[Youngian]

The prime minister was hoping to use the US president’s state visit, which begins on Tuesday, as a platform to refocus attention on his economic and foreign policy agenda.

After last week's violation of NATO air space in Poland, Trump going to be talking tough towards Putin on his visit. Just kidding.
If Starmer's ambition is really to deepen the UK's military and economic ties with the US maybe he should walk the plank.

[The Weeping Angel]

Er. Not sure about this. As prices are regulated, the VAT cut shouldn't be passed on to bill payers. But what's going to be taxed instead, if you can't raise any of the big taxes? Or are they belatedly giving up on that?

BTL comments are as spectacularly gobshite Bluesky as you'd expect.

James Murray of Business Green has thoughts on this.

[The Weeping Angel]

On a similar note.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The energy cap seems to be about the same in real terms as last year.

[Tubby Isaacs]

James Murray of Business Green has thoughts on this.

Thanks. Happy to defer to him. He may be overestimating the support for incentivising heat pumps though.

[The Weeping Angel]

https://labourlist.org/2025/09/exclusiv ... well-lead/

The poll, which had 1,112 respondents also shows a devastating unfavourability rate among Labour members for Keir Starmer of -33 points. Just over a quarter of Labour members, 26 per cent, had a favourable view with 59 per cent unfavourable.

Overall, when asked if the Labour Party was going in the right direction just 25 per cent of members said yes, with 67 saying no.

Those who believe the party is going in the right direction back Phillipson 58 per cent to 19 percent for Powell. However, those who disagree back Powell 63 per cent to 15 per cent.

Phillipson previously topped our poll of members which shows that she had strong name recognition going into this contest. However, this correlation shows this contest is likely being seen as a referendum on the Party and its leadership – with Phillipson seen by members as Starmer’s favoured candidate.

One member summed up this sentim

ent when given the opportunity to comment. He had voted for Starmer in the 2020 contest but now feels:

[The Weeping Angel]

The idea that the Government was going to do anything but announce some business investment and usher Trump on his way seems very fanciful. Guess what? They can still announce all these extra high tech jobs in a deprived region.

The prime minister was hoping to use the US president’s state visit, which begins on Tuesday, as a platform to refocus attention on his economic and foreign policy agenda.

Instead Trump will arrive to meet a beleaguered prime minister who is under criticism from both the right and the left of the party. Allies of alternative leaders are talking up their candidates’ prospects of rescuing the government’s standing.

I'm sure Starmer wants to do better in the polls but this constant "PM was hoping to turn everything around this week, but now can't because of someone nobody's heard of" is pure journo narrative as news. Same thing happened with Brown who couldn't announce anything without it being a "failed relaunch" (as it happened there was some improvement in polls by the election). And with Sunak too, in fairness.

The bigger problem by far is the feeling that Starmer isn't up to the challenge from Yaxley-Lennon.

I'm reminded of Brown a lot in recent weeks; he's being bled by the media, and they've already made their mind up and want him gone.