Martin McKee
@martinmcker.bsky.social
Politics, environment, climate action, development and active travel
I’ve always thought Starmer’s dishonesty is an under-recognised factor in his unpopularity. Commentators tend to dismiss it as ‘all politicians lie’ but he is unusually cynical in way he does it.
December 31, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I’ve always thought Starmer’s dishonesty is an under-recognised factor in his unpopularity. Commentators tend to dismiss it as ‘all politicians lie’ but he is unusually cynical in way he does it.
Thanks. And this is a great thread. Really insightful
December 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Thanks. And this is a great thread. Really insightful
Do you see any prospect of the Greens winning councils in London ?
December 30, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Do you see any prospect of the Greens winning councils in London ?
Yes obviously. But we are talking about a party that had 1 MP then, 4 now and maybe 20 tops after the next election so none of it is happening overnight, but you have to have some consistency in your analysis.
December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Yes obviously. But we are talking about a party that had 1 MP then, 4 now and maybe 20 tops after the next election so none of it is happening overnight, but you have to have some consistency in your analysis.
TBF a lot of that looks pretty reasonable. And rejoining the EU would add at least £250bn to the economy.
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM
TBF a lot of that looks pretty reasonable. And rejoining the EU would add at least £250bn to the economy.
Although he was quite happy to try to put Seamus Milne effectively in charge of Downing St. That’s not someone who would have voluntarily given up power.
December 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Although he was quite happy to try to put Seamus Milne effectively in charge of Downing St. That’s not someone who would have voluntarily given up power.
They have literally just remade it. Massive missed opportunity
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
They have literally just remade it. Massive missed opportunity
Yes. And Channel 4 +1 should be called Channel 4 -1.
November 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Yes. And Channel 4 +1 should be called Channel 4 -1.
Yep - “dark forces” and “profound” numbers apparently mean we have to do what Nigel Farage says.
November 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Yep - “dark forces” and “profound” numbers apparently mean we have to do what Nigel Farage says.
A secondary point but the Guardian thing is embarrassingly badly written gibberish. Had the feel of something rushed out last night when they say Labour MPs weren’t going to lie down on this one.
November 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM
A secondary point but the Guardian thing is embarrassingly badly written gibberish. Had the feel of something rushed out last night when they say Labour MPs weren’t going to lie down on this one.
The Guardian piece is embarrassingly bad. No facts or anything like a coherent argument. Reads like it was throw together by a junior adviser and nobody bothered to proofread it.
November 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The Guardian piece is embarrassingly bad. No facts or anything like a coherent argument. Reads like it was throw together by a junior adviser and nobody bothered to proofread it.
Hard to see him hanging on till May. The budget is shaping up to be a pointless mess. He will be gone by Christmas
November 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Hard to see him hanging on till May. The budget is shaping up to be a pointless mess. He will be gone by Christmas
It’s embarrassing. It’s almost cruel what they are doing to Rachel Reeves.
November 14, 2025 at 7:33 AM
It’s embarrassing. It’s almost cruel what they are doing to Rachel Reeves.
I think he definitely wants to be PM. He just doesn’t want to do the job that comes with being PM.
November 12, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I think he definitely wants to be PM. He just doesn’t want to do the job that comes with being PM.
Gates and Buffett have done something like that and Bezos’ ex-wife, McKenzie Scott, has given away £17 billion. But agree it could be more common.
November 5, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Gates and Buffett have done something like that and Bezos’ ex-wife, McKenzie Scott, has given away £17 billion. But agree it could be more common.