Ed Donald

@takeiteqsy @PolitlcsUK @thetimes And I’d take Keir over Kier and Wes.

@PolitlcsUK @thetimes Ngl I’d rather take Kier over Wes. This is downgrading from a turd to a shit.

🚨 BREAKING: Allies of Wes Streeting say he is preparing to resign and trigger a leadership contest tomorrow [@thetimes]

If you've followed this account for a while, you'll know that when surveying the UK political landscape I reserve my deepest contempt for the Conservative Party. You might wonder why that is. After all I'm a small c conservative. Patriotic, keen on the nation state, understanding the importance of law and order and strong armed forces ready to defend our nation. A fan of low taxes, low public spending and a balanced budget. On benefits, giving a hand up for people when they need it, not a handout. Keen to encourage the private sector and especially small businesses. Suspicious of state bureaucracy. Happy with a small amount of selective immigration of people who will add something to our society, not detract from it. The problem is, the Conservative Party isn't any of these things any more. You might say: "Ah, but the Labour Party are even worse". And they are. But I don't expect anything better from them. I expect better from the Conservative Party - because I am a conservative, and expect them to be too. When Margaret Thatcher was in power, I was young and foolish and had all sorts of kind, but naive, liberal ideas. Decades have passed, and I have been cured of most of those, as a result of experiencing the world as it is rather than as I might like it to be. But just at the moment in time when I was ready to vote for a small c conservative party, the Conservative Party sailed past me in the opposite direction, en route to a kind of lily-livered, globalist, unpatriotic social democracy little different from the Blairite Labour Party. Not only that but I've watched the Conservative Party for 14 years break its promises over cutting immigration, seen it doing its best to obstruct Brexit, seen it do nothing to reverse the worst mistakes of the Blair government and its march of cultural Marxists through our institutions, watch it increase the tax burden on us, deplete our armed forces (while at the same time getting us embroiled in wars which didn't concern us), fail to deliver energy security, and get us involved in all sorts of liberal virtue signalling about the climate and overseas aid. Practically the only thing I can think of that they did well is the school reforms they introduced, but even those were somewhat scuppered by shutting schools in 2020 to hide from a virus which wasn't even a deadly threat to most adults, never mind children. So, when it comes to politics, I reserve my deepest hatred and vitriol for the Conservative Party. For 14 years of betrayal and broken promises. For failing to be the centre right party that Britain needed. For persuading Nigel Farage to stand down Brexit Party candidates in 2019 and then delivering a half-arsed Brexit, and an enormous wave of low skills immigration as a punishment for Brexit. I'll be happy if the Labour Party withers and dies in the next few years, but I'll be absolutely over the moon if the Conservative Party dies - because they betrayed me and so many people who voted for them - and the death of the party will mean that can never happen again.

@TERRYSA01766532 @SJP74 @PolitlcsUK He is also a dimwit.

@SJP74 @PolitlcsUK It's called politics you dim whit

🚨 BREAKING: Keir Starmer says he will not resign despite the "really tough" local election results "It hurts, and it should hurt, and I take responsibility. Tough days like this don’t weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised. They strengthen my resolve"

@StevePaul63 @mattletiss7 I agree Steve, introduce another tax, that ought to solve it.

multinational corporations happened. They abused the system by offshoring profits such that the tax revenue was reduced, meaning the average tax payer needed to pay more. If we were to force multinationals to pay a MINIMUM tax level in the UK based on revenues, we would be better off. Then we have a class of people who do not wish to work, hence are a drain on society. If any don't wish to work, they should be made to do 40 hours communal work a week -no lazing around. If they are foreigners and none of the parents work, they should be told: One of you MUST provide for the other or you must leave. Finally, we have too many people "working" in the public sector. Any with inclusivity or diversity in their job titles need to be sacked. Snivel service needs to be reduced by 30%. By taking those steps, we can maybe take a step in the right direction.

Taxes OH …UNITED KINGDOM This is very interesting. If I give you £1 billion and you stand on a street corner handing out £1 per second, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you would still not have handed out £1 billion after 31 years! Now read on. This is true and rather hard to really understand. The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases. 1. A billion seconds ago, it was 1959. 2. A billion minutes ago, Jesus was alive. 3. A billion hours ago, our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. 4. A billion days ago, no-one walked on the earth on two feet. 5. A billion Pounds ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes, at the rate our present government is spending it. We are charged: · Stamp Duty · Tobacco Tax · Corporate Income Tax · Income Tax · Council Tax · Unemployment Tax · Petrol/Diesel Tax · Inheritance Tax (tax on top of tax) · Alcohol Tax · G.S.T. · Property Tax · Purchase Property Tax · Tax on Title Searches · Tax on Building Inspections · Tax on supplements · Taxes on various food items · Taxes on Dining out · Tax on all utilities – Phone, hydro, water, waste disposal · Service charge taxes · Social Security Tax · Vehicle License / Registration Tax · Vehicle Sales Tax · Workers Compensation Tax · And now Carbon Tax AND I’m sure you can think of more... STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 60 years ago, and our nation was one of the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt. We had the largest middle class in the world. A criminal’s life was uncomfortable. What on earth happened?

In 2016, South Australia learned what happens when a grid leans too hard on the wind. The Aussie state led the world in renewable dependence, with about 40% of its electricity coming from wind. Then a strong storm hit, and no less than nine wind farms cut their output, removing more than 450 megawatts in a matter of seconds. That cumulative loss tripped the Heywood interconnector, and the entire state went dark - about 1.7 million people without power. An official AEMO report found the sudden reduction in wind output was the key driver of the system collapse. South Australia had to restart the grid using diesel black-start generators and gas power plants. A weather-dependent grid died in seconds, and only fossil fuels brought it back.

@Slfc05 @triffic_stuff_ I think they know it’s over as well.

@triffic_stuff_ They no it’s over STARMER has killed the party

Labour Orders Activists Not To Cry On Camera As Election Disaster Unfolds 😂😭 Keir Starmer’s team is in full panic mode ahead of the local elections, instructing activists to avoid cameras and hold back the tears as results come in. This desperate choreography reveals exactly how badly they expect to lose. They know a total wipeout is coming. Starmer is refusing to resign or set any timetable, even as backbenchers sharpen their knives. His days are clearly numbered. Once the dust settles, he will be the perfect fall guy, tossed aside for the usual “fresh start” and “lessons learned” spin. Get the popcorn ready!🍿

The brilliant @KathrynPorter26 obliterates the myth of ‘free electricity’ with @FraserMyers for @spikedonline. “It's very frustrating actually, to see people celebrating this… what it means is you're breaking the grid.”

@StiffNips2 @Bumpydog3 @stuey_beef No, I think he messed around with pensions to.

@Bumpydog3 @stuey_beef Didn't George Osborne mess around with pensions too?

The state pension is not a random government favour, it’s the back end of a 35–40 year compulsory “contract” where people are forced to hand over National Insurance on the clear promise of a basic pension at the end. Politicians and think tanks helped design an unfunded, pay‑as‑you‑go system where today’s workers pay today’s pensioners, then have the gall to call it “unsustainable” as if the public dreamt it up. If a private firm sold you a retirement product on fixed terms, took your money for four decades, then announced at 66 that you “didn’t really need it” and would henceforth be means‑tested or frozen, they would be in court for mis‑selling and fraud. The crisis here is not pensioners “leeching off the young”, it’s a political class that built a Ponzi‑style NI system, diverted the proceeds for other spending, and now wants to default on the people who kept their side of the bargain. You do not blame the victims of a defective product for believing the brochure; you go after the people who wrote it.

@MattWardel @afneil I’m definitely panicing.

@afneil It’s a pantomime! You’re telling me the strongest army in the world, with several nations backing it, can’t keep it open!? If they are not panicing than what does that tell you?

As I have written and commented on several times I am amazed that Europe in general and the UK in particular behaves as if it has no idea what’s in store for it if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed though May (which it will).

@Jaswanarth @DPJHodges @narindertweets Who caned her in The Strangers Bar? Just typical of the media, they never give masochists a fair crack of the whip.

@DPJHodges @narindertweets Such is the way of the world right now, you do realise that getting caned in The Strangers Bar is more likely to endear her to the British public?

There's something really creepy about a man writing about what a woman is doing when she's, presumably in her own time having a drink and he's stood just watching her.... Really disappointing @DPJHodges You have hounded Angela Rayner & Rachel Reeves for simple errors of judgment but said NOTHING about Farage and co. Pretty diabolical.

@emma_ese67 @PaulBrandITV Probably a word salad as well.

@PaulBrandITV Why ? Just more salary words 1. Diversity is our strength 2. I’ll smash the gangs 3. London is a safe City 4. Another £3.25 to support security around Synagogues 5. £6000M for Mosques 6. It’s the Far Rights fault 7. Trump is complicit Blah. Blah, blah.. 🤦‍♀️

BREAKING: The PM will address the nation from Downing Street in the next few minutes

Sarah Smith just said that the comments by our US ambassador were a diplomatic ‘SNAFU’! Does she know what that means? 😊

@StopEUOVERFISH @timmyvoe @YvetteCooperMP She has banned him as well.

So @YvetteCooperMP has band ian collard from testifying to the committee on mandelsons vetting ian bingo a main character in the whole debacle. I think I smell more cover-ups this goverment and the front bench are all upto their necks in this corruption we really need a legal criminal investigation into the goverment

Eh!? Why has Yvette Cooper stopped Ian Collard appearing before the Foreign affairs committee? 😳

I had to share this. If you haven’t seen this lady in action - you soon will !!! What a legend!!! THIS is the passion and honesty we desperately need in British Politics!! @SorchaEastwood 🇬🇧 I solute you Sorcha !

@maitlis @AllegroEddie Sir Olly Robbins said that his guiding principles came from two sources; the civil service code of conduct and the Book of Common Prayer. Both of which he had memorised. Does anyone else prefer these to the Fabian Society and the playbook of Peter Mandelson?

Whatever the outcome of this committee hearing #Robbins is coming across as a brilliant civil servant - who is entirely in control of the facts, the sensitivity, the code and the principles of his job. And he is exposing the PM as a leader who either didnt grasp the facts, ignored smart advice - or has chosen to appear outraged when he should not have been.

@RupaHuq Is this deflection or whataboutery? I can never remember the difference.

I was at the Prime Minister's important statement on the Peter Mandelson scandal. Mistakes were made but the Tory party are all about faux outrage when they presided over scandal after scandal They even had no anti-corruption tsar after last one resigned following Boris blunders

Does anyone think that the PM now regrets sacking Sir Olly Robbins? Must only be a matter of time before he sacks someone in the Cabinet Office for advising him to sack Olly.

@BethRigby Is that what you would like the public to still think?

Asking Labour figures if this materially changes the position of the PM now. One tells me "not materially - but picking this fight was unwise, several new flanks opened, doesn’t feel like it’s going away any time soon" And another tells me it leaves the civil service distraught but the public will prob still think, for all the ins and outs and timeline, the PM should have been told and wasn't

Can we arrange for Olly Robins to become our Foreign Secretary please?