The government has moved to its "don't coup us or the bond vigilantes will get you" defence. a) Are you really saying that's the reason you should run the country b) The bond markets don't like you as much as you think they do www.newstatesman.com/business/eco...

What Starmer should have said yesterday on Europe:

Ever the reliance on process and procedure in lieu of anything even remotely resembling a political argument. If he’s too delusional to read the writing on the wall, he needs to be dragged out kicking and screaming.

It may have made no difference but still remarkable that Starmer didn’t make a big offer on Europe/defence/growth/anything in his speech. Would have been better not to give it at all.

Delusional.

Sorry, a transphobic coward isn’t „the best option“. Nobody wants to say it because he isn’t the best option at all - unless you’re content with another slippery, principleless leader who‘s all to happy to shove the trans community firmly under a bus.

Starmer has spent two years wasting a historic Commons majority, demonstrated poor political judgement, and his approach to government has been, to put it mildly, ineffective. No, history will not be kinder to him at all. If anything, it’ll be more damning.

"The status quo isn’t working, so here’s some more of the status quo." A quick and damning analysis on @ukandeu.bsky.social of today's rhetorical call from Starmer to be bolder on Europe, with no bold ideas in it.

A speech full of waffle without much substance and detail is hardly an 8 or 9 …

“I take responsibility” he says … while refusing to take responsibility. “Incremental change wont cut it” … so sayeth the man whose entire approach to the radical change faced since 2024 has been incremental change. “We will make the big arguments” … says the man who doesn‘t follow through.

On 7 May 2026, Britain ran a PR experiment: Scottish Parliament: a Mixed-Member Proportional system Welsh Senedd: a (new) Low-Magnitude Party List system Same day, same political context, different outcomes. Which version of PR would be better for Westminster? 🧵

However such a pivot would require a leader with credibility, the political capital to spend, and the ability to make such a move in the face of a vocal minority. All things which Starmer lacks.

Starmer has completely taken leave of reality. No, you’re not getting ten years in power. You shouldn’t even have 10 more minutes. Good god man, for the sake of the Labour Party and country, go.

Thus Starmer unwittingly demonstrates why he’s unsuited to the job. Two ministries with competing positions, yet despite Starmer‘s „belief“ he can’t and won’t force a decision. He says he wants to be „full throated“, yet his actions suggest otherwise.

Meanwhile along the peaceful Rhein…

The issue with this argument is how do you think the bond markets will react in 2029 if nothing changes? What’s worse for gilts, Rayner or Farage as PM, a messy hung parliament, or an ever-increasingly feeble Starmer unable to do anything?

Unserious people.

Starmer‘s response? More of the same indecision and „delivery“

Starmer is, in blunt terms, an unprincipled coward in a position that requires both some form of ideological grounding and a ruthlessness to see it be done.

Starmer faced his biggest electoral test short of a general election … and it was a disaster. The idea that more of the same but further is the answer shows how utterly unfit that man is for the job he holds and proves how bad his political judgement is.

"If Labour MPs find an excuse not to act this time, they will always find an excuse. Keir Starmer has faced the biggest test at the ballot box short of a general election, and has utterly failed. If not now, when? The answer is surely never." www.thenewworld.co.uk/what-we-lear...

That man has demonstrated a phenomenal level of incompetent political judgement. He blames everyone else for his mistakes and he’s driving the Party off a cliff. If throwing thousands of local councillors, MSPs, and MS’ to the wolves isn’t enough of a wake-up call to be rid of him, then what is?

Delusional. Completely delusional. The man whose disinterest in his job and poor political judgement that’s led to the drubbing shouldn’t „stay the course“, they should be thrown from power in disgrace.

When you try and opt-out of a large part of your job, it’s unsurprising you ending being rather shit at it. Starmer‘s insistence on staying the course and fighting the next election will have him looking more and more like Biden … and not in a good way.

I don't think it's a mystery, I think it's the natural outcome of Starmer's approach to things. He has little interest in policy, and advisors who were only interested in politics, so you get decisions made based on polling not reality.

If that’s the route Starmer takes, he‘d begging for a leadership challenge. The same kick-the-bass-in-the-teeth strategy to win Reform voters is failing abysmally. More won’t work.

Totally sustainable for Starmer …

Everything must ultimately be subservient to the Home Office and Treasury - the two worst government departments hell-bent on kneecapping the country. Nothing can change until both of them are broken apart and confined to the dustbin of history.

Can the Greens think about policy beyond the announcement for five minutes, please?

A new leader won’t change the fundamental context HMG finds itself, but they would *surely* stop punching their supports in the face. One of the many reasons why Starmer needs to go and needed to go months ago.

It would be easier for Labour to contain an opportunistic political showman like Polanski if so many of its key figures didn't keep rhetorically and in policy terms punching its core supporters in the face

Imagine looking at the impending collapse of the WCML under ever-increasing demand and inadequate infrastructure - exacerbated by stupid decisions made by the previous ministry - and thinking a solution can wait until the 2040s. A plan existed. Use it.

"In Polanski, the British left has a leader who is happy to openly embrace the label of populist, happy to shift parties, play fast and loose on policy, and who is apparently willing to shrug off credible accusations of racism within his ranks."

Meeting an entirely arbitrary and short-sighted fiscal rule on the backs of the vulnerable. How very Labour.

And this is why I think the hypnoboobs story was important: because of what it said about values, what Polanski will do for publicity and his willingness to lie, even when the stakes are low And low and behold we see the same thing again. And again.

Cowards. Not posting on Twitter won’t cost govt a penny, and yet …

Ultimately, this is what undermines Starmer’s argument against being junked in the coming weeks. The bond markets won’t save someone fundamentally disinterested in their job.

I see the nameless minister wants to cast Starmer as Biden and condemn his successor to Harris’ fate. Well done, you blithering idiot.

It’s the whole fucking point you blithering idiots! Jesus Christ.

Said as if Starmer hasn’t demonstrated unbelievably poor political judgement, pursued a policy of punching the base in the face, and sacked everyone else for his mistakes. The drama will end when the source of it is replaced by someone even remotely interested in being PM.

Defence is an important test for Starmer’s “serious” approach to government. The combination of lacking a clear vision for Britain’s place in the world and an inability to make decisions is leading to Starmer failing that test.

Not being dodgy was the lowest of the low bars for Starmer to pass over … and yet here we are.

The Canadians and Dutch are managing to restore their Parliamentary buildings. Yet for some reason a handful of British talking heads think it’s beyond them to restore a UNESCO world heritage site.

Tbh theyre wrong both about food and race - their nuancee and developed concept largely consists of imposing US concepts and history on other nations.

Cons of eating something funky on holiday: feeling like shit and having to cut the holiday short. Pros of eating something funky on holiday:

Good to see Labour continue the Tory tradition of gutting the BBC.

Meanwhile, the LibDems and Greens favour subsidising fossil fuel consumption …

Love someone he’ll-bent on living the membership and what’s left of the voter base in the teeth? Absolutely fucking not.

There’s an American watching videos on her phone - in public - on loudspeaker.

Ultimately, this is Starmer‘s legacy. Not the Renters‘ and Workers‘ Rights Acts. Not whatever sliver of growth they eek out. Not the EU reset. It’s the conscious and wilful destruction of the Labour base purely out of vibes.