Positivity

maddyone

I’m surprised anyone in this country likes, or more importantly, trusts Macron. I find him despicable and I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. He’s not well liked by the French either, but like in the UK, choices were limited when it came to the election. He was elected not because he was hugely popular, but because he was the least worst of those on offer.

Frankly the calibre of politicians the world over is dire. Can the world offer us nothing better than Biden, Trump, Macron, Sunak, Starmer, and the woke Trudeau? Not to mention the awful Sturgeon? And Humsa Yousaf appears to be floundering and incapable.
Or the lovely Putin, Kim Jong Un, or Xi Jinping?
The list appears to be endless!

The French never like their presidents once they're in power. we've been in France since Sarkozy became president. They didn't like him and they didn't like Hollande either.

maddyone

^there we’re no small boats prior to Brexit^

No, but there were lorries!

Sorry maddyone just noticed your post! 😊

Don’t think there is much positive about Starmer

How big business took over the Labour Party
Corporate lobbyists have successfully pushed Keir Starmer’s party to ditch its progressive policies.

www.opendemocracy.net/en/labour-party-big-business-keir-starmer-lobbying-donations-ditch-progressive-policies/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=content_studio

And

Diane Abbott MP

As a Black woman, and someone on the left of the Labour Party, I have unfortunately been forced to reach the conclusion that I will not get a fair hearing from this Labour leadership.

x.com/HackneyAbbott/status/1704149054123360651?s=20

Casdon

I’m intrigued to know what it is that people think Blair can be up to here, can any of you put your finger on it, or is it just a general suspicion?

If there’s money to be made Blair’ll be in it. Somewhere. I heard once he’d like us all bar coded with his World Forum agenda ha! He has world leaders on speed dial, networks constantly for his enterprises. I think he’s all about power. Pulling Starmer’s strings no doubt.

Follow the money.

Urmstongran

Casdon

I’m intrigued to know what it is that people think Blair can be up to here, can any of you put your finger on it, or is it just a general suspicion?

If there’s money to be made Blair’ll be in it. Somewhere. I heard once he’d like us all bar coded with his World Forum agenda ha! He has world leaders on speed dial, networks constantly for his enterprises. I think he’s all about power. Pulling Starmer’s strings no doubt.

Follow the money.

Whatever people think of Starmer, I doubt very much if anybody can pull his strings. I think he’s an astute man, walking the tightrope pretty successfully to become PM.

I've been reading this very recently published Review of the UK Constitution.

From p17 on there is an overview of the influencers of government. You would be amazed at just how many institutions and individuals there are. Tony Blair is the least of anyone's worries.

I heard once he’d like us all bar coded with his World Forum agenda ha!

Oh dear...conspiracy theory strikes again. How about posting some evidence that this is so?

TBI (Tony Blair Institute) has offices worldwide, including Europe, USA and Middle East.

He wields (meddles) his influence far and wide…

GrannyGravy13

TBI (Tony Blair Institute) has offices worldwide, including Europe, USA and Middle East.

He wields (meddles) his influence far and wide…

Haha, yes indeed. He has a longer nose than Pinocchio.

Starmer is also working closely with Gordon Brown, who is the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, he also serves as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing.

What is David Cameron doing these days, is anybody listening to him?

GrannyGravy13

TBI (Tony Blair Institute) has offices worldwide, including Europe, USA and Middle East.

He wields (meddles) his influence far and wide…

Agree he does meddle he and Mandelson who are influencing Starmer also meddled with a left wing leader gaining power.

Here is a discussion TBI

m.youtube.com/watch?v=HX7TlBRvg9I&pp=ygUgV2hhdCBpcyB0aGUgVG9ueSBCbGFpciBJbnN0aXR1dGU%3D

I doubt very much anyone can pull his (Starmer’s) strings

Does anyone truly believe that! Really!
He can’t make his mind up on anything, and flip flops on every subject according to which way the wind is blowing.
He’ll be a terrible PM if he’s elected. I can’t believe the Labour Party can’t find anyone more decisive and suitable.

maddyone

^I doubt very much anyone can pull his (Starmer’s) strings^

Does anyone truly believe that! Really!
He can’t make his mind up on anything, and flip flops on every subject according to which way the wind is blowing.
He’ll be a terrible PM if he’s elected. I can’t believe the Labour Party can’t find anyone more decisive and suitable.

Yes - because in reality it’s quite the opposite. He never makes snap decisions, he changes his plans according to new evidence. We’ve had enough implementation of half cocked plans based on nothing but political dogma in the last 13 years to last us a lifetime, and it’s a relief to have somebody who doesn’t always think he knows best. He’s also shown his steel in standing up to the left.
I do appreciate that for the right he’s a huge concern of course, as he is for the further left. What he is doing is working - and that’s a bitter pill for many to swallow.

So regarding to immigration and Starmer at The Hague.

Labour believes that any agreement with Brussels would have to be “quid pro quo”, meaning accepting quotas of migrants from the bloc in return for sending back people who arrive illegally. The system would reportedly work via applications in UK embassies on the continent, and prioritise people with family already in the UK.

Starmer also insisted he would drop Conservative plans to ban people who cross the Channel from claiming asylum in Britain. He described the government’s approach as unsustainable and said: “We have to process the claims. Those who aren’t entitled to be here should be returned and returned quickly.”
Tackling undocumented immigration will be a key theme of the meetings, at which Starmer will seek to draw on his experience of tackling cross-border smuggling gangs as the UK’s director of public prosecutions. Catherine De Bolle, the executive director of Europol, will be present at the meeting.

The Guardian

Starmer discussed rejoining the SIS 11 with the Europol director, which means that data can be exchanged between security forces that ceased at Brexit.

maddyone

^I doubt very much anyone can pull his (Starmer’s) strings^

Does anyone truly believe that! Really!
He can’t make his mind up on anything, and flip flops on every subject according to which way the wind is blowing.
He’ll be a terrible PM if he’s elected. I can’t believe the Labour Party can’t find anyone more decisive and suitable.

Totally agree he’s certainly no Tony Blair

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2

Macron will never trust this government after it became obvious that they bare-faced lied to Macron.

Monsieur Macron is happy to accept millions of our U.K. £’s to help police the French coastline though?

It takes a quick Google to see those Border Police leaning up against their cars enjoying a Citane watching the heinous people traffickers push the boats out…

These odious dealers in peoples lives are making a huge profit under Monsieur Macron’s nose!

Well said GrannyGravy13

As a matter of interest how long is the coastline in France that has to be guarded ?
As to Keir Starmer < I for one am glad that he doesn't say what he is going to do before knowing the reality of what is needed , what the cost would be, where the money will come from. There's been rtoo much of that from the umpteen Tory P.M.s who then have to back track. ~~They are more concerned with what will win votes.

westendgirl

As a matter of interest how long is the coastline in France that has to be guarded ?
As to Keir Starmer < I for one am glad that he doesn't say what he is going to do before knowing the reality of what is needed , what the cost would be, where the money will come from. There's been rtoo much of that from the umpteen Tory P.M.s who then have to back track. ~~They are more concerned with what will win votes.

Sir Starmer is trying to win over both the disenfranchised Conservatives and the disenfranchised left of the Labour Party.

By trying to please all he could end up pleasing no one.

GrannyGravy13

westendgirl

As a matter of interest how long is the coastline in France that has to be guarded ?
As to Keir Starmer < I for one am glad that he doesn't say what he is going to do before knowing the reality of what is needed , what the cost would be, where the money will come from. There's been rtoo much of that from the umpteen Tory P.M.s who then have to back track. ~~They are more concerned with what will win votes.

Sir Starmer is trying to win over both the disenfranchised Conservatives and the disenfranchised left of the Labour Party.

By trying to please all he could end up pleasing no one.

You’re right, he could. There’s no evidence of that being the case at the moment though, for the last few months Labour are on average 18% ahead of the Tories in the opinion polls, it’s just recently increased to 19% according to the Sky cumulative poll tracker.

Canada

Starmer met a number of world leaders at a summit including Trudeau, Arden and the Norwegian premier to discuss progressive government. Amongst many subjects discussed it was recognised that border control was a progressive government’s issue. Starmer stated that without a strong border you end up simply with gimmicks that play to the population, but fail to produce anything worthwhile, as we are experiencing in the U.K.

Westendgirl
Realistically I would say about 25 klm, Calais to Gravelines.
If you go southwest from Calais the crossing is longer and therefore more danger. Access to the beaches is harder southwest of Calais.

Starmer has ruled out becoming an associate member of the EU which Macron must be disappointed by.
It’s a bit weird for a leader of the opposition to be jetting about meeting leaders of government, what’s the point when there’s a year to go before a general election.Am cynical about that and also about anything those leaders say at this time.

they are more concerned about what will win votes

I think that applies to all politicians. Starmer is no different.

Oreo

Starmer has ruled out becoming an associate member of the EU which Macron must be disappointed by.
It’s a bit weird for a leader of the opposition to be jetting about meeting leaders of government, what’s the point when there’s a year to go before a general election.Am cynical about that and also about anything those leaders say at this time.

All political leaders make connections to other political leaders, and Starmer is no exception. It is useful and essential to exchange ideas and views, particularly with like minded leaders .

Tbh Whitewavemark2 I don’t have much faith in any leaders or politicians.I think it comes down to who will be the least bad.

A year ago a Tory prime minister rushed out an un-costed budget, that resulted in chaos on the markets, enormous rise in mortgages and contributed to the rise in the cost of living that was bad anyway.

She did so without running her intended budget past the OBR, which, had she done so would have been absolutely clear about the paucity of detail and planning which landed us in the mess we found ourselves in.

Labour are going to give the OBR greater powers, so that they are able to publish forecasts and analysis alongside any plans by government on tax or spending changes.

The voter will be clear about what the budget means for them and the economy, rather than having to listen to governmental spin, backed up by supporting media.