The first 100 days.

Urmstongran

Germanshepherdsmum

I agree - especially after Farage said he was coming for Labour. He’s certainly not a quitter.

Which is why I voted for him! 😁

And we’re grateful as it weakened the Tory vote, only got his party 5 seats ( hardly the opposition that he boasted about) and has given us a Labour government.

Whitewavemark2

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.

The only way to deal with prisons until more are actually built and in use is to continue the practice of early release, but not just in a couple of prisons, in all of them, roll it out nationally.
There’s no other way.

The planning for more prisons was halted, I don’t know the reasons ( pandemic?) so the first job is to get on with the planning process.It will be years before any are built.

I too was glad to hear of the decisions in the speech to talk to the junior doctors asap. We need to keep our doctors and £14 an hour for junior doctors is disgusting. It's not just about money, either, it's about being valued, keeping them.
Cautiously optimistic.

The Prime Minister has been talking by telephone to both the German chancellor and French President.

The intention is to further deepen security ties, the continued support of Ukraine. The NATO conference was discussed as well as the European political Community summit.

Shared priorities were established which included, the Middle East, climate change, AI, migration and the economy.

The need for closer economic ties was agreed.

Wyllow3

I too was glad to hear of the decisions in the speech to talk to the junior doctors asap. We need to keep our doctors and £14 an hour for junior doctors is disgusting. It's not just about money, either, it's about being valued, keeping them.
Cautiously optimistic.

Yes, being valued- we need to start valueing all our public sector workers, not just paying lip service.

I think most parties with a chance of winning an election put a lot of pre-planning for cabinet posts and other jobs months in advance and sound people out in preparaation.

I am sure James Timpson and Sir Patrick Vallance and no doubt others were first approached about their possible involvement months ago, gave their consent and made their own private plans to be able to start their new jobs today.

Most Ministers have been shadowing their current posts for years and know how Parliament and the civil service work.

Assuming that they are all essentially competent people, they will soon pick up the ropes. I am sure I m not the only person who during their working career changed jobs and companies and had to go into a new job and get up and running in it very quickly. Whats the difference?

Whitewavemark2

The Prime Minister has been talking by telephone to both the German chancellor and French President.

The intention is to further deepen security ties, the continued support of Ukraine. The NATO conference was discussed as well as the European political Community summit.

Shared priorities were established which included, the Middle East, climate change, AI, migration and the economy.

The need for closer economic ties was agreed.

"The need for closer economic ties was agreed"

Hooray, about time. Sensible trading/customs.

I imagine also a chance to talk about Europe and tackling smuggling gangs

Sunday

The Prime Minister will visit each of the 3 nations beginning with Scotland to meet the first ministers and discuss the priorities that each of the first ministers feel need to be met.

This is a positive move - taking Westminster to the 3 nations and listening.

The prime minister will delegate another minister to complete the appointments of various jobs.

GrannyGravy13

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

We have two local hospitals, one not so local hospital all three have been seeing patients at weekends and in the evening for the last couple of years.

Scans, procedures, scheduled operations, clinics etc.,

How is that staffed? Are staff being paid overtime or being taken off weekday shifts or are agency staff being brought in?

How on earth would I know?

I was just interested in how they were managing it because I assume no extra funding is available. Thought you might know - but no matter.

Oreo

The planning for more prisons was halted, I don’t know the reasons ( pandemic?) so the first job is to get on with the planning process.It will be years before any are built.

One of them was Wethersfield, the site now being used as a centre for asylum seekers. The planning application is still ongoing, but being disputed.

Before travelling to Germany, Poland and Sweden this weekend, the Foreign Secretary contacted the Caribbean nations who had been affected by hurricane Beryl and offered support.

Areas of cooperation in Europe include energy and climate, but the most pressing need is security.

Lammy is also intending to pursue closer ties with the global south.

Wwm2 Germany, Poland and Sweden in a weekend - does Lammy have to physically go there? The rest of the country is able to use Teams for meetings? It would be great if politicians could lead by example and cut down on air miles. Saving the planet?

Where’s the global south?

Starmer has started his round nation trip.

First to Edinburgh, where he is offering the first minister a “genuine seat at the table” where they can work together to bring change to Scotland. John Swinney has indicated that he is willing to work cooperatively with the Westminster government, for the Scottish people.

ronib

Wwm2 Germany, Poland and Sweden in a weekend - does Lammy have to physically go there? The rest of the country is able to use Teams for meetings? It would be great if politicians could lead by example and cut down on air miles. Saving the planet?

Where’s the global south?

Where’s the global south?

Antarctica?
They're interested in his views on climate change.
🐧🐧🐧

Global South - wasn’t specified, but a good guess would be the African nations where China has had a huge impact. I have heard him mention Indonesia as well.

I’ll try to find out more if I can.

I think it's great that he's coming straight up to Scotland today. I'm very heartened by it all.

Callistemon213

ronib

Wwm2 Germany, Poland and Sweden in a weekend - does Lammy have to physically go there? The rest of the country is able to use Teams for meetings? It would be great if politicians could lead by example and cut down on air miles. Saving the planet?

Where’s the global south?

Where’s the global south?

Antarctica?
They're interested in his views on climate change.
🐧🐧🐧

Apparently countries like Indonesia and many countries in Africa have complained that the U.K. has failed to speak to them when a request to do so was put in. The result has been that China and India have been benefitting.

Lammy is looking to repair these and other relationships.

PS climate change was mentioned - so the Emperors will be grateful.

ronib

Wwm2 Germany, Poland and Sweden in a weekend - does Lammy have to physically go there? The rest of the country is able to use Teams for meetings? It would be great if politicians could lead by example and cut down on air miles. Saving the planet?

Where’s the global south?

Compared to Sunak and his private jet you mean?

I like to think the face to face meetings are important to start with, especially in these volatile times.

I am not a huge fan of Lammy, I'm not sure he has the gravitas to carry this huge job but we shall see.

If he's still flying here there and everywhere in a few months that's a different matter.

The global south is just another term used for what used to be the 'third world.' I am encouraged by this idea it isn't all about India and China. There are lots of African countries that have much to offer.

One thing the Prime Minister said yesterday after being asked whether he would raise the cap on child benefit.

Paraphrasing

“What I said during the election campaign concerning child benefit I meant. Everything I said during the election campaign remains true”

“This government will be completely straight and true”

Makes a change

Whitewavemark2

PS climate change was mentioned - so the Emperors will be grateful.

Oh good.

I think that we must judge all the new ministers by their outcomes.

So the Prime Minister is setting key targets for every minister which must be met.
In order to monitor periodic meetings are pencilled in to judge the ministers performance.

Lammy and Ukraine.

If Trump wins the presidency then it is highly likely that USA support to Ukraine will be withdrawn, and Europe will struggle to cover the shortfall.

Lammy is determined to bolster European cooperation and map out the resources available to Europe in order to begin a period of working to shore up Ukraines defence.

“Apparently countries like Indonesia and many countries in Africa have complained that the U.K. has failed to speak to them when a request to do so was put in. The result has been that China and India have been benefitting.”

Developing countries really only see UK as a source of foreign aid, of which we have limited amounts, their imports don’t come from the UK any more, China and India are their prime suppliers in exchange for natural resources.
The other negative is that government's are often very corrupt, a large proportion of aid is misappropriated, add the that most aid projects now have to be supervised by nationals, far fewer NGOs are allowed by most governments.