Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister
Discussion
isaldiri said:
EddieSteadyGo said:
Mr Penguin said:
What are the positives? All I see is the papers and Labour MPs saying they are unhappy with it. This is only six or seven hours after being announced and now the press have an obvious set of questions to catch out any Labour MPs and cause mischief.
The positive is that Labour dominate the (political) news headlines for a day or so. It's a positive story for Labour. It's another piece of 'evidence' which supports their narrative about the current government "failing" blah blah. And they don't need to worry about her real views as she is standing down. And it's another set of questions for Sunak, which he would rather not deal with.Putting it another way, in the political grind you are either applying pressure or taking pressure. This is Labour applying pressure.
The grumblings of a few MPs are irrelevant in the national context, particular at this phase before an election.
Tom8 said:
... What next for Rishi? If it was me I would do a Major and call a vote of confidence then call an election on the back of that. Nothing to lose really.
There is plenty to lose. Remember the adage... a week is a long time in politics. Just look at the unassailable grip the Sturgeon's had on Scotland for example, and how that has crumbled in a relatively short space of time.That doesn't mean I think Conservatives will win the next election; that is a stretch too far, even for me. However, at the moment, most of the news is bleak. If you call an election now, you just crystallise what would likely be a bigger defeat than 1997.
But, it is plausible that interest rates will start reducing in the summer, which will boost consumer confidence. That might cause some better economic news as we get towards the election date. It's even possible that Labour will face some challenging stories as they get more scrutiny as an incoming government.
And whilst I don't see Sunak winning any popularity contests, even most of his critics accept he is an intelligent and diligent PM. So more time to demonstrate his skill set is unlikely to make polling worse.
And that matters, perhaps not for this looming election, but what really matters; the one which happens in 2028/29. Lose too many seats this year, and it will take two election cycles to build back a sufficient base to win a majority.
So that is a long-winded way of saying Sunak is better to hold out, and hope for better political weather later in the year.
turbobloke said:
Starmer is doing what he does, watching events unfold and being bland in repsonse. It's his strength. As you rightly point out, the government is in disarray, and in the luxury of opposition he's reaping the benefit.
The entire commentariat: Starmer made the weather yesterday.Turbo wibble: Starmer is a hapless bystander
You really are funny, do keep it up.
Derek Smith said:
That is the reality I expect.
Very few knew who she was. What fame remains at the election will amount to her being the one who crossed the floor.
5Live were reporting yesterday that she’s standing down at the election anyway and Labour are continuing with their candidate they have already chosen in Dover. Very few knew who she was. What fame remains at the election will amount to her being the one who crossed the floor.
isaldiri said:
.... Sure he does get some kind of immediate 'win' for making Sunak look bad (which tbh he hardly really needs to be doing anyway given the current government showing) but whether it overall was a good idea longer term is rather a lot less obvious I think.
TBH I don't think the Elphicke story will even get mentioned after the next few days, let alone the longer term. They will just tell her to keep quiet, in return for getting whatever she has been promised after the election. And she can't usefully attack Sunak anyway without being reminded about everything she said about Starmer. So I think we will see this story fade away, now Starmer has got what he wanted out of it.turbobloke said:
Starmer is doing what he does, watching events unfold and being bland in repsonse. It's his strength. As you rightly point out, the government is in disarray, and in the luxury of opposition he's reaping the benefit.
Well as the old saying goes, you can only beat what’s in front of you (sadly something my football team seems to have forgotten how to do recently). EddieSteadyGo said:
TBH I don't think the Elphicke story will even get mentioned after the next few days, let alone the longer term. They will just tell her to keep quiet, in return for getting whatever she has been promised after the election. And she can't usefully attack Sunak anyway without being reminded about everything she said about Starmer. So I think we will see this story fade away, now Starmer has got what he wanted out of it.
I agree with that & your previous analysis.Most people aren't perma engaged, they'll hear Radio 5 report Elphicke defected & something from a gov spox defending their record & digest it on that level. The damage is done & the circus rolls on. Everything after that is business as usual knockabout.
isaldiri said:
While largely true, arguably it also shows Starmer has rather poor political judgement though. And that's something he (just like Sunak amusingly enough) has had fairly constant issues with. Sure he does get some kind of immediate 'win' for making Sunak look bad (which tbh he hardly really needs to be doing anyway given the current government showing) but whether it overall was a good idea longer term is rather a lot less obvious I think.
She’s standing down at the GE and will be a distant memory I suspect. Even fully paid up members of momentum can probably understand why Starmer welcomed her, but it’s a very odd situation. JagLover said:
anonymoususer said:
Meanwhile some policies, changes etc are being looked into that IMO do benefit people.
It may seem unimportant and maybe something to sneer at but this kind of stuff is the sort of thing that does benefit folk
I may well be serious
The Environment Department (Defra) announced on Friday that the same materials will be collected from homes, workplaces and schools across the country in order to end the confusion caused by councils operating different systems.
Under the new rules, people will be able to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin.
Councils will also be able to co-collect food and garden waste.
Defra said the new measures will mean households no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling.
Some genuine good news there It may seem unimportant and maybe something to sneer at but this kind of stuff is the sort of thing that does benefit folk
I may well be serious
The Environment Department (Defra) announced on Friday that the same materials will be collected from homes, workplaces and schools across the country in order to end the confusion caused by councils operating different systems.
Under the new rules, people will be able to put plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin.
Councils will also be able to co-collect food and garden waste.
Defra said the new measures will mean households no longer have to check which materials their specific council will accept for recycling.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler-bin-col...
It is what my Mum has already, whereas in Swindon they seem to want an individual container for each item.
Edited by JagLover on Thursday 9th May 05:25
EddieSteadyGo said:
TBH I don't think the Elphicke story will even get mentioned after the next few days, let alone the longer term. They will just tell her to keep quiet, in return for getting whatever she has been promised after the election. And she can't usefully attack Sunak anyway without being reminded about everything she said about Starmer. So I think we will see this story fade away, now Starmer has got what he wanted out of it.
Yep, this is just a short term play by Starmer to cause max humiliation on Rishi so soon after the local elections. It's simply twisting the knife to cause max discomfort and will be forgotten next week as the political wagon rolls on.Polls today show an extended lead for Labour 30 points ahead with the Tories at 18% and yesterday's fun and games will only cement that lead.
Let's see what next week brings.
EddieSteadyGo said:
isaldiri said:
.... Sure he does get some kind of immediate 'win' for making Sunak look bad (which tbh he hardly really needs to be doing anyway given the current government showing) but whether it overall was a good idea longer term is rather a lot less obvious I think.
TBH I don't think the Elphicke story will even get mentioned after the next few days, let alone the longer term. They will just tell her to keep quiet, in return for getting whatever she has been promised after the election. And she can't usefully attack Sunak anyway without being reminded about everything she said about Starmer. So I think we will see this story fade away, now Starmer has got what he wanted out of it.valiant said:
Yep, this is just a short term play by Starmer to cause max humiliation on Rishi so soon after the local elections. It's simply twisting the knife to cause max discomfort and will be forgotten next week as the political wagon rolls on.
Polls today show an extended lead for Labour 30 points ahead with the Tories at 18% and yesterday's fun and games will only cement that lead.
Let's see what next week brings.
Steve Baker perhaps? Polls today show an extended lead for Labour 30 points ahead with the Tories at 18% and yesterday's fun and games will only cement that lead.
Let's see what next week brings.
CheesecakeRunner said:
Derek Smith said:
That is the reality I expect.
Very few knew who she was. What fame remains at the election will amount to her being the one who crossed the floor.
5Live were reporting yesterday that she’s standing down at the election anyway and Labour are continuing with their candidate they have already chosen in Dover. Very few knew who she was. What fame remains at the election will amount to her being the one who crossed the floor.
Blue62 said:
isaldiri said:
While largely true, arguably it also shows Starmer has rather poor political judgement though. And that's something he (just like Sunak amusingly enough) has had fairly constant issues with. Sure he does get some kind of immediate 'win' for making Sunak look bad (which tbh he hardly really needs to be doing anyway given the current government showing) but whether it overall was a good idea longer term is rather a lot less obvious I think.
She’s standing down at the GE and will be a distant memory I suspect. Even fully paid up members of momentum can probably understand why Starmer welcomed her, but it’s a very odd situation. S600BSB said:
Blue62 said:
isaldiri said:
While largely true, arguably it also shows Starmer has rather poor political judgement though. And that's something he (just like Sunak amusingly enough) has had fairly constant issues with. Sure he does get some kind of immediate 'win' for making Sunak look bad (which tbh he hardly really needs to be doing anyway given the current government showing) but whether it overall was a good idea longer term is rather a lot less obvious I think.
She’s standing down at the GE and will be a distant memory I suspect. Even fully paid up members of momentum can probably understand why Starmer welcomed her, but it’s a very odd situation. 
This is politics, is anybody honestly surprised?
It does make me chuckle at the usual suspects heaping opprobrium on Starmer when there's more chance of Godzilla rising from the seas than them voting Labour under any circumstances.
I don't think it was a good move for anyone but I've ceased to be surprised by anything a lot of modern politicians do. To quote Groucho, these are my principles and if you don't like them I have others.
It does make me chuckle at the usual suspects heaping opprobrium on Starmer when there's more chance of Godzilla rising from the seas than them voting Labour under any circumstances.
I don't think it was a good move for anyone but I've ceased to be surprised by anything a lot of modern politicians do. To quote Groucho, these are my principles and if you don't like them I have others.
S600BSB said:
13 months can be a long time in politics - 3 Tory PMs, 3/4 Chancellors (lost count)!
Apparently one day is also a long time in politics as well. https://twitter.com/thetimes/status/17884795580747...
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hstewie said:
Yet...hstewie said:And if you take the 65+ people out and mess around with the filters a bit immigration drops even lower in priority.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-m...
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