Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Which role did Jonathan Ashworth have in the Shadow Cabinet? They’re going to have to think of another name with barely a few hours to consider things.

Fuck it, stick him in the Lords.

Apparently Starmer’s first cabinet will have the highest proportion of state comprehensive educated members ever, fair play to him if that’s so.

Arrowhead wrote: ↑Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:44 pm Which role did Jonathan Ashworth have in the Shadow Cabinet? They’re going to have to think of another name with barely a few hours to consider things.

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

So David Lammy is the Foreign Secretary, and rumours he wasn't were bollocks.

Twitter has noticed that Streeting has got a cross-departmental appointment including the revived Ministry of Silly Walks.

Lisa Nandy - Culture Media & Sport
Hilary Benn - Northern Ireland

Don't know this guy. But sounds more Dominic Grieve than Suella Braverman.

Which guy?

Was just posting the same 2 things.

Not even been in power for more than 12 hours and already seriously impressive.

Crikey, bloke from the Prison Reform Trust in Government? Douglas Hurd did a lot with them after leaving Government.

Labour haven't signalled that at all previously. Maybe they'll just tighten up on some of the most serious crimes, and reduced the prison population by having fewer short sentences.

Actually using non-politicians, who have subject knowledge, rather than someone who once wrote an article in the Spectator

Starmer is aware he’s in office for 5 years and they don’t have to be finished by next week, isn’t he?

I do find it funny that the newspapers ans commentators who wanted the Tories to be given another 5 years to get things right are now saying that Labour have got to deliver from day one.

Wait for the next PMQS. "Why haven't you fixed this...".

‘Immigrants, immigrants, immigrants, immigrants,’ is all you’re going to hear for the next five years. Starmer needs to get refugee applicants processed in reception centres asap. They’ll be forgotten about in 12 months if there’s no dingys in Kent for Farage to point at. The right will of course turn their attention to rising legal immigration from around the globe. A job for the Lib Dems there to explain who’s responsible for that.

I've often thought that at least some part of a modernised upper chamber should be a version of a Council of Elders, where those with experience in all walks of life should be allowed input into policy implementation. Maybe they shouldn't have a vote but they could at least have a revising power, to look at proposed legislation and make it workable. There are many former politicians of all hues who still have much to offer once they leave the Commons; them and some of the best financial, business, scientific and cultural brains in the country would be a great asset and would help rid Parliament of the stench of corruption that wasn't helped by the last five (ever) Tory Prime MInisters using a Lords as a reward for friends, family and donors.