Re: Snap General Election called
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:01 pm
Wow, it seems a little late in his term to remove the monarch as sovereign, but I'm all for it.
Agreed, and it does seem strange that he doesn't push at least some of those points - most of them would be popular and the Tories are weak on almost all of them, either ideologically or because they've obviously failed.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:31 amI agree he needs something positive as a key message. Not being Tory is enough for a 20 point lead, fair enough. But that wont last forever and there's no guarantee that it will last until polling day. When Blair won, not only were the Tories tired, there was a sense of enthusiasm about what New Labour would do. Money is tighter than it was, but if Starmer could pick a few key areas on how his government would improve things today it would be a start:Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 10:36 am Sunak bringing Cameron back is a little like Blair keeping Prescott around - optics to keep one lot of voters from deserting the ship - although it also says something about the quality of the ministers he had to choose from.
Starmer 'praising' Thatcher. I haven't read it - there's not much point as I don't really believe anything he says - if he's happy to lie to the Labour party what would he not say to Telegraph readers? Is is smart politics? There's a case for it. I don't really accept what the article says about the 25% left who support the Tories. I agree that none of them will vote Labour but 1) they would be less motivated to vote to stop a Thatcher-loving Starmer and 2) there's the next 20% of voters who could easily go back to the Tories under certain circumstances.
So it may be smart politics. I guess, if Starmer wins we'll finally see what he really stands for. His words can't be relied on, we'll see what he actually does. Needless to say I find this kind of no principle politics pretty despicable and I think it will just drag us down. And it's utterly uninspiring, which will kill Starmer in the end because no one really likes him (why would they, he doesn't seem to stand for anything). Unless he changes his tune, develops a message, a point, he will only last as long as people's dislike for the Tories.
Making public services actually work,
Getting the care system (and its funding) right,
Net zero,
Growing the economy,
Our relationship with the EU (and every bugger else),
An education system that genuinely levels up society,
Levelling up of the rest of the country vs the South East,
UK federation, local democracy and the House of Lords,
Gallons of shit in our rivers.
Some of those need to be front and centre of the Labour manifesto to generate a draw to Labour, rather than just an aversion of the Tories.
On further reading, perhaps it is already too strong. Perhaps Braverman and Jenrick would be satisfied with nothing less than the UK's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. The bill faces a difficult passage through parliament (Sunak is not making it a confidence vote), but if it does, it will then face some particular challenges in UK courts. But even if it silences and blinds UK courts that makes no difference to our position in international law. We are a signatory to the ECHR. This bill does not change that, so presumably this whole thing may be shot down by that court. And if our ministers allow flights to go ahead against the court's rulings, the UK will be breaking international law. Nice work, Tories.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:32 pmWow, it seems a little late in his term to remove the monarch as sovereign, but I'm all for it.![]()
More seriously, what is he saying, that laws made by Parliament cannot contradict previous laws made by Parliament (for what else could the courts use to undo parliamentary decisions other than previous parliamentary decisions (. . . and the truth))?
What he's really trying to do is present the bill as stronger than it actually is while sowing hatred for our legal system, as though they're to blame for stopping the government from breaking its own laws.
Two things which I find grimly amusing in all of this. The first is that Rwanda, the developing country that we're legitimately concerned about sending refugees to, is the party in this deal that is refusing to go ahead if we break international law on human rights. Apparently, we need an emotional support country to keep us in the ECHR.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:21 pmOn further reading, perhaps it is already too strong. Perhaps Braverman and Jenrick would be satisfied with nothing less than the UK's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. The bill faces a difficult passage through parliament (Sunak is not making it a confidence vote), but if it does, it will then face some particular challenges in UK courts. But even if it silences and blinds UK courts that makes no difference to our position in international law. We are a signatory to the ECHR. This bill does not change that, so presumably this whole thing may be shot down by that court. And if our ministers allow flights to go ahead against the court's rulings, the UK will be breaking international law. Nice work, Tories.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:32 pmWow, it seems a little late in his term to remove the monarch as sovereign, but I'm all for it.![]()
More seriously, what is he saying, that laws made by Parliament cannot contradict previous laws made by Parliament (for what else could the courts use to undo parliamentary decisions other than previous parliamentary decisions (. . . and the truth))?
What he's really trying to do is present the bill as stronger than it actually is while sowing hatred for our legal system, as though they're to blame for stopping the government from breaking its own laws.
But this is probably just for the headlines anyway, for the general election and the poisonous Tory infighting. No one or next to no one will be sent to Rwanda, and this will make zero difference to the supposed boats problem. Just a terminal government wasting time, trashing our international reputation and possibly ruining a few lives.
https://publiclawforeveryone.com/2023/1 ... lications/
Can't blame the EU any more, so now its the blob, the courts, woke leftists, etc.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:32 pmWow, it seems a little late in his term to remove the monarch as sovereign, but I'm all for it.![]()
More seriously, what is he saying, that laws made by Parliament cannot contradict previous laws made by Parliament (for what else could the courts use to undo parliamentary decisions other than previous parliamentary decisions (. . . and the truth))?
What he's really trying to do is present the bill as stronger than it actually is while sowing hatred for our legal system, as though they're to blame for stopping the government from breaking its own laws.
The Rwanda scheme is just baffling. Putting aside for one moment any moral issues. We have about 750k net migration into the country, of which about 40k are arriving via small boats (which is something I'd like to stop because it's dangerous and just benefits unlawful gangs). Of that 40k, most do get their asylum claims approved, but at best Rwanda will take a few hundred. It's not even a sticking plaster. Rather than do something useful like perhaps getting the processing system working so claims can be dealt with quickly and we don't need to ram migrants into crumbling infrastructure, the government has put countless hours of effort into this scheme. You can't even blame it on the desperation of being 20 points behind - this was rolled out a while ago, but no one seems to want to kill it and it's become an article of faith.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:21 pmOn further reading, perhaps it is already too strong. Perhaps Braverman and Jenrick would be satisfied with nothing less than the UK's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights. The bill faces a difficult passage through parliament (Sunak is not making it a confidence vote), but if it does, it will then face some particular challenges in UK courts. But even if it silences and blinds UK courts that makes no difference to our position in international law. We are a signatory to the ECHR. This bill does not change that, so presumably this whole thing may be shot down by that court. And if our ministers allow flights to go ahead against the court's rulings, the UK will be breaking international law. Nice work, Tories.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:32 pmWow, it seems a little late in his term to remove the monarch as sovereign, but I'm all for it.![]()
More seriously, what is he saying, that laws made by Parliament cannot contradict previous laws made by Parliament (for what else could the courts use to undo parliamentary decisions other than previous parliamentary decisions (. . . and the truth))?
What he's really trying to do is present the bill as stronger than it actually is while sowing hatred for our legal system, as though they're to blame for stopping the government from breaking its own laws.
But this is probably just for the headlines anyway, for the general election and the poisonous Tory infighting. No one or next to no one will be sent to Rwanda, and this will make zero difference to the supposed boats problem. Just a terminal government wasting time, trashing our international reputation and possibly ruining a few lives.
https://publiclawforeveryone.com/2023/1 ... lications/
I don't think that's true at all - quite apart from anything else, Jeremy Corbyn nearly made a famous upset against all polling (and media, and his own political party, and against his own inability to be politic and to politick professionally, but nvm) in 2017 because none of the pollsters believed young people would come out to vote and then they did.
I think Starmer and Labour aren't quite as constrained as that, but yes they have to be very, very careful.Stom wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:32 pm I'm going to comment this here and not on the Gaza thread.
On Starmer and the Labour party.
So, I'm an outsider now. Unless the Tories get their way and extend the voting rights for overseas citizens, this will be my last election. And, as with nearly every other bloody election I've had the chance to vote in, I'll be voting Lib Dem. Is it because I agree with them? No, no I don't. But it's black and white in that constituency - orange or blue.
From what I see in the news, from people I know, and from interactions I have, the situation is very much...Labour are screwed.
And it's the same as here in Hungary.
There is just zero way to reframe the debate. Opinions have been made, and there is no changing them. So to go in and make a statement...you're at risk of pushing those voters who might just vote for you, or at worst abstain, into the hands of far right parties.
And to go with that, you have London, where the mayor has enacted a policy that is so badly supported that it has basically turned a large swathe of the populace right back into the hands of the Tory party once again. THAT was a massive political blunder, the new emissions law.
So, in terms of choices...what can Starmer and the Labour Party do?
Literally nothing.
They have no options this election cycle. They need to find a way to get a large enough majority to start to undo the damage...all the while people's minds are made up that Labour are awful communists who want to take away their hard earned pensions.
And a young vote who are so apathetic toward politics that even if Labour appealed to them, they wouldn't vote.
So, no, I think they're doing the best job they could do.
Politics is fucked.
The one in camo is especially risible.Banquo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:55 pm Starmer's photos in this are well funny https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/upload ... e-Back.pdf
Middle aged civvy playing Rambo is always an odd look.Puja wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:01 pmThe one in camo is especially risible.Banquo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:55 pm Starmer's photos in this are well funny https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/upload ... e-Back.pdf
Apart from that, it's a pretty good piece of marketing. I don't care for Starmer, but he is a decent political operator and has got his attack and defence lines down pat.
Puja
its perfect for an electorate not interested in detailPuja wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:01 pmThe one in camo is especially risible.Banquo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:55 pm Starmer's photos in this are well funny https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/upload ... e-Back.pdf
Apart from that, it's a pretty good piece of marketing. I don't care for Starmer, but he is a decent political operator and has got his attack and defence lines down pat.
Puja
It's not even playing Rambo - it's bringing Essex boy in a new puffa jacket vibes.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:20 pmMiddle aged civvy playing Rambo is always an odd look.Puja wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:01 pmThe one in camo is especially risible.Banquo wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:55 pm Starmer's photos in this are well funny https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/upload ... e-Back.pdf
Apart from that, it's a pretty good piece of marketing. I don't care for Starmer, but he is a decent political operator and has got his attack and defence lines down pat.
Puja
Can't focus on climate change anymore - might upset a voter.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
Corbyn would never have done it, which is probably the point.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
Yeah but swings are bullshit. Each party starts the election with zero votes, there's no ground to make up.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:53 pmCorbyn would never have done it, which is probably the point.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
I was listening to a podcast the other day which was talking about the margin of swing needed to secure a Labour majority of 1 seat. It's pretty much unprecedented. Under those circumstances, its very understandable why Labour are trying very hard not to give people a reason not to vote for them.
Might inspire them too. Truth is, I doubt climate change means much to Starmer anyway.Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:34 pmCan't focus on climate change anymore - might upset a voter.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
Puja
Yeah, "inspire" is very much not the aim of the game. I think climate change meant something back before it got reclassified as "woke" and instantly ditched out of caution.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:23 pmMight inspire them too. Truth is, I doubt climate change means much to Starmer anyway.Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:34 pmCan't focus on climate change anymore - might upset a voter.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
Puja
Swings are especially bullshit this election, as the last election turned into a FPtP Get Brexit Done referendum, so the major wedge issue from 2019 doesn't even exist anymore. Combine that with a) getting rid of the highly electable charismatic serial liar, b) Truss annihilating the public perception that Conservative is a safe vote, c) voter fatigue after 14 years of Conservatives and things getting worse, d) the Tories finding a leader that their own base didn't want, e) the Tories finding the only leader less charismatic than May.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 4:21 pmYeah but swings are bullshit. Each party starts the election with zero votes, there's no ground to make up.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:53 pmCorbyn would never have done it, which is probably the point.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:29 pm It's not a bad manfesto-lite. I guess Starmer's military cosplaying isn't the end of the world. God knows, it might appeal to some. The Missions are pretty positive, as is securonomics (something of the opposite to the disaster capitalism this Brexiteering lot have inflicted on us). Not a whole lot about climate change though. It's in there but low profile.
Not nearly radical enough for me (obviously) but a small step in the right direction.
I was listening to a podcast the other day which was talking about the margin of swing needed to secure a Labour majority of 1 seat. It's pretty much unprecedented. Under those circumstances, its very understandable why Labour are trying very hard not to give people a reason not to vote for them.