[Tubby Isaacs]

Nothing says "I'm definitely right about this" like an off the record briefing to Guido Fawkes,

[Youngian]

I thought it was normal for posted workers to pay NI on their earnings abroad in their home country? When I worked in France in 2016 one of the very few forms I had to fill in then was a statement to the French government declaring that I would do this.

It is although there was a lot of griping about posted workers in France. EU foreign workers in France have won a series of court cases against sectors putting some seriously feeble contrived barriers to keep them out of the labour market.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I recall some Lexit stuff about the "posted workers directive" back in the day.

[Tubby Isaacs]

In fairness to the Lexiters, there does seem to have been a rather bad ECJ decision that rightly provoked a lot of concern.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ha ha. Simon Hart, the Chief Whip, could testify to where Kemi's attention was.

[Crabcakes]

The problem Badenoch has now is that she’s been caught out so many times that this could be true, but no one would believe her.

For the record, I don’t believe her either. But being in that scenario so soon into your leadership is absolutely disastrous. And for the rest of us, hilarious.

[Tubby Isaacs]

You can understand why Kemi went with the WFA at PMQs instead of this rubbish.

Except that when she ran for leadership in 2022 she supported the same policy.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... ents-2022/

[Tubby Isaacs]

Kemi, seemingly just on the basis of Donald Trump posting some figures, says the UK has been "shafted" by the deal.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Not just Trump who's been taken in by some tariff cuts, by the look of it.

I really can't believe Badenoch steamed in without seeing the deal properly. She was the Trade Secretary. I think she's going to be pushed out soon.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Good stuff by Sunder Katwala on how mad Kemi is. And a politically awkward story from 2018, where she praised Theresa May for liberalizing visas. 2018 Kemi was right. 2025 Kemi is supporting an absolute nonsense of a policy on capping visas. If people think Labour are like the Tories (or Reform) on immigration, they aren't paying attention.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Here we go. Looks like a third trade agreement in two weeks she's going to oppose. All for a "when Labour negotiates, Britain loses" soundbite.

Good luck with being the party of not selling out fishermen too.

[Andy McDandy]

"To my satisfaction".

[Youngian]

How many Brexit true believers on the Tory benches are nativist populists instead of Randist free marketers? The latter like Hannon and Redwood are not going to like Kemi's posturing against these trade deals.

[RedSparrows]

How many Brexit true believers on the Tory benches are nativist populists instead of Randist free marketers? The latter like Hannon and Redwood are not going to like Kemi's posturing against these trade deals.

This is the tension at the heart of all populist idiocy and I'm curious as to when it'll finally explode.

[Tubby Isaacs]

"To my satisfaction".

To its credit in opposition, Labour didn't really bother too much with pulling apart Kemi's deals. But I'm sure that had it been minded to, they could have found some sectors that were (in Kemi's new slang) "shafted".

Both parties believe in as much free trade as they can get without Freedom of Movement. The public hates argument for its own sake, so why do that here? Say it's not ambitious enough or whatever, that's fine but "Starmer gives your job to Indians" isn't. Oliver Dowden's first reaction to the India announcement was positive, which suggests to me this is Kemi going off half cock.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Good Lord. The numbers are coming down anyway, even if no changes are made at all. How can she not know this?

Badenoch claims Starmer not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration
Kemi Badenoch has claimed that Keir Starmer is not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration.

[davidjay]

Good Lord. The numbers are coming down anyway, even if no changes are made at all. How can she not know this?

Badenoch claims Starmer not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration
Kemi Badenoch has claimed that Keir Starmer is not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration.

She does, but Labour = immigrants is being pushed into the public psyche every bit as much as Labour = peedos.

[Youngian]

Demand for labour is the biggest determinant of immigration numbers. These Conservatives aren't very well informed about the workings of the free market.

[Bones McCoy]

Good Lord. The numbers are coming down anyway, even if no changes are made at all. How can she not know this?

Badenoch claims Starmer not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration
Kemi Badenoch has claimed that Keir Starmer is not sincere about wanting to reduce immigration.

She does, but Labour = immigrants is being pushed into the public psyche every bit as much as Labour = peedos.

And Immigration - along with violent crime - is a number that only ever rises. As any tabloid reading fule kno!

[Killer Whale]

And currently, immigration = 'fighting age young men' arriving in 'small boats'. This is far from any kind of truth, obviously, but it suits all kinds of narratives to keep the lie going.