Some inspired appointments

Since Pope Francis was elected in 2013, do you not think it is time we just forgot about the occasional crass remark made by someone in the news over 10 years ago.

Although to be fair, I do think David Lammy has a reputation for dentopedology (opening his mouth and putting his foot in it.)

🤦‍♀️

I'm pleased about the Timpson appointment too. He seems to have some sensible ideas about helping to prevent the need for so many prison places, based on what works in oher countries and on his own experience with ex-prisoners.

Impressed by Starmer's cabinet. Most have been shadow ministers for some years and know their brief.

The new appointments via the House of Lords are all experts in their fields which makes a lot of sense.

Although I favour abolishing the HoL, I think that while it exists, this is a good use of it.

Blinko

Looking like a good start all round. Long may it continue. Best to ignore the thread about Ms Rayners outfit, though.

Oh, I dunno. Silly threads have their place. That one, which I took with many pinches of salt, brought me out of a grief induced doldrum today.

I couldn’t be happier 😍 I’ve followed this families work with ex prisoners for years 👏👏👏👏
We need more people like this family.

When the Conservatives had the ex fireplace salesman as Minister for Education my grandson asked how we could have an Education Minister who had never even been a teacher. He was seven at the time. I think he will approve of some of these choices.

Whethertomrrow I think you are entirely misinterpreting how hardheaded and realistic Timpson is. There are some interesting interviews (written and recorded) which are worth reading/watching.

I think it’s a good team so far, and I’m more impressed with the planning and strategising that have gone into it.

I wonder how much Sue Grey was involved in the planning.

Heard earlier: you can tell Starmer has a family background in tools from how well he can put a cabinet together.

It isn’t a case of being prisoner sympathetic. The problem with prisons is that all the do to first time offenders is teach them how to become hardened criminals. The cycle needs to be broken. As Keir said, we also need to stop young people becoming criminals in the first place. And prisons need to be places of rehabilitation as well as punishment.

Timpson might be a good man and compassionate to prisoners but what about compassion for the victims of their crimes.

There are a lot of crimes where the proven perpetrators get away with either no sentence or suspended sentence leaving the victims in distress. They have suffered an injustice which is then exacerbated by a weak and feeble judicial system.

Victims deserve so much more than what they are currently getting.

It’s all very good having a prisoner sympathetic man in charge but criminals laugh at the justice system and know how to manipulate it easily.

I despair at what will be coming.

James Timpson appointment is excellent news. Hilary Benn will bring intelligence and understanding to his post, I'm sure.

Looking like a good start all round. Long may it continue. Best to ignore the thread about Ms Rayners outfit, though.

Vallance was my DD boss at one time. She always spoke highly of him.

I think a huge amount of thought has gone into the Labour team.

No moaning on this thread. Everyone singing the praises of James Timpson, is forgetting I also mentioned patrick Vallance and Hilary Benn, now he is a really inspired choice for Northern ireland.

Harriet Harman? 🤮
I hope she doesn’t dismiss the Cass report.

There are decent people who are genuinely motivated by trying to make other's lives better. It's these people we want in politics, not the "out for what they can get types", tbh we've had enough of them already. Hopefully we will start to see more with this government. People who appeal to the best in us and not the worst. Let's at least give Labour a chance to get their feet under the cabinet table before we start moaning!

I am so pleased about the inspired appointment of James Timpson to his post. He has grown up in a family that has long been active in giving practical support by fostering youngsters as well as giving employment to ex prisoners. His interview on Desert Island Discs is well worth a listen.

What good, inspired appointments. A hopeful start.

good to read

Not forgetting the inspired appointment of Richard Hermer KC as Attorney General. His reputation in Public International Law and Domestic Public and Private Law is impressive and includes cases that we will all be familar with:

www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/richard-hermer/

One example:

He acted for over 900 victims of the Grenfell Tower Disaster and led the negotiations leading to the 2023 settlement of their compensation claims, the creation of a restorative justice fund and the facilitation of a ground-breaking ‘Testimony Week’.

Grenfell Testimony Week was a platform for those affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017 who wished to speak about the impact it has had on them and those they care about.

Positive posts on politics,so good to see!

I’m very pleased for James Timpson. He has done so much with prisoners and ex-prisoners and deserves as much recognition as he can get. He is a brave, compassionate and forward-thinking man. He wrote a column for the Sunday Times for some time, always enjoyable and thought-provoking.

There are rumours that Harriet Harman has been given a peerage so she can step into the Human Rights and Equalities role.

foxie48

I am very impressed with Starmer's appointments and having heard Timpson speak, I really liked him.

👏👏👏👏👏

Janes Timpson has been on R4 both Desert Island discs and on the shorter "profile"
Here is the recent R4 profile on him, 15 minutes, thought "brilliant" at the time.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wgyy