best candidate for acting like a dictator is Trump! He's attempting to run the world.....

[Tizer]

Well now he and his supporters think he's a king!...
`Trump receives widespread backlash to social post calling himself ‘king’' Guardian
Donald Trump is receiving widespread backlash after he likened himself to a “king” on social media following his administration’s decision to rescind New York City’s congestion pricing program. On Wednesday, following a letter issued by his transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, to the New York governor, Kathy Hochul, that ended the transportation department’s agreement with New York over a new congestion pricing program for Manhattan, Trump wrote on Truth Social:
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
The White House then proceeded to share Trump’s quote on social media, accompanied with a computer-generated image of Trump grinning on a fake Time magazine cover while donning a golden crown, behind him the skyline of New York City.

[Whyperion]

Its a pity that the US doesnt have a House of Lords where the great and the good can be passed up to.
Mitch McConnell at 83 has decided not to seek re-election to the Senate next year. Former Republican Group leader in the Senate and a senator for around 40 years which loses experience, something that comes with just surviving. One looks forward to a book of memoirs

[Whyperion]

Conservatives - Dame Pritti Patel nearly spoke sense, she should have stopped when she was ahead when commenting on Trump/Ukraine.

Meanwhile BBC gives some interesting poll results from the US on how Trumps measures are being regarded (with a bit of dodgy rounding)

A majority of Americans are concerned by the Trump administration's effort to massively shrink the federal workforce, and are worried that essential services many rely on could be compromised, new polling suggests.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that 58% of respondents are concerned that federal programmes such as social security retirement payments and student aid could be delayed.

29% of respondents said they were not worried about the federal government purge, led by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - which is not an official government department.

Other data gathered by the poll suggests that even among Trump's most faithful supporters, nearly half (44%) believe the richest Americans, like Musk, are profiting off their White House connections.

Interesting its as low as 44percent thinking Musk etc are not profiting. On the other hand you get what you voted for.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a productive meeting with Keith Kellogg (CBS News 24)

[Stanley]

I heard the report about the abolition of the congestion pricing in NY but hadn't picked up on him likening himself to a king.
It all reinforces my opinion that he is an attention seeking megalomaniac. I can see nothing but trouble looming.
I tend to agree with those who say that his main objective is to placate his supporters by doing what he promised on the election trail. He is also campaigning for the mid terms in 1927. That is the nature of US politics, they never stop campaigning......

[Whyperion]

IF there is a limit on public sector debt then the present chancellor has a problem. low growth and high interest rates are effectively eroding any headroom away , add in defence spending rises and the wriggle room appears gone. It seems difficult to cut expenditure as costs seem to rise somewhere else. I wonder if things would have been better if the darned winter fuel allowance had gone out to all pensioners (some wouldnt have claimed pension credit) simple money into the economy.

Trump says Starmer and Macron have 'done nothing' to end Ukraine war.
To some extent he is right ( 10,000 ukraine troops training notwithstanding ). The West went with a freeze out / sanctions route. Maybe talking and bigger guns might have helped. (Civil Service probably trying the five step international problem method)

[Stanley]

I thought we had heard the last of THIS matter but evidently not....
Parliament's standards watchdog has launched an investigation into MP Andrew Gwynne. Gwynne was sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party earlier this month after a newspaper reported offensive messages in a WhatsApp group. Gwynne, who is now sitting as the independent MP for Gorton and Denton, apologised for any offence caused by the comments. Parliament's website says the investigation relates to "actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally".

[Whyperion]

Germany gets an election and looking at polls the (far) right wing CFD is in a second place. With maybe two worries for populations. Immigration (where those migrant dont always share the new countries values and indeed commit crimes - its never mentioned if the crime rate is higher for longer standing birth country populations - and de-industrialisation and cannot get a job / afford a house. These are issues common to much of europe. Can I muse though on the "islamic refugee" commiting acts of terror , it has occurred to me are these backed one way or another by Russia as part of de-stablising Europe. I dont suppose it can be proved but it would not surprise me if a link could be found.

[Stanley]

See THIS latest Trump wheeze....
US President Donald Trump has fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown, the highest-ranking officer in the country, as part of a major shake-up of top military leadership. "I want to thank General Charles 'CQ' Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country," Trump posted on social media. He said five other top officers were also being replaced. Gen Brown was the second black officer to hold the post, the holder of which advises both the president and the secretary of defence on national security. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously said that Gen Brown should be fired because of his "woke" focus on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in the military. Later on Friday, Hegseth announced the firings of two additional senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Adm Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Jim Slife. Adm Franchetti was the first woman to lead the US Navy.

[Tripps]

His replacemenent is said to be called Cain - known as 'Raizin Cain.'

Scary.

[Stanley]

Everything Trump and his cohorts are doing scares me David! It's madness and there will have to be consequences......

I saw THIS report this morning......
Updated 1 hour ago
Sir Keir Starmer will discuss the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty in talks with Donald Trump next week, he said in a call with the country's president. The UK prime minister reiterated the UK's "ironclad support" for Kyiv when he spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday. The two leaders held their second telephone conversation in four days following US President Trump's decision to re-open relations with Russia and seek an end to the war in Ukraine.
Starmer is doing the right thing I reckon. If Trump loses his rag and sanctions us, so be it. We are setting an example for others.
Sooner or later there has to be a backlash against Trump's actions. At the moment it's difficult to see whether that will come from inside the US or globally.

[Tizer]

FBI boss Kash Patel has overruled Musk's memo to workers with his own message, making it clear that the FBI "...is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures". Patel was appointed by Trump so this shows there are cracks opening up within the Trump administration and disaffection with Musk.

[Whyperion]

FBI boss Kash Patel has overruled Musk's memo to workers with his own message, making it clear that the FBI "...is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures". Patel was appointed by Trump so this shows there are cracks opening up within the Trump administration and disaffection with Musk.

Tiz is that a Trump directive OTQ (as Musk cannot upstage Trump) or Kash Patel's own idea ( ie he wants to save his backside long term ? ). If Trup were more like Putin I suggest Musk avoids going near windows in tall buildings.

[Whyperion]

One YT Commenter (Its difficult to listen to them all - some the volume is all wrong and others have american accents - does anyone else find them really difficult to follow?) Suggests that the rise of Trump and his cage-fighting attitude to politics and the deference of otherwise if not rivals then party members who would like to be more moderate is more akin to the rise of the "fascist" system in Japan pre WW2 rather than the Germany pre WW2 routing, I dont know its not something I would like to research.
Speaking of and back to present German elections if we use the exit polls as good enough to be in the right area
CDU - CSU - 29% (Christian Democrats/Social Democrats) Biggest party but no overall majority. Centre-Right leaning normally would be pals of the US and belive in a protectionist EU.
AFD - 19.5% Alternative for Germany - The Far Right equivalent of Reform with added ommph, was 10percent last time out (which was typical accross Europe inc UK for the anti-immigration (anti muslim?) parties . Appears to have increased vote through using social media and strong in the 19-23 year old Males , which might say a lot about disillusion as I indicated a few posts earlier. No other party wants to work with them but they will be a noisy opposition only shutupable with going strong on illegal immigration.criminals out and a good general economy of affordable housing , food and decent well paying interesting jobs (so no problems there) . This party supported by the "interfearing Musk"


SPD - 16% Socialists - the old style like UK Labour , ruling incumbants before the elections , have lost to both the far right, right and left, normally would not matter as Germany has become a coalition parliament before with a strong minority party but its too minority for now
Greens - 13.5% Down a bit on before , I feel the problems with Clean Air/Renewables and Net Zero are too much for an economy to take but its still more than they would get anywhere nationally in the UK countries.
Die Linke - 8.5% "The Left" Think Corbyn , has been higher in the past but ex-members left (sic) to form BSW, Accused by CSU of saying CDU would work with AfD. (update, apparently this was the former Communist Party and again is strong in East Germany)
FDP - 4.9% Free Democratic Party , Leader had been Govt Treasurer in previous Govt (why did that collapse? I think the SPD fired him from job and everything fell apart)
BSW - 4.7% A mainly East Germany (Berlin) Left Wing party relatively recently formed. Will only get seats in the 630 member parliament if gets to 5percent of vote

Turnout is predicted to be about 83 percent , which is high and might explain some of the party distribution of votes.

So the left is a bit split , which wont really matter other than the strange way of seat distribution which eliminates some votes as counting all together ( makes UK FPTP fairer - or not its a bit swings and roundabouts ).

Generally I cannot see any of the left of centre parties particularly voting against the largest one for practical reasons , members will probably use their time to write more political pamphlets and hone their social media skills (Is the written press in Germany stronger than the decline in other parts of the world ) , the views on migrants being a perhaps deal splitter. Normally German elections wouldnt raise much interest but where Germany goes the democratic countries of the EU tend to follow in economic terms. Germany needs its national (and regional identity) and I think having a right of centre larger party supported by a left lot actually makes them strong in the present world of stress with the USofA, I am less certain if AfD is getting Russian disrupter funding and attempting to follow Trump US ties how to make it shrink away.
I wish Germany well and before they were wary of Funding Ukraine, hopefully now they will at least politically tie themselves closer (even if Russia rehashes its Patrotic War in some way - its quite flat between Russia and Germany with only Poland in the way) .

[Whyperion]

Short Term these days appears to be working and thinking about 3 hours ahead. Hardly time to plan. So are we stuck in a post-industrial world where the only jobs are equality and diversity and ethnic minority managers in the Welsh NHS ? (actually more important than the Daily Mail might think of, things like take up of vaccines , treatment of women in childbirth have been noted to be less good to many indian/asian families , and impact of diabetes,) of course actually somehow getting good medical treatment as a human , diverse origins duly noted, should be all it needs.

Germany GDP has fallen, same true of the UK, financial sector wont fix things, the super rich are reluctant to pay any tax , the poor are stuck with all of the costs of policy failure , or policy ambition (net zero, clean water, international aid to see off the Chinese), failed housing build targets, failed housing quality of existing build, and thats before we get to railways , new and better roads. Yet does the lack of GDP Growth (for the UK) mean anything (I would reduce taxes a bit - I have spoken of that long time ago) , other than tax take I look over London (at present till the next block of flats gets built) I can see many of the modern landmarks - Battersea Power Station (now an upmarket shopping centre/ food destination) , The Arch at Wembley, The Millenium Wheel, the lights on the cranes give a permanent christmas nightime view and build baby build is cracking on , and there is space in London for more ( Thamesmead left fallow for goodness knows what reasons, expansion into the wet and windy lands of Dagenham Marshes , and ex Surrey and Essex military airfields get high class housing estates to run more cars into London (Or Woking) for work. There seems to be enough going on for the next five years at least and if there is a simidge off our incomes relatively speaking does it matter ? But govts still havent got the message that increasing wages (better jobs) is not a substitute for inflation being too high (its just a means of paying for it) and not all can get those jobs with 1000 applications getting nowhere.

Labour's plans for Great British Railways and Great British Energy are achingly too slow of deckchair re-arrangement , and infrastructure - Electric Grid Mk2 for renewables also not effectively funded in the private energy model. Would full Nationalisation be better ? - it should have been done when we owned many of the banks. Yet we know previous 1940s nationalisations had unexpected consequences.

In terms of inflation and infrastructure I see that Thames Water has been allowed to increase prices ( while consumers see this, industry gets it even more )and this appears to have been accelerated with those on water meters with substantial increases in Standing Charge and Flow Rate costs / mm2 of pipework, those on old "water rates" appear to have the lower 5 year OFWAT staged allowance for 2025/2026.

The more we spend on essentials the less we have for descretion and even £178k annual salaries are poverty level in London. (one advertising agency worker said was his life wasted as no-one now could afford the goods and services he was helping to sell) Crime- against the person and against property is rising and drug / alchol dependence seems embedded from the middle class extra size glass of wine or two to the street (or home in a flat) drinking robs people of sane thought and usefullness. The sheds and rooms of daily work even in a pin factory have gone - unless you live in Thailand .

The railway industry changes even in 200 years of passenger rail in England. Doncaster's "Plant" seems to be down for closure as rebuild and repair contracts are not being placed, Hitachi Rail are building new in the North East (one reason for refurb work down) at least for London and probably HS1 , but once the London Tube carriages have been renewed that is only 10 years work then nothing unless there is expansion as overseas contracts are too costly for the likes of Hong Kong where we may have sold in the past.

This site shows that there have been troubles, and muddled or well thought out ways out in the past , but where is the enlightenment for the future when the fixed costs of just being a democratic nation under the monarch's peace seem just a little too high.

Parliament is Back Next Week . PMQs should be interesting , - I think Starmer should actually ask the advice of other party leaders because I fear the need for a National Coalition might be needed depending what Trump gets up to.



Update
Daily Mail Via MSN Grangemouth Refinery
Its Scotland and we look to move away from fuels yet its giving more reliance on imported finished goods. Maybe the tranistion to other energy and site uses is a good thing but it illustrates the kind of frustration of what will the future be

[Stanley]

I noticed THIS in the BBC politics feed.
US President Donald Trump was right to re-establish links with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to set up peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, a senior Labour minister has said. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said there could be "no negotiated peace without Russia" and that Trump's approach had brought "Russians to the table". The US president has faced a backlash for excluding Ukraine from talks after his aides met Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Trump has also suggested Ukraine may be a bystander, saying it has "no cards" in the deal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will meet Trump in Washington this week and press for Ukraine to be "at the heart" of any peace talks.
The lady could be correct in voicing such obvious opinions but she would be better of course keeping quiet and leaving it up to her boss. Unless of course she is acting under instructions from No 10 to give Starmer some non-aggressive negotiating points.....

[Whyperion]

So Germany moves a bit right, but will have to work with left thanks to the minorities. Probably the best outcome.
The US goes full Nazi. With replacement of most Pentagon heads, and geting to staff, The Judges being replaced, Congress independence and oversight sidelined News outlets manipulated and shut down. Problem is 35percent of Americans back this , 35percent dont care (enough to do anything) and 35percent cannot care (too old , to frail, too economically disadvantaged).
UK Defence Review premises of thought blown off their head in this world. Ukraine plays its last chance cards and Starmer has to be diplomatice yet find truth.

[Whyperion]

Benefits or Bombs ? Can Britain afford both ? Should we be fighting others wars, because one day they will be our own. Logic suggests high wealth persons have more to lose from war so they should pay.


I forgot to have noticed in UK and some parts of EU. Defence related establishments are not immune from accidents , fires and so on. So Barrow In Furness Shipyard - sabotage, carelessness or something else.

Russian Peace is nearly as bad as Russian War.

[Whyperion]

Have a look at THIS and note the contrast!
Questions have been raised about the accuracy of the chancellor's online CV, and the use of expenses while working at a bank, in the wake of a BBC News investigation. Rachel Reeves and two colleagues were the subject of an expenses probe while she was a senior manager at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in the late 2000s. It was also revealed that the chancellor's online CV exaggerated the length of time she worked at the Bank of England. Sir Keir Starmer said Reeves has "dealt with any issues that arise" when asked about her CV by a reporter. The initial stage of the investigation found that a whistleblower's complaint was substantiated at HBOS, and the three employees appeared to have broken the rules, according to a senior source with direct knowledge of the probe. We have not been able to establish what the final outcome of the investigation was. Indeed, it may not have concluded. A spokesman for Reeves said the chancellor had no knowledge of the investigation, always complied with expenses rules and left the bank on good terms.

"Questions Have Been Raised" is always a headline to distract and is a means of raising suspicion without proof , and I admit, I was taken in.
Latest Private Eye from their website with respect to expenses " The story was initially put out on LinkedIn by former HBOS executive Kev Gillett" apparently Gillett is pretty anti-socialist so the smoking gun could have been released from his direction , though if the actual background I have read is true then there is still substance in the lack of "financial controls" over expense signing off etc in the bank with a culture that can still be carried over in thought.
Private Eye also reports Reeves has had £15.000 donation to expenses of some kind from Sainsbury's I am not sure if this was for research or what as if it was to buy influence (a) its cheap and (b) with employers ers up it didnt work

[Whyperion]

Benefits or Bombs ? Can Britain afford both ? Should we be fighting others wars, because one day they will be our own. Logic suggests high wealth persons have more to lose from war so they should pay.

Thinking back to WW2. Everyone was in some kind of employment getting paid. The government introduced Purchase Tax at a rate based on the retail price at quite heaftly rates. I can see VAT at 25percent next year if the mil jets now planned to support Ukraine if peace keeping needed (though really peace against Russia this is not a Balkans or even Middle East squabble someone is kidding) start falling out of the sky.

Actually why do we have ANY military deterant. I always thought the US nukes were cardboard and we were basically paying the US protection money in the first place.

Apparently today been discussions in Ukraine re the 3rd anniversary of invasion , assorted websites around if you want to look, I dont think any meaningful conclusions made.

[Whyperion]

UN Backs Motion Condemming Russia inc occupation of land in Ukraine.
(edit no it didnt and I cannot recall where I saw that headline in my newsfeeds - I think China and Russia blocked it - hardly surprising but at least it got aired)
(edit edit US also blocked the motion) ( and Trump refuses to call Putin a Dictator ( well strictly Putin was elected so the form of words might be right , killing ones rivals might indicate otherwise ).

Macron First up to see Trump about Ukraine . other than fact checking Trump over Grants vs Loans and who has paid what to Ukraine the news from Trump that Russia wont object to (EU) Peacekeeping forces was interesting , otherwise I am not sure what Macron got through to Trump .
Starmer spoke from a shopping list at UN in respect to Ukraine, a Wooden Speech alas that might be OK for the record but raising interest and action I am not sure.

Update - Daily Mail suggests Russia/Putin might go to acquire more/all Ukraine in five years even after a peace deal . If so where does that put the peacekeepers - do they stay for as long as possible and when do peacekeepers become combatants ?


Member for Runcorn looks like he will be recalled / resign. Can Labour hold a seat if low turnout , are the other parties ready with policies to ensure Reform doesnt get a thought

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on the US siding with Russia in the UN.
51 minutes ago
The US has twice sided with Russia in votes at the UN to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the Trump administration's change of stance on the war. First the two countries opposed a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow's actions and supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, which was passed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Then they backed a US-drafted resolution at the UN Security Council calling for an end to the conflict but containing no criticism of Russia. The Security Council resolution was passed but two key US allies, the UK and France, abstained in the vote after their attempts to amend the wording were vetoed
This must be the biggest reverse ferret in the history of the UN.