UK Politics Thread

Not fat shaming, but has anyone else noticed how podgy Starmer has become around the face?

Anyone remember Keith Vaz, now there was a dodgy cunt

Although I don't entirely disagree with you Bill, I would caveat it by saying that it isn't the job of the Unions to fully support a Labour government no matter what. They should be representing what is best for their members.

I don't see how reducing the number of people that are eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance falls under that remit, so I can't see why they would go after them so full throated on that issue (besides the obvious "they aren't a real Labour government"). It isn't even one that the right-wing press can really complain that much about, as Tories were looking to do it too, so Unions and the left are the ones mostly keeping it in the news cycle.

Instead, if they were out talking about the workers' rights bill that is being worked on at the moment and highlighting the areas that falls short, then I wouldn't see an issue with that.

Sadly it not going to happen. Owen Jones will need to descend the final fantasy 7 staircase to get off his high horse to offer any sort of constructive criticism or acknowledgment of support.

But yeah I agree with your post overall. In two minds as well, you need the press to hold any government to account but it often feels like news is turning into gotcha politics. The BBC have been extremely guilty of this. They’re not really interested in the actual story but more interested in that moment when politicians are squirming. And that goes for the wider press as well. With the donations stories I havn’t seen anything looking into whom Lord Alli actually is, whether he has received favours or what his role is, but instead focusing on the numbers of the donations. There is nothing sincere about it at all which results in leaps that don’t land, but they do with the public and often get repeated, like the hospitality box at Arsenal - Kier has been a season ticket holder for years and it makes sense to move a prime minister into a more secure area. It’s nonsense - but that’s not saying other stories are.

I’m still deciding whether this sort of reporting is damaging to our politics, like we have to drag everybody down to the dregs and it allows people like Farage to actually flourish. It’s a real fine line though and we need journalism for a healthy democracy, but when our media are brought, our media isn’t exactly healthy. I feel it is often right wing/right parties actively try to make people disenfranchised with politics so they can push through all manner of shit because people simply don’t care and it feels like places like the BBC are active and sadly knowing participants in that.

But as you say it is probably our own biases talking.

Ultimately a lot of swing voters are pretty apolitical. Media coverage doesn't cut through as much as how well off they feel. Look how many scandals there were before the mood really turned on Alexander Boris DePfeffel Johnson.

I suspect that the winter fuel payment policy is more performative. Credit rating agencies like when a population will accept austerity. If this country can regain some of the credibility that Brexit, Alexander Boris DePfeffel Johnson and Truss have pissed away, there a big savings to be had on debt interest.

Or maybe that's a bit 4d chess and they're just dopes in suits.... Free suits.

Janan Ganesh by any chance? I've never read anything by him that isn't so stupid it makes me annoyed he exists.

Ha, yes Hyde I find annoying in a way I find it hard to articulate. That sums it up pretty well. Though that's the second time I've seen you say "6 music dad" as a derogatory thing in so many days. Did Steve Lamacq take the piss out of your record collection when you were younger?

I can only believe that the Comment is Free desk just sit around each day baiting each other to write the most stupid thing possible to see if they can get away with it and still be taken seriously be someone. At least the Daily Star knows it's having a laugh.

Yes, I am aware I’m probably one myself

I was trying to put into words how Labour’s scandal has echoes of the expenses scandal but Marie le Conte did it better than I could


Basically yes, they should be squeaky clean after spending years in opposition as the party of trust and anti-corruption, but I can also see how you could easily think of this behaviour as fairly normal and well established if you’ve been in politics for a while. Maybe they should embrace it as an opportunity to clean up, so the other lot will be held to the same high standard when (if?) they return to office in future.

I actually don’t mind Owen Jones. He’s like 70% good takes to 30% hysterical whining and he is one of the few leftists who can make a good account of themselves on TV.

He never falls for the old right wing trick of a Tory/Tory Mouthpiece saying ‘and I’m sure Owen will agree that [bad thing dressed up to sound reasonable]…’.

Wow

Eh I don't know. For better or worse Labour (and progressive politicians generally) are held to a higher standard by people than, say, Boris Johnson or Trump. Those guys have have chicanery priced in to their support. People know they're bent before they even pledge to support them. Hence it takes a lot to shift the dial there, but a lot less for others suck as Starmer.

Also, as has been pointed out here and elsewhere even by proper political journos, corporate culture generally has moved on donations and gifts in industry are no longer considered appropriate. As always, the culture of the HoC is behind the curve compared to the rest of society.

Perhaps it's about time they remembered who the fuck they work for and were held to higher standards.

The problem they are having (and one they should have anticipated) is that it’s not just the Tory press holding them to a higher standard, after 14 years of the conservatives debasing office *everyone* expects better of them because to restore any faith in politics they have to be.

Is that unfair? Possibly, but it’s about time the system was given an enema and this is as good a time as any.