Local Elections 2026

For two main reasons

A) your buddy’s war with Iran
B) From Reuters - Long-term British borrowing costs surged to their highest in nearly 30 years, sterling slumped and shares fell on Tuesday as investors ​brace for a potential change of leadership that could weaken fiscal discipline.

The Markets want Starmer to stay…

[papa smurf]

Labour unions signal Starmer exit as pressure mounts on Prime Minister



Trade unions affiliated with the Labour Party have dramatically escalated pressure on Keir Starmer by declaring it is now “clear” he will not lead Labour into the next general election.

In a striking joint intervention, union figures warned that while the Government had made some progress since taking office, Labour “cannot continue on its current path”, adding to the mounting sense of crisis surrounding Starmer’s leadership.

In my view, the statement is likely to intensify speculation about a potential leadership contest after weeks of growing unrest within Labour ranks, following disastrous local election results, plunging poll ratings, and market turbulence.


https://londonlovesbusiness.com/labo...rime-minister/

I though @stephenkb put it well

Wes' theory seems to be that if you wield the knife then you get seen as a traitor and can't win, but walk around waving a big knife with 'backstabbing knife' written all over it going "hey, I'm not using it YET" you'll be a contender.

And a great reply from @wrathofgodbot

>Be Wes Streeting

>Assume if you start the coup you will lose the leadership election

>Do everything short of triggering a coup while openly canvassing for MPs support

>Lose out on the leadership after someone triggers a coup out of a fear you Wes Streeting might become leader

[Sephiroth]

Papa for PM. Carth for Foreign Secretary. Seph for Chief of Secret Police.

[thenry]

thenry for King

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Papa for PM. Carth for Foreign Secretary. Seph for Chief of Secret Police.

i want to be emperor or i'm not playing

[Carth]

I may not have the time to be Foreign Secretary, far too busy hoarding Beans, Potatoes and Carrots ready for the collapse of Civilisation.

I also only speak two languages - English and Swearing - and have no wish to fly around the World visiting Countries where I have to shake hands (or other appendages) with strange people wearing funny hats.

However (never underestimate a good however in a closing statement) with the use off a private office (or garden shed) I could find time to mutter "bugger off" down the phone every hour or so

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Papa for PM. Carth for Foreign Secretary. Seph for Chief of Secret Police.

Trump’s just awaiting your call - I’m sure you’d fit in there…

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Trump’s just awaiting your call - I’m sure you’d fit in there…

... and Hugh for ... (suggestions invited).

---------- Post added at 12:18 ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 ----------

Originally Posted by Carth

I may not have the time to be Foreign Secretary, far too busy hoarding Beans, Potatoes and Carrots ready for the collapse of Civilisation.

I also only speak two languages - English and Swearing - and have no wish to fly around the World visiting Countries where I have to shake hands (or other appendages) with strange people wearing funny hats.

However (never underestimate a good however in a closing statement) with the use off a private office (or garden shed) I could find time to mutter "bugger off" down the phone every hour or so

In which case, I'll be Foreign Secretary and you can be Chief of Secret Police.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

... and Hugh for ... (suggestions invited).

---------- Post added at 12:18 ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 ----------



In which case, I'll be Foreign Secretary and you can be Chief of Secret Police.

If invited, I would not serve - as I’m not a member of the Victor Meldrew Appreciation Society (unlike the previous nominees), I could not bring the same energy* to any role offered…

*negative

[thenry]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i want to be emperor or i'm not playing

You shall be known as Lord Skidmark

[Carth]

Chief of Secret Police, yes that might work, I could easily change my phone mutterings to "don't look behind you"

Originally Posted by Hugh

If invited, I would not serve - as I’m not a member of the Victor Meldrew Appreciation Society (unlike the previous nominees), I could not bring the same energy* to any role offered…

*negative

Not even with a bribe of half price whisky every Thursday?

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

... and Hugh for ... (suggestions invited).

stamp licker

[jem]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

We have to go back at least one layer further. We want cheap prices and business responds with cheap labour to deliver that whilst maintaining profits.

We want more from the NHS because we need more from the NHS, collectively.

To get more from the NHS, we need a government that supports economic growth and doesn't piss money away on excessive benefits.

So, it comes back to government competence.

Now at the risk of dragging this thread kicking and screaming back on course;

"We want cheap prices and business responds with cheap labour to deliver that whilst maintaining profits.” Well duh, by far the biggest cost to any company is labour costs, staff salaries. You want to reduce the price of your goods, then that’s really the only way to go.


"We want more from the NHS because we need more from the NHS, collectively.

To get more from the NHS, we need a government that supports economic growth and doesn't piss money away on excessive benefits.”

Or do we need the NHS?

Now before everyone piles in to flame me; just hear me out. Do we want the current NHS (conceived in the 1940s), or do we want an effective national health system which, maybe is funded differently - yes, will still provide treatment to everyone who needs it - but being funded by direct taxation only, is that really the best way to do it?

I vaguely remember my late father telling me that the ‘NHS is the envy of the world’ - although you do have to question if that actually right, so why have few other countries adopted the same model?

And this is not a hard choice between the UK and US models - what happens in France or Germany? If you are a poor person in Germany with a serious illness, do they just leave you to die at the side of the road? Of course not, there are safety nets.

The question is this, is the current way the NHS is funded the ‘best’ way - are there alternatives to provide the same level of cover? And yes I know there have been studies which appear to show that the way the NHS is currently funded is the cheapest way to provide the best cover - but if they are true then why haven’t other countries taken it up?

Every single party and politician secretly knows that the current system is simply not sustainable, but dare not suggest it; as it is electoral suicide.

At some point the question will need to be answered, it’s a case of who has the ‘cojones’ to do it!

I'd like an NHS Dentist, none to be seen around here.