British Politics
Been on holiday for a few weeks, surprised to find no general discussion of British politics so though I'd kick one off.
Except even defacto communists, who surround themselves with like-minded people, ultimately steal and hoard their countries resources for themselves. It's not "the system", it's human nature. In Rayner's case, she was just dumb enough to get caught with her snout in the trough. She's lost any moral authority to demand anyone, particularly the "rich", pays more tax as it turns o
I agree with this. I quite liked Angela Rayner in opposition. But for me, the biggest issue was before the tax/house issue, but during the summer of freebies just after the election. Her response was "everyone does it." That would be fine if you hadn't spent the last 5 years shouting "sleaze" at the top of your voice to every Tory scandal.
Investigative journalism died a while ago. It’s all about client journalism now, witness the appalling Laura K, Chris Mason and Trevor Phillips..People in positions of power and responsibility have responded to the threats of climate change and AI by abandoning their responsibilities and exerting their power for their own benefit in accordance with the wishes of their ne
There is plenty of decent journalism, it just not as profitable for ad-driven mass media, because a labour-intensive time-consuming articles to produce are outperformed by things that are cheaper and faster to make. It is also a lot slower, which is a bad fit for an audience which wants the immediate headline. When it comes out, the stories have often settled, and accounts that challenge them face an uphill battle. Most people don't want to wait 3 days for an open-source investigation into statements made by official parties regarding the most recent strike in whichever war they care about the most.
Still, such journalism is still very much available.
The reason is matter is because the "media is a dead" trope is extremely convenient for politicians and leaders, as it allows them to be increasingly opaque and misleading. The public will tend to blame "the media" instead of them.
Except even defacto communists, who surround themselves with like-minded people, ultimately steal and hoard their countries resources for themselves. It's not "the system", it's human nature. In Rayner's case, she was just dumb enough to get caught with her snout in the trough. She's lost any moral authority to demand anyone, particularly the "rich", pays more tax as it turns o
^ This
Except even defacto communists, who surround themselves with like-minded people, ultimately steal and hoard their countries resources for themselves. It's not "the system", it's human nature.
I'm not defending Raynor but group think in a bubble like Westminster is very strong and no one wants to be on the outside in an environment that depends on building contacts and bridges with other people to get anything done.
Only conservatives think that there's an easily-defined thing as "human nature" (beyond the obvious survival, reproduction and family instincts) and that it has traits widely regarded as negative (greed, selfishness etc). And the reason conservatives think that is because they assume everyone else is as corrupt and deceitful as they are, Elracist, and because they are ignorant of how communities around the world often live.
Bit strange for Lewis to claim that 'consumption, status and proximity to wealth' have only become 'defining features of the political class' in 'the last 40 years.' (He's trying to blame it on Tony Blair, presumably.)
Queen Victoria's prime ministers were often grandees with stately homes and titles. Even Disraeli ended up as Earl of Beaconsfield with a very nice manor. Asquith (later Earl of Oxford) was a very high-earning lawyer who took a pay cut to become PM. Lloyd George made a fortune by dubious means. Ramsay Macdonald, though not rich, became notorious for kowtowing to those who were. Baldwin and Chamberlain had stacks of family money. (Churchill, despite his huge literary earnings, was always brassic, but had a weakness for rich dubious friends like Beaverbrook.)
The post-war period, which saw quite modestly-off people like Attlee, Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher and Major at No.10, was unusual. And Callaghan still ended up a gentleman farmer and Healey, his Chancellor, acquired a very fine house in Sussex.
Politics has always been a gravy train for those who succeed. Senior politicians who don't get rich probably just don't have the personality or talent for making money. Rayner clearly doesn't, despite having the corrupt inclination, because her swindle was so very small and so easily found out.
Anyone else watch starmer's speech
Extraordinary affair where he correctly identified the need to do much more and that the status quo was not acceptable. Followed by his conclusion to still do **** all but with much more talk of how huge and hopeful it was. Bizarre stuff while he basked in excessive clapping.
What a tragedy.
I'm not defending Raynor but group think in a bubble like Westminster is very strong and no one wants to be on the outside in an environment that depends on building contacts and bridges with other people to get anything done.
None of this explains why she tried to dodge paying stamp duty on her house.
Only conservatives think that there's an easily-defined thing as "human nature" (beyond the obvious survival, reproduction and family instincts)
Even if you define human nature as survival, reproduction and kin, it's sufficient to explain Rayner's actions regarding her house. I wouldn't even class it as greedy - most people would do the same, ergo human nature.
However, most people are not Deputy Prime Minister and banging the drum about "the rich" (and if you are buying an £800k house in Hove, you're rich) paying more tax.
He's toast. I'm expecting something to kick off today, or early tomorrow.
And, apart from his false claim to have been a Red Cross spokesman, it turns out he's repeatedly made a false claim to have worked for the Ministry of Justice (on a 'Judicial Assessment Committee' that doesn't exist), when in fact he was only a bit-part actor in role-play exercises used in judicial training -- just a job he was occasionally handed by the Kreate agency. The client was the training firm, not the Ministry of Justice.
He's beginning to remind me a bit of Jack Monroe, another pseudonymous grifter with an elaborately faked backstory.
Oh I do hope so. Something we can all unite around at last.
Streeting meeting with Starmer tomorrow morning. Echoes of Thatcher's cabinet trooping in one by one to say that regrettably she had to go?
Doubt it. King's Speech first. So far 80 Labour MPs say they want Sir Keir to go and 110 have signed a letter saying they don't. No formal lack-of-confidence letters have been received and most of the Cabinet are not yet jumping ship. And there still isn't a credible contender.
Pining for the King of the North to come down on his chariot and make everything all right, when he isn't an MP, is a bit wishful, as things stand. And the Conservatives tested the changing-the-leader theory to destruction, so it may not be the answer -- though the PM does seem out of his depth, without a clear plan and unable to exert grip.
He's been all three of those for at least a year and 311 days, but I'm sure his recruiters and minders will be pleased with his lack of work so far.
None of this explains why she tried to dodge paying stamp duty on her house.
Even if you define human nature as survival, reproduction and kin, it's sufficient to explain Rayner's actions regarding her house. I wouldn't even class it as greedy - most people would do the same, ergo human nature.
Don't know about that. A bloke I used to know went to prison for buying and selling houses and falsely claiming them as his main residence to avoid tax. My sense of self-interest would inhibit me from trying that on, even if I had the spare cash for that game. Of course MPs usually have more than one address -- constituency and actual residence -- and some of them are corrupt enough to work the angles (it's called 'home-flipping'), so Rayner seemingly thought it was no big deal, which was dumb of her.
...and if you are buying an £800k house in Hove, you're rich...
Well, quite.
800k property with a mortgage is obviously well off regardless of whether it’s a flat in Hove or a mansion in Hull, but to be rich I think you probably should have a million in assets, which she doesn’t have.
Pretty stupid not paying the tax you must know you owe.
Doubt it. King's Speech first. So far 80 Labour MPs say they want Sir Keir to go and 110 have signed a letter saying they don't. No formal lack-of-confidence letters have been received and most of the Cabinet are not yet jumping ship. And there still isn't a credible contender. Pining for the King of the North to come down on his chariot and make everything all right, when he i
The biggest current threat to starmer from burnham is that the new labour/ mcsweeny project may want to act now because they are concerned that waiting will allow burnham in.
The same sort of reason that the left is holding it's fire.
The irony being that Burnham is completely New Labour himself. It’s main about factionalism and obeying those pulling the strings.
I’m sure Burnham can dance a merry jig when the time comes.
Pining for the King of the North to come down on his chariot and make everything all right, when he isn't an MP, is a bit wishful, as things stand.
Quite. A backbencher made the point that with over 400 MPs, surely the party can find someone capable enough in situ.
I do like Burnham though, and I'm struggling to name anyone else I think would be good that has a realistic chance - aside from Yvette Cooper who doesn't seem interested, and who can blame her.
If we end up with either of the two major bellends - Streeting or Lammy - as boss, Labour are done.
Please, someone tell me that cannot happen.
Lammy is unelectable for being too useless even by the standards of the modern cabinet minster.
Right wing Wes’s meeting with Starmer didn’t last very long and he’s expected to announce a leadership bid within days. Starmers entourage meanwhile are saying that RWW doesn’t have the votes needed.
Quite. A backbencher made the point that with over 400 MPs, surely the party can find someone capable enough in situ.
I do like Burnham though, and I'm struggling to name anyone else I think would be good that has a realistic chance - aside from Yvette Cooper who doesn't seem interested, and who can blame her.
You haven’t been paying attention to the gutting of the PLP.
Cooper is another nasty little authoritarian.
The BBC has spoken to two leading supporters of the health secretary who are confident that he will trigger a leadership election tomorrow, as well as others who say they would be disappointed if Streeting backed away from a challenge at this point.
Sounds plausibly consistent with the short meeting with Starmer
