[Tubby Isaacs]

This doesn't show me that the Government are behind public opinion at all. It shows me that they're susceptible to unscrupulous politicians like Davey and Streeting with this "Customs Union" bullshit. What red lines to Davey and Streeting want scrapped that Starmer insists on? I still don't know. As I say, it reminds me of the bullshit we got from Bozo that he'd get a better deal than May by being a bigger character. The EU isn't interested.

[The Weeping Angel]

I'd point out that initiatives such as lifting the 2-child benefit cap, implementing a child poverty strategy, expanding free school meals, and increasing the number of apprenticeships might also be considered social mobility strategies.

[The Weeping Angel]

Any reason apart from bad weather for the crossings reductions?
No point in boasting about a trend that you had no control over.

Sadly, it was the weather.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62d101y94wo

More than 800 migrants in 13 boats crossed the English Channel on Saturday, according to Home Office data.

The figure is a record for a December day in recent years, and is believed to be due to a backlog of people wanting to get across to Kent because of recent bad weather.

It takes the total for the year to 41,455 people, surpassing 2024, when there were 36,816 for the entire year.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better."

The 803 migrants were brought ashore at Dover by Border Force and RNLI vessels.

While the number of people making the dangerous journey across the Channel has risen more swiftly in 2025 than recent years, the yearly total has still not surpassed that of 2022, when 45,755 arrived.

The government statement added: "This Government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back."

Meanwhile, French authorities came to the assistance of several small boats attempting to make the crossing over the weekend. In a statement, external, the Maritime Prefecture of the English Channel and the North Sea said 151 people were rescued and taken back to France.

[Samanfur]

I'd have more sympathy if the landlords featured weren't being such gits.

Comparing themselves to NHS workers really shouldn't impress anyone sober.

And am I the only person getting fed up of how news organisations seem to want Streeting's opinion on every single issue at the moment?

[Tubby Isaacs]

You're not alone. Though the papers rather exaggerated his EU comments, he doesn't seem to be averse to putting all these opinions out there. For the first year or so, he mostly stuck to the day job. It's not going to do him any good.

[Tubby Isaacs]

This could be put under Andy Burnham's own thread, but Central Government have played their role too, so it can go here.

https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/manches ... 026-121925

There’s a public transport revolution going on in Manchester right now. Or should we say, devolution. Greater Manchester is taking back control over its transport and is on track to become the UK’s first fully integrated public transport system outside of London. It took back power over its buses in 2023 and now it's announced that this time next year, it’ll be adding trains to the network.

That's quite an undertaking. The timetable may slip but even if it's delayed a year here and there, it deserves praise.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says that 17 stations along the Glossop and Stalybridge lines will be incorporated in the network from December 13 2026, with more to follow in 2027 and 2028. TfGM plans to run more and later rail services on lines to Manchester airport, Alderley Edge in Cheshire and Rochdale in 2027, and from January 28, eight rail lines and 64 stations across the region will be fully integrated with Bee Network buses and trams. The remaining 32 will join by 2030.

I keep hearing about a lack of something called "vision" in the government. This sounds like "vision" to me.

Burnham certainly has qualities as a politician, and the practical stuff is sometimes more impressive than his rhetoric to me, which is a good way to be. He'll brand and sell this very effectively, which is by no means. a skill to be underestimated. What he will also have to do is make a case for tax rises locally to pay for the better services (extra riders probably won't do that). Livingstone did that successfully for a number of years when he took over London Overground, but then ran up against Bozo who ran on freezing the mayor's precept. So something to be wary of, but Burnham has the political skill to make it work.