If Reform really do turn out to be Labour's biggest threat, Labour would be better off fighting them on any battlefield other than immigration, Reform's home turf. Brexit, for example. That could make very uncomfortable going for Reform, since they'd be forced to divert and defend the indefensible.

The argument that Starmer didn't mean to sound like Enoch Powell would be a lot more convincing if it hadn't been in a speech announcing a load of policies that Enoch Powell would have been proud of.

Private Eye on Starmer’s immigration speech Are we really meant to think he wasn’t responding to Reform? Would he really have used such toxic rhetoric if the results had been different? Does he really believe what he’s doing is fair and right? No one really thinks so Which means he loses everyone.

Quoting Enoch Powell is never a coincidence. The Prime Minister knew what message he was sending — and who he was sending it to. Disgraceful.

Starmer won’t be forgiven for this by swathes of people.

WILL A WEAK POLITICIAN’S FEAR OF FARAGE F*CK BRITAIN AGAIN? We don’t want a half-arsed deal with the EU which leaves us with the same £100bn bill, Brexit queues, Brexit embuggerances, no free movement, and separated from our European partners in the time of Trump! Got the massage, Prime Minister?

#730abc - John Howard shat on the vision of what Australia could have been

You bet your ass

Starmer’s “remarks are disgraceful. They are damaging in part because they validate the rhetoric and dishonesty of both Reform and the Conservatives. But, incredibly, they are also seriously damaging for the Labour govt itself” V good, clear-sighted analysis mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/05/star...

Experts Agree Giant, Bioengineered Crabs Pose No Threat

I did consider making a speech about tackling poverty, taxing the rich, nationalising utilities and properly funding the NHS and social care, but then I thought... nah, just go full Enoch Powell.

Just a random reminder that trickle-down economics was invented by conservatives in the 1980s to justify massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. It’s been nothing short of a disaster.

Huge thanks to the advisor who suggested I put “island of strangers” in my speech. Now Reform voters still hate me and Labour voters hate me even more.

It's a fantastic book - download it - buy it - or just borrow it and read it. The Dust Bowl Triolgy are worth the effort.

If you wouldn't accept "we are at risk of becoming an island of strangers" from Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage you probably shouldn't accept it from Keir Starmer. Don't pretzel yourself trying to explain why it's ok from the guy in the red tie.

Enoch Powell: “they found themselves made strangers in their own country” @kierstarmerpm.bsky.social: “we risk becoming an island of strangers” This is the type of language I’d expect from Farage or Badenoch. This is quote is Starmer’s WMD claim and will define his Premiership.

WHO DID THIS?!?!

Brexit promised to “take back control of our borders” But it also created huge labour shortages So, govt issued huge numbers of visas to fill the gaps. It ended reciprocal asylum arrangements with the EU So, crossings went up. Govt response? “Take back control of our borders” Such a ruinous deceit.

“We risk becoming island of strangers” is going to be Starmer’s “WMD being ready for use in 45 minutes” Goodbye, @kierstarmerpm.bsky.social

What we see in the UK today, and around the world, is a truth many people are reluctant to recognise: Centralised, hierarchical political systems are innately undemocratic, regardless of who is in charge. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Perhaps we could appeal to the 80% of voters who think Nigel Farage is a scumbag? Instead of everyone appealing to the 20% who are racist morons?

Today, Starmer said he’d “take back control of our borders” and claimed that soaring immigration had done “incalculable damage” to our country. No. That damage is done by the ruinous dishonesty of our politicians and the hatred whipped up by their ugly anti-immigrant rhetoric. Shame on you, Starmer.

After due consideration, having weighed up the relevant evidence, assessed the balance of arguments and gamed the likely implications, I have reached the conclusion that Keir Starmer can fuck off from a great height.

The problems in our society are not caused by migrants or refugees. They are caused by an economic system rigged in favour of corporations and billionaires. If the government wanted to improve people’s lives, it would tax the rich and build an economy that works for us all.

Immigration has soared since Brexit. If we want net migration to fall, then we should rejoin the EU's Single Market, which would return us to the flexible and efficient European labour market and restore our Freedom of Movement. #RejoinEU

Me waiting for a Labour policy that isn’t a homage to the Tories or Reform.

Joseph Stiglitz suggests Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer have got in wrong "To promote growth, the UK can raise taxes on capital gains" "If you raise taxes on the wealthy and expand government spending, that will stimulate the economy"

When govts stop panicking and announcing policy to “challenge” Nigel effing Farage, we may stand a chance of fixing the mess that Nigel effing Farage helped to make. Until then, we will stay stuck in this populist dead end, loudly blowing our dog whistle at the world and wondering why nothing works.

As somebody who grew up to value and defend social justice. But let’s call a spade a spade, listening to Starmer this morning, I can only come to one conclusion, he’s a CUNT.

This is a political time to wake up EVERYDAY prepared to Speak Truth to Power!

The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff. - Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Labour reducing migration to those sectors that rely on immigrants. This is such a local election knee jerk reaction. I was going to say Starmer is a cheap version of Farage, but let’s face it both are as cheap as each other.

Although this is meant to be facetious, it is very accurate. Reagonomics and Thatcherism is destroying society slowly, the result is oligarchs dictating how people live. The middle classes are being squeezed. And Dems or Labour have never reversed the policy for fear of backlash.

Ffs Yvette. You may think this ‘we will train our own’ argument persuades voters but it isn’t reality. You don’t have the money or the training programmes in place. The shortages are now. The care profession is in a state of dire neglect. Get fucking real and stop with the hideous cynicism.

Another week. Another ‘crackdown’ on immigration. Because Brexit exploded it. It created labour shortages and ended our shared EU arrangements. Then all the far right uglies went to town whipping up anti-immigrant sentiment for power. Until govts are honest about this, they will continue to fail.

"Brexit was a con."

“Starmer earned a goodwill dividend by virtue of not being a Tory but he overestimates the leverage that gives him as an architect of future relations when his successor could feasibly be Farage” Making the case for better terms with the EU has to start in the UK www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Not much point having power if you use it to further the agenda of your opponents… The Brexit mindset is a dull-witted and dangerous dead end. Beyond time to make the case for a more grown up, prosperous and cooperative relationship with our European neighbours. (Letter, Times)

Apparently @uklabour.bsky.social Starmer needs to sit down and rest after being rawdogged by Trump … again!

I, for one, welcome our new overlord.

It’s true.

God Loses $400 Betting On Cardinal Tagle

Starmer swapped the Cow for magical beans, which turned out to be useless rabbit shit. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

1. Brexit does not stand up to scrutiny 2. The more scrutiny is placed on Brexit, the worse it looks 3. Strong majority already think Brexit is going badly 4. Immigration skyrocketed since Brexit 5. Labour can't fight Reform on immigration 6. So why not force Reform to defend Brexit? Winnable!

One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.

Is it time to ban Israel from Eurovision? 70 artists have signed a letter saying yes.

I've just been told about this, and I'm honoured to be on the list. Far be it from me to seek to influence your vote, and there are other good people here ... but I trust, as ever, in my readers' impeccable judgement 😉 www.amnesty.org.uk/cast-your-vote

I wonder how much chlorinated chicken Starmer will make us eat to appease Trump. news.sky.com/story/politi...