Election Alert KLAXON!

 

IMPORTANT: This may still be nonsense, but it feels different https://t.co/xalUBviQyF

— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) May 22, 2024

The usual "nay sayers" are, apparently, silent.

Political Reality In The UK

 

#KeirStone - Not a Pledge Card!

Starmer's six pledges (not a pledge card!) are in effect more of an idiot's guide to help keep his candidates on message. 

1. Economic Stability

The lack of detail about what the "tough spending rules" entail leaves room for scepticism. Without a clear plan, it's difficult to assess how these rules will be implemented and what impact they will have on the economy.

2. NHS Waiting Lists

The pledge to cut NHS waiting lists by providing 40,000 more appointments each week is meant to be funded by tackling tax avoidance (tax avoidance is perfectly legal) and non-dom loopholes. While this sounds promising, the effectiveness of such measures is yet to be proven, given that people will either move their money abroad or simply look for other loopholes. Moreover, it doesn't address the underlying issues of NHS underfunding and staff shortages.

3. Border Security

The creation of a border security command to stop the gangs arranging small boat crossings is a copy of what already exists and clearly doesn't work.

4. Great British Energy

It is unclear how a publicly-owned clean power energy company, Great British Energy, will be achieved in practice. The pledge lacks details on funding, infrastructure, and how it will compete with established energy companies.

5. Antisocial Behaviour

The pledge to provide more neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour and introduce new penalties for offenders is all very well. However, unless the level of bureaucracy imposed on the police is not reduced this will not make much of an impact. Additionally, there are already more than enough laws in place to tackle criminal behaviour. 

6. Education

The final pledge is to recruit 6,500 teachers, paid for through ending tax breaks for private schools. This pledge pits public and private education sectors against each other. It also doesn't address issues such as curriculum reform or improving educational facilities.

The six pledges lack the necessary detail and nuance. Labour is desperately afraid about scaring voters away, as such it has created a bland set of pledges with zero details, and no timeframe.

Why?

 

It is widely assumed that Elphicke has joined Labour because Starmer has offered her a peerage/plum job, quite why Starmer wants her is a complete mystery!

The real question is, when will Sunak defect to Labour?

Will Starmer Kowtow To Radical Islam?

 

Ok @Keir_Starmer if you're serious here are our demands:

1. Apologise for your comments greenlighting a genocide and for not backing the ceasefire in Oct/Nov 2023.

2. Sanctions on companies operating in occup. territories. Sanctions on settlers.

3. Recognise Palestine state https://t.co/6lJN74lfPR

— The Muslim Vote (@themuslimvoteuk) May 5, 2024

Will he kowtow?

Based on past form he will!

Diversity Is More Important Than Security - China Hacks MOD

 

Head of diversity at the NHS gets £120,000

Head of cyber security at HM Treasury gets £57,000

Then we get surprised when China hack us and nothing else works in civil service. pic.twitter.com/mziB2QGKTf

— Mahyar Tousi (@MahyarTousi) May 6, 2024

Ben Houchen Wins Tees Valley

 

Tory Ben Houchen (the man without the party rosette) has won Tees Valley mayoral election for the third time running.

Labour, for reasons best known to themselves, have blamed their defeat on Gaza.

Elsewhere the Tories are getting a drubbing. However, there are very unconfirmed rumours that Khan might have lost London. I would take those rumours with a very heavy pinch of salt, as I am sure he is having truckloads of postal votes shipped in!