Sue

This one remark seems like quite a major pivot by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer:

"This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.”

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey:

"Tax exiles like Isabel Oakeshott and washed up old footballers who mock ordinary people who stay in the UK and pay our taxes... As we protect them, it's only right for tax exiles to start paying taxes to fund our armed forces, just like the rest of us".

These are very important, hugely consequential words:
1. The UK government does not believe the US action against Iran is lawful
2. The UK government does not believe the US has a thought-through plan for its actions
My guess is that no-one will hear, but that does not reduce their significance.

bsky.app/profile/pipp...

NEW: MoD assessment is that the drone attack on Akrotiri base in Cyprus last night was launched before the PM’s statement - ie was not a retaliation for it.

Really wonder how much the Tory/Reform atack line on Starmer that he wasn't quick enough to support Trump attack on Iran, resonates with voters. My hunch is not much at all

the other thing putting the UK in an impossible position, btw? Opposition parties using a dangerous situation to score political points & actively increase tensions at home, at a time when Uk forces are active in the Gulf. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

But Trump is putting the West in an impossible position. Of course there will be anger over another US war in the ME. But there would be anger too if we could have helped stop our allies getting killed in the blowback & didn't. There are no winners in a world where Trump makes the rules.

Found it interesting that on last night's news, the BBC political reporter (Pike) read out the feedback from Farage and Polanski, after Starmer's announcement.
No middle ground - just the 2 ends of the political spectrum.
This is where we're at - populism is worth reporting...

Thread

1. US & Isreal begin strikes with no clear legal basis - UK stays out of it.
2. Initial strikes fail to bring swift end and Iran strikes back.
3. Those retaliatory strikes start to target civilians (including UK ones) and UK military/bases. 🧵 1/4

There's a lot of mean-spiritedness about people who have gone to live in Dubai. We need to help, and ensure they have secure accommodation in the UK for 91 days of the next tax year.

Exactly - knee jerk reactions from across the political spectrum - because
1) it's so easy & simplistic to do so, when in opposition.
2) Starmer said it.

I oppose the US and Israeli attack on Iran. I also oppose the UK government not doing all it can to protect UK military personnel and civilians now exposed to attack by Iran. This is Starmer's position. However, he is incapable of explaining it and, even if he could, no-one would listen.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez: “Today more than ever, it is essential to remember that one can be against a hateful regime as is the case with the Iranian regime…and at the same time be against an unjustified, dangerous military intervention outside of international law.”

So currently Bluesky believes Keir Starmer is going to cause World War III as a puppet of Donald Trump, Twitter believes he’s a beta cuck who should have launched missiles ahead of the Americans, and Facebook believes that video of the puppy playing with the tiger is real and not AI.

I think there is going to be a very substantial backbench rebellion against the immigration bill. Not at all convinced it will survive without concessions.

This is idiotic

Starmer's Downing St and others reportedly unconvinced that splashing the Daily Telegraph with No Compromise messages on immigration was the best first response to the Green win. (Observer)

Manchester United fans unveiled a pro-immigration banner during Sunday’s fixture against Crystal Palace in response to comments from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

More from @lauriewhitwell.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

This is total nonsense and has no regard for any actual policy content it’s just a vibe. Meanwhile I’m yet to see a single decarbonisation policy from Polanski that isn’t wealth taxes but apparently that’s acceptable?

Keir Starmer abandoned net zero to court Reform voters. He failed After byelection defeat and with right-leaning advisers gone, will PM return to his instincts and embrace Labour ‘DNA’ on climate?

This is a ridiculous headline to a much more nuanced piece. Starmer could and should have talked more about the government’s net zero efforts given they are popular and largely working. But at no point did he ‘abandon net zero’.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Not quite a hot take. More a calm reflection: The result in Denton & Gorton underlines why Labour must move from a 'heroic voter' strategy to a 'heroic coalition.' And 'de-rigging the market' is central to the effort.

Here’s this week Substack: open.substack.com/pub/liambyrn...

The govt could look at these numbers and, in essance,declare victory. Really focus on stopping boats/dealing with the asylum backlog/ending hotels.

Instead we're embarking on a policy that hurts us economically, splits our base and distracts from core goals. For, seemingly, I'm tough vibes.

Lucy Powell says the government's proposals om settlement proposals - doubling + tripling how long it takes those on a visa to be permanent or get citizenship - were unpopular, saying that ethnic minority voters who think border control does matter don't think the government's changes are fair

If Labour wanted to build some bridges they could come out and say the Green's won fair and square, that we will learn lessons and that suggesting people with the 'wrong' skin colour or from the 'wrong' country should be denied a vote is racist. Pick a fight on this*

*They won't

Meltdown in Gorton puts wind in the sails of Labour’s imm... Feeling vindicated by the Greens’ byelection win, MPs hope to force the home secretary to rethink her plans

Exc: As many as 80 Labour MPs are braced to oppose the home secretary's immigration policies

Dozens of backbenchers and ministers are understood to be hostile to Shabana Mahmood's reforms. After the Gorton by-election they're pushing for a "recalibration"

observer.co.uk/news/politic...

As journalists working today many of us are taught to recognise disinformation when we see it and fight back against it.

Unfortunately there are some who willingly seek it out and put it on their front pages. A disgrace to the profession.

Speaking as a private EU citizen, I am beyond embarrassed that our leaders and representatives criticise Iran while staying silent on the US and Israel. Values are supposed to be universal and if the EU has a point it has to be to defend universal values. That’s my EU.

Interesting thread missed by many, about how Labour *has* moved to the left (with obvious exception of immigration) but because of vibes/poor communication etc, the opposite is perceived..
bsky.app/profile/stev...