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Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

Gutter Boy said:
FPTP doesn't work like that. 23% of the vote can become 55% of the seats. There's other things in play like regionality. I.e. Reform cluster heavily on east coast towns, but don't win votes in higher density cities. Labour will be boosted by taking almost all of Scotland and Wales etc.
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I’m not sure Labour will be taking almost all of Scotland or Wales - certainly not based on current polling in both countries.

Given the state of the world, though, who knows where we’ll be in another three years. Still here is about the best we can hope for at present.
 

Keir Starmer was warned of Lord Mandelson’s Epstein links just months after entering Downing Street​

Sir Keir was warned about Lord Mandelson's links with Jeffrey Epstein in December 2024, just five months after Labour won power in July.

The newly released files include a document from a 2019 report commissioned by JPMorgan and Epstein's personal records showing contact from as early as 2002.

The dossier read: "The Cabinet Office holds official records that are likely to be released by the National Archives early next year, which relate to a Tony Blair meeting with Epstein that was facilitated by Mandelson."

The PM was told the topic brought "general reputational risk".

Peter Mandelson’s appointment was ‘weirdly rushed’ and ‘unusual’​

The Prime Minister's National Security adviser, Jonathan Powell, regarded Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK Ambassador to the US as "weirdly rushed" and "unusual".

Mr Powell described the New Labour titan’s appointment process as “unusual” and “weirdly rushed" in notes from a call taken between him and Sir Keir’s general counsel on September 12.

He was recorded as raising these concerns about the "individual and reputation" to the PM's ex-Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney (MM).

Peter Mandelson demanded a £500,000 payout​

After leaving the post as ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson demanded a severance payment of more than £500,000.

He argued he should be compensated for the remainder of his contract in the role.

Forms to the Treasury show his full request numbered an eye-watering £547,201.

However, officials ultimately rejected the request and approved a much smaller settlement of £75,000.

Oliver Robbins, a top civil servant, described the reduced fee as "good value for money" in his request for payment to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, on October 6.

Lord Mandelson’s total remuneration package as UK Ambassador to the US was £180,252.

Peter Mandelson was offered ‘higher-tier’ security briefings before his vetting process finished​

Emails released today appear to indicate Lord Mandelson was offered a “higher tiers” security briefing on January 6, even though his Developed Vetting clearance was not confirmed until January 29.

This suggests he was invited to receive a highly classified briefing from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in his role as incoming US ambassador before completing the full formal vetting process.

An email dated December 23 states the former Labour peer was scheduled to receive the briefing on January 6, and the same message refers to the ongoing vetting procedure.

A separate email dated January 30 appears to indicate that his Developed Vetting clearance was formally confirmed the previous day, January 29.

Nigel Farage was floated as a US ‘bridgehead’ by Peter Mandelson​

Nigel Farage was suggested as a potential “bridgehead” between the UK, US President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk.

His suggestion was raised as a concern as part of his vetting process for the role as US ambassador.

He said: “You can't ignore him, he's an elected member of parliament. He's a public figure. He's a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others,” the New Labour architect was recorded to have said.

“National interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways."

Peter Mandelson’s ‘chief concern’ was ‘maximum dignity’ after sacking​

Upon his sacking as US ambassador, Peter Mandelson’s chief concern was preserving “maximum dignity” upon returning to the UK.

He also demanded “minimum media intrusion” in an email to HR at the Foreign Office.

The former Labour peer said it was to the “advantage of all concerned, not least because I remain a crown/civil servant and expect to be treated as such”.
 
WillWeEverBeGoodAgain said:
Wonder if there would have been no replies on the above files being released if it was the Tories or Reform ?
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I'd say no replies is evidence of Trump's strategy working perfectly - blow the s hit out of the Middle East and everyone's attention (including those on here) goes elsewhere.

Epstein files? What Epstein files?
 
WillWeEverBeGoodAgain said:
Wonder if there would have been no replies on the above files being released if it was the Tories or Reform ?
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To be honest I think no one is surprised at all by these so called “revelations” and there is little need to call them out as I expect the UK media is all over the story (I am currently out of the country so not following that closely). Whereas Reform and, to a lesser extent, the Tories, get a whole lot less media criticism so it becomes more of a talking point to criticise their policies and what they are expounding.
 
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