Mr Pecksniff's Diary

Does Labour follow its old voters, or its old ideals? Labour has always had a potential conflict of interest at its heart. Since Thatcher that has become a threat, which may consume the party

Labour’s crisis is not simply electoral but philosophical: can a party survive when its voter coalition and its founding worldview diverge?

@eastangliabylines.co.uk @peterthurlow.bsky.social

Orr, Farage, Lowe and the battle for Britain’s right Reform’s ideological glow-up collides with Rupert Lowe’s insurgency – and first-past-the-post will inevitably punish them both

Reform’s ideological glow-up collides with Rupert Lowe’s insurgency – and first-past-the-post will inevitably punish them both | The Bear

Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life | East Anglia Bylines

From Texas to Suffolk: what happens when you start a new life A Texan in Suffolk reminds us that the UK is not so bad, and points out the positives

“You literally have no anxiety about healthcare expenses.”

A US immigrant in East Suffolk reflects on the NHS and peace of mind.

#lifeintheUK

So this wouldn't be yet another Trotskyist front organization, would it?

Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

Hannah Spencer looks like the future. Labour looks tired

* Reform didn’t win – but now threatens deportations and a British ICE

* Rupert Lowe says hush the allegations. Voters might prefer daylight.

All this & more from Pecksniff & Muckrakers Arms ...

My dear chap, this diarist couldn't have put it more succinctly.

There is talk among Labour MPs of replacing him before the May elections, so as to show a new direction for voters. But with no clear idea of how or with whom.

It is gratifying to know that some senior politicians do read it, including at least one party leader. It would be wrong to assume it has any effect on their thinking though.

But the day will come when one of them shuffles into the saloon bar at the Muckrakers; then it's game on.

You will find that strong drink helps with that.

This is terrible from Starmer. Just absolute trash. And any normal voter looking at the new MP and then reading this description will think him mad.

I’ve warned for some time that Labour can’t keep taking its base for granted, and Gorton and Denton makes that plain. People say they don't recognise the party they once trusted. We’ve moved away from communities that built us. If we don’t change, others will step into the space we have left open.

Even now you will find very senior people in Labour who just do not take the threat from the left seriously at all, and who simply refuse to believe who their own voters actually are. Now that the Greens actually realise who their voters can be, they have a big opening.

Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

* Greens surge. Labour in denial

* Farage now feels Rupert Lowe breathing down his neck

* A Tory organiser boasts of love for Kemi on the doorstep – they got 1.9% and lost their deposit.

Our diarist Pecksniff with his jaundiced take on this week’s politics ⤵️

He is a great contributor. Very knowledgeable and on point.

You would be surprised if I told you.

Might a two-tier EU offer Britain a way in? A change of EU rules to let in Ukraine might also offer a way in for Britain, but make us always rule-takers, perpetuating resentment

This is his latest for East Anglia Bylines: eastangliabylines.co.uk/news/brexit/...

Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

@pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social

~ Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? ~

https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/pecksniff/pecksniffs-diary-28-02-26/

It is always gratifying to know how well read are our readers. Irony is a heavy burden to carry. It's likely however that some readers see the name as apposite.

Gracious of you, sir. I found the speech moving too.

Pecksniff: Greens get it, but have the others lost the plot? In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life

* Greens surge. Labour in denial

* Farage now feels Rupert Lowe breathing down his neck

* A Tory organiser boasts of love for Kemi on the doorstep – they got 1.9% and lost their deposit.

Our diarist Pecksniff with his jaundiced take on this week’s politics ⤵️

Defences, virtual but not invisible East Anglia is dotted with the historic remains of our national defences; today, the moat is virtual, but no less hard to break through

East Anglia has long been a frontline – not just of armies, but spies, secrets and subterfuge. Invaders once arrived by sea. Now they arrive through networks, data and dependency.

@eastangliabylines.co.uk

I love so much of what this government has done, and is still doing.
But the PM's response to the Gorton and Denton result has left me dumbfounded.

Labour MP Ian Byrne: "The lines from the PM and Cabinet today essentially labelling the Green Party as extremist is appalling, desperate and frankly embarrassing.

"It also makes very clear that the leadership has zero understanding of where it has been going wrong."

Keir Starmer is a moron if he really goes for this ‘the Greens are like Reform’ approach.

It will get worse for Labour. Much worse.

Its doubly galling because Starmer and Labour have (and not without reason) spent years insisting Reform curious voters should be respected and taken seriously. Then with the Greens they're all "LOL you've been taken in by those nutters, U morons, don't be daft." Its playground level ignorance.

Yes indeed, Brexit Britain still wants the benefits of Europe without the obligations of the EU. “Include us” when it suits, “sovereignty” when it doesn’t. That’s not partnership — it’s naked opportunism: it ain't gonna wash

Fall in UK net migration threatens to carve deep hole in public finances Issue is expected to come under the spotlight in chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement

The migration doom loop at work: does anyone in government seriously think that a strategy designed to keep out skilled workers and students makes either economic or political sense?

://www.ft.com/content/7408ad00-e4eb-41c7-8849-36061bc0eac1

Extremely observant comment, this!

Who is 'we', by the way...?