DO13SSS 💙

Mother of 5 kept more than busy on a day to day basis (even though they are ‘grown up’, part time worker @theWISHcentre. Posts here are a reflect my own views.

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

Fun day hunting #snoopy - missed 2 #rain

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

Trip to London today only robbery was the train tickets up! And didn’t have time for the Snoopy’s today 🥲

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@forwardnotback I am very excited to do it. We did one in Wales - saw 50 of them 💕

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@GeorgeThe9th @tubemapper Because he is a ‘collector’ and bought it. He didn’t just find it!

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@welshroots @SandyofSuffolk I do and always put that I am gonna vote reform - even though I would in a million years 😂

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

It’s no wonder people drive their cars. Train home from London minimum £20, coach £30 and then the getting into London cost. I can drive there and back on £30 petrol at my own convenience 😡

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@RoddyQC @balconyshirts one for you

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

The £2 cap on bus fares - a vital lifeline for those of us who need buses to get about - could be scrapped by Rachel Reeves. Want the Government to protect our buses? Sign the petition today! https://t.co/bSgmKGF7wd

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@TheMuckzZ 😂😂

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@pandocruises Margarita

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@autcareandshare Now I am singing it 😆

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@VictoriaCoren @BBCTwo We have just spent a week in Cornwall with such bad WiFi and 4g we have had to talk to each other, play games and make proper plans for meeting.

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

Some sensible (and making sense) thoughts on the recent whip removal

[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.

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@roastbeefjohnny I did actually have to go check that this wasn’t true. Phew!

[Peter Stefanovic @PeterStefanovi2]

UK News Shows are failing to point out teachers’ pay is whopping 9% lower in real terms than 2010 with cuts even larger for more experienced workers in the profession

Teachers are taking on 2nd jobs & using food banks

If you think that’s important RT
@NEUnion @DanielKebedeNEU

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@LymWild @LymoTweetUp @RoyalSocBio In New Milton too

[Edwin Hayward @edwinhayward]

Considering that several seats were won or lost yesterday by margins of way less than 100 votes, don't let anyone ever tell you in future that voting isn't important, they feel powerless to effect change, or it won't make a difference.

It is. They can. It will.

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

2 results with only 53% turnout! #2024election

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

@MonkEmma @carolvorders Because it looks like they can’t be beaten it feels more important that everyone goes out and votes to at least reduce their majorities by a significant amount.

[DO13SSS 💙 @Sandowler]

Good job we didn’t listen to the critics and too late for the rest of you - but @eddieizzard was amazing in #Hamlet today.