Chris Bowden

‘I don't know what Reform's policy on international trade and protectionism is; because they don't…’ On Planet Normal, @WilliamClouston tells @AllisonPearson and @LiamHalligan why he thinks Reform have hit their polling ceiling 🎧👇 telegraph.co.uk/planet-normal/

Well articulated. I agree with every word of it. 45ish years ago, a few Labour MPs split from the main party and formed the SDP. For all those disaffected Labour voters and members who are wondering where people who care about jobs and homes and decent lives for decent working people: the SDP are still there. I joined a year ago and I'm delighted. We're growing fast, and we need your help. Whether you want to join and help us grow even faster of just sign up to get some updates - have a look: sdp.org.uk Labour are not Labour anymore. But there is a party for you. See you there.

This has turned into an angry rant. Apologies. I admire you if you get to the end. But @UKLabour this is all on you. I am so utterly despairing of the mediocrity, dishonesty, lack of ideology, selfishness, cowardice, self indulgence, and complete incompetence of this government under @Keir_Starmer 400 MPs. A huge majority. But no plan. No idea. No direction. Crisis after crisis. Sleaze, followed by U- turn, followed by lies, followed by scandal. No proactive answers, just reacting day after day to messes of their own making. I'd have respect if they actually *believed* in something. But they don't. They have nothing. No strategy. Just endless platitudes which mean nothing. Imagine having 14 years to come up with a plan and this is what we get? Imagine this being the best that Britain can do? These wasters are so obsessed with being liked, with pleasing themselves, the back benchers, their unions or other interests, they haven't the backbone or intelligence to do what's right for the country. And the gas lighting. Starmer having the cheek to tell us yesterday he's "stabilised" the economy. The talk of inflation being "under control". They've made those things worse, under the decisions of the glorified accountant @RachelReevesMP creating utter chaos and a dire economic situation, yet not only do they not take responsibility, they tell us everything is going great. No one feels it's great. You've raised a different tax every TEN days you've been in government. You're fleecing people until the peeps squeak. Unemployment is up. Business closures up. Borrowing costs up. Debt interest up. You've flailed around with ill- thought out decisions which belong in student politics, and are in such a bubble you don't even realise, or worse you do, and don't care. The cabinet are a joke, the back benchers part of the lanyard class, there's barely any real world experience between them, and they prefer ideological wars with wealth instead of doing what's best for the country. Do any of you think any of this will change if Starmer goes? I doubt it. Spending won't be reduced, the back benchers in their gilded gold plated lives will see to that. Taxes won't be reduced. Bills won't be reduced. Benefits will still cost billions. It'll be more of the same with just a different face selling it, and lying to us all. No wonder people don't vote. No wonder those who do go elsewhere. You'd probably call them the 'far right' as that's easy fodder for you. You're so entrenched in your world view, you can't possibly talk to these disillusioned people. Just call them far- right then stay in your bubble, that's easier isn't it? Starmer says he wants to 'get on with governing'. What does that even mean? More words. More telling us about 'change' and big ideas, when none are forthcoming. Oh, unless it's a tax rise, or more restrictions on business. Those ideas are easily thrown around. Anything that actually makes the UK economically stronger, or gives those with ambition a chance to thrive, they're nowhere to be seen. And this is it Britain. We're stuck with them. But as far as I am concerned, and how I am feeling at the moment, @Ed_Miliband @DavidLammy @bphillipsonMP @wesstreeting @AngelaRayner @LucyMPowell @SteveReedMP @YvetteCooperMP @ShabanaMahmood @darrenpjones and all the rest of you can get in the bin. And now, breathe.