That Starmer fella...

So they weren't "preparing themselves for government" until they walked into number 10, got ya

They managed to piss off about every group possible in a month or so, finished with roundhouse kicking the pensioners. Quite something, Truss must be secretly jealous.

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean

Labour MPs take donations - no one cares, so they continue to do it for a few years - suddenly it all blows up when they get into government. It was naive to take the donations without thinking about how the right wing press would treat it, even if they were willing to ignore it at the time of the actual donations.

But it isn't something that's all happened within the last 12 weeks. They didn't say "now that we're in government let's fill our boots".

There's no contradiction there. I don't personally give a fuck about bad optics, that doesn't mean I don't recognise them as bad optics.

Also, because it's not worth a separate reply: leading questions aren't evidence. Poetry less so

They didn't say "now that we're in government let's fill our boots".

Obvs I didn't mean that to be read literally, it was just a little comic aside.

Point being though (and what I meant by 'preparing for government') was that they knew they were likely heading to Westminster for years ahead of the election. During that time, they modified their behaviour (particularly in their approach to public messaging which was insanely (small-c) conservative) so as not to stoke any ill will from the press. Apparently, no one appeared to think to apply that same level of discipline to things like taking kickbacks from your buddies, and the fact that no one did augurs badly.

The most upsetting thing about this froth is that we're not talking about the serious fundamental issues raised by Starmer and his team.

I for one ask us to keep in mind the legitimate issues facing us as a country.

WHY have they not yet released our sausages?

I hear that they are being kept in freezing conditions, underground, often after being hit with hammers.

...

Meets trump for a dinner of sausages , doesn't meet Kamala due to diarrhea challenges, a sign of things to come?

It is beginning to look that Labour are poor at doing politics. After Partygate and the Tories' barely concealed corruption, could not the Labour party have said 'We're not a party that accepts free stuff'. Thus claiming the moral high ground as well as recognising that we're all crooked wood and seriously open to free stuff. This would have seriously enabled the party to outflank the Tories.
All politicians aren't the same but humans get tempted. So let's change the rules.

could not the Labour party have said 'We're not a party that accepts free stuff'

Sure, they could have said it. They could have said a lot of things. I wonder why this would have been one of the most important things to say, given how practically impossible it would have been to do.

"do you want this free shit?"
"no thanks"

practically impossible.

Who amongst us hasn't accepted £3,400 worth of designer spectacles form Lord Alli?

The prime minister has had a two-hour dinner with former US President Donald Trump in New York.

prepare for more expense claims. trump has an aversion to paying for things himself doesn't he.

The fact that client journos have been able to so easily play us all with this shit is truly sad. Comparing gifts (at no cost to the tax payer) with the rampant dishonest and self-serving behaviour we've seen in the last 14 years is madness. We deserve everything we get.

Do you think the majority of things listed were requested? Or could be stopped? Step into any commercial office anywhere on the planet and you'll find stacks of unsolicited shite / tickets / invites / hospitality offers that have come through the door. Compiling a list of what you received doesn't equate to condoning it.

Yes of course, this is the exact shape of all gifts bestowed / offered on every facet of the Labour Party. How stupid of me.

Meets trump for a dinner of sausages , doesn't meet Kamala due to diarrhea challenges, a sign of things to come?

Soss mess Starmer dumps Trump for lumps

Step into any commercial office anywhere on the planet and you'll find stacks of unsolicited shite / tickets / invites / hospitality offers that have come through the door. Compiling a list of what you received doesn't equate to condoning it.

Depends where you work. In professional services, you are now allowed to accept very little, things like meals, gifts and corporate hospitality have been cut way back and are subject to pre-approval and very strict monetary limits, offers to pay for travel/accommodation costs are generally verboten. The days of old boys backslapping and sharing out the contracts and quid pro quos are not totally gone, but massively constrained.

And where are the guidelines on this to be found? In the anti-bribery and corruption policy, because that's what taking freebies from people looks like. And if you are in a position of influence and where you too can potentially be influenced, you might want to give a shit about the optics.

Id gift Angela Rayna, phwoar buye.a council house luv, why does starmer speak through his nose? Seems rather stuffy

Are you being a silly, sexist sausage?

Depends where you work. In professional services, you are now allowed to accept very little, things like meals, gifts and corporate hospitality have been cut way back and are subject to pre-approval and very strict monetary limits, offers to pay for travel/accommodation costs are generally verboten.

Yes, and the key word here is 'accept'. Much of what's listed isn't used, but the rules require it's catalogued and assigned a monetary value (glasses and suits notwithstanding).

Although if I'm honest, I'd rather Keir looked peng in nice suits and designer glasses. Man's got a big job on.

https://iandunt.substack.com/p/ok-so-what-the-hell-actually-is-labours

Isabel Oakeshott suggesting there is an 'open secret' about Starmer and the gifts that will emerge, the press are playing with it. Seems weirdly specific rather than the usual rambling nonsense she comes out with.

Waheed Alli is going to be outed as Starmer's lover.

What she is driving at is that he has a child outside his marriage (supposedly).

If Isabel Oakeshott knew anything she would immediately blab it.