@vermisstpfarrer

And a lesson for both parties is that you can’t hope to out-Reform Reform. Trying alienates other voters from your coalition and doesn’t get you much back.

It won't be social care budgets: it will be SEND, equalities, environment, translation services, etc. And the point will be the fight, not the saving or whether those things are being accurately represented.

Labour targets international students claiming asylum after election losses to Reform Exclusive: Ministers understood to be drafting white paper this month in move to reduce legal migration

If this is what Starmer means when he says “I get it”, heaven help us …

WE CHOSE YOU AS CAPTAIN SO YOU WOULD STOP SAILING TOWARDS THAT ICEBERG WHAT ARE YOU DOING??

I hear you loud and clear, I will sail faster towards that iceberg

Thank you.
As we know, part of "fighting for the Black Country" is about keeping everyone's eyes up *in* the BC. Aspiration is so important. And that means speaking the truth, even if BC folk don't want to hear it.
Enoch Powell and Nigel Farage are not BC's friends...

India could be huge. LR was the work horse of Africa when I was there. Then they changed for the high-end market, and Toyota took their place.
It depends how they want to play it...

Did Brexit solve the problems of the UK's relationship with the EU? - UK in a changing Europe Simon Usherwood argues that Brexit has not helped to resolve a historically ambivalent relationship between the UK and EU.

"Brexit exposed and deepened the UK’s long-standing uncertainty about its role in Europe and the world. Years later, there’s still no clear vision for its future relationship with the EU."

🖊️ @simonusherwood.bsky.social reflects on uncertainty in UK-EU relations

'Labour must start speaking about extent of Brexit damage' - Andy Burnham At a time when Labour needs more straight-talkers and clearer messaging, Andy Burnham has popped something in the suggestion box.

In a Party crying out for gifted communicators, AB has been carefully distancing himself from the Leadership on a range of issues.
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/and...

I think his librettsts might disagree with this analysis.

Also, there was great team work: your Labour councillors sat with you through difficult times (often literally) while your Labour MP fought for your values on the national stage.
I believe that's what you're trying to do.

I remember several MPs who were masters at laying out the facts so that the answers seemed obvious and attractive to everyone who heard them (they weren't always correct, I grant you). It was a valuable skill in the communities Reform are winning in today.

What used to attract me to Labour in the 70s and 80s (yes, when times weren't in Labour's favour) was their ability to make their case for their policies. I really thought they'd arrived with John Smith.
Somewhere along the line they forgot to persuade and now only follow...

While the tariffs dropping would be good, it best not be at the expense of the loss of other markets.
Which markets are growing/have potential?

Where do the other 3/4 go?

It's not that it's not popular on. BlueSky, it's that it doesn't address the reality that if you want those things *in the world as it is* Labour are going to have cross their redlines.
Wanting the world to be different won't actually work.
We in the Black Country are not always good at this.

Summary: "it's not about racism/xenophobia, it's about white British people not liking immigrants who look different from them"

Much as I agree with you, I'm afraid you can have none of that if Labour don't also decide to live in the real world, economically speaking.
Continuing to spout Reform/Brexit lies is not helping if you want actual money to put in people's actual pockets.

Interpretation "I want the world to exist in a different reality which suits my opinions"

I'm surprised SIS haven't had something to say about that.
I know *for a fact* that the international financial industry does...

"in danger"

This year, uncertainties reigned over the world.

Europe’s unity was put to the test, once again.

Once again, we stood together.

On Christmas Day, we can celebrate the strength of our Union.

We will tackle the big tasks lying ahead with hope and confidence.

Merry Christmas.

We are providing Ukraine with €65 million to fund school meals.

700,000 Ukrainian pupils will receive hot meals once a day with this support.

We help give Ukrainian children the care, safety, and hope they deserve, one meal at a time.

👤 I'm a white British Atheist/Agnostic man from Dunfermline and Dollar 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, aged 72, with Scottish Higher Certificate. 🏠 I rent from a local authority. 🇪🇺 Europe/Brexit is my top issue. 🗳️ I wanted to vote Other ⬜, but I tactically voted Scottish National Party (SNP) 🟨 in 2024. 🇪🇺 I voted to remain in the EU in 2016 and 🇪🇺 I would vote to rejoin the EU today. Some opinions I hold: • 💯 Strongly agree: Too many people are easily offended these days over the language that others use. • 💯 Strongly agree: Workplaces should end mandatory diversity training. • 🌏 The UK should allow many more immigrants.

Shocking to see such ministerial complacency in the face of risk that our fragile democracy is further undermined. The issue of reforming party funding was in Labour’s manifesto & they should act now, before what little trust is left is totally destroyed

Iceland says it will put EU membership to referendum by 2027 Iceland has traditionally been ambivalent about joining the bloc but issues like the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit and a range of domestic issues has meant the country is slowly warming to the idea of...

Iceland's new government says it will look at joining the EU and put a proposal to a referendum by 2027

www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

I worry that because the US government will spend at least the next 4 years acting in a completely mad way, Labour will develop an entirely reactive US policy, while rejecting EU stability.
Bad news all round. Neither policy being coherent, both being vital.

The Real BBC ‘Impartiality Crisis’ Is Its Constant Platforming of Hard Right Tufton Street Think Tanks The broadcaster provides an oversized platform for representatives from opaquely-funded libertarian lobby groups, says media academic Julian Petley

The Real BBC ‘Impartiality Crisis’ Is Its Constant Platforming of Hard Right Tufton Street Think Tanks

bylinetimes.com/2024/12/21/b...

But still...

Der Spiegel reports the attack on a Christmas Market in Madgeburg, killing two people, carried out by a man from Saudi Arabia apparently with far right sympathies for the AfD's anti-Muslim agenda. He puts the X owner Elon Musk with Alex Jones and Tommy Robinson as inspiring his journey to violence.

Wait... What?
They let Biggar in a pulpit?
Why?