Michael
@michaeljsc.bsky.social
tweeting about: politics, pop culture, general nonsense
Reposted by Michael
My column in today's paper. I used to think that the reason why Starmer said things that weren't true was he was relaxed about the truth. Now I think it is the product of extreme wishful thinking - a much harder bad habit to junk and therefore much worse:
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 10, 2026 at 12:26 PM
My column in today's paper. I used to think that the reason why Starmer said things that weren't true was he was relaxed about the truth. Now I think it is the product of extreme wishful thinking - a much harder bad habit to junk and therefore much worse:
Pleased to announce that I’m a Starmtrooper now.
February 10, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Pleased to announce that I’m a Starmtrooper now.
Reposted by Michael
No student society is obliged to host anyone it doesn't wish to.
There is a free speech issue if other students, the SU or uni authorities seek to *stop* students inviting speakers - by getting the event cancelled or via thugs' veto.
TMK, neither of these occurred at Bangor.
There is a free speech issue if other students, the SU or uni authorities seek to *stop* students inviting speakers - by getting the event cancelled or via thugs' veto.
TMK, neither of these occurred at Bangor.
February 10, 2026 at 1:19 PM
No student society is obliged to host anyone it doesn't wish to.
There is a free speech issue if other students, the SU or uni authorities seek to *stop* students inviting speakers - by getting the event cancelled or via thugs' veto.
TMK, neither of these occurred at Bangor.
There is a free speech issue if other students, the SU or uni authorities seek to *stop* students inviting speakers - by getting the event cancelled or via thugs' veto.
TMK, neither of these occurred at Bangor.
Reposted by Michael
Good morning Angus! The second point here is still a lie. It really is very disappointing to see a member of the Cabinet being so dishonest. Surely First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social you expect better of members of your Government? This is just getting egregious now.
February 10, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Good morning Angus! The second point here is still a lie. It really is very disappointing to see a member of the Cabinet being so dishonest. Surely First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social you expect better of members of your Government? This is just getting egregious now.
Angus’s seat faces significant boundary changes in May. I know, because I’m currently in his seat, and won’t be from May onwards.
Those boundary changes mean that it is not honestly defensible to say the seat will be a two horse race between the SNP and the Tories, as Angus has repeatedly said here
Those boundary changes mean that it is not honestly defensible to say the seat will be a two horse race between the SNP and the Tories, as Angus has repeatedly said here
🟡The SNP has reduced income tax for those on basic and intermediate rates. 55% of Scots pay less tax than UK counterparts.
🐎It’s a 2-horse race between the SNP and Tories in Edinburgh Central.
🗳️Vote SNP and Angus Robertson for fairer taxation.
🐎It’s a 2-horse race between the SNP and Tories in Edinburgh Central.
🗳️Vote SNP and Angus Robertson for fairer taxation.
February 10, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Angus’s seat faces significant boundary changes in May. I know, because I’m currently in his seat, and won’t be from May onwards.
Those boundary changes mean that it is not honestly defensible to say the seat will be a two horse race between the SNP and the Tories, as Angus has repeatedly said here
Those boundary changes mean that it is not honestly defensible to say the seat will be a two horse race between the SNP and the Tories, as Angus has repeatedly said here
Reposted by Michael
This is your brain on negative polarisation, where 'I would spend more money on public services, and they would therefore improve' is now considered fanciful by a self-described leftwinger.
"I would simply improve public services" nods cosseted man sagely from the sidelines
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 AM
This is your brain on negative polarisation, where 'I would spend more money on public services, and they would therefore improve' is now considered fanciful by a self-described leftwinger.
I think Mahmood is lying here. I simply do not believe that anyone who is professionally engaged in politics in an English-speaking country spends no time thinking about politics in the world’s English-speaking superpower at a time when it is more alarming and shocking than ever in living memory.
Max Wilkinson (LibDem)
Will Home Sec condemn Trump’s ICE squads & reassure us that we will not see ICE squads on Britain's streets?
Shabana Mahmood (Labour)
"Unlike most of Westminster, I am not plagued with “America brain”. I do not spend any of my time worrying about what is happening in America"
Will Home Sec condemn Trump’s ICE squads & reassure us that we will not see ICE squads on Britain's streets?
Shabana Mahmood (Labour)
"Unlike most of Westminster, I am not plagued with “America brain”. I do not spend any of my time worrying about what is happening in America"
February 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
I think Mahmood is lying here. I simply do not believe that anyone who is professionally engaged in politics in an English-speaking country spends no time thinking about politics in the world’s English-speaking superpower at a time when it is more alarming and shocking than ever in living memory.
sorry I still can’t believe Sarwar did that and didn’t line up senior Scottish Labour figures to back him up, resign from ministerial posts, etc
February 9, 2026 at 9:56 PM
sorry I still can’t believe Sarwar did that and didn’t line up senior Scottish Labour figures to back him up, resign from ministerial posts, etc
Looked this up off the back of talking about Shabana Mahmood, which I wrote in 2019, and I think it’s better than I would have guessed it would be.
In fact I wrote I think my only Medium blog (who remembers that?) on the topic. Looking back on it - it’s actually quite good I think! medium.com/@michael_sca...
other people
On Monday this week, Parkfield Primary School in Birmingham wrote to parents, saying there would be no more No Outsiders lessons delivered…
medium.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Looked this up off the back of talking about Shabana Mahmood, which I wrote in 2019, and I think it’s better than I would have guessed it would be.
Reposted by Michael
our position is that he’s doing a bloody great job delivering on the priorities of the british people right and will be doing so for three more months until regrettably the people have expressed their anger at his serious failures of leadership
February 9, 2026 at 4:41 PM
our position is that he’s doing a bloody great job delivering on the priorities of the british people right and will be doing so for three more months until regrettably the people have expressed their anger at his serious failures of leadership
Reposted by Michael
Sorry, just to be clear, given Anas Sarwar is campaigning to be First Minister of Scotland: the position of Douglas Alexander, Ian Murray and all the other Starmer supporters is that it would be fine to have a Labour First Minister who actively thinks the Labour PM should resign. Cool!
February 9, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Sorry, just to be clear, given Anas Sarwar is campaigning to be First Minister of Scotland: the position of Douglas Alexander, Ian Murray and all the other Starmer supporters is that it would be fine to have a Labour First Minister who actively thinks the Labour PM should resign. Cool!
Actually finding myself really frustrated at all the insincere shows of support from people aligned to the various candidates to succeed Starmer.
We can all see that this is in the endgame, and that you’re only claiming to “get behind the PM” because you think the timing isn’t right for your guy.
We can all see that this is in the endgame, and that you’re only claiming to “get behind the PM” because you think the timing isn’t right for your guy.
February 9, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Actually finding myself really frustrated at all the insincere shows of support from people aligned to the various candidates to succeed Starmer.
We can all see that this is in the endgame, and that you’re only claiming to “get behind the PM” because you think the timing isn’t right for your guy.
We can all see that this is in the endgame, and that you’re only claiming to “get behind the PM” because you think the timing isn’t right for your guy.
Reposted by Michael
Douglas Alexander is both a cabinet member and *co-chair of the Scottish Labour election campaign*.
How do you run a campaign when your leader and the co-chair of your campaign disagree on whether the Labour PM should resign? How is that sustainable?
How do you run a campaign when your leader and the co-chair of your campaign disagree on whether the Labour PM should resign? How is that sustainable?
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Douglas Alexander is both a cabinet member and *co-chair of the Scottish Labour election campaign*.
How do you run a campaign when your leader and the co-chair of your campaign disagree on whether the Labour PM should resign? How is that sustainable?
How do you run a campaign when your leader and the co-chair of your campaign disagree on whether the Labour PM should resign? How is that sustainable?
Reposted by Michael
Where are all the messages of support from Sarwar's shadow cabinet? Did he plan this at all?
February 9, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Where are all the messages of support from Sarwar's shadow cabinet? Did he plan this at all?
still think Starmer is gone before long but it would be undeniably funny if Sarwar had his big dramatic moment and Westminster completely ignored him
February 9, 2026 at 2:56 PM
still think Starmer is gone before long but it would be undeniably funny if Sarwar had his big dramatic moment and Westminster completely ignored him
So basically, Boris 2022 with extra Labour-flavoured stupidity.
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election” - ok? not my problem mate
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election” - ok? not my problem mate
NEW: No10 bat away Anas Sarwar’s calls for Starmer to go.
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election.
“He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.”
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election.
“He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.”
February 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM
So basically, Boris 2022 with extra Labour-flavoured stupidity.
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election” - ok? not my problem mate
“Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election” - ok? not my problem mate
Reposted by Michael
NEW: Sources close to Eluned Morgan, Labour first minister in Wales, insist that she is not planning to say anything on Keir Starmer's leadership today - despite reports to the contrary.
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 PM
NEW: Sources close to Eluned Morgan, Labour first minister in Wales, insist that she is not planning to say anything on Keir Starmer's leadership today - despite reports to the contrary.
Yeah, the funny thing is, Sarwar is completely justified in saying that Starmer has to go, it’s just that the trigger (Mandelson) makes him look like a hypocrite because he praised the appointment at the time.
quite funny that the entire Labour party has been spending months saying "let's wait for our Welsh and Scottish colleagues to be massacred before doing anything hasty" without really thinking through if anyone outside of England could hear them
February 9, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Yeah, the funny thing is, Sarwar is completely justified in saying that Starmer has to go, it’s just that the trigger (Mandelson) makes him look like a hypocrite because he praised the appointment at the time.
Reposted by Michael
quite funny that the entire Labour party has been spending months saying "let's wait for our Welsh and Scottish colleagues to be massacred before doing anything hasty" without really thinking through if anyone outside of England could hear them
February 9, 2026 at 2:17 PM
quite funny that the entire Labour party has been spending months saying "let's wait for our Welsh and Scottish colleagues to be massacred before doing anything hasty" without really thinking through if anyone outside of England could hear them
Reposted by Michael
BREAKING | Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan is set to follow Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar in calling for Keir Starmer to resign
trib.al/Jh0qibA
trib.al/Jh0qibA
Starmer latest: Scottish Labour leader to demand PM resign over Mandelson scandal
A major intervention from Anas Sarwar could be the tipping point for Keir Starmer’s premiership
trib.al
February 9, 2026 at 1:56 PM
BREAKING | Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan is set to follow Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar in calling for Keir Starmer to resign
trib.al/Jh0qibA
trib.al/Jh0qibA
Reposted by Michael
A good one-two punch would be:
“Do you think McSweeney should have resigned for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson?”
Then
“Why did you say this?”
“Do you think McSweeney should have resigned for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson?”
Then
“Why did you say this?”
February 9, 2026 at 1:29 PM
A good one-two punch would be:
“Do you think McSweeney should have resigned for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson?”
Then
“Why did you say this?”
“Do you think McSweeney should have resigned for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson?”
Then
“Why did you say this?”
Reposted by Michael
*Anas Sarwar* being the one to stick the knife in you……..the indignity of it all
February 9, 2026 at 1:21 PM
*Anas Sarwar* being the one to stick the knife in you……..the indignity of it all
Reposted by Michael
Yes. People love to paint Corbyn and Starmer as opposites but there are throughlines over their tenures atop the Labour Party: corrosive, faux macho bullying, horrible appointments made for loyalty rather than competence, a sneering indifference to racism & gaslighting of its victims
(If No.10 and its outriders had an ounce of self-awareness, they’d be asking themselves why the government’s flaws are uncomfortably similar to the Corbyn leadership’s flaws)
February 9, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Yes. People love to paint Corbyn and Starmer as opposites but there are throughlines over their tenures atop the Labour Party: corrosive, faux macho bullying, horrible appointments made for loyalty rather than competence, a sneering indifference to racism & gaslighting of its victims
he might get some hard questions about his own position(s) on Mandelson
February 9, 2026 at 1:24 PM
he might get some hard questions about his own position(s) on Mandelson