Tag: uk-politics

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On impact of Westminster on Wales and Scotland, why do views of British Labour Party leaders in Wales differ so greatly from Party bosses in Scotland?

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By stewartb – a long read In December 2023, the British Labour Party’s government for Wales published its ‘Draft Budget 2024-24’. It provides the Party’s explanation for the present state of public services in Wales and the financial constraints on the government in Cardiff in its (less than successful) efforts to date to deliver much needed improvements. (Source: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-12/2024-2025-draft-budget-narrative.pdf ) Candidly, the explanation it provides would be dismissed in a Scotland context by British Labour Party politicians. It’s an explanation that in Scotland would be ignored by BBC Scotland, STV and most of the mainstream news media supposedly ‘serving’ our … Continue reading On impact of Westminster on Wales and Scotland, why do views of British Labour Party leaders in Wales differ so greatly from Party bosses in Scotland?

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No BBC Scotland report allows comparative analysis of matters across the nations of the UK unless…

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stewartb ‘The BBC Scotland report does not mention ………………….Wales’ No BBC Scotland report allows comparative analysis of matters across the nations of the UK unless … you know what! And no British Labour Party politician in Scotland acknowledges the validity of comparing matters in Scotland with equivalents in British Labour Party run Wales. On education and the experiences of young people in Wales, the following report (March 2024) from the BBC’s much favoured, ‘authoritative’ think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies must never be referred to in the hearing of a potential Labour voter in Scotland! Source https://ifs.org.uk/publications/major-challenges-education-wales The IFS report concludes: … Continue reading No BBC Scotland report allows comparative analysis of matters across the nations of the UK unless…

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Is Keir Starmer “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions”

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By Anonymous I wonder whether Johann Lamont is at the stage of concluding that Keir Starmer is “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions” as the new PM. Yesterday it was reported that Labour are considering raising tuition fees to what may be £10,500 per year for English Universities. In 2020 Keir Starmer promised to support scrapping fees – during his Labour leadership campaign- but he later abandoned this pledge. (Indeed all of the pledges he, Starmer, made in 2020 in his bid to be the new Labour leader after Jeremy Corbyn have all now fallen by the wayside as in they were “abandoned” also). Which makes one wonder why then some voters in Scotland decided to vote Labour in the 2024 UK GE- … Continue reading Is Keir Starmer “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions”

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Given the British Labour Party’s approach to power seeking in Scotland, whataboutery is legitimate – ‘what about Wales?’

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By stewartb The logic of the British Labour Party’s messaging for the 2026 Holyrood election – that the SNP is holding Scotland back – would be open to ridicule amongst voters if it wasn’t for the support – the complicity – of pro-Union news media. The latter’s lack of critical assessment of this and other Labour negativity about Scotland is palpable. Context- and perspective-free reporting has long been a characteristic of the mainstream media that supposedly serves Scotland. Labour’s view of the UK Before and since the UK General Election we’ve been told by the British Labour Party’s leadership just … Continue reading Given the British Labour Party’s approach to power seeking in Scotland, whataboutery is legitimate – ‘what about Wales?’

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#ReleaseTheSausages

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Anonymous #ReleaseTheSausages Hands up who did not even know that they, the sausages, had been taken. Indeed most of us thought it was Hostages that had been taken and so should be released– but it appears Keir Starmer apparently knows best as he mentioned them (the captured Sausages) in his speech today at the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Next Q is this. Is Keir Starmer Liz Truss in a man’s suit ? (Yes or No). Or is he more similar to Boris Johnson ? (Also Yes or No). Also who in Scotland would now proudly admit that they actually voted Labour in the recent GE in July … Continue reading #ReleaseTheSausages

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The poor Millionaire Keir Starmer’s wife is lucky he isn’t just Lord Provost of Glasgow

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Anonymous Listen I remember when, in 2019, a female SNP Glasgow Lord Provost was reported by The Daily Record for claiming for 23 pairs of shoes on expenses and it was a very big story on the BBC Website for Scotland. In defence it was stated on the BBC website that: “Her role incurs personal expenses as she is required to represent the city at hundreds of events” and it was also stated that “there was no accusation of impropriety against the Lord Provost of Glasgow Eva Bolander”. “The money spent was within the civic allowance allocated to the council by the Scottish government” However the BBC article also stated that : “The issue here … Continue reading The poor Millionaire Keir Starmer’s wife is lucky he isn’t just Lord Provost of Glasgow

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Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer

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Anonymous On Sky News: “Sir Keir Starmer is facing an investigation over a possible breach of parliamentary rules after failing to declare that some of his wife’s high-end clothes were bought for her by his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli”. “The Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer, reportedly both before and after the Labour leader became prime minister in July, according to The Sunday Times” “This year Sir Keir has received – and disclosed – nearly £19,000 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses from Lord Alli, the former chairman of online fashion retailer Asos, The Times reports” “In addition, the peer, whose personal wealth … Continue reading Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer

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Starmer’s heartless, immoral, reliance on the lack of a legal need for an impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance

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Anonymous Tweet from Kate McCann Times radio Political Editor on 12 September. “NEW: Keir Starmer confirmed to me that there is no impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance from all pensioners. Pushed on why, he said there is no legal need for one adding: “I know you think there’s a report on my desk but there isn’t one”. “No legal need for one” ? Yes but what about the moral need for one ? George Eaton tweeted yesterday. “The DWP has just published its Equality Analysis of winter fuel payment cuts (yes, on Friday night). Around 71% of pensioners with a disability and 83% … Continue reading Starmer’s heartless, immoral, reliance on the lack of a legal need for an impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance

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Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Anonymous Any Labour MP who thinks that they can just abstain in the vote on cutting the winter fuel payment in the HOC are then, as a constituency MP, making a conscious decision to not support the pensioners in their respective constituencies but instead they have decided to not vote against the party. Party first and constituents second (if at all). They think in not voting with the party but instead in them abstaining that then somehow makes them appear better and so, they may assume, lets them off the hook with the constituents in their areas who are effected by this if it passes in the HOC. It does not. It shows them as spineless , without principles and those who are more driven by a desire to progress their own political careers than … Continue reading Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Do statements by leading Labour politicians in Scotland require Talking down Wales?

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By stewartb The Herald had this headline on 19 July 2024: ‘Scots ‘failed’ by a lack of planning for a pandemic by SNP or Tories.’ Within the article there is this: See https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald-1130/20240719/281672555180089 . Before commenting further, note the sleekit attempt at casting doubt on ‘transparency’ and ‘honesty’. It’s as if Wales was NOT also judged to be just as ill-prepared by the Covid-19 Inquiry: it’s as if the Labour spokesperson in Scotland has erased the fact of her party being in government in Wales throughout the period of devolution; it’s as if Labour in Scotland really do hold firm … Continue reading Do statements by leading Labour politicians in Scotland require Talking down Wales?