This morning it’s Rachel Reeves’ turn to hold employees ‘hostage’ at a live event on tv.

😁 It’s a time honoured stunt isn’t it? Staff have to stand around with respectful faces while politicians do a mini lecture.

Live though for the duration of the speech? RR has been talking now for 40 minutes … and shows no sign of wrapping up (yet). I bet they’re all waiting for the magic words ‘and finally …’

She’s actually repeating herself now.

Is it a prerequisite to be boring to hold high office? What with Starmer and her, I think it might be. Maybe it is a kind of reaction against the Borises of this world? I can’t watch him, he makes me want to barf and she isn’t too far behind. I don’t mind Angela Rayner, don’t like her policies but at least she’s got a bit of personality.

Oh dear, I missed it.
What a pity.

It’s the lining up behind the speaker (whoever) that gets me. A hostage audience. Whatever the subject.

Oreo

😁 It’s a time honoured stunt isn’t it? Staff have to stand around with respectful faces while politicians do a mini lecture.

Just that.

Or stunts like Boris with a mop and bucket and delivering milk to carefully chosen house.

I don't think its "news" nor very effective.

Allira

Oh dear, I missed it.
What a pity.

... I'm sure it's been recorded and you can catch it later...

Don’t bother Allira. It was here in Greater Manchester, promoting transport links in major cities. ‘Levelling up’ by another soundbite.
💤

I don’t like it either and wish they wouldn’t do it.
Maybe it’s to show they stand with the people , who knows but it looks ridiculous to me. ( and I am a supporter of this government)!

I don't remember politicians addressing the cameras with an audience behind them until recently, but I may be wrong. It seems to be yet another idea imported from America.

I also dislike politicians arriving for meetings with an acolyte taking multiple photographs for 'social media' then saying as an afterthought , 'if no-one objects?' I do, loudly, and to my surprise, an increasing number also do so.

Zone out? change day mind when I read the actual news.

I just actually looked up why Rachel Reeves was interviewed
They are to amend the Winter Fuel Payment system so more pensioners get it. As yet not clear the new mechanism but it's a praiseworthy step in the right direction.

Eagle eye (except for the backdrop) not zone out?

Full spending re new details June 11th.

edit - changed my mind when I read of the increase in pensioners getting a WFA.

Was she wearing a hard hat or dressing up as a soldier?

You just know what they are all thinking having to stand behind her...

Do they volunteer to stand there or can they stay in the traditional audience, face to face?

I bet they’d rather be F2F ixion but doubtless the managers ask for ‘volunteers’. Bit like when Starmer did similar recently in a hospital setting and all the NHS hostages were behind him, wearing their lanyards, blowing their noses. They had to stand there on live tv for 75 minutes. Sheesh.

Why ignore the fact that after months and months of asking/demanding change in the WFA, we are at last getting it?
🙂 FGT sheesh........

Small beer. Anyway, I’ve not been complaining Wyllow about the WFA. We won’t ‘all’ get it anyway. Just certain sections of pensioners. I’m glad for them.

Yes, not so small if you're counting the pennies. 🙂

I think we all complained about the WFA if memory serves in one way of another.

Just felt that although it is amusing the way people get lined up behind a political, its worth also mentioning the positive news actually being announced?

PMQ’s this afternoon:

Starmer unable to say how many more pensioners will get winter fuel payments…

Sir Keir Starmer was unable to say how many more pensioners will be eligible to claim winter fuel payments after Labour’s about-turn on the policy.

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said that just three weeks ago the policy was “set in stone” before Sir Keir’s change of heart and then Rachel Reeves confirming today that the change will take effect in time for this winter.

She asked: “On behalf of the pensioners who want to know, can the PM be clear with us here and now: How many of the 10 million people who lost their winter fuel payments will get it back?”

Sir Keir dodged the question. He said Labour had taken the “right decision” on scrapping winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners last year but the economic picture had now improved, allowing a change in tack.

Positive … for the few. Indeed.
Actually I’m not against it. I just don’t like to see it dressed up as more than it is.

Naturally Badenoch was going to try and find something to pick holes in it

but RR and KS had made it clear many times the details will be out on the June 11th Spending Plans.

And she knew that very well

Wouldn't it have been appropriate if she had even welcomed it after so many months?

I had to laugh at Badenoch when she went on about the two child policy - as though Labour had introduced it in the first place. She keeps getting hoist by her own petard.

Actually thinking about it generally and non politically.....

its probably as relevant to find out how easy it will be to get that extra money as the amount itself, thats been the problem all along. I'll be interested to see if they can make it easier as practically its hard when you are struggling to make claims.