All the signals here - EU unity, solidarity with Ukraine, £ for re-armament & boost for UK defence sector in doing so - are bang on. Starmer’s played this well so far & worth thinking about why No 10 isn’t always this sure-footed on domestic policy www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn... - ThreadSky

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social • 1 day ago

All the signals here - EU unity, solidarity with Ukraine, £ for re-armament & boost for UK defence sector in doing so - are bang on. Starmer’s played this well so far & worth thinking about why No 10 isn’t always this sure-footed on domestic policy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn5220x56pqt?post=asset%3A0152a931-601d-4ace-acca-21f9fe16de42#post

Comments

sheilab01.bsky.social•1 day ago

I wondered exactly that watching him. I wonder if international statesman is more his skill-set than populist leadership.
But thank goodness he, not Boris or Farage, has the job right now.

vanessarowlands.bsky.social•1 day ago

Is this Jonathan Powell’s influence ? And not chasing polling for a change ?

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think Powell definitely makes a difference

southlondonboy.bsky.social•1 day ago

Hopefully this will enable him to be bolder and more confident domestically

clemmoraschi.bsky.social•1 day ago

The population & the press are rarely so united on domestic policy.

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

The 2000s and 2010s are here to point out that the population and press are 100% capable of being disunited on foreign policy

clemmoraschi.bsky.social•1 day ago

Are they disunited on "this" foreign policy?

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

They’re not united, I wouldn’t say, on paying for defence spending from the aid budget; there wasn’t universal enthusiasm for making nice to Trump; there’s plenty of critique in today’s Mail. Sure there’s a bit of rallying round in a wartime situation going on but that’s not the whole answer

nicoleminet.bsky.social•1 day ago

when one empire falls, another is born
#EUPower
#SlavaUkraini

nikkirobbo.bsky.social•1 day ago

For once, could we not unreservedly congratulate our leader on a very difficult job executed so
very well

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

We could and I did. I would really like to see no 10 operate at this level more often & it’s worth thinking about how to transfer what’s gone right here across to other areas

nikkirobbo.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think operating at pace, with a clear remit and with the support of 80% (or so) of the electorate is a different beast to the more debatable domestic agenda where there are often myriad ways forward. Just my thoughts

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

There are also myriad ways forward here & it’s infinitely debatable! I do think something about a crisis suits his skillset - it was the same during the riots

laughinglemon.bsky.social•1 day ago

Weeeelll... he keeps using phrases like "coalition of the willing", which would sound okay if it weren't for this... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_the_willing_(Iraq_War)
(And he's also starting to sound a bit like Boris!)

mlungu.bsky.social•1 day ago

Because Starmer actually believes in this stuff.

andrewbutler99.bsky.social•1 day ago

Domestically he inherited such a mess…impossible to sort some of it…and some mis-steps are not really mis-steps…but I agree he’s doing great now..and it’s a great start with Europe 🤜🤛

soderbrod.nafofellas.com•1 day ago

This situation isn't in any way grey whereas *some* domestic policy (aka cleaning up Tory mess) is/will hurt and voters have a low pain threshold where Labour are concerned.

spursj69.bsky.social•14 hours ago

"I cannot tell a lie" - George Washington
"I cannot tell the truth" - Donald Trump
"I cannot tell the difference" - MAGA

https://bsky.app/profile/stonehenge.bsky.social/post/3ljiqmaxoec27

rebelhack.bsky.social•1 day ago

Reading yr message and many replies is like stepping into a weird through-the-looking glass centrist universe where Starmer's only fault is poor presentation and a hostile oligarch press. He's entirely sure-footed domestically - but in entirely the wrong direction for a Labour leader

jeeves10.bsky.social•1 day ago

Just be pleased on this occasion

paulshrews33.bsky.social•1 day ago

It is a very valid question. I don't think it was pointed.

spinningred.com•1 day ago

Simple really - the domestic press play more divisive politics. Not
challenging the crap coming from Reform for one thing, allowing themselves to be overtaken by vested interests (farmers spat). This government does deliver.

claire-james.bsky.social•1 day ago

Do you think taking all the funding for increased military spending from the UK aid budget is also bang on?
Stepping up for Ukraine, yes, but not for the world’s poorest: destruction of USAID has devastated famine relief, TB, HIV, malaria prevention etc. Also, cutting UK aid is a geopolitical risk.

alannfylde.bsky.social•1 day ago

Perhaps because no-one wants to actually pay for anything via taxes

mikea57.bsky.social•1 day ago

Possibly because most of the media and Press support the action he is taking so they are not fixated and nervous on how the policies will play in the newspapers like they are with domestic stuff.

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

There are real risks with how some of this stuff plays (especially on funding it) plus the stakes if it goes wrong are infinitesimally higher so I’m not sure that’s right. It was like this during the riots too - something about a sudden crisis suits his skill set

discokazuma.bsky.social•1 day ago

Agreed. But with a majority like this (however shaky), they really should be going big and damn the consequences. Nobody will thank them for the timidity

bobbearwales.bsky.social•1 day ago

I'm sure the usual media mouthpieces will say it all terrible, Boris would have sorted it out blah blah blah. Well if I'm honest it's all our media these days.

jayanne.bsky.social•1 day ago

Will there be a backlash in the UK, spending allowed in Europe but not at home ?
By ramping up the ‘ we are your protectors ‘ , Labour hoping this will help their cause. Saving Britain from the enemy , while austerity continues at home ?

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

I would be surprised if it doesn’t get stickier once people realise what it implies for domestic spending, but that’s the reality of where we are. No easy choices.

sloanefragment.bsky.social•1 day ago

the easy choice is taxing wealth.

markspurs.bsky.social•1 day ago

Further EU integration is just a step away.

ross-oconnor.bsky.social•1 day ago

Been impressed with Starmer the past week. His quiet controlled approach has worked well, he's never looked overwhelmed.

juneussell.bsky.social•1 day ago

This kind of reporting?

juneussell.bsky.social•1 day ago

Damned with faint praise.

angularaccel.bsky.social•1 day ago

Hey EU! 👊🏻

jpkatlarge.bsky.social•1 day ago

That's easy: McSweeney knows nothing about foreign policy, and can't interfere with Jonathan Powell. On domestic stuff he just likes warring with cabinet ministers.

cathiew.bsky.social•1 day ago

& McSweeney is obsessed with chasing Reform voters - which makes for unappealing policy. & I feel Rachel Reeves has zero political antenna.

gabyhinsliff.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think Powell is definitely part of the answer - that level of experience really shows at times like this.

darkhorse9.bsky.social•1 day ago

First time I can remember that a British leader specifcally tareted Belfast with good news too. Well played Mr Starmer.

iannmalcolm.bsky.social•19 hours ago

This may be the good side of the otherwise depressing fact Starmer says he would much rather spend a day at Davos than Westminster because, at Davos, you meet the people you'll be working with.

pmosletov.bsky.social•1 day ago

There are signs that this govt is gaining confidence in being decisive and strong domestically

stevewelling.bsky.social•1 day ago

Cause simple where support is

shanksi.bsky.social•1 day ago

Brexit, thankfully, seeming more ridiculous by the day.

tpine99.bsky.social•1 day ago

'.....why No10 isn't so sure footed....?'

Have you met the British press?

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