I’m not so sure that Westminster will say no, but I do think that Sturgeon has painted herself into a corner a bit with this one. The omens and political landscape are not greatly in her favour this time but given the trajectory of the Brexit process and her previous words…she really has no option but to announce this now before A50 is triggered.
how much more a week would this mean for the nhs …
The government U-turns on its budget just before PMQs. A golden opportunity for a Leader of the Opposition to put the PRime Minister and Chancellor to the sword. “When did you first realise you were breaking a manifesto promise - when you approved the budget beforehand, or when you watched the news afterwards?” “Whose decision was it to reverse this policy - yours or your Chancellor’s?” “How will you fix the hole you’ve just blown in your own budget?”
Corbyn, naturally, asked none of these questions. In fact, he barely asked a question, just muttered something about ladders and staircases. And then dropped the topic to talk about education because he’d prepared Qs on that - and then failed to land a blow there.
No doubt he can attend a rally at some point though, so it’ll all be fine.
The Conservatives are explicitly the Unionist party. Their full title up here is ‘The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party’.
It’s hard to put into words what I think of JC. He, I think, was astonished to be nominated, and even more astonished to be elected. If ever there was a man out of his depth it is him.
His good points, and one main reason he remains popular with his party members, is that a, he is not a Tory, and b, he has a reputation for honesty, rare in politicians. In fact, the more the media deride him, the more popular he is, because most electors rate journos even lower than politicians. The Labour electors also dislike the ‘old guard’; Balls, Brown, Miliband, Burnham et al.
And yet, I really wonder if he voted to remain in the EU? He was certainly lukewarm during the remain campaign and his history shows him as a Eurosceptic.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Corbyn is now less popular in the U.K. than Donald Trump. I’m sure it’s all the fault of ‘Blairites’
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Doesn’t that remind you of someone else?
I wonder what the result would be if they asked if people respected him?
I think the numbers would definitely be higher.
Few people think he is a bad person, just that he hasn’t got what it takes.
I agree.
Another awful poll for Corbyn: More people who voted Labour in 2015 prefer Theresa May as PM over Corbyn!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Philip Cowley, politics professor and author, tweeted a London Evening Standard poll showing how unpopular Corbyn is in London, especially in comparison with Sadiq Khan.
He then mentioned today on Twitter that the attacks from the Corbyn Cult was so bad he had to mute people on Twitter for the first time in 7 years.
Is Khan a potential near-future Labour leader, do you think?
He’s an obvious possibility, but then a lot of people might, depending on your point of view, be possible.
But though in what have been normal times he might seem to have a good back-story and has demonstrated ability to appeal to voters outside the party faithful, he may not have that much name recognition outside London. His record as MP and minister, though worthy and respectable, wasn’t exactly eye-catching, and he doesn’t have the same sort of personality recognition (for good or ill) that his predecessors in the mayoralty had. He’s an obvious example of what the commentariat thinks any party would consider a safe pair of hands: which, as with most of the other possibles, is precisely what would be anathema to the major drivers among the Corbynista/Momentum party members.
I know SK a little through community work in his former constituency. He’s able, I just don’t think he’s a standout and for a lot of the population he is London-centric.
Still think Labour at the next election will probably be led by either Dan Jarvis or Kier Starmer. Going to be a hell of a bounce.
I should add SK already has his dream job, and he should be there for a very, very long tome to come. Frankly, I don’t think he needs the hassle of high profile ministerial politics.
On present form, that doesn’t look like something that need bother any Labour politician for quite a time: their problem is far more challenging.
Corbyn was in town today. According to BBC Radio Nottingham, anyway. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known. He was pushing the council elections. Managed to mispronounce the name of the council’s (Labour) leader. Twice. Suffice it to say, the issues took a back seat in the coverage.
Credit where it’s due: Corbyn has managed to push three good(ish) policies on to the news agenda over the past week or so:
VAT on private school fees to pay for free school meals for all children: It’s ludicrous that private school fees don’t attract VAT so this is excellent, but I’m not sure the best way to spend the money is FSM for all (even allowing for the arguments for universality). That’s a minor criticism though.
Raising national living wage to £10 - there are potential caveats to this but it’s in line with low pay commission and addresses a big issue.
Small businesses to be allowed to charge interest on late payments from major customers - a good pragmatic policy that is clearly fair. The only minor drawback is that (apparently) it’s already the law and has been since 1998.
Still and but so: a series of good, left-wing but not mental (i.e. taxing private school’s fees; not abolishing private schools) policies that are getting play in the media. More of this please.