UK XI: Please Sir... May I Have Some More?

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/14/tories-urged-return-further-5m-donation-frank-hester

The Tories hit more bad press as it emerges that Hester has donated another £5m this year. As they resist returning his money it's become clear as to why they are pushing back so hard - Hester alone is responsible for nearly 25% of their donations per year

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/15/no-compelling-examples-of-what-levelling-up-has-delivered-watchdog-finds

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/14/rishi-sunak-rules-out-general-election-may-local-elections

[Asura]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ocal-elections

... so, 3rd of May?

[Nu-Eclipse]

... so, 3rd of May? January 2025.

Corrected.

[Nu-Eclipse]

So, post-Brexit "LeVeLLiNg Up1!1!1!" has pretty much officially amounted to f**k-all.

Newsflash!

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/15/no-compelling-examples-of-what-levelling-up-has-delivered-watchdog-finds

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/15/rishi-sunak-may-general-election-conservatives-labour-reform-frank-hester-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-65f4066c8f08ba0296d14658#block-65f4066c8f08ba0296d14658

20 June is the next floated GE date. Honestly no idea why upcoming dates keep getting focused on, it's been blatantly obvious the Tories will wring it out to the last. They know that they're finished, the argument around how badly is pointless to Sunak and Co because they're out of power in any scenario so the question is simply why would they set themselves to vacate the role earlier than they need to? Post October Budget is inevitable

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/15/rishi-sunak-may-general-election-conservatives-labour-reform-frank-hester-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-65f404ba8f081c54654f35d6#block-65f404ba8f081c54654f35d6

The current Government spends the least amount of time in the Commons in 25 years

[QualityChimp]

A man goes to hell and the devil greets him.

He takes him to a hallway which has three different doors and tell the man he'll have to choose one room to spend the rest of eternity in.

He takes him to the first door and he opens it and sees everyone standing on their heads on wooden floors. The man thought that would be pretty terrible to spend the rest of eternity on his head on such a hard floor and asked the devil to show him the second door.

Everyone in the second room was standing on their heads on concrete. The man thought that was even worse to spend the rest of eternity on his head on an even harder floor.

Finally the devil takes him to the third door and in that room everyone is up to their knees in dog poo and drinking coffee. The man thought that was pretty bad, but at least they could drink coffee so he told the devil he chose the third room to spend the rest of eternity in.

So the man, up to his knees in dog poo, drank coffee for a few minutes. Then the devil came back into the room and said "Coffee break is over. Back on your heads."



I fear that despite the performance of the government since they took over, some voters will use the excuse of "They're all the same" and stick to what they know, worried that a new government may suddenly ask them to stand back on their heads.

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/15/rishi-sunak-may-general-election-conservatives-labour-reform-frank-hester-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-65f448b38f0814ec26e2df27#block-65f448b38f0814ec26e2df27

Diane Abbott says Labour's real agenda is to keep her out, which is probably true. She's her own worst enemy when it comes to trying to get them to ease their position with her

George Galloway may challenge Andy Burnham for Greater Manchester mayor | George Galloway | The Guardian
Already considering resigning from his new MP position to chase the unattainable dream of taking over Manchester

[Neon Ignition]

Armed forces minister James Heappey resigns - LBC

[QualityChimp]

George Galloway may challenge Andy Burnham for Greater Manchester mayor | George Galloway | The Guardian
Already considering resigning from his new MP position to chase the unattainable dream of taking over Manchester

From the outside looking it, Andy Burnham seems a decent mayor, challenging the government and their North/South divide.
However, that doesn't mean locals think the same and a lot of mayors like to put their name on things like Boris Bikes (all Ken Livingstone's plan, but came to fruition during Johnson's tenure, so he took credit...) and Birmingham mayor, Andy Street slapping his name all over Andy Street's Metro.

Do they like Burnham in Manchester?

[Lebowski]

64 stepping down are they expecting a complete wipeout at the next GE and are just quitting to save face,

you can't lose if you don't run.

[Neon Ignition]

Do they like Burnham in Manchester?

I'd imagine he'd beat Galloway quite easily, I think Galloway's ego is getting away from him. If Burnham has any weakness its that Manchester has largely enjoyed a very London-esque investment and improvement drive. Basically, the City enjoys the spoils whilst the wider region has yet to see the same benefits. I don't think it's enough of an issue yet to dethrone him though

[Nu-Eclipse]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...0814ec26e2df27
Diane Abbott says Labour's real agenda is to keep her out, which is probably true. She's her own worst enemy when it comes to trying to get them to ease their position with her

She's her own worst enemy in terms of trying to get a fair shake from her own party who have thrown more than their fair share of racism at her over the last four decades? They've deliberately kicked the investigation into her "antisemitism" comments (that she quickly retracted and apologised unreservedly for) into touch whilst restoring the Labour whip to other (Starmer-loyal) party members who have done things as bad if not worse.

It's widely rumoured (as highlighted in the Guardian article) that the current Labour Leadership will only restore the whip to her if she agrees to stand down as an MP - absolute ceremonial Kangaroo Court behaviour.

What are you even talking about??

[Anpanman]

Do they like Burnham in Manchester?

I'd imagine he'd beat Galloway quite easily, I think Galloway's ego is getting away from him. If Burnham has any weakness its that Manchester has largely enjoyed a very London-esque investment and improvement drive. Basically, the City enjoys the spoils whilst the wider region has yet to see the same benefits. I don't think it's enough of an issue yet to dethrone him though

I'd agree with Neon, the outer areas haven't really seen much yet we pay a hefty precept on our Council Tax, bit like protection money for the Don.
He got involved with the buses, he got rid of First who were useless, Diamond came in - only marginally better and he also removed them and replaced them with his own Bee Network and increased the passes at a percentage rate 100% more than the previous largest increase. Thankfully the clean air zone has been abolished for now.

Galloway I think would have more chance of being on a tram driven by Elvis going through Piccadilly Gardens and having his ticket checked by Lord Lucan than winning here though.

I don't mind the bloke, he was always good on QT when he was Shadow for Health, no other politician would cross swords as he knew his numbers better than anyone.

That said, not sure what he did for the lobby-gobblers.

[Protocol Penguin]

She's her own worst enemy in terms of trying to get a fair shake from her own party who have thrown more than their fair share of racism at her over the last four decades? They've deliberately kicked the investigation into her "antisemitism" comments (that she quickly retracted and apologised unreservedly for)

Abbott claimed that Jewish people are never victims of racism. Basically ignoring that Jewish people were targeted victims of the worst organised genocide in human history. Borderline Holocaust denial.

Also ignoring the fact that Jewish people aren’t all white Ashkenazi Jewish, and neither were the victims of the Holocaust. Many of the Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust were Mizrahi jewish and other minorities, but don’t let historical facts get in the way of a black woman’s own prejudices.

(Nice parentheses around the word antisemitism, BTW. Not a good look. Have a long hard think about how many have died because of that real, persistent form of racism.)

[Protocol Penguin]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...08ba0296d14658
20 June is the next floated GE date. Honestly no idea why upcoming dates keep getting focused on, it's been blatantly obvious the Tories will wring it out to the last. They know that they're finished, the argument around how badly is pointless to Sunak and Co because they're out of power in any scenario so the question is simply why would they set themselves to vacate the role earlier than they need to? Post October Budget is inevitable

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/15/rishi-sunak-may-general-election-conservatives-labour-reform-frank-hester-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-65f404ba8f081c54654f35d6#block-65f404ba8f081c54654f35d6

The current Government spends the least amount of time in the Commons in 25 years

Right up until the next GE it’ll be endless speculation of when the next GE will be triggered.

(Safe money is still on the GE being held this December or next January. The shameless load of crooks will hold on as long as possible.)