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Chris Evans marrying Billie Piper 😬

Lewis for DG #TeamLewis

Great opportunity for Labour to rebalanced the leadership, if they take it

I think I read it about 10-15 years ago - pops into my head every time I've got a long to do list (most of the time). It works! (Kinda of.. or at least makes me productive in my avoiding what I should be doing) 😁

Sounds like you need to start adhering to the Tao of... Structured Procrastination

www.structuredprocrastination.com

Frost is such a pompous toad. Why he's seen as a venerable thinker by someone many Torys is baffling

Strange fellow you seem

Now being skewed further rightwards by GBNews, TalkTV and Twitter

Ha! Fair enough. Agree re inflation - reporting on that like so much eksw just gets fixed on a certain story / line and that drowns out much rational or informed debate

Perverse definitions of austerity don’t change the lived reality. In the 2010s it wasn’t about chasing a surplus - it was about cuts to services and welfare. Osborne’s real own goal was wasting record-low interest rates and fostering the conditions that led to Brexit (& further public finances hit)

Relative to other outlets, no - but the BBC’s editorial line is shaped by the broader media climate. And given how far to the right much of that has shifted, the BBC ends up looking RW in practice.

(Mini essay, apologies)

3. Growth doesn’t hinge solely on attracting entrepreneurs. The UK’s weak growth since 2008 isn’t because we scared off the super rich. Conversely, UK growth 1945-73 was spectacular & had nothing to do with tailoring tax policy to impress the Elon Musks of the day

2. Higher taxes/welfare: inevitable geopolitical pressures make this likely, but the UK’s welfare state isn’t especially generous (pensions aside). After austerity, there’s little left to cut.

1. Illegal migration isn’t much higher than before: just small-boat arrivals getting blanket coverage. Whatever Lab does (& they’re already doing stuff) it won’t satisfy RW media. Lab voters would prob prefer arguments that reflect reality vs aping lines from RW ideologues and bad-faith actors.

Aren’t there only three in that section?

To take each of the 3....

A better and more provable "fact" might be that tax rises will be necessary to maintain welfare spending in a time of billions lost in trade with Europe coupled with an ageing population and increasing defence needs, but I'm guessing that doesn't make his column.

Are they facts though? They look to me like things William Hague believes. There are plenty of things the Labour govt are not doing well, but failing to implement a programme which would now be popular with 1997-01 Tories isn't necessarily one of them.

My view: Labour now has few working-class MPs or members. Too often they assume that winning working-class votes means being anti-immigrant and socially conservative. But working people’s values aren’t so different from anyone else’s & to suggest otherwise is a mischaracterisation. #Labour #Politics

Hope so. Do you think the imminent Trump visit also a factor in the limp response? Govt shitting themselves over antagonising them?

I had planned to listen, but glad I avoided if Tim Stanley was on.

Most still seem to be on X/twitter as well, which can't be helping their mental health, world view, or sense of proportion. Very worrying times. 🙁

I think Jo Cox murder looms very large - many are I'm sure very afraid (with some justification). Really disturbing not to see some push back though - particularly as no matter what they do, there is no pleasing these people - so they may as well show some leadership

Perfectly fine with the govt paying more for defence in an era of Trump and Putin, ahead of some self righteous old women who had about 20 years notice of the pension age changing. The snarky old duffer can do one.

I'll do this. Unlikely anyone will like though.

...while quoting an accountant

Always nice to be psychoanalysed by someone with "keyboard warrior" in their bio - especially when done in the style of a crap Morrisey trying hard to get his economics badge in Cubs.

"Good game, good game" ♟️

Nope