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Dale Vince
13, May #StarmerCrisis

Dale Vince: Odd story - Goldman Sachs warns Starmer…

Odd story - Goldman Sachs warns Starmer risks pushing borrowing costs up (by hanging on) - while borrowing costs actually fall, because Starmer refuses to quit. He has a mandate, the fact that he’s unpopular right now is not a reason for him to quit, it’s a reason for him to do better, much better - and deliver on the promise the electorate bought into. Global events have not helped, but mistakes have also been made - meanwhile there are big obvious changes to be made. We've seen the fake announcement of breaking the link from Ed Miliband - how about actually breaking the link and bringing energy bills down. Easy to do, number one on my list. Tax system re balancing, housing market reform - both desperately needed - and a ban on political donations. New Babelfish edition on that out next week.
#StarmerCrisis
Liz Webster
13, May #StarmerCrisis

Liz Webster: @b_judah confirms it!…

✅ @b_judah confirms it! “The gap between what No 10 is saying and what is actually happening has grown too large… on Brexit.” Starmer talks “at the heart of Europe” while clinging to red lines that make real alignment impossible. And he’s used Henry VIII powers to push through bad USA deals which are incompatible with the EU. Even pro-rejoin voices now see the reset as deceptive. The public is ahead, 59% want to rejoin.
#StarmerCrisis
Spectre of Churchill
13, May #TrendShock

Labour’s Performative Fight Against Anti-Semitism Raises Wider Questions About Public Safety

The Metropolitan Police has announced the creation of a special unit dedicated to protecting London’s Jewish community. The decision has triggered a wave of criticism across social media, with many questioning why crimes affecting other groups in Britain do not appear to receive the same level of attention. Following a series of anti-Semitic incidents, the Metropolitan Police confirmed plans to establish a 100-officer task force focused specifically on Jewish security concerns.
#TrendShock
Ben Judah
12, May #StarmerCrisis

Ben Judah: Starmer's authority is now crumbling…

Starmer's authority is now crumbling. But even those most committed to a new Prime Minister should pause for thought about what it means for Britain in the world. For all his many, many domestic missteps, Keir Starmer has genuinely led on Ukraine, make tough calls with Trump and rebuilt relations with Europe by working intensely with President Macron and Chancellor Merz. Labour in government was shocked at how quickly it was swamped by foreign affairs from Gaza and Ukraine, to Trump and Iran. This isn't going to change. However Starmer's challengers have no foreign policy experience, no geopolitical worldviews, no foreign affairs teams and no experience in explaining our place in the world and its tumult to the public. But if they succeed that will be half their job. What's the plan for a geopolitical pivot to Europe? What's the strategy to deal with Trump and our fragmenting Western alliance as China's Axis of Authoritarians deepens? What's next for Britain's extensive diplomatic and security role when it comes to Ukraine? Who will be maintaining key connections to the White House? Changes at the top are often necessary. But they are delicate and not cost free internationally. In diplomacy so much is bound up in personal connections and trust built up over time. Building since 2016, these musical chairs at the top have now become so intense, with Prime Ministers lasting roughly two years and Foreign Secretaries now annuals, our allies and partners are frustrated. I've heard from European and Gulf leaderships first hand it is hardly worth investing diplomatically in a counterpart who's suddenly gone and thus hardly worth investing in Britain.
#StarmerCrisis
Alex Wickham
12, May #StarmerCrisis

Alex Wickham: ***NEW: State of play this evening***…

***NEW: State of play this evening*** Keir Starmer has defied all expectations, surviving the day despite some 90 Labour MPs calling for his head and four junior ministerial resignations. A minister tells Bloomberg they are astonished Starmer has managed to get through it without being forced to announce a timetable for his departure, saying the day went better for him than anyone can have imagined. Starmer’s stance at cabinet effectively dared his rivals to come out and publicly challenge him. As of this evening, no one has. Streeting is speaking with Starmer tomorrow morning, as per @steven_swinford , after the PM blanked him post-cabinet. The health secretary’s allies say he won’t say anything to distract from the king’s speech. Labour MPs and aides think Streeting is conducting what one calls a campaign of attrition against Starmer by drip-feeding his supporters’ calls for the PM to go. His camp deny he is orchestrating a plot. Streeting’s supporters say they are divided about his strategy. Some are disappointed he has not yet gone over the top, fearing he could be seen as losing his nerve and being labelled a bottle job. However, others caution that pressure has to grow organically on Starmer before Streeting is able to challenge him, otherwise the soft-left will accuse him of a cynical move to force a contest before Andy Burnham is ready. One Streeting supporter says they fear his chances of becoming PM are decreasing. They say they’re struggling to see how he has a path to No10 because if he runs the soft-left will put someone up against him who is likely to be favoured by members. They say they’re coming to terms with what they see as the likelihood that Burnham will succeed Starmer. However so far Burnham is also still silent. He’s in London meeting MPs and discussing his options. His camp insist he has a plan to make it to parliament, but so far they’ve stopped short of announcing it. Labour is in a state of paralysis tonight. David Lammy says no one has come forward and no one seems to have the numbers against Starmer. Most in Labour don’t expect that to hold. They still think the PM will be forced to announce a timetable in the coming days if Streeting, Burnham and the cabinet move. But as of right now, he clings on. Story with great colleagues @EllenAMilligan
#StarmerCrisis
Liz Webster
12, May #TrendShock

Liz Webster: Trump asked on whether Keir Starmer…

🚨 Trump asked on whether Keir Starmer should remain PM says Starmer is “getting killed” over energy and immigration policy and again demands Britain expand North Sea oil and gas drilling. Asked again whether Keir Starmer should remain PM: “That’s up to him.” The irony is striking: Brexit was sold as taking back control. Now a US president is publicly telling Britain how to run its economy, energy system and borders.
#TrendShock
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