Wow! I didnt think it would be so big. Not a great night for Starmer by any stretch I think. Jess Phillips quite a big fish in that pond too. I wonder if calling the whip is now regretted, bit of a misstep in my opinion.
You and I differ, but I respect your position. Do you think the whip was right here? In all of this Starmer has impressed me, which you wont here from me often, but I cant help wonder if he hasnt fallen into a trap here.
Eight shadow ministers gone. Starmer is going to have to get as busy as Sunak in recruitment terms. Blair or Brown anyone?
What did I say this morning about 'hold my beer' Tbf Phillips is similar to Rayner - the gob on a stick type who actual working class people can't stand to be associated with.
More than 25% of Labour MPs ignored Starmers instructions tonight. Telling. For a man who seems hell bent on building a team that will only agree with him dare I suggest he has some work to do. My attempt at a non party political view is he shouldnt have whipped this vote. Misread the room. He will pay the price. Wont coat him an election by any means, but I would suggest he asks his advisors what they are adding right now. This is a storm about his leadership qualities, nothing more, entirely avoidable in my opinion.
It is similar in my opinion to Sunak saying he shouldnt be judged on past governments, or ousting of peers, he was part of. Starmer is part of past shadow cabinets and turmoil in the labour party but apparently thinks that can be written out of history. Neither him or Sunak can erase their previous burdens. They seem to change beliefs like chameleons change colour. Who know what Starmer will believe when he is in power, i find that disturbing.
TBF he brought in Braverman after she'd had to go for breaking the rules and brought in Cameron after he'd walked out on the people who'd elected him. He's not too credible tbh.
I don’t think we need a new Tory helmet. There are plenty already Sorry for the partisan micky-taking but it was too good an opportunity!
Charlie Stayt on BBC Breakfast: " Hang on a minute, so you are saying that the Rwanda project is acting as a deterrent to small boats even though it doesn't exist?" James Cleverley "Yes, that is EXACTLY what I am saying".
Seriously, £140 million thrown away on 'a bright idea' ... ... meanwhile, how many of Boris's 40 new hospitals have been built.
They say that the huge hotel bill is because of the backlog in processing the applications. How many processing staff could they have employed with £140 m .
Sound the Korbyn Klaxxon! I was expecting Tuesday night after Piers Morgan bounced him over his blatant anti-Semitism on his show, but it was strangely quiet. Almost as if the side that's supposed to be obsessed with him doesn't give a toss while the side who are apparently desperate to not have him as part of the political conversation cannot. Stop. Talking. About. Him.
James Cleverley can't seem to explain how, if new arrivals are down by a third, the backlog is growing. Have they sacked processing staff, if not what's going on. Another of Rishi's promises, he's good at them .... 'The UK has accumulated a large backlog of asylum cases. On 13th December 2022, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to clear the backlog by the end of 2023.'
Thanks and respect. I agree with you on this, Starmer was bound to be tripped up somewhere by Rishi. Let's see how Starmer recovers from this.