The first 100 days.

Current Starmer press interviews up on I player.

I’m sure we know that Casdon, but PMQs is but one opportunity of many. Farage will take every opportunity which comes his way - as always.

Casdon oh don’t be silly. PMQs ? Since when did PMQs do any serious questioning of the government? Farage will work outside Parliament and will whip up public opinion faster than my meringue…

Was anyone else watching the Keir Starmer press conference? I thought it was very interesting to see how much more relaxed and confident he was. Clear answers, methodical and a sense of honesty of how they were tackling issues and what they had already planned. The journalists seemed to like it too.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m sure we know that Casdon, but PMQs is but one opportunity of many. Farage will take every opportunity which comes his way - as always.

It’s the media attention he will want though, and PMQs is weekly TV exposure. That is likely to be his only chance as a parliamentarian to make waves. He can sound off elsewhere, but it won’t be televised direct confrontation with the government.

Casdon Farage has very close connections with broadcasters. He can make a confrontation over opening a packet of crisps.

It doesn’t matter Casdon. He has always been successful in getting plenty of media attention and if he asks questions behind the scenes, which as an MP he is entitled to do, you may be sure that we will be hearing all about the answers.

Yes, ronib, very true! 🤣

Yes Mamie I’ve just watched the PM’s press conference. Highly impressed! I think he’s been much underestimated in politics - he’s a man on a mission now✔️

Germanshepherdsmum

It doesn’t matter Casdon. He has always been successful in getting plenty of media attention and if he asks questions behind the scenes, which as an MP he is entitled to do, you may be sure that we will be hearing all about the answers.

Yes, ronib, very true! 🤣

He won’t be able to get himself on the news as part of mainstream broadcasts about what’s happening in parliament, which diminishes his importance - that opposition role will fall to somebody else, which was the point.

Whether media attention will continue to focus on him outside parliament is another issue, we shall see, it depends what else is happening, as he’s a one trick pony, on migration.

Casdon = Loud chorus of ‘There’s only ONE Nigel Farage -thank the Lord!!”

He might be a one trick pony Casdon, I wouldn’t disagree with that, but he’s a very effective one. He has never failed to garner media attention.

I wonder why we are giving so much oxygen to Farage - he is only 1 MP out of 650 and frankly apart from a mouth the size Dartford Tunnel he has very little/positive or useful to contribute of any value to parliament.

Perhaps when the debates get going - I believe the first one will be aThe Kings Speech he will be able to prove me wrong.

Mamie

Was anyone else watching the Keir Starmer press conference? I thought it was very interesting to see how much more relaxed and confident he was. Clear answers, methodical and a sense of honesty of how they were tackling issues and what they had already planned. The journalists seemed to like it too.

It was very impressive wasn’t it. I’m getting very tired of Beth Rigby though; she can’t accuse him of being boring any more so she’s just harping on about the % of the vote. I used to respect her till recently.

LizzieDrip

Yes Mamie I’ve just watched the PM’s press conference. Highly impressed! I think he’s been much underestimated in politics - he’s a man on a mission now✔️

Yes - a great start.

Prisons

Starmer was asked about the existential crises in our prison system and how he was going to deal with a system that is completely broken.

First he has appointed a man John Timpson that many in the legal world are describing as ground breaking.

Apparently the previous government failed to spend half the budget set aside for new prisons, and this will be dealt with immediately, but meanwhile our prisons cannot hold a single other prisoner. The last government tried to deal with the issue early by release and asking policemen to stop arresting people. At the moment early release will continue because there is no other choice, but there will be a profound sea-change on how we deal with crime and offenders.

This is an immediate issue and being dealt with accordingly.

Yes WWM it was prisons that stood out for me too. Absolutely appalling the situation allowed to build up. Unbelievable, and so little about it in the press except now and then.

NHS

The Prime Minister said that the NHS is broken - and all decisions will flow from that fact.

The waiting list

A number of hospitals have set up a successful model to begin to clear the backlog, and Streeting has been involved with them for months.

This model will be rolled out across the entire NHS to begin the work of clearing the backlog.

Witzend

Whitewavemark2

I can report that the English flag has been put above No 10 😄😄

Ahead of todays game.

The Prime Minister is a keen football fan.

If that’s the case, I applaud KS! High time the St. G flag was redeemed from being sneered at, as a symbol of racist bigotry, or else as a symbol of the thick/uneducated - or both - as it all too often has been.

I've never understood why that was the case. We should be proud of our flag.

Emily Thornberry must be pleased.

What I was so pleased to hear in Starmer’s speech was his emphasis on a few things that I think are important - first was his focus on standards and ethics. And next was transparency.

Then I was pleased to hear the him say that he will be consulting people around the entire nation from ALL political parties, and resources will be provided by need NOT by party colour.

Inclusivity is now alive and well!

If he does include other parties that is good news.
We are in too much of a mess in this country for one party to sort out.

I would now like a commitment to scrap the use of secondary legislation - except in some limited and circumscribed situations - to avoid proper parliamentary scrutiny.

The only thing I can't understand is where has all the Millions gone which has been pumped into the NHS? Do we keep pumping the money in or actually look at what/how it's being spent. Maybe Rachel Reeves will look at this more thoroughly?. As a government you allocate the money and expect the particular Minister in charge to oversee the Managers who are spending the money. You can't just keep giving more if you're not checking where it's being spent.

Whitewavemark2

What I was so pleased to hear in Starmer’s speech was his emphasis on a few things that I think are important - first was his focus on standards and ethics. And next was transparency.

Then I was pleased to hear the him say that he will be consulting people around the entire nation from ALL political parties, and resources will be provided by need NOT by party colour.

Inclusivity is now alive and well!

Which is what Sunak was scaremongering about in his final days, this notion that a “supermajority” - although there is no such thing - would be a disaster. It was Johnson who used his 80 seat majority undemocratically to do what he wanted, avoiding scrutiny at every opportunity.

From day one, Starmer has made it clear that his government will work cross-party. It really is a breath of fresh air.

So the NHS has been busy dealing with/in collusion the potential new government for months instead of the current government?? Was this done during their normal working hours when they had their normal work commitments or out of the office in their own time

mollie11158

The only thing I can't understand is where has all the Millions gone which has been pumped into the NHS? Do we keep pumping the money in or actually look at what/how it's being spent. Maybe Rachel Reeves will look at this more thoroughly?. As a government you allocate the money and expect the particular Minister in charge to oversee the Managers who are spending the money. You can't just keep giving more if you're not checking where it's being spent.

I think that there is something about not being able to revisit previous governments work. I think PPE/covid was included so that must of cost a lot particularly where PPE was not delivered by Mone and others. I also remember vast quantities were paid out for a test and trace system that never got off the ground.

So value for money will only be overseen from today onwards.