Off Topic Politics Thread

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I really do struggle to see how Starmer can get through this now. I don't doubt he was unaware of how close Mandelson and Epstein were but he appointed him US ambassador knowing they did know each other and Epstein was a complete ****. The vetting process for Mandelson was pathetic and not fit for purpose. And there's undoubtedly more documents still to be released that will put Mandelson in an even worse light.
He can’t, he’s toast. There was never any way Mandelson should even have been on a long list for any ambassadorial role. It was obvious that Trump didn’t like Karen Pierce, Mandelson’s predecessor, and probably requested that the *****’s friend was appointed.
It’s also no coincidence that only a week or so ago Starmer was blocking Andy Burnham’s path back to being a leadership rival.
 
Johnson managed to continue through heaps of scandals and remain in power so it isn't a foregone conclusion.
Johnson never had the entirety of the media hounding his every move.

Maybe because Johnson went to the 'right' school, and the 'right' university, so all his mates were in charge of the media. Of course, it could be that Johnson never did anything wrong, ever.
 
Mandelson not holding his hands up at all! If this is genuine then OMG:

LATE on Friday evening, this notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news wire, to all media across the UK.


In it, Mandelson uses clauses of the Editor's Code most typically associated with grieving families or those suffering harassment from the press to urge journalists to stop scrutinising his links to the most world's most notorious *****phile.

We believe it is strongly in the public interest to publish this memo. This is it in full.

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McSweeney's operations are seeming more and more like a deep state operation:

Labour minister was provided with intelligence files on journalists

Exclusive: Material gathered was personally given to Josh Simons when chair of pro-Starmer thinktank, say sources


 
Who sidelined Mandelson and had to stave off his constant attempts to undermine him:
I heard of a version of Macbeth put on in the early 90’s where Duncan was represented by John Smith, Macbeth was Blair, and Banquo was Brown. I don’t know, but Mandelson was probably all 3 witches.
 
I heard of a version of Macbeth put on in the early 90’s where Duncan was represented by John Smith, Macbeth was Blair, and Banquo was Brown. I don’t know, but Mandelson was probably all 3 witches.
I think most people are unaware of just how powerful Mandelson was. literally the kingmaker. Blair and Brown get the fame as being the faces of New Labour but Mandelson was the architect way before they came on the scene. New Labour started when Kinnock brought Mandelson in and form that point Mandelson created the machine that ended up delivering New Labour into power a decade later! Blair was simply the first "face" of it.

Mandelson preceded Alistair Campbell and the thick of it is more Mandelson than Campbell who stepped into that role after Mandelson had created the setup! I heard or read the other day about a Labour person saying only a couple of weeks ago Mandelson, who was then a sacked US ambassador, was in the room and he thought it was really strange that someone not even in government or a high ranking civil servant was in the room for that kind of thing! He obviously had the ultimate power right until the end!

It doesn't help though that none of them have learned. They still think the old school "sacrificial lamb" sorts these things out! We could do with the police being given a free hand to investigate the lot and gut the place if necessary.
 
He can’t, he’s toast. There was never any way Mandelson should even have been on a long list for any ambassadorial role. It was obvious that Trump didn’t like Karen Pierce, Mandelson’s predecessor, and probably requested that the *****’s friend was appointed.
It’s also no coincidence that only a week or so ago Starmer was blocking Andy Burnham’s path back to being a leadership rival.
No idea where you get this idea. Trump liked Karen Pierce and she was nicknamed "The Trump Whisperer." However it is a kind of norm for ambassadors to serve their term and return to their home country or to another job and she had served her term. She already did 5 years so more than the traditional 3 or 4. Its supposedly like an old diplomat etiquette. So it wasn't obvious at all because the reverse was true. He got on well with her. He invited her as part of the US delegation on the UK state visit. lol
 
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Perhaps some of the ones baying for Starmer to go, are the same ones that created the situation that set him up, may be they should be investigated too?
 
I think this will bring Starmer down but also lead to closer scrutiny of all politcal leaders.


I cannot believe Mandelson was appointed to the US job. It was always a disaster waiting to happen. I am not sure Burnham is the answer but feel Rayner is a shoo in. Wes Streeting is the protegee of Mandelson and i think his goose is now cooked.
 
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I think this will bring Starmer down but also lead to closer scrutiny of all politcal leaders.


I cannot believe Mandelson was appointed to the US job. It was always a disaster waiting to happen. I am not sure Burnham is the answer but feel Rayner is a shoo in. Wes Streeting is the protegee of Mandelson and i think his goose is now cooked.
Perhaps Sir Keir Starmer will move over to Reform, it seems to be an open house?
 
Oh what a surprise, reformers telling pork pies.
"Reform UK’s flagship council has been accused of telling a “blatant lie” after its claim of nearly £40m in savings on net zero was found to be based on hypothetical projects for which there was no documentation."
The council’s leadership claimed it had found £100m in savings, £39.5m of which come from what it said was two net zero-related projects: £32m by scrapping a programme to make properties more environmentally friendly, and £7.5m by not making the council’s fleet of vehicles electric by 2030.
After Kemkaran announced these at a council meeting last July, Polly Billington, a Labour MP in Kent, requested details of the apparent savings via a freedom of information request, setting off a months-long battle with the council.
The eventual answer said the two projects were documented in two lines of a “potential capital projects” section of the council’s 2025-26 budget plans, but added they had no business cases or identified funding.
Billington said the response showed Kemkaran’s claims about the savings were “a blatant lie”.
These supposedly cancelled net zero projects never existed, and the fantastical £39.5m savings figure she is spinning is something she completely made up."
 
Perhaps some of the ones baying for Starmer to go, are the same ones that created the situation that set him up, may be they should be investigated too?

A dance with the Devil might last you forever

Either Mandy had something on Starmer or Kier was happy to use the prince of darkness to help elevate him to party leader and the role of US ambassador was a pay off.

Sir Kier has served his purpose in getting Labour to power by simply not being Jeremy Corbyn and will be spat out soon enough
 
Johnson never had the entirety of the media hounding his every move.
Thats not true at all. There was non stop attack on Johnson from the minute he got foreign secretary. Lampooning his appointments and elevation all the way and when PM everything was attacked from all sides. His own side were constantly sniping and leaking against him as well. Its very similar to Starmer now. Most of the damaging stuff coming from his own side. This is just more cliche.

It was the media that created the partygate furore from internal leaks. Labour and the others got on to it after the media had already printed / gone to air.
 
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