UK Politics Thread part II

[Rockstar]

PM defends stay at donor's property during election

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9d17ljlvro

[/QUOTE]Sir Keir Starmer has defended accepting accommodation from Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli during the general election, saying it was important his son had a peaceful place to study.
The prime minister told the BBC he had promised his 16-year-old son that he would be able to get to school and do his exams without being disturbed.
He declared Lord Alli had donated several weeks' accommodation, which is recorded as being worth more than £20,000, in the register of MPs' interests.
Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I had promised him faithfully that I would give him an environment in which he could calmly get on, his one chance to do his GCSEs, and therefore we relocated somewhere else - a gift which we then allocated a sum of money to."

Sir Keir told the BBC Today programme: "Somebody then offered me accommodation where we could do that, and I took it up. And it was the right thing to do. It didn't cost the taxpayer a penny."
He said he felt passionately about the issue, admitting that for his daughter, who is 13, and his son, the situation was difficult.
"Sometimes what sits behind these are human explanations," he told BBC 5 Live, particularly in the "hurly burly" of an election campaign - but things had changed now Labour was in government.
The prime minister has faced criticism after it emerged he had received more than £16,000 for work clothing and spectacles for him, and further donations for his wife, from Lord Alli.
He has since declared he would no longer accept donations for clothing, alongside Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
He told Today's Nick Robinson that he'd accepted the donation for clothing in opposition, during a "busy election campaign".
"I won't be making declarations in relation to clothing again, understood," he said.
The prime minister has also faced down criticism after he decided to accept hospitality from Arsenal football club, arguing he can no longer use his normal seats as prime minister, because of the security he needs.
"As a result of security I can't go in the stand any more," he said.
Rows over donations and freebies overshadowed the start of Labour conference - Sir Keir is far from the only MP to have received freebies over the past year.
Many current MPs from across the House of Commons listing free tickets to sporting and cultural events in their registers of interests.
Asked about whether politicians should pay their own way, Sir Keir said it was a question of exercising judgement.
"A culture secretary, for example, will be invited to events quite often, the support of a politician being somewhere is important for a particular event or sport, but it's a question of judgment, and it's got to be clear, it's got to be declared."[/QUOTE]

[Jimbuna]

I think I need to come out of retirement and become a crooked politician.

All the gifts declared by Sir Keir Starmer in the past year
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...9ddd0d24&ei=22

I wonder what isn't on the list

[Jimbuna]

Do you trust Keir Starmer not to surrender Gibraltar and the Falklands?

Downing Street has denied that Starmer will surrender other overseas British Territories after returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

No10 today has scrambled to defend the Falkland Islands after Argentina attempted to reassert its claim over the territory.

In light of yesterday's controversial move, Argentina renewed its vow to take full sovereignty of the Falklands, with its Foreign Minister threatening “concrete action” to hand the islands over to Buenos Aires.

However, No10 has hit back with a Downing Street spokesman telling GB News: “To be very clear on the Falklands, Chagos does not change our policy or approach to other overseas territories.”

The move prompted uproar - as well as finger-pointing at Labour and ex-Foreign Secretary James Cleverly - but also provoked fears over the sovereignty of fellow BOTs the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

Argentina's foreign minister Diana Mondino welcomed the Chagos decision - which she touted as an example of ending “outdated practices”.

In a post on social media, using the Spanish-language name for the Falklands, the "Islas Malvinas", she said: "Following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty over our Falkland Islands.

"The Falklands were, are and will always be Argentine," she claimed.

Similar assurances to Downing Street's were issued from the Falklands on Thursday.

The Islands' Governor, Alison Blake, said: "I am aware that there may be concerns, either amongst the Falkland Islands community or others, of potential read across to the Falkland Islands.

"I would like to reassure you that the legal and historical contexts of the Chagos Archipelago and the Falkland Islands are very different.

"UK ministers have been very clear throughout the process that the UK will not agree to anything that runs the risk of jeopardising sovereignty in other Overseas Territories.

"The UK Government remains committed to defending the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination, and the UK's unwavering commitment to defend UK sovereignty remains undiminished."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...7e525710&ei=22

[Jimbuna]

‘Blue plaque’ at Walthamstow Tesco honours lettuce that outlasted Liz Truss

Afake blue plaque has been erected outside a Tesco in Walthamstow to commemorate the fact that the lettuce that famously outlasted Liz Truss’s premiership was bought there.

At the death of her 49 days as prime minister a wilting 60p iceberg lettuce from Tesco in a blond wig was declared the winner of a race to last longest as she lost her grip on power after her disastrous mini-budget, which led to her sacking the then chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng.

As it looked like her time in Downing Street was up, the Daily Star set up a webcam on the lettuce to see if it would have a longer shelf-life than the prime minister. After seven days it duly did.

In a further twist, the blue plaque added to the Tesco in east London was next to a huge promotional Tesco image for British cheese. Truss famously declared at a Conservative party conference in 2014 that it was a “disgrace” that the UK imported two-thirds of its cheese.

It is unlikely that the former MP, who lost her seat at the general election in July, will see the funny side. In August she abruptly left an event, saying it was “not funny” when a banner placed by campaign group Led by Donkeys descended behind her during an event to promote her book which had a picture of a lettuce and the slogan “I crashed the economy”.

It is not known if the Tesco store in Walthamstow stocks the Norfolk Peer, which Truss once said was her favourite potato.

Truss has been contacted for comment.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...7e525710&ei=54

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

And not before time!

Government backs police action against shows of support for Hezbollah

The Government has backed police to take action against protesters who show support for Hezbollah after one man was arrested for allegedly shouting support for the banned organisation during a march in Central London.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through London on Saturday, meeting counter-protests at several points on their route.

The Metropolitan Police arrested two people on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation, with one man held after allegedly shouting support for Hezbollah near a pro-Israel counter-demonstration, according to the force.

Another man was arrested on suspicion of wearing or displaying an article indicating support for Hamas, which is also a proscribed organisation after he was allegedly spotted wearing a parachute, the Met said.

Proscription is the banning of an organisation based on an assessment that it commits or participates in, prepares for, promotes or encourages, or is otherwise concerned in terrorism, according to the Home Office.

It is a crime in the UK to belong to, express support, invite support for or arrange a meeting to back any proscribed organisation.

Images of protesters holding placards that read “I love Hezbollah” have circulated online, and police said they are working to identify those involved.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the police have “our full support” should they take action against people carrying signs suggesting support for Hezbollah.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said: “Yesterday in the protests there was a lot of peaceful protest but there were people who were carrying signs as the one that you have just described.

“That is a criminal act, supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hezbollah is a criminal act.”

He added: “The Home Secretary, the Prime Minister said very clearly yesterday that the police have our full support should they take action against people carrying signs like that.”

On Saturday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper posted to X: “Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation. Promoting it in Britain is a criminal offence.

“Extremism has no place on Britain’s streets. The police have our support in pursuing those breaking the law today.”

Police made 17 arrests in total around the demonstrations in London on Saturday, as part of a “significant” policing operation in place across the capital in response to planned protest and memorial events marking the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel.

There were eight arrests on suspicion of public order offences, four of which were allegedly racially aggravated.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, three arrested on suspicion of common assault and one person was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Public Order Act condition.

Tess Yasser, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, told the PA news agency on Saturday: “We’re here today as part of the international day of action that the Palestinian people have called for to demand a full arms embargo.

“We’re commemorating one year of genocide, one year of resistance. We’ve seen that the genocide has been a form of collective punishment on the people of Gaza who dare to resist a 17-year siege on them which has been inflicted by Israel.

“They will continue to resist until the genocide is over and they see the full liberation of their lands and their people.”

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also took to the streets in Edinburgh and Dublin on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon, a memorial event will be held in London’s Hyde Park, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and other groups.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...97f73c58&ei=20

[Jimbuna]

Revolts and resignations: a timeline of Starmer’s first three months in power

Keir Starmer’s premiership so far has been marred by scandals, resignations and rebellions.

From Freebiegate to political infighting, here is a timeline of the leader’s first three tumultuous months in Downing Street – and the five issues that have dogged him.

23 July

Seven MPs suspended for supporting amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit

In a move that sent shock waves through the party, Starmer suspended seven MPs in an unprecedented response to a rebellion supporting an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit.

Those who lost the whip for six months included the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana, prompting significant anger from backbench MPs. The Nottingham East MP, Nadia Whittome, said the decision was “appalling” and the party should be able to “tolerate disagreement without making threats and employing the most severe punishments”.

17 September

The freebie scandal takes hold

The long-running row over freebies accepted by Starmer and other Labour figures reached its peak in September when it was revealed the prime minister had declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times.

He was found to have taken more than £100,000 of freebies in the form of tickets, clothes and accommodation, including £4,000 in Taylor Swift tickets and £20,000 of accommodation from the Labour donor Waheed Alli. Lord Alli also gave Starmer £2,435 worth of glasses and £16,200 worth of work clothing, as well as clothes for his wife, Victoria, that were not initially declared.

It was later announced that Labour figures would stop accepting clothes as free gifts, and Starmer repaid £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he had received since taking office.

25 September

Backlash over removing pensioners’ winter fuel allowance

At the party’s conference in September, the leadership lost a highly anticipated motion that called on ministers to reverse the cuts to winter fuel payments.

The vote was carried – albeit narrowly – to loud cheers in the conference hall, after Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, had criticised Starmer for removing the allowance while “leaving the super-rich untouched”.

It came two weeks after a controversial Commons vote when dozens of Labour MPs refused to back the plan to cut the winter fuel allowance after a tense debate in the chamber. Party sources said those who missed the vote were stripped of potential privileges and warned about their future conduct.

28 September

Rosie Duffield resigns with scathing attack on Starmer

In what was thought to be the fastest an MP has given up their party’s whip after an election in modern times, the Canterbury MP, Rosie Duffield, resigned from the party in a furious letter to Starmer denouncing his “cruel and unnecessary” policies.

Although Duffield has long been critical of the party’s leader, her comments to him about the freebie scandal – that it had made her “so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party” – will have come as a blow to Downing Street.

6 October

Sue Gray’s resignation as Starmer’s chief of staff

After months of government in-fighting involving Sue Gray, Starmer’s chief of staff accused by some of “control freakery” and holding up policy decisions in Downing Street, she announced she was stepping down.

She was blamed by some Labour figures for the party’s inability to avoid the controversy over freebies, and her £170,000 salary – higher than the prime minister’s – prompted fury among the party. She has now resigned, saying the “intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change”. She is to take up a new government role as the prime minister’s envoy for the regions and nations.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...1ea684fc&ei=68

[Jimbuna]

Slimmed-down winter fuel payments will ‘add insult to injury’, MPs hear

Slimming down the winter fuel payment will “add insult to injury”, an MP has warned, while another asked the Government to put a figure on how many pensioner deaths “will occur” as a result of the changes.

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Darling branded the Labour Government’s winter fuel payments changes a “regressive approach”.

Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride pointed to Labour research from 2017, when his party mooted a means-tested winter fuel payment system in its manifesto, which suggested almost 4,000 pensioners would die as a result of the policy.

The Government has ended the previously universal scheme and will instead issue packages of up to £300 to pensioners who receive some means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit and Universal Credit.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the Commons on Monday the change was “not a decision that we wanted or expected to make”, hours after Unite the union led a protest in Westminster calling on her department to reinstate the universal payment.

Mr Darling said: “There are 2.7 million pensioners who are over the age of 80 and would be benefiting from the £300 winter fuel allowance. These are amongst the most vulnerable in our society and you’re quite right how the previous government let them down.

“But let us not add insult to injury and the new Government let them down.”

The Liberal Democrat politician added: “Can you reassure us that you will reverse from this regressive approach that you have taken with the winter fuel allowance and not hit the most vulnerable who are over 80?”

Ms Kendall replied: “He will know that this was not a decision that we wanted or expected to make.

“The reason we have done it is that we have to deal with the £22 billion blackhole in the public finances left by members opposite, but in doing so we will, as a progressive party, always prioritise the very poorest pensioners and that is why we are so determined to end a situation where up to 880,000 miss out on winter fuel because they are not getting Pension Credit, and we are determined to put that right.”

Mr Stride had earlier asked: “In 2017, her own party produced an analysis suggesting that around 4,000 pensioners would die prematurely, were this policy to be brought into effect.

“Does (Ms Kendall) stand by that figure of around 4,000, if not, how many premature deaths does she believe will occur as a result of this policy?”

The Cabinet minister replied: “In 2017 his party’s manifesto promised to means-test winter fuel payments.

“So I would just say to (Mr Stride) until party members opposite know that they have to apologise to the British people for the 200,000 extra pensioners in poverty over the last 14 years, and for a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, which we are now putting right, which has put the public finances at risk, they will remain on those seats and we will remain on these.”

Ms Kendall said she would be “happy to put those figures in the public debate” which highlight an extra 200,000 pensioners in poverty.

Mr Stride later said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and The Treasury published impact assessments into the policy change on September 13, responses to Freedom of Information requests, just three days after a Commons debate on the winter fuel payment.

The DWP found 83% of pensioners aged over 80 would lose out on the payments.

“We published an equality analysis,” Ms Kendall told MPs.

“This Government will be open and transparent, and that’s what we’re already doing.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...1ee64daf&ei=19

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Slimmed-down winter fuel payments will ‘add insult to injury’, MPs hear

I like, Stammer, he's bought and paid for. And you have to love his, Dick in your face.response against his own people.Look the majority did want his.Dick in their face. Well,look the war in Ukraine yes we are going into the winter months, and Fu;;k the people.Starmer came to the United States, early why ? I will tell you this. He was told the war must go on.The King doesn't matter.Starmer took take a dick in the mouth. And accepted war Because when the Americans and the British elite come together across the Atlantic.Listen to Americans why. ? Nukes It's all they have. They have no culture left, But their own And they have nothing , in the future they are the threat to this planet.

[Jimbuna]

If only it were so easy at Westminster.

Scottish Labour stunned by rebellion that sees Holyrood vote to REVERSE winter fuel cut

Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar was caught off-guard when two of his MSPs rebelled in a vote urging the UK Government to reverse the winter fuel payment cut.

Labour MSPs largely stood by UK Labour’s decision to press ahead with the adversely affect hundreds of thousands of pensioners this winter.

The non-binding motion from First Minister John Swinney was passed by 99 votes to 14, with members of all other parties voting with the SNP Government.

Former Labour leader Richard Leonard and Alex Rowley broke away from the party line to back the government motion.

Prior to the final vote, a Labour amendment to remove language calling on the U-turn was rejected by the parliament.

Mr Sarwar told MSPs that the UK Government doesn’t want to cut the winter fuel payment and are “not responsible for the chaos and damage inherited from the Tories.”

He said: “Why the SNP of all people want to minimise the damage the Tories have done is for them to explain.

“So I repeat, the decision of the winter fuel payment is not a decision that the Chancellor wanted to make.”

He added: “Instead of focusing on what it can’t do rather than what it can do, the Scottish Government could work with Scottish Labour to make sure this package is delivered to support Scots.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...42e56dc8&ei=26

[Jimbuna]

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are the final two candidates to become the new Conservative Party leader, with James Cleverly eliminated from the contest

Badenoch got 42 votes from MPs; Jenrick 41, and Cleverly 37

The winner will be decided in a vote among Conservative Party members this month, with a final result released on 2 November

Following yesterday's elimination of Tom Tugendhat, Cleverly took the lead with 39 votes - but he's now out

[Moonlight]

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are both a pair of Muppets, Badenoch thinks there’s too much maternity pay and that 10% of civil servants should be in prison, versus Jenrick. who alleges that UK special forces are killing suspects rather than arresting them and who promises to withdraw from the European human rights system as a priority.

I'm going to get my tap and bucket at the ready just in case it's needed.

[Jimbuna]

Wouldn't surprise me if Miss Thieves stopped the state pension.

Reeves 'must find billions more' in time for Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will need to come up with billions of pounds more to meet the government’s pre-election promises, according to calculations by influential think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

The government has promised no return to “austerity” for public services and a boost to government investment, designed to kickstart growth.

But to honour those commitments the chancellor will need to “grasp the nettle” and come up with £16bn more on top of £9bn tax rises set out in the Labour manifesto, the IFS said.

The chancellor is finalising details of her first Budget, to be announced on 30 October.

Reeves will set out how she plans to meet a raft of manifesto promises against a tangle of self-imposed restrictions on borrowing, spending and debt.

It will be the government’s first big set-piece, an opportunity to set out its priorities and values, and to reset the political tone after a backlash over clothing and hospitality donations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq64j4rdrqno

[Moonlight]

She could always ask the Unions to give their exorbitant pay rise back, or even stop giving Billions of £££s away in Foreign Aid, or how about scrapping the House of Lords?, thought not you twat, and I thought Starmer was the massive Currant of the Labour Party.

[Jimbuna]

Labour’s support slides under 30% as angry older voters turn to Farage and the Tories - poll

Labour’s vote share since winning power has continued its dramatic slide to less than 30 per cent after voters aged 55 and over abandoned Keir Starmer’s party, new polling has revealed.

The Techne UK weekly tracker poll for The Independent has registered support for Labour falling to 29 per cent down five points from the election and two points below last week.

But with the Tories still undecided on a new leader, they failed to capitalise on Labour’s loss of popularity with a gain of just one point from last week to 24 per cent. Meanwhile Nigel Farage’s Reform UK were also up one to 19 per cent.

The Lib Dems stayed the same on 12 per cent while the Greens were unchanged on 7 per cent.

Labour’s losses came after another chaotic week which saw Keir Starmer sack his chief of staff Sue Gray and replace her with the controversial Morgan McSweeney. His government though has still been dogged by rows over freebies and now concerns are rising over dramatic tax rises with reports capital gains tax could be hiked to 39 per cent.

But Labour’s biggest problem appears to be with older voters with anger continuing to increase over the decision to cancel winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners as the days get colder.

For the first time since the election Labour trails the Tories in both the 55 to 64 age group category and the 65 and over category. In an even more concerning development Starmer’s party also trails Reform UK in both categories.

Excluding undecideds Labour has 23 per cent 55 to 64 compared to the Tories’ 26 per cent and Reform’s 25 per cent. Among 65-and-overs, Labour has just 22 per cent to the Tories’ 29 per cent and Reform’s 24 per cent.

In less than 100 days Labour has also lost more than a quarter of its vote from the last election with 27 per cent of those who said they voted for Starmer’s party in July now saying they would not do it again.

Techne UK’s chief executive Michela Morizzo said that the only reason that Labour would hang on in this scenario is because the vote on the right of politics is still split between the Tories and Reform.

She said: “Things continue to go badly for the Labour government. Sir Keir Starmer’s party drop a further two points in national vote share this week, recording now just 29 per cent. This sub 30 per cent vote share for Labour is the lowest share we have recorded for the Labour Party since February 2022.

“If the right was united - which of course it is not - they would poll together in excess of 40 per cent of national vote share, far exceeding Labour. It will be very interesting to see how the consensus willl shift once the new Conservative leader is elected and the party starts to move on with a new vision looking to the next general election.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...1eadca40&ei=16