Reposted by Juli
Is this the end, or the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning of the end? My SKETCH of Keir Starmer clinging on. thecritic.co.uk/et-t...
February 9, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Is this the end, or the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning of the end? My SKETCH of Keir Starmer clinging on. thecritic.co.uk/et-t...
Reposted by Juli
Reposted by Juli
I see we are now at the ‘explaining constitutional principles and precedents of scenarios that really aren’t likely to happen’ stage of political crisis.
February 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I see we are now at the ‘explaining constitutional principles and precedents of scenarios that really aren’t likely to happen’ stage of political crisis.
Reposted by Juli
:: suggested govt had "no growth strategy at all" after Mandelson complained about econ philosophy.
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
:: suggested govt had "no growth strategy at all" after Mandelson complained about econ philosophy.
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
:: agreed with M’s comment that “govt problems do not stem from comms”, inferring PM was issue.
:: said Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" & UK needed to recognise Palestinian state
Reposted by Juli
BREAKING: Wes Streeting publishes his private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson in apparent attempt to draw a line under their friendship. They reveal:
:: He feared being “toast at the next election” in his Ilford North seat, adding: “There isn’t a clear answer to the question: why Labour?”.
:: He feared being “toast at the next election” in his Ilford North seat, adding: “There isn’t a clear answer to the question: why Labour?”.
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
BREAKING: Wes Streeting publishes his private WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson in apparent attempt to draw a line under their friendship. They reveal:
:: He feared being “toast at the next election” in his Ilford North seat, adding: “There isn’t a clear answer to the question: why Labour?”.
:: He feared being “toast at the next election” in his Ilford North seat, adding: “There isn’t a clear answer to the question: why Labour?”.
Reposted by Juli
The party that just want to love and protect women and girls strikes again
Jeremy Kyle is interviewing Reform MPs at a live press conference
Discussing who might take over from Keir Starmer as PM, Kyle just said: "She's had a makeover, Angela"
Lee Anderson: "She's throwing her money away, isn't she, to be honest with you"
*applause from the audience*
Discussing who might take over from Keir Starmer as PM, Kyle just said: "She's had a makeover, Angela"
Lee Anderson: "She's throwing her money away, isn't she, to be honest with you"
*applause from the audience*
February 9, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The party that just want to love and protect women and girls strikes again
Reposted by Juli
A round of applause from the same MPs who last week did not trust him to properly make a decision about national security.
Round of applause and cheers for Keir Starmer as he arrives to address Labour MPs at the PLP meeting
Almost as loud as the response Theresa May and Boris Johnson got from Tory MPs before they were ousted
Almost as loud as the response Theresa May and Boris Johnson got from Tory MPs before they were ousted
February 9, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A round of applause from the same MPs who last week did not trust him to properly make a decision about national security.
Reposted by Juli
When he was a Tory politician (you remember, just after he was binned as a Labour one) female colleagues were free to express their disgust at his blatant misogyny. “Lee is an odious sexist,” was Anna Soubry’s irrefutable conclusion. I wonder what his current colleagues will have to say…
Jeremy Kyle is interviewing Reform MPs at a live press conference
Discussing who might take over from Keir Starmer as PM, Kyle just said: "She's had a makeover, Angela"
Lee Anderson: "She's throwing her money away, isn't she, to be honest with you"
*applause from the audience*
Discussing who might take over from Keir Starmer as PM, Kyle just said: "She's had a makeover, Angela"
Lee Anderson: "She's throwing her money away, isn't she, to be honest with you"
*applause from the audience*
February 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM
When he was a Tory politician (you remember, just after he was binned as a Labour one) female colleagues were free to express their disgust at his blatant misogyny. “Lee is an odious sexist,” was Anna Soubry’s irrefutable conclusion. I wonder what his current colleagues will have to say…
“The bad news for Labour in general, and Starmer in particular, is that they are only just beginning to count the costs of a half-decade of wishful thinking”
@stephenkb.bsky.social on ‘Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth’ www.ft.com/content/2e80...
@stephenkb.bsky.social on ‘Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth’ www.ft.com/content/2e80...
Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth
Labour must stop believing things because they are politically helpful and engage with the world as it really is
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:25 PM
“The bad news for Labour in general, and Starmer in particular, is that they are only just beginning to count the costs of a half-decade of wishful thinking”
@stephenkb.bsky.social on ‘Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth’ www.ft.com/content/2e80...
@stephenkb.bsky.social on ‘Keir Starmer’s inconvenient truth’ www.ft.com/content/2e80...
Reposted by Juli
arguably the biggest news of the week that Lisa Nandy is currently doing something related to her brief
Only three cabinet ministers have not Tweeted or put out a message of support for Starmer:
Wes Streeting
Shabana Mahmood
Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics)
This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
Wes Streeting
Shabana Mahmood
Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics)
This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
arguably the biggest news of the week that Lisa Nandy is currently doing something related to her brief
Reposted by Juli
Perhaps I’m old-fashioned but an actual resignation has always struck me as a much more courageous vote of no confidence than a mere call for one…
Hold on, this Anas Sarwar? Surely not.
February 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Perhaps I’m old-fashioned but an actual resignation has always struck me as a much more courageous vote of no confidence than a mere call for one…
Reposted by Juli
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
From Blair to Putin to Starmer: PR chief Tim Allan’s CV
Former New Labour spin-doctor has faced criticism over his choice of clients, including Russia’s government
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
Reposted by Juli
The fightback starts here
February 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The fightback starts here
Reposted by Juli
Reposted by Juli
Has anyone yet set up an account tracking uses of 'febrile' across the media?
A bit like that account 'Is Sir John Curtice on TV?'
A bit like that account 'Is Sir John Curtice on TV?'
February 9, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Has anyone yet set up an account tracking uses of 'febrile' across the media?
A bit like that account 'Is Sir John Curtice on TV?'
A bit like that account 'Is Sir John Curtice on TV?'
Reposted by Juli
As painfully lukewarm political endorsements go, "he doesn't need to resign" has to be up there
February 9, 2026 at 3:08 PM
As painfully lukewarm political endorsements go, "he doesn't need to resign" has to be up there
Reposted by Juli
Tom Young, to Lord Melbourne:
"Why, damn it all, such a position was never held by any Greek or Roman: and if it only lasts three months, it will be worthwhile to have been Prime Minister of England."
"Why, damn it all, such a position was never held by any Greek or Roman: and if it only lasts three months, it will be worthwhile to have been Prime Minister of England."
yeah I just feel like it is, in fact, a pretty horrible job in many ways, and if you don't have hunger for attention or a mission to fulfil then why put yourself and your family through it, it sucks.
February 9, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Tom Young, to Lord Melbourne:
"Why, damn it all, such a position was never held by any Greek or Roman: and if it only lasts three months, it will be worthwhile to have been Prime Minister of England."
"Why, damn it all, such a position was never held by any Greek or Roman: and if it only lasts three months, it will be worthwhile to have been Prime Minister of England."
Reposted by Juli
Sarwar, Starmer, Badenoch, so many politicians are caught in the old approach where you hint at something, it goes out to 80 per cent of people via a handful of TV channels, and then those same channels broadcast your 'secret' message in the discussion programme afterwards.
February 9, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Sarwar, Starmer, Badenoch, so many politicians are caught in the old approach where you hint at something, it goes out to 80 per cent of people via a handful of TV channels, and then those same channels broadcast your 'secret' message in the discussion programme afterwards.
Reposted by Juli
Yup. You can say Starmer isn't good at politics (true) but Sarwar and Burnham's naked opportunism and ambition are also good examples of not doing politics well.
I do think that the Anas Sarwar press conference was just too nakedly cynical to be effective, frankly.
February 9, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Yup. You can say Starmer isn't good at politics (true) but Sarwar and Burnham's naked opportunism and ambition are also good examples of not doing politics well.
Reposted by Juli
Ah we're at the "cabinet ministers tweeting the same message of support" stage of the endgame.
February 9, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Ah we're at the "cabinet ministers tweeting the same message of support" stage of the endgame.
Reposted by Juli
The sooner Keir Starmer resigns, the sooner he relaxes and becomes quite insightful and affable in media appearances and we can all go "why wasn't *THAT* guy PM?"
February 9, 2026 at 2:29 PM
The sooner Keir Starmer resigns, the sooner he relaxes and becomes quite insightful and affable in media appearances and we can all go "why wasn't *THAT* guy PM?"
Reposted by Juli
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
On the bad place though
David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Darren Jones, John Healey, Heidi Alexander etc have all rallied round the prime minister - keep an eye on which cabinet ministers don't 👀
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM
On the bad place though
Reposted by Juli
Maybe it’s the political class who get the electorate they deserve
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Maybe it’s the political class who get the electorate they deserve