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

[Nu-Eclipse]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/29/general-election-diane-abbott-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-angela-rayner-uk-politics-live?page=with:block-6656f1b78f08829b4c1359c4#block-6656f1b78f08829b4c1359c4

Abbot has posted saying that she is dismayed at several reports that she has been barred from running as a Labour MP in the election... even though she was the one who said it

Sorry, you're incorrect.

She said it because it was widely known to the point of the likes of BBC, The Times and The Guardian reporting as such. She didn't say it for no reason and she certainly isn't the only one who said it.

Labour have clearly lied about her investigation being ongoing when it came out that it was completed in December and that she had actually met the requirements for whip restoration (completion of an antisemitism course).

Keir Starmer is now rushing to deny that she is barred for standing as a Labour MP at the General Election after keeping quiet about it for x amount of time. Clear damage control as a sign of just how badly the whole thing has been handled in an effort to try and oust the last of the Corbynistas.

[Protocol Penguin]

Maybe it’s just my workplace, but… Are all British men aged 50+ genetically programmed to be vehemently in favour of National Service? I don’t think this stupid policy will lose the Tories any votes from their target voters, judging from what I’ve seen.

[Brad]

It's just your workplace (I'm 54 and don't feel this way). It's not an age thing, it is a (like everything) education and upbringing thing. My dad would have been in favour of it as he had a poor education and upbringing.

[QualityChimp]

National Service is a great choice of policy pledge for the Conservatives because it pushes all sorts of buttons on the demographic they're trying to retain - see also Sunak playing crown bowls.

People who had served National Service last are in their 80s now, so it's the generation below them, that get to look at it wistfully at how great it was without actually having to do it, but also enthusiastically agree that it's perfect again because not they're too old for it, but them pesky youngsters with their hippedy hop and hoodies would do well to serve Queen er King and country!

Should be a good, balanced discussion with all the key players on tonight's BBC Question Time that includes *checks notes* Nigel Farage and Piers Morgan.
Seriously, they should just put a sign on one of the panel chairs saying "Reserved for Nigel Farage member of The Conservatives, UKIP, Brexit, Reform, GB News" where they just add which party he's representing that time.

[Neon Ignition]

With the Abbot thing, I imagine Starmer's backed in a corner so much now that she'll be allowed to remain, get deeply marginalised within the party after the GE and if/when she pops her head up too much in the coming 5 years will be KO'd by them at that point quickly.

Diane Abbott accuses Labour of ‘leftwing cull’ after two fellow MPs barred from standing | Labour | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/30/uk-general-election-conservatives-labour-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-jeremy-hunt-politics?page=with:block-66582d6a8f082cc3ef068414#block-66582d6a8f082cc3ef068414
Labour rules out NI, Income Tax and VAT increases

[Protocol Penguin]

Should be a good, balanced discussion with all the key players on tonight's BBC Question Time that includes *checks notes* Nigel Farage and Piers Morgan.
Seriously, they should just put a sign on one of the panel chairs saying "Reserved for Nigel Farage member of The Conservatives, UKIP, Brexit, Reform, GB News" where they just add which party he's representing that time.

It’s ‘amusing’ how often the far-right call for the BBC to be defunded or abolished, seeing how often the BBC News acts to amplify their propaganda and worldview. Continuity UKIP needs the BBC, just like the Joker needs Batman.

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/30/uk-general-election-conservatives-labour-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-jeremy-hunt-politics?page=with:block-66585a858f08b090cee995bb#block-66585a858f08b090cee995bb

Starmer is still trying to praise Abbott whilst laying the groundwork for her removal

[QualityChimp]

This whole Abbott thing just feels like a smokescreen, something to throw at Labour, rather than Abbott jumping the gun and speaking out after reading a Tory paper's headline.

I like Diane Abbott and her accomplishments need to be applauded, but this mess isn't helping her party get into power.

[MartyG]

Or helping her being considered for selection (for which there is a very well documented procedure) - it's entirely counterproductive.

No, Starmer isn't "banning people for liking Tweets" - seriously, who believes this nonsense?

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/30/diane-abbott-should-be-allowed-stand-election-labour-angela-rayner

Rayner backs Abbott

[MartyG]

I personally think she shouldn't be selected after all this outburst that would have been far better negotiated in private than public - you don't need MPs in your party that are going to brief against the party leader to the press in this way. Especially in the middle of a GE campaign.

[Mayhem]

Been getting a bit of this in my FB feed, possibly due to location, but Dave Rowntree of Blur is standing as a candidate around my way...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/06/blur-drummer-dave-rowntree-selected-as-labour-candidate-for-general-election

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/31/uk-general-election-2024-conservatives-labour-tories-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-diane-abbott?page=with:block-66597a9c8f08b090cee9a1f2#block-66597a9c8f08b090cee9a1f2

Starmer still won't take a stance on Abbott

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/31/uk-general-election-2024-conservatives-labour-tories-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-diane-abbott?page=with:block-6659c7e98f083cece8a0786c#block-6659c7e98f083cece8a0786c

Starmer has confirmed that Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/31/uk-general-election-2024-conservatives-labour-tories-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-diane-abbott?page=with:block-6659b4578f08346bc8f5333b#block-6659b4578f08346bc8f5333b

LBC presenter, who announced he would be stepping down on the station and returning as a Tory MP in the General Election, has announced that he now won't be taking the MP candidacy. His decision comes in the wake of it being raised that he has previously stated that he doesn't actually like his constituency.

[Protocol Penguin]

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tories-heading-election-wipeout-mega-113727028.html?

Another poll predicting a Tory near-wipeout. Elephant in the room here, but… It won’t be much of a functional parliamentary democracy with one party having such an unassailable majority. And given Starmer’s no different from the current government ideologically speaking, won’t have an opposition to the left of him, and will be able to completely sideline his party’s internal left-wing… I’m not optimistic about the future.