Christopher Nash

Non-Exec Director at technology companies working to improve the environment, climate change and health care.

[Ian Dunt @IanDunt]

Oh I see, he said it out loud

[Edwin Hayward @edwinhayward]

It is absolutely ridiculous to throw out the slur that Labour want to keep children in poverty simply because they didn't lift the 2-child benefit cap within their first 18 days in office after 5,174 days in opposition.

One does not imply the other - that's a lazy, lazy argument.

Look at the full context:

1. This was a vote on the Kings Speech, the first and most high profile vote since Labour took office (and for a long time to come). A rebellion was obviously therefore going to be deeply embarrassing - and the rebels were absolutely aware of that.

2. Labour ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. This was clear as daylight to every Labour candidate. It's not some wild swerve foisted on them after the election was won.

3. Labour are working at speed to produce a full picture of the economic situation the Tories left us in. That should be published before the summer recess. Things may look different within days. (For better or worse? We'll have to await the report.)

4. Labour have said they are reviewing concrete action to alleviate child poverty. Are the rebels claiming they're lying?

5. Senior Labour figures have indicated the 2-child benefit cap is potentially part of the wider review.

6. This was an SNP amendment. Supporting it was pure performative politics. It was never going to pass in a trillion years.

7. To come back to where we started, not voting for the amendment is not the same as seeking to keep children in poverty, wanting to keep children in poverty, planning to keep children in poverty, delighting in keeping children in poverty, or whatever other emotional framing lazy people choose to resort to instead of making a logical analytical argument.

A painful related truth: the hard Left of the party has a problem. They need to stay visible to stay relevant. It's like sharks have to keep swimming or they die. (That's a metaphor. It doesn't mean I think they're sharks. Sigh.) They therefore thrive on outrage farming just as much as those on the other extreme of politics, even though their actual political views are poles apart. One way to increase that visibility very quickly is to pick opportunities to have highly visible fights with the core party and the leadership.

That's what happened last night. Nothing more. Nothing less. No nefarious plot to keep children in poverty (or "starving" as the even more emotionally manipulative put it).

Starmer had two choices:
1) Let the rebellion go
2) Take strict action

1) would have given every group and faction within Labour the green light to start creating their own version of the ERG, Common Sense Group, or whatever they wanted to call themselves. Soon, the party would be as riven as the Tories were. Imagine herding those cats for the next 5 years!

Instead, by doing 2), Starmer called the bluff of people who knew exactly what they were doing.

Did Starmer's action indicate Labour won't lift the cap? No. It told us nothing of the sort.

Did Starmer's action indicate Labour are fine with child poverty? No. It told us nothing of the sort.

If in a few months - around the Autumn statement or shortly thereafter - Labour are still grinding their gears on child poverty without any progress, then you have the right to be aggrieved.

But 18 days into their term of office, and after all the clear signals they're trying to do the right thing as swiftly as prudence allows? Get over yourself.

[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

"Trump is way more incoherent, way more ignorant."

Piers Morgan made fun of Biden for getting people's names wrong. So I reminded him of all the times that Trump has gotten names wrong.

Take just over a minute to watch+share this clip.
Full interview: https://t.co/mnbHyTfDyI

[David__Osland @David__Osland]

Four and five year prison sentences for non-violent Just Stop Oil protestors. No punishment whatsoever for dodging a £3.7m tax bill, selling useless PPE to the NHS, repeatedly dumping sewage in rivers or knowingly fitting flammable cladding to Grenfell Tower.

[☕️Carol Hedges 💙💛(also at @caroljhedges) @riotgrandma72]

👏❤️😸👏❤️😸👏❤️

VERY GOOD!

@Keir_Starmer in the Guardian

( and no, I am not a Labour member and I didn’t vote Labour… nu?)

[Popular Liberal 🇺🇸 @PopularLiberal]

BOOM: Jasmin Crockett brilliantly dissected the differences between federal law, state law, and government. She easily dismantled Jim Jordan's misguided anti-law stance, wasting no time in exposing the true intentions of the Republican party: to shield a FRAUD con man rather than serve the American people.

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

Starmer and Southgate....competent, decent, dignified...what Brits used to be known for... before the clowns and chancers grabbed the steering wheel. Hope returns...

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@eddiemarsan Brexiteers dilemma....

[Julie @julhat]

How true this is 🕊️

[Deborah Meaden 🇺🇦 @DeborahMeaden]

Perfect .

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@toryboypierce @ConHome You led them there....

[Andrew Pierce @toryboypierce]

Now #rishisunak poll rating on @ConHome falls to record low of minus 27.7%. I fear the situation is going to get even worse for the Tories

[James O'Brien @mrjamesob]

This is such a key point. Austerity, Brexit, Johnson & Truss have trashed every single thing of value & importance.

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@Jacob_Rees_Mogg Smaller and poorer because of Brexit, Jacob...your legacy. Don't add "planet boiler" to "flat earther"....your maker will judge you for that too...

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

In a democratic society, we should have the right to hold a placard in protest, without fear of imprisonment. Read more about those standing with #TrudiWarner https://t.co/2EdcXxVfp0

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@R0BT8T @QprEver Hiding....

[Marina Purkiss @MarinaPurkiss]

It’s hard to know who and what to trust these days…

But this incredible clip nails it

Simply:

Don’t trust idiots

And how do you spot an idiot?

Look for the people who are cruel…

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@IsabelOakeshott Why don't you stand, and sort it out?

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@Jenny_1884 For the worst, after Brexit...small minded and poorer...in decline.

[Christopher Nash @CNash20]

@R0BT8T @QprEver Na, hiding....no courage.