mark barber

@Peston What is clear that we do not have the military capacity for any sort of long drawn out conflict, as the lack of resources in Cyprus is showing. The US is helping against Ukraine, but I would expect that to be scaled back

Starmer: “This government does not believe in regime change from the skies.” So said the PM to the “father of the House of Commons”, the Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh, about why UK jets are not bombing Iran. This was the prime minister declaring independence from the US President Donald Trump. It was a big moment. Starmer made two significant points to MPs this afternoon. First that Trump’s and Netanyahu’s war on Iran is illegal, so he was sure the UK could not and would not participate in it. Second he made clear that Trump has no plan to bring peace and stability to Iran, as and when the war ends, and this was a second reason why the UK could not join offensive action against Iran. In arguing this case, he made explicit reference to the debacle in Iraq after the US and UK invasion. All of this is a point of significant tension between Starmer and the leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch. She argues Tehran is such a threat to Middle East and global security that Starmer should have given more explicit support to Trump and Israel, including putting UK military bases at the disposal of US bombers from the outset. For what it’s worth, the PM has much of the House of Commons on his side but a significant proportion of the UK’s security and military establishment against him. There is a critique of Starmer, that I have heard from soldiers and spies, that the British national interest should be less about following international law and more about a hard-nosed assessment of how to keep the country safe and secure. This war is dividing parliament, the military and the country. It has also, for the first time, seen Starmer siding very explicitly with France’s Macron and Germany’s Merz and distancing himself also explicitly from the American president. The consequences of choosing Europe over Trump and America will go well beyond this war, hugely important as that war is.

@BoldlyUnpopular @PolitlcsUK Not just foreign policy… all labour policy is re-active, more worried about press optics than positive policy

@PolitlcsUK These WhatsApp messages reveal that Labour’s foreign policy is increasingly reactive rather than principled, driven by electoral fear, internal optics, and factional pressures rather than a coherent strategy.

🚨 NEW: Wes Streeting has published his WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson "I am toast at the next election" [28/03/2025, 11:36:06] Wes Streeting: I fear we're in big trouble here - and I am toast at the next election. We just lost our safest ward in Redbridge (51% Muslim, Ilford S) to a Gaza independent. At this rate I don't think we'll hold either of the two Ilford seats. [28/03/2025, 11:39:54] Wes Streeting: There isn't a clear answer to the question: why Labour? [28/03/2025, 11:48:44] Lord Mandelson: The government doesn't have an economic philosophy which is then followed through in a programme of policies. [28/03/2025, 11:49:15] Wes Streeting: No growth strategy at all "Israel is committing war crimes" [24/07/2025, 23:00:29] Wes Streeting: Am sure this will come up in coming days, so wanted to check in with you on recognition of Palestine and the domestic politics of it. Keir's statement today was excellent, but Macron's statement tonight ups the ante. Morally and politically, I think we need to join France. Morally, because Israel is committing war crimes before our eyes. Their government talks the language of ethnic cleansing and I have met with our own medics out there who describe the most chilling and distressing scenes of calculated brutality against women and children. Politically, a Commons vote will be engineered in September on recognition and we will lose it if we're not ahead of it. There are no circumstances in which people like me or Shabana could abstain or vote against, for example. Conference will be a sea of Palestinian flags and the moderates will be waving them. We need to be leading the charge on this. The alternative is being dragged there with enormous damage to Keir, the govt and the party. I've never been a shrinking violent on Israel. I've supported LFI for over 20 years. Our sister party, Haaretz, and progressives are clear about what's being done in their name and they oppose it. I appreciate these things are always more complicated than they appear to those of us who aren't up close as you are and I also appreciate how much Keir and David are giving to this personally. But it is what it is. We need to lead, not follow. [24/07/2025, 23:11:47] Lord Mandelson: I can see all this but I am worried that such a gesture now could blow a 2 SS out of the water if Israel decided that unilateral recognition justified further WB annexation which the US would be powerless to stop or reverse. That would be the end of it. So I think we need to employ practical means to get a 2SS, not quickly I grant but realistically. The PA with reform and new leadership can advance this with Arab/US/European support. The alternative is a further deadlocked death spiral on an even greater scale than now. [24/07/2025, 23:12:10] Wes Streeting: Israel is doing it anyway. [24/07/2025, 23:12:39] Wes Streeting: This is rogue state behaviour. Let them pay the price as pariahs with sanctions applied to the state, not just a few ministers.

@MORGANSRJ @Jenny_1884 Totally agree 25% employer contributions are unsustainable. Pension contributions account for 8 percent of the precept in my Parish

@Jenny_1884 Almost £1 in every £4 goes on gold plated pensions. I would say that the local government pension scheme needs to be looked at.

Councils are going bankrupt not because they don’t receive enough money from the hardworking taxpayers it’s the fact they mis-manage the money they receive. Who agrees?

@stevepowerdj So where are you taking it Steve? Best show on the radio bar none for many years

How are you enjoying the penultimate Teenage Kicks....on Wave 105?

🥂 a big thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout 2023. Here’s to a fantastic 2024 🍾 📩 lorraine@wincombepayrolls.co.uk #newyear2024 #thankyou #appreciation #payroll #payrollservices #autoenrolment #pensions #payrolloutsourcing #wincombepayrolls

Wow your runs for @PurbrookCC have led to this!! Happy birthday James

Happy birthday to me

➡️ ‘Talent’ - everyone has it, but not without hard work, dedication and the right mindset . . . What’s your #talent? . . . I do #payroll 👊 Look how fantastic these unique sand sculptures are, days of #hardwork with an impressive end result, such talent! #sculpture #sme

➡️ #easter break is a perfect time for #reflection, it can be scary but necessary for #growth 📍what do you want to do more/less of? 📍what are you proud of? want to improve? please, don’t forget how far you have come! are you #refocusing on any #goals? #refocus #sme #payroll

06/04 is the start of a new tax year, here are a couple of Tax and #payroll allowance changes 23/24 📌additional tax rate @ 45% has reduced to £125,140 📌pension annual allowance ⬆️ to £60k Keep being informed to make the right decisions #wincombepayrolls #businessowner #sme

➡️ do you have hills to climb this month? . . . with the start of a new tax year fast approaching, is your #payroll ready? is payroll giving you a headache? 😖 🤔 . . . let’s chat 💬 #payrolloutsourcing #wincombepayrolls #newtaxyear #opportunity #change #people #hr #staffing #sme

➡️ 🆕 . . . 01/04 The UK National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increases today, have you carried out a staff pay review 💭 ? #nmw #payrollservices #thepayrollva #payroll #sme #management #businessowner #payrollmanagement #payroll #payrolloutsourcing #wincombepayrolls

➡️ it’s arrived! 🙌 delighted to have received my certificate for passing my CIPP advanced payroll qualification, it’ll take pride of place in our office! #businessowner #customerexperience #Management #payrollservices #payroll #sme #outsoucingpayroll ? let’s chat 💬

The Club is delighted to announce we have received notification of our promotion to the Southern Premier Cricket League for the 2023 season. It is both reward and recognition for a huge effort and dedication shown on and off the field, past and present. Thanks to all involved.

A beautiful #rainbow over #craterlake #oregon yesterday @ORStateParks @TravelOregon we had such an amazing day, thank you

@parleycricket Cheers guys….👍

Congratulations Lorraine and Mark - a happy happy day!!

@Breamore_CC Very sad to think that this team will not be in existence next year…a great shame for local cricket and players @hantscl @HampshireCB

The Marsh looking an absolute picture this afternoon 👌💥

@Breamore_CC @HCLPlayerLoans @HampshireCB Are you still short…??

We’re currently 2 players short for our game on Saturday. If anybody would like a game please get in touch! @HCLPlayerLoans @HampshireCB

⁦@parleycricket⁩ …steff ends on 147 not out in a total of 262

@manasinha @parleycricket 3s win on last ball

@parleycricket Any updates from todays games ? @parleycricket

FIXTURES FOR NEXT SATURDAY ​Welcome to July. Not managed to see any games yet this season? Make it THIS Saturday. All support at any game is very welcome. Bring a sandwich and have a picnic.