The Starmer Years - Can The New Broom Sweep Clean?

[hypochondriac]

Tbf to Starmer that press conference with Trump was probably his strongest moment in office so far. 

[whelk]

9 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Tbf to Starmer that press conference with Trump was probably his strongest moment in office so far. 

So much so even the Daily Mail aren’t putting a different spin on it.

[egg]

The only negative from that press conference was dippy questions from out media. Starmer played him like a fiddle, and Peston than pipes up asking about an apology for Zelensky. Lovely sentiment, but read the room and ditch your script. 

[rooney]

22 minutes ago, whelk said:

So much so even the Daily Mail aren’t putting a different spin on it.

That must be a first.

[sadoldgit]

Fair play to Anneliese Dodds. Cabinet Ministers don’t often resign on points of principle nowadays. The extra money for defence has to come from somewhere but foreign aid is the wrong place in my opinion. It is seen as a soft, easy option but when you listen to those who understand how it is used, how important it is and how it can effect us down the road, they should have made cuts elsewhere.

As much as they don’t want to increase taxes, given the financial mess we are in at some point they are going to have to consider it.

[AlexLaw76]

4 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Fair play to Anneliese Dodds. Cabinet Ministers don’t often resign on points of principle nowadays. The extra money for defence has to come from somewhere but foreign aid is the wrong place in my opinion. It is seen as a soft, easy option but when you listen to those who understand how it is used, how important it is and how it can effect us down the road, they should have made cuts elsewhere.

As much as they don’t want to increase taxes, given the financial mess we are in at some point they are going to have to consider it.

The millioms of £s spent enhancing gender outcomes in Nepal will take a hit, I should imagine 

Along with the money we sent to india (for some bizarre reason)

 

 

 

 

[Patrick Bateman]

On 27/02/2025 at 21:50, hypochondriac said:

Tbf to Starmer that press conference with Trump was probably his strongest moment in office so far. 

Absolutely this. Starmer went up a lot in my estimation yesterday, fair play to him.

As for the MP who resigned today, she's a wally - idealistic wally totally detached from how the political game is being played right now. 

[Farmer Saint]

15 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Fair play to Anneliese Dodds. Cabinet Ministers don’t often resign on points of principle nowadays. The extra money for defence has to come from somewhere but foreign aid is the wrong place in my opinion. It is seen as a soft, easy option but when you listen to those who understand how it is used, how important it is and how it can effect us down the road, they should have made cuts elsewhere.

As much as they don’t want to increase taxes, given the financial mess we are in at some point they are going to have to consider it.

Re-join the EU would be a better way to free up the economy and raise the coffers.

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Re-join the EU would be a better way to free up the economy and raise the coffers.

and Bail out Germany....

Nah, you are alright 

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Re-join the EU would be a better way to free up the economy and raise the coffers.

I couldn’t agree more, but any mention of rejoining is cryptonite politically here at the moment thanks to Farage and the far right Tories who still preach that Brexit was a good idea.

[sadoldgit]

12 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

The millioms of £s spent enhancing gender outcomes in Nepal will take a hit, I should imagine 

Along with the money we sent to india (for some bizarre reason)

 

 

 

 

As I said, it is better to listen to those who know what they are talking about.

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

As I said, it is better to listen to those who know what they are talking about.

This is a couple of examples of what is used with out Foreign Aid money

It is not hard to find.

 

Another example is the fleet of EVs for the Albanian prison service

[badgerx16]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

This is a couple of examples of what is used with out Foreign Aid money

It is not hard to find.

 

Another example is the fleet of EVs for the Albanian prison service

15 electric VWs were sent as part of the deal to deport Albanian prisoners from the UK.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, badgerx16 said:

15 electric VWs were sent as part of the deal to deport Albanian prisoners from the UK.

Will be no more then

[Whitey Grandad]

7 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

15 electric VWs were sent as part of the deal to deport Albanian prisoners from the UK.

Do they have the range?

[aintforever]

31 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Will be no more then

What, you prefer the Albanians to stay?

[Lord Duckhunter]

15 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

The millioms of £s spent enhancing gender outcomes in Nepal will take a hit, I should imagine 

Along with the money we sent to india (for some bizarre reason)

 

 

 

 

Yep, good to see Starmer following Reforms idea of cutting foreign aid and spending it at home. The precedent has been set now, let’s hope Rachael from accounts uses this method when she runs out of fiscal headroom. 

Edited March 1 by Lord Duckhunter

[Farmer Saint]

5 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

and Bail out Germany....

Nah, you are alright 

You know that won't happen.

[whelk]

Good week for Starmer. Still sounds a little like in autopilot when interviewed by Laura K repeating his line too much ‘no one wants to see that’ but proving a decent diplomat and statesman 

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

Good week for Starmer. Still sounds a little like in autopilot when interviewed by Laura K repeating his line too much ‘no one wants to see that’ but proving a decent diplomat and statesman 

To be fair to him, it must be a very difficult line to tread. We still need a link to the Americans and not to piss off Trump whilst obviously taking actions that has the potential to upset him. I thought he handled it rather well under the circumstances and as you say a good week for him. If he can sort out some of the domestic issues that he has failed on so far then maybe he can turn things around. He still has the issue of less tax coming in though which will almost certainly mean further tax rises which isn't going to go down well at all. 

Edited March 3 by hypochondriac

[Gloucester Saint]

Good stuff 

 

[rallyboy]

There's little ambiguity with the latest development - Trump is supporting Russia, against Europe.

If he continues down that road the US can no longer be considered a reliable ally, and any special relationship will be suspended until sanity returns to the White House.

[Mixedkebab]

Cutting the foreign aid budget and now a  proposal to save billions on welfare benefits, Labour will be more popular with a lot of ex Tory voters now. 

[The Kraken]

Looking forward to the hilarious quip about “Rachel from accounts” 🤣🤣 gets me every time that one.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Mixedkebab said:

Cutting the foreign aid budget and now a  proposal to save billions on welfare benefits, Labour will be more popular with a lot of ex Tory voters now. 

Strategically that won’t be an issue for them in the short-term, probably buys some breathing space. But when nearer the GE there’s a risk Labour appears neither left or right.

Mind you, given the mad shit going on the world, quite frankly a week is like a year at the moment, dread to think where it will be by 2029…

[sadoldgit]

3 hours ago, Mixedkebab said:

Cutting the foreign aid budget and now a  proposal to save billions on welfare benefits, Labour will be more popular with a lot of ex Tory voters now. 

Starmer could well be. You can see him getting more support from Badenoch and Farage than his back benchers.

I heard a commentator say today that Reeves need to relax her fiscal rules. If you are going to row back on election promises, for Labour it is arguably better to do this than to hit those who are already struggling.

You don’t expect the Tories or Reform to call for the rich to take more of the hit, but it is a strange world when Labour prioritise the rich over the needy.

[Saint in Paradise]

New Sentencing Guidelines from 1 April 2025

 

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, Saint in Paradise said:

New Sentencing Guidelines from 1 April 2025

 

Just to get you up to date https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg19gx7vl4o

[egg]

53 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Just to get you up to date https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg19gx7vl4o

And if you want the detail, the new sentencing guidelines are below. Being female or transgender are also specific reasons. 

The detail:

A pre-sentence report will normally be considered necessary if the offender belongs to one (or more) of the following cohorts:

at risk of first custodial sentence and/or at risk of a custodial sentence of 2 years or less (after taking into account any reduction for guilty plea)

a young adult (typically 18-25 years; see further information below at section 3)

female (see further information below at section 3)

from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community

pregnant or post-natal

sole or primary carer for dependent relatives

Or if the court considers that one or more of the following may apply to the offender:

has disclosed they are transgender

has or may have any addiction issues

has or may have a serious chronic medical condition or physical disability, or mental ill health, learning disabilities (including developmental disorders and neurodiverse conditions) or brain injury/damage

or; the court considers that the offender is, or there is a risk that they may have been, a victim of:

domestic abuse, physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, coercive or controlling behaviour, economic, psychological, emotional or any other abuse

modern slavery or trafficking, or

coercion, grooming, intimidation or exploitation.

[John B]

I agree with Anneliese Dodds in her stand against reduction of overseas Aid and Diane Abbott who said

“There is nothing moral about cutting benefits for what may be up to a million people. This is not about morality. This is about the Treasury's wish to balance the country's books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor people in this society.”’’

Taking £4bn from the poor sick and disabled when us Baby Boomers who have had so much over the last 50 years are not touched is pretty immoral

Starmer and Reeves are currently a disgrace to the Labour party and I feel it is now pretty damaged with the electorate

I did not realise that change meant adopting failed Tory Policies and not supporting the Palestinians

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, John B said:

Taking £4bn from the poor sick and disabled when us Baby Boomers who have had so much over the last 50 years are not touched is pretty immoral

Only taking 4bn from the welfare budget is the immoral thing.
 

The genuinely poor, the sick and disabled could get more money if people taking the piss were targeted and forced into work. 
 

This isn’t a genuine attempt to reform benefits, it’s a cynical move to try and stop the OBR stating she’ll break her fiscal rules. So I shouldn’t worry about the implications, it’s just tinkering around the edges. Genuine long term welfare reform will cost money & pain short term, and neither party has the balls….

[whelk]

We have to address benefits spiralling out of control. Tax payer can’t pick up the tab of the post Covid people on sick.

Although the wealth in our country is huge and shame not more radical approach and just caning working and middle class income all the time.

 

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

We have to address benefits spiralling out of control. Tax payer can’t pick up the tab of the post Covid people on sick.

Although the wealth in our country is huge and shame not more radical approach and just caning working and middle class income all the time.

 

Agree with the first part. Not sure tax the rich and more politics of envy is going to do anything positive. 

[whelk]

16 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Agree with the first part. Not sure tax the rich and more politics of envy is going to do anything positive. 

Discounting the silly tag line most wealth isn’t generated by entrepreneurial ability it is just money making more money and very hard to fail. Society won’t get better regressing back to Victorian era.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Smash the gangs…

 

 

[AlexLaw76]

Hopefully....all the increases to the cist of living will fix this... Or finance crazy Ed on his net zero dream 

[east-stand-nic]

Is it true that there is a new law coming into effect soon that will see what people punished more severely for a crime than others? I saw it somewhere on social media but thought maybe it was a joke. Surely it cannot be true?

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, east-stand-nic said:

Is it true that there is a new law coming into effect soon that will see what people punished more severely for a crime than others? I saw it somewhere on social media but thought maybe it was a joke. Surely it cannot be true?

Untrue. Firstly it's not a law it's guidance and secondly they are postponing it until legislation comes in to remove it. 

[badgerx16]

12 minutes ago, east-stand-nic said:

Is it true that there is a new law coming into effect soon that will see what people punished more severely for a crime than others? I saw it somewhere on social media but thought maybe it was a joke. Surely it cannot be true?

No it isn't true.

There are recommendations from the Sentencing Council, which provides guidance for Judges, to look differently on people from ethnic minorities, to "balance" the Justice system, but the Government has said that if these guidelines are introduced, Parliament will pass legislation to prevent them being enacted.

[east-stand-nic]

2 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

No it isn't true.

There are recommendations from the Sentencing Council, which provides guidance for Judges, to look differently on people from ethnic minorities, to "balance" the Justice system, but the Government has said that if these guidelines are introduced, Parliament will pass legislation to prevent them being enacted.

Who the hell would recommend such a thing?

 

PS thanks to the thicko stalkers for the lol emoji yet again. What is the point of your lives guys. Such dicks 

Edited Tuesday at 15:55 by east-stand-nic
Forgotten text

[CB Fry]

5 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Smash the gangs…

 

 

I wonder what was in place during Boris Johnson's first 250 days because it looks like a brilliant preventative measure. Maybe we should go back to that.

[egg]

1 hour ago, east-stand-nic said:

Who the hell would recommend such a thing?

 

PS thanks to the thicko stalkers for the lol emoji yet again. What is the point of your lives guys. Such dicks 

Err. Practice/preach/double standards, etc. 

[aintforever]

5 hours ago, east-stand-nic said:

Who the hell would recommend such a thing?

 

PS thanks to the thicko stalkers for the lol emoji yet again. What is the point of your lives guys. Such dicks 

What do you expect? You bang on about the lies in the ‘mainstream media’ then go and post some complete bollocks from “somewhere on social media”.

If you actually want to know more:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8vjd3n3dzo

[east-stand-nic]

7 hours ago, aintforever said:

What do you expect? You bang on about the lies in the ‘mainstream media’ then go and post some complete bollocks from “somewhere on social media”.

If you actually want to know more:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8vjd3n3dzo

Yet another thicko replies. Read my post one more time thicko. I asked a question. Now then, think back to last weeks English lesson. When someone asks a question, what does it mean? Yes little one, that's right. It means I wanted an answer as i could NOT believe what I read and thought it must be wrong, so wanted to check. Got it now thicko?

BTW, show me double standards? Where? Thanks now.

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, east-stand-nic said:

Yet another thicko replies. Read my post one more time thicko. I asked a question. Now then, think back to last weeks English lesson. When someone asks a question, what does it mean? Yes little one, that's right. It means I wanted an answer as i could NOT believe what I read and thought it must be wrong, so wanted to check. Got it now thicko?

BTW, show me double standards? Where? Thanks now.

You are beginning to show progress.

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, east-stand-nic said:

Yet another thicko replies. Read my post one more time thicko. I asked a question. Now then, think back to last weeks English lesson. When someone asks a question, what does it mean? Yes little one, that's right. It means I wanted an answer as i could NOT believe what I read and thought it must be wrong, so wanted to check. Got it now thicko?

BTW, show me double standards? Where? Thanks now.

Another meltdown ???

[east-stand-nic]

9 hours ago, tdmickey3 said:

Another meltdown ???

Where are your meaningful contributions? Just a stupid child troll. 

Wh

[east-stand-nic]

9 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

You are beginning to show progress.

I rarely believe anything I read in msm. It is you who needs to progress your thinking. 

As ever you get everything the wrong way around. And yet you are so thick you still cannot see it 

Edited yesterday at 16:11 by east-stand-nic
Spelling

[badgerx16]

1 minute ago, east-stand-nic said:

I rarely believe anything I read in msm. It is you who needs to progress your thinking. 

As I don't do X, Reddit, Quora, META, or any other of the more enlightened outlets, I fear that at my age the chance has passed me by.

[whelk]

12 minutes ago, east-stand-nic said:

I rarely believe anything I read in msm. It is you who needs to progress your thinking. 

lol - these dumb fucks don’t even get embarrassed