POLITICS CORNER

[Tizer]

Seeing the news of Russia's overnight bombardment of Ukraine with 11 ballistic missiles, 55 cruise missiles, and 145 drones and Trump repeatedly blaming Zelensky for continuing the war I think it's time we changed our relationship with America. Trump is now effectively an ally of Russia and enemy of Ukraine. He's assisting Putin in the dictator's attempt to take over all of Ukraine. Meanwhile Trump's tariffs game is causing worldwide distress and he regards everything as a property deal. Other countries should stop kowtowing to America and combine together to end Putin's attempts to expand Russia westwards. We can no longer rely on the US to do the job for us. The US could soon be a failed state due to self-inflicted wounds and it won't be able to help us then.

[Stanley]

It's certainly going that way Peter. Apart from his mistakes with Putin Trump has also completely misunderstood the US relationship with China. There is no deal that can stop China (and India) eventually becoming greater financial powers than the US but the Orange Knob isn't smart enough to understand that.

Meanwhile this morning..... See THIS...
US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv and that President Vladimir Putin should "stop" - but has not said if further action might be taken against Russia. Overnight into Thursday, the attacks on the Ukrainian capital killed at least 12 people and injured dozens of others. The US president said he is "putting a lot of pressure" on both sides to end the war in Ukraine, following the deadliest attacks Kyiv has seen since last July. It is the latest road bump in efforts to advance a peace deal between the two countries - something the US president said he would be able to quickly do as part of his election campaign last year. In rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: "Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!"
Do you think the penny might be dropping?

[Whyperion]

The US has a problem. Can anyone "fix it"(without some kind of socialism ?) Manufacturing might be nice to have , but its done by robots at best and a lack of mass good employment means a lack of mass market. At present the box shifters depend on high margin on rubbish from china to decorate middle class homes for a succession of holiday things which then go off to disposal

[Stanley]

See THIS report from Steve Rosenberg on the Russia/Ukraine conflict talks.
2 hours ago
It was all smiles in the Kremlin. "It's so good to see you," gushed Steve Witkoff as he shook the hand of the Russian president. From his broad smile you could tell that Donald Trump's special envoy was indeed delighted to see Vladimir Putin. In fact, he's been seeing rather a lot of him. This was their fourth meeting in just over two months. From the various alleged peace proposals that have been leaked to the press, there seem to be plenty of "sticking points". There are differences over the territorial concessions Ukraine would be required to make, security guarantees, sanctions relief for Russia and the sequencing - that is, the order in which obligations undertaken be carried out.
The day Witkoff flew to Moscow, on the edge of the city, peace was shattered. A car bomb killed a senior Russian general. Yaroslav Moskalik was deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of assassinating him. If that's true, it's a sign of how Russia's war in Ukraine has come much closer to home. There is no guarantee that talks between Putin and Witkoff will bring peace. And there will be concern in Kyiv and in Europe that they were not at the table. What is clear is that Putin and Trump are determined to bring their countries closer - whatever happens with the Ukraine peace process. For Moscow and Washington, now their watchword is co-operation.
If Steve Rosenberg is right, Trump doesn't seem to be at all bothered by Putin's disregard for another country's sovereignty....,.,

[Stanley]

See THIS report from the Pope's funeral....
Donald Trump has questioned Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the war in Ukraine following his meeting with the country's leader Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral. Posting on social media after leaving Rome, Trump said he feared Putin was "tapping me along" after Moscow's strikes on Kyiv earlier this week, adding there was "no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas". Earlier in the day Trump and Zelensky were seen in deep discussion in St Peter's Basilica shortly before the funeral began. The White House described the 15-minute meeting with Zelensky as "very productive". The Ukrainian president said it had the "potential to become historic". It was Trump's first face-to-face encounter with the Ukrainian president since February's acrimonious Oval Office showdown. Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities "makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?'".
Could the truth be slowly dawning on the Orange Knob?

[Stanley]

See THIS report that Spain and Portugal are still trying to find out what caused the massive power outages in Europe.

[Stanley]

I saw THIS account of a new report from Tony Bliar.....
Sir Tony Blair has called for a major rethink of net zero policies, arguing that limiting energy consumption and fossil fuel production is "doomed to fail". In a new report, the former Labour prime minister says voters "feel they're being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know the impact on global emissions is minimal". He does not call for Labour to halt its push to decarbonise the UK economy - but says all governments need to rethink their approach, as it is not working. The Tories - who have joined Reform UK in opposing net zero emissions by 2050 - urged Labour to end the "mad dash" to this goal - but Downing Street said it would not be changing course.
It's not a natural stance for me to take but I agree with both Blair and the Tories..... We need to rethink the strategy, the world has changed and we must change with it.

[Tripps]

This was fed to me tonight. I post it because it references Jonathon Hinder, and I've not read much about him lately. "MP for Pendley and Clitheroe). Sounds like he is getting a bit restless policywise. he's certainly up to speed with his woke jargon (Overton Window). I always mentally picture hm as the graduate copper Sgt Hobson from Beiderbecke. Voting tomorrow in the Council elections will be interesting.

[Stanley]

Once again I have to agree David. I have been waiting for signs of Left-Wing policies from Labour ever since the election. All I have seen is a Blair-like policy to take over the middle ground and in consequence they are looking like Tory-Lite.
I shall be voting Liberal in the local election, not because of the above complaint but simply because I use my vote in the local elections to support those who support me and in the case of Barlick that has been the Liberals for many years.
By the way. I have only received two pieces of election literature this year, both from David Whipp. What has happened to the other four parties?

[Whyperion]

I think Climate and (net zero however you measure it) is moving out of political choice to one where the economics do start to work ASSuming the UK distribution grid gets real to the last five miles and inputs in , it can be done.

[Stanley]

See THIS latest Trump move....
US President Donald Trump has removed Mike Waltz from his post as national security adviser, and will nominate him as ambassador to the United Nations. In a post on social media, Trump thanked Waltz for his work and said he would be temporarily replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will continue as America's top diplomat. Waltz had faced criticism for mistakenly adding a journalist to a chat group where sensitive military plans were discussed - a political embarrassment likely to feature during confirmation hearings for the UN post. The former Florida congressman is the first senior member of the administration to leave the White House in Trump's second term. "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "I know he will do the same in his new role."

Later..... See THIS report from Runcorn.
A full recount is taking place in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, with the BBC told just four votes separated Reform and Labour in the initial count. It means the by-election is on track to be one of the closest parliamentary elections ever.

[Stanley]

Reform have taken Runcorn from Labour by 6 votes. A very significant result. Labour might be about to start paying for being Tory-Lite.

[Big Kev]

Reform have taken Runcorn from Labour by 6 votes. A very significant result. Labour might be about to start paying for being Tory-Lite.

They've got Lancashire too
https://news.lancashire.gov.uk/news/ref ... ty-council

[Tripps]

I abstained yesterday. Rational decision.

Reform is barely out of nappies, and will surely collapse when it comes into contact with the grown ups of politics.

I don't agree with enough of the policies of the remainder to give them my vote.

It's a long time till a meaningful election can be called. Four years in theory - but I somehow don't see this situation surviving that long.

Events.jpg

[PanBiker]

David Whipp won his seat but his running mate David Hartley was unelected. Our former comrades but still friends, Azhar Ali and Mohammed Iqbal who were kicked out of the Labour Party because of their stance on Gaza, they became Independents and were both elected to County as such. Although Reform will have overall control I am sure that any one of those mentioned can run rings round any of the Reform councillors and will almost certainly take every opportunity to do so. All the other parties are in a minority on the County Council.

I hold the view that there will not be another County election as such. It was touch and go whether this one would take place as serious moves are afoot to become some form of Unitary Authority, sooner rather than later.

[Tripps]

kicked out of the Labour Party because of their stance on Gaza,

A bit more detail about that situation from the BBC at the time. Cllr Azhar Ali


I've seen Cllr Mohammed Iqbal MBE Cllr several time at Council meetings and he's quite impressive.

[Whyperion]

The BBC Graphs etc may tell a better story but here is the raw numbers
Reform UK 677 +677
Liberal Democrat 370 + 163
317 -676
Labour 99 -186
Independent
89 -20
Green
80 +45

I dont think they present the total number of votes for each party affiliation compared with 2021

A Crude thought would indicate that Cons Voters flipped to Reform UK and Labour Independent essentially lost to Lib Dem + Green which is what the maths looks to show
Of course it is more nuanced than that with seats flipping like some game of muscial chairs . One wonders how the 10 NOC councils might end up with Lib Green Indy having to work out if they go with Lab or Tory (Or BOTH !!) to freeze out Reform UK - or will Reform and Tories work together ?

Why is this a change after 100 years of more or less two party (not that it has been Libs have always had some strong(er) areas and the Greens clipping at some areas more than others too . Basically the buzz phrase might be "The End of Neo-Liberal Politics" But again maybe more than that . Starmer the man without a vision and his team the gang without a clue might be one start. The impact of Immigration- however spun - is shaping western european politics with a strong 20percent having a pretty much isolationist view . Fear that ones money is going to those that dont deserve , yet we wont allow them jobs, and we wont allow them housing (most of which is rubbish standard anyway).
An Abstension ,might send a message but on many things Starmer is sitting on a fence or jumping on the wrong side. Conservatives have no philsophy left , Eton no longer fit to provide leaders and the Church of England is moving into being the Green Party at Prayer .
The best Labour could come up with - Hospital Waiting Times coming down (mainly due to taking people off the list or they are dying). There are some simple measures that could be taken but no one wants to make the effort to have a clean , bright , active. and effective Britain at the local level .

[Whyperion]

Theres more
One of the new intake of Labour MPs said "this is not a verdict on our failure to deliver.

"It is a verdict on what we have delivered. People on the doorsteps are using the word 'betrayal'


Which just about gets it right. Chancellor etc point to Rising Wages - without noting this is not due to productivity but a catchup to locked in inflation , in part brought about by Employers NHI.
Perhaps the oddest result was the Mayor of Peterborough/Cambridge which flipped from Labour to Conservative - and a Con gain has to be a big win for them

[Stanley]

David, If it hadn't been for the fact that I had David Whipp to vote for (and I'm glad to see he retained his seat) I would have been in the same position. IOne sign of the times, I only got two pieces of election literature, both from the Liberals.
I took no interest in either the results or Ronnie's debacle in the world snooker championship. I could see both of them coming.
THIS is what greeted me this morning.....
Updated 1 hour ago
Nigel Farage's Reform UK has made big gains in English local elections, cementing it as a prime challenger to Britain's traditional main parties. It won 677 of around 1,600 seats contested on Thursday across a clutch of mainly Tory-held councils last contested in 2021. Reform seized control of eight authorities from the Conservatives, including former strongholds Kent and Staffordshire. The party has also won control of Doncaster, the only council Labour was defending, and Durham, where Labour was previously the largest party. Reform also displaced Labour in Runcorn and Helsby, where it won a tightly-fought Westminster by-election to make Sarah Pochin its fifth MP.
Anyone who has been reading my thoughts on politics since the GE knows that this result is no surprise to me. As usual the voters have had the final word and the message is clear, Labour have blown the chance they were given at the election to fundamentally alter the course of politics and instead took the Blair option of being Tory-lite and Not the Tony Benn advice.... "Dare to be a Daniel". This is not a massive affirmation that Reform is on the right track but a sign that the electorate have lost patience with the Tories and Labour.
There is only one hope for my beloved Labour Party, they either Go back to their Socialist roots and start governing for the People or sink into mediocre oblivion. I am not optimistic.
(PS. if you want to know how to manage a country that is bankrupt and fighting a war, go back to 1945 and the Atlee Government.)

[PanBiker]

David, If it hadn't been for the fact that I had David Whipp to vote for (and I'm glad to see he retained his seat)

David actually regained his seat he lost it to the Tories in the previous County Elections.

Whatever we have now is a short stop gap until the County Council is abolished and it morphs into some kind of Unitary Authority, then all the cards will be on the table again.

[Stanley]

THIS BBC In Depth article is worth a coat of looking at. I rate Sir John Curtice.....
There is no doubt that Reform performed well in Thursday's local council elections. The party won most votes, most seats and overall control of most councils. True, the party's share of the votes cast across all 23 councils where elections took place on Thursday was no more than 31%. So despite doing well, it secured far from a majority of those voting. However, its performance was enough to put Reform well ahead of the Conservatives – who traditionally dominate county councils - on 23%, the Liberal Democrats on 17% and Labour on 14% when you tally up the votes in those parts of England that went to the polls on Thursday.
My own view is that this is not the dawn of a new age but the biggest protest I have seen from the voters since Labour won in 1945.

[PanBiker]

Turnout was reasonably low also, 39% I think. It's a tad better in a GE.

In my view the 1945 Labour Government was the last time socialist policies were applied in earnest to the population. Guess what, It worked.

[Stanley]

"Guess what, It worked."
Quite!....

See THIS for a sensible quote from Kemi Badenoch....
Kemi Badenoch has said it would be wrong to think a change of leader would "fix everything" after the Conservatives suffered heavy losses in English local elections. The Tory leader told the BBC her party would "come out fighting" after losing 674 council seats and control of 16 authorities. But she cautioned against a knee-jerk response, saying the party's issues were "not going to be fixed after six months" of her leadership. She said: "Reform had a good night. We had a bad night. And what this shows for a lot of people who hoped that just changing leader again would fix everything is that that's not going to be enough. We tried that previously. And that brought us to a historic defeat."
Unfortunately she has to deal with a Party with more than its fair share of reactionary tossers....

[Stanley]

THIS is the global politics that hit me hardest this morning.
Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas which includes the "capture" of Gaza and the holding of its territory, according to an Israeli official. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet had decided on a "forceful operation" to destroy Hamas and rescue its remaining hostages, and that Gaza's 2.1 million population "will be moved, to protect it". He did not say how much territory would be seized by troops, but he stressed that "they will not enter and come out".
So it's official and out in the open now. Israel intends to expel the Palestinians from their homes in the North part of the Gaza Strip, occupy it permanently and doubtless settle it. Who knows, American capital might be imported to develop it as a holiday destination. What guarantee is there that the takeover will stop there? How safe is the rest of the Strip or the West bank..... How much further does Israeli territorial ambition extend. Are Lebanon and Syria safe?
Are the Western nations (Including us.) complicit in these ambitions by not opposing them? Or have I got it all wrong.....

[PanBiker]

To our shame we are still supporting the genocide. It's just the same as Russia stealing sections of Ukraine's sovereign territory although as yet they are not using direct ethnic cleansing techniques like the Zionists. I cant understand why both belligerent nations have not been held to account as they have both been found guilty on humanitarian grounds under International Law.