Mailwatch(ed) Forum

HMG covering 50% of your wage (do the sums*) for the first 2 years. That helps employers to focus.

* Little or not a lot in benefits going out. Myriad taxes flowing in.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2 ... gs-inquiry

Keir Starmer makes U-turn mid-air over grooming gangs inquiry

Since Louise Casey’s “fast track” report into the matter of the so-called “grooming gangs” atrocities in very recent history (actually the organised and systematic sexual abuse of vulnerable children and the victims’ execrable treatment by local authorities charged with their protection/care) formally recommended a national public enquiry, it seems clear that the Prime Minister has no real alternative but to accept Casey’s recommendation, despite having previously rejected calls from the opposition to do so.

Politically, Louise Casey sits in the House of Lords nominally as an independent peer on the cross benches (which is why she seems to be the trusted “go-to” independent choice to produce similar public reports on other sensitive matters. However, with her track record as the head of Shelter and of working closely with Labour politicians at local and national level leading the Rough Sleepers task force, as well as her work on reporting on the Metropolitan Police and elsewhere, an assumption that Ms Casey’s political sympathies may lean broadly in a leftward direction may not be entirely wide of the mark. I am therefore a little surprised, not that Casey has drawn the conclusions that she has, but that in doing so she would not have been alive to the political consequences of arriving at the conclusion of making a recommendation of a national public enquiry for Starmer and his government. I don’t suggest for a second that Starmer was expecting Casey to agree with his rejection of a national public enquiry, but he may just have anticipated that, or at any rate hoped for it.

But, there you have it. Predictably, Badenoch is calling for a formal public apology from the PM.

But can Labour turn this into a political win ?

In one respect, Casey’s recommendation and Starmer’s decision ought to help spike the guns of Farage/Reform UK and indeed Badenoch and Jenrick, who have been seeking brazenly to imply that the issue is entirely one about race, and by extension, immigration (which it is not), and to weaponise it in pursuit of far-right “hard-of-thinking” votes .

It is to be hoped that the new enquiry will not delay for too long the implementation of the recommendations of the Jay Report.

I note that one of Badenoch's senior advisors was Safeguarding Minister for 10 months, Rachel McClean. Is she among the multitudes Chris Philp thinks should be locked up? The Tories btw had 4 different ministers in 3.5 months at one stage. Is that cover up or something else? Just asking questions.

Rachel McClean is in the Lords now. Absolutely vile woman.

Wasn’t there something about the cost of any enquiry “spaffing money up the wall”?

Ah but that was comedy funtime Boris, and who needs expensive inquiries when tar, feathers, rope and sturdy trees are readily available?

Shocking from "Starmer" here. I think that's actually a Canadian military helicopter taking him to the G7 meeting, as part of the host's responsibilities. Even if it isn't, any reason why the PM might not ride around on public buses?

And a couple of people BTL point out that traveling in military helicopters might not be the last word in passenger luxury. Otherwise, great effort by Peston.

Maybe Peston was the pompous tabloid reporter in Hot Metal (80s sit com satire of Fleet Street) who'd announce "Her majesty's press" on arrival.

A commenter BTL on Mail Online suggested that Starmer should apologise to Tommy Robinson, of all people...

Youngian wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 5:26 pm Maybe Peston was the pompous tabloid reporter in Hot Metal (80s sit com satire of Fleet Street) who'd announce "Her majesty's press" on arrival.

Greg Kettle.

This is good.

https://bsky.app/profile/queensparkkare ... pgun5c522v

Boiler wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 5:46 pm A commenter BTL on Mail Online suggested that Starmer should apologise to Tommy Robinson, of all people...

For riding a helicopter?

So we know more about the deal with Trump. Which may surprise a few people on social media who said there wasn't actually a deal, just some words to save face for Starmer and Trump (between whom they see little difference). The deal doesn't seem to involve scrapping digital taxes, "offering up the NHS" or indeed chlorinated chicken.

It's amazing how the Telegraph are transformed from huge liars into an impeccable source to be shared with your followers when they're talking about someone you don't like, isn't it? Make something which isn't a quote sound like a quote. Add in replies, you've got Streeting bringing in a US-style insurance based system by next week.

I'd remove Streeting in the next reshuffle because I think he's unnecessarily provocative to lots of people who vote Labour. But the quote seems to be about using the private sector to tackle the backlog. Which was something they said. ages ago, and (provided long term capacity is improved) not something most people would object to.

Check out the replies to this. When did all these goons appear on Bluesky?

I suspect that with Trump, Starmer and Mandelson are invoking D'Israeli's mantra on royalty and flattery.

Here's another of the "bloke I think is full of shit says something about someone I don't like" genre, with Maurice Gasman.

Perhaps we'd worry less about Maurice Glasman's influence if we weren't constantly being told how influential he is, with very little evidence?

Starmer did a good job of surviving a drive by killing with some mild wounds but whatever trade deal terms Trump's promising this week aren't even good as the WTO terms they're replacing.
And any deeper embedding of defence and security with the US reeks of irresponsible short term tactics. What the fuck is the UK even doing developing a nuclear submarine strategy in the Asia Pacific region?

It's not the only laughable bit of this, but I see that Richard Murphy was denying there was a trade deal with Trump a few days ago. I wasn't aware Reeves had said she'd solved all the problems, but you live and learn. I thought the (bad) "household budget analogy" was playing down that governments can and should borrow. But now it seems like anybody who thinks there could be limits on borrowing or printing money is falling for a dastardly con trick.

"Reform politics', apart from Reform calling for massive spending and tax cuts.

With the caveat that the Treasury produced the UK figures, not the OBR or IFS, Glen makes a good point here. I see Starmer's in trouble with the loons for picking up some paper Trump dropped. They'll be saying Starmer is literally Trump by tmrw.