[davidjay]

If only they could see what a gift they're providing to the fash with their sectarian politics.... they still wouldn't be bothered.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Winter fuel: 780,000 UK pensioners entitled to payment will lose it
Government data shows most of those who do not claim their pension credit will miss out under means-testing

Not good fiigures, but they look too pessimistic to me. The figure before the announcements by Reeves and Kendall were 880,000. If they are anything like this bad, the Government and some poor pensioners have a problem. One thing I would do is extend the period for sign up (think there are three months of backdating possible under the previous plans, don't see why that shouldn't be extended).

[Tubby Isaacs]

Don't want to put her in the "hit with a haddock" thread because she's very good, but Antonia Bance doesn't come out of this exchange with a critical care specialist, Ben Morton, particularly well.

https://bsky.app/profile/antoniabance.b ... 2pcdw3hf2p

Not to say there aren't serious pitfalls to avoid, but the distinction between terminally ill and people with stable disabilities doesn't seem that difficult a concept, even if there will be difficult cases. Antonia calls that a "specious distinction", which must be news to Ben Morgan.

I am though happy to ignore what a "citizen jury" (in favour of assisted dying, as it hapens) says about anything. I don't pass any judgement on the personal capacity of its members, but if there were ever a subject for experts, this is it. I appreciate Ireland needed one for abortion because of the need for a referendum.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Whoops. "Sorry we said you were apartheid profiteers, when indeed you opposed it and Nelson Mandela appointed you to a legacy project".

[Philip Marlow]

Tzipi Hotovely about five seconds before that photograph with Reeves was taken:

‘Mr Dalliard has a gun trained on you through the curtains. If you take so much as one step towards that door, miss, he will, at a word from me, shoot you clean through the head with as much pity as if you were a helpless seal-pup called Arnold.’

[The Weeping Angel]

Maybe you had to be there.

[Philip Marlow]

Fry and Laurie reference. You can’t help but love a photo op where one of the parties looks pleased as punch while the other looks like they’re about to be shot at dawn and tipped into a lime pit.

I know that as Labour Friends of Israel they’re obliged to play nice with the ambassador but there must be some seriously gritted teeth in that room.

[kreuzberger]

Maybe you had to be there.

Or at The Hague.

Yes, I understand that the government of the day needs to deal with these harsh realities. But ...

[Youngian]

I know that as Labour Friends of Israel they’re obliged to play nice with the ambassador but there must be some seriously gritted teeth in that room.

A lesson for aspiring politicians is when it comes to foreign affairs don't join 'Friends of..' anyone. Or 'Enemies of...'

[Philip Marlow]

It’s not necessarily the worst concept in the world, but the trouble comes when you’re unable to draw enough of a line between the country and its government. Which is why a roomful of people who I’m sure think of themselves as profoundly liberal Zionists end up pressing the flesh with a maniac like Hotovely.

[Bones McCoy]

I know that as Labour Friends of Israel they’re obliged to play nice with the ambassador but there must be some seriously gritted teeth in that room.

A lesson for aspiring politicians is when it comes to foreign affairs don't join 'Friends of..' anyone. Or 'Enemies of...'

Yeah, you don't her much about the Conservative Friends of Russia any more.
Which is why I have a 16 photo Montage archived for after they unveil their shadow cabinet.

[Arrowhead]

Rosie Duffield has quit the Labour whip, citing disillusionment with Starmer’s hypocrisy re accepting gifts whilst cutting the WFA.

Good riddance IMO, she was always a very awkward fit for a seat such as Canterbury and there were even rumours of her defecting to the Tories at one point. Labour should’ve dropped her as a candidate at the same time as Faiza Shaheen.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Yep. Attention seeking liability.

[Abernathy]

Apparently, Ms. Duffield now has the dubious accolade of being the fastest governing party MP to jump ship following a general election victory ever. Well done, Rosie. :-/

I agree that the party is probably well rid of someone like Rosie, who, to be charitable, has often seemed to struggle to understand concepts like political strategy and long-term tactics leading to ultimately long-term wins, as well as the futility of short-termist posturing. She has been nursing a massive chip on her shoulder for quite a while, and were it not for her somewhat reactionary views on other various matters, she would be a rather good fit in the Corbynist/ Campaign Group tribe.

In essence, I think Ms. Duffield is a rather confused individual who perhaps found herself in the wrong place. Good luck to her, wherever she ends up. . I really don't think she'll be followed by anybody of any consequence.

[Arrowhead]

Good luck to her, wherever she ends up.

I suspect she’ll end up either sitting with the Tories and/or joining the GB News grifting circuit.

[NevTheSweeper]

Whatever her position on some issues, for example trans rights, the mainstream public opinion is that Ms Duffield was right in quitting Labour. This will dominate the news cycle over the ongoing crisises in Ukraine and the Middle East, with the Conservative leadership contest.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I thought you'd be having a dribble over that.

[NevTheSweeper]

Apparently, Ms. Duffield now has the dubious accolade of being the fastest governing party MP to jump ship following a general election victory ever. Well done, Rosie. :-/

I agree that the party is probably well rid of someone like Rosie, who, to be charitable, has often seemed to struggle to understand concepts like political strategy and long-term tactics leading to ultimately long-term wins, as well as the futility of short-termist posturing. She has been nursing a massive chip on her shoulder for quite a while, and were it not for her somewhat reactionary views on other various matters, she would be a rather good fit in the Corbynist/ Campaign Group tribe.

In essence, I think Ms. Duffield is a rather confused individual who perhaps found herself in the wrong place. Good luck to her, wherever she ends up. . I really don't think she'll be followed by anybody of any consequence.

She has long been estranged from Labour, when she felt that Starmer wasn't listening to her when she was harrassed by some of her fellow colleagues. I could see her in the Conservative ranks before long. The question now is ....who's next? They are already eight down, some other MPs, fearful over the issue of the WFA, and the possible new austerity measures the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning in the upcoming budget, will realise that they have nothing to lose and resign too.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

[satnav]

I think resigning so far ahead of the next election would be pretty pointless for many Labour MP. Rosie Duffield is a bit like Kate Hoey, she used the Labour Party as a flag of convenience. By switching to one of the other parties she probably thinks she will improve her chances of getting on more parliamentary committees. She will also get more invites onto GB News as an ex-Labour MP happy to slag off her own party.