The Tory on #politicslive is like a sensible ‘one nation’ relic from circa 15 years ago. Talking a lot of sense

It’s all very well hard Brexiters like Ian Duncan-Smith attacking Labour for trying to improve trade with China, but his lot are responsible for a massive loss of trade with the EU . We do need someone to sell stuff to you know 🤷🙄. #r4today

The UK, like many European countries, needs to dramatically increase defence spending. That will mean resources and money being diverted from other manufacturing and public spending . Plus higher taxes . #R4today

Sacking the most effective Labour minister in the Cabinet would be mad, but fairly typical of Starmer’s team 🥴 Cabinet allies urge Keir Starmer to sack Wes Streeting for disloyalty www.thetimes.com/article/96dc...

To Russia ? Robert Jenrick sacked from shadow cabinet for ‘planning to defect’ www.thetimes.com/article/2eca...

If Labour MPs and members want to have any chance whatsoever of beating Farage at the next general election, they will make Wes Streeting Prime Minister #r4today

😡 Diversity leader at school that blocked Jewish MP praised Hamas www.thetimes.com/article/cec9...

God this is all so dire #PMQs

Absolutely shocking that a Jewish MP was prevented from visiting a school in his constituency by antisemites #PMQs

Unless she completely messes up (certainly possible), this weeks #PMQs is going to be another win for Badenoch. Labour can’t go on like this for the next 3 years

I think digital ID was a sensible idea, but the biggest issue for me is that this is yet another u-turn. Despite having a massive majority, as soon as he receives the slightest resistance from his increasingly rebellious MPs or interest groups, Starmer caves. Weak and spineless . #r4today

If central casting were looking for a ‘slimy, dodgy Harley Street plastic surgeon’, he would be Dr David Bull #politicslive

Cue Polanski and the Corbyn cranks calling Sadiq Khan a “fascist” and “genocide enabler” ….. www.jewishnews.co.uk/london-mayor...

Never miss an opportunity to try to sow division between Starmer and his MPs/Mayors eh GB News Emma . Sadiq Khan refused to engage so you cut him off 😉 #R4today

I don’t feel particularly strongly about either social media use or voting at 16 . Seems counterintuitive though that at 15 years 11 months using social media is illegal, but at 16 they are expected to vote for our government 🤷 #R4today

I’m not a fan of Badenoch, but she is correct that we need to reallocate money from welfare to defence. Clearly Starmer and Reeves wanted to do this but (stupidly) backed down under pressure from the hard left of Labour . Unsustainable #BBClaurak

Simply unsustainable. Sooner or later Labour MPs are going to have to overcome their reluctance to cut Welfare and relocate money to defence . Welfare spending will cost average household £12,200 a year by 2031 www.thetimes.com/article/7e55...

It does seem extraordinary that 2 years ago the talk was of a massively unpopular SNP being driven from power & Labour running Scotland. We are now talking about Scottish independence again and the hard right wing Reform winning 30% support in Wales 🤷 #R4today

Rather than reverse the Tories cuts to employees NI, & cut welfare as planned, Labour has significantly increased taxes on businesses . That’s a political choice, but it has undoubtedly damaged the economy/growth & increased unemployment . Growth was supposed to be a Labour priority #R4today

I’m shocked that the leader of the pro-Putin Reform Company would vote against helping to protect Ukraine from Russia . Nigel Farage: I’ll vote against putting boots on ground in Ukraine www.thetimes.com/article/8f55...

US are considering invading Greenland and the Tories are still asking a female Cabinet Minister …. “Do you know what a woman is ?” #politicslive

Money for defence or on welfare is going to become a MAJOR choice at the next general election . Or both with massive tax rises #PoliticsLive

I think Starmer is doing a good job on foreign affairs. Unless however, he is willing to significantly increase defence spending then it’s meaningless . Unfortunately, this will mean significant further tax increases and/or massive “austerity” in other areas of public spending #politicslive #PMQs

Is Badenoch asking a question or making a speach ? #PMQs

We keep coming back to the fact that Britain needs to start increasing defence spending, pretty dramatically and immediately . Unless this can come from economic growth (not happening), it requires significant tax rises and/or major cuts to other public spending like welfare . #R4today

I think that unfortunately, Britain might well make Farage Prime Minister in 2029 . I’m confident they won’t make Kemi Badenoch PM #R4today

Regardless of whatever she actually says, I always find it very difficult to get past Badenoch’s snipy, condescending and patronising tone #R4today

Yvette Cooper rightly puts Corbyn (who supported the dictator Maduro) back in his box #Venezuala

Sooner or later the government is going to have to increase defence spending, dramatically . Unfortunately, with low/no growth that’s either going to mean significant tax rises or significant cuts to other public spending, presumably Welfare #R4today

Starmer tells BBC he will fight next GE . Meanwhile, Times reports that Wes Streeting might pounce this month before Bunham can become MP or Rayner can settle her tax affairs #BBCLauraK Mayday, mayday elections loom for Labour. Will Wes Streeting pounce? www.thetimes.com/article/381a...

Darren Jones absolutely and rightly determined not to give “journalist” Trevor Philips his “gotcha” this morning #trevorphillips

It is perfectly reasonable for bishops and lords to object to the assisted dying bill . However, it has been passed by the elected Commons and the unelected must not be allowed to stop it . It’s not difficult for anyone who believes in democracy to understand surely ? #r4today

These people aren’t Stephen Fry’s, Celia Imrie’s or Alan Carr’s are they #traitors

Starmer & Reeves destroying the economy & high street latest . Oh ….. Boxing Day footfall hits ten-year high as shoppers defy gloom www.thetimes.com/article/97aa...

As a gay man who campaigned for a change in the age of consent from 21, marched against Thatcher’s monstrous Sec 28 and for civil partnerships, I could not be more delighted that a Labour government is going to ban puppy farming ! #R4today

The Times: Streeting backs Britain rejoining customs union #TomorrowsPapersToday

He’s running 👍 #WesWeCan Wes Streeting: Britain needs to join customs union with EU www.thetimes.com/article/f7b9...

Adam Boulton on @timesradio says GB News host ‘Professor’ Matt Goodwin likely to be Farage’s pick for Home Secretary if Reform win next election 🫣😳

Smart move from Wes Streeting . He is likely to “go further and faster than Starmer on EU” and the damage that Brexit has caused, as part of a leadership bid . Labour’s diehard Remainers hope this is their moment www.thetimes.com/article/9086...

What will Wes Streeting do next? Either way, the PM’s fate is in his hands www.thetimes.com/article/954e...

“Maybe parents should let their children see what they are doing on social media”. I don’t have children, but considering the stuff I see many “adults” posting on social media, I’m not sure that’s a good idea #R4today

Fascinating discussion on AI between B of E Governor and Amol . I really don’t think a lot of “ordinary workers” have any idea how their lives are about to be completely transformed over the next decade or so . I’m glad I’m retired #r4today

Labour backbench MPs are now behaving like the worst of Tory rebels under Theresa May . Karl Turner doing his best Mark Francois impersonation now on #r4today These Labour rebels clearly want to install a Reform govt and they are going to get their wish 🙄

🙄🙄🫣

Striking Resident Doctor asked if he cares about the impact he is having on patients and our NHS this Christmas :- “I do care what patients think, I really do care, yes I do care” . Sounds as though he’s even having a problem convincing himself 🙄 Shameful #R4today

GB News Emma can hardly contain her delight and excitement that the resident doctors strike has gone ahead “It’s on !!, let’s go live to the picket line” #R4today

🤬😡 Doctor strikes ‘will leave elderly patients stranded at Christmas’ www.thetimes.com/article/5352...

Extraordinary stat from Reed employment guy on #R4today . Business hiring a young trainee on 40 hours a week would have to pay over £26,000 a year . Utterly ridiculous . No wonder unemployment rising

Striking doctors are amazingly far out of touch with the public on this. They're cynically targeting the winter NHS pinch point, amid rising flu, like tube drivers trying to wreck Christmas retail sales. It's tin-eared.

“I’m touring the country with my ‘Lucy Listens’ event” says Powell 🙄. Listening to it’s less than 200,000 members rather than the electorate, isn’t going to stop Farage #R4today