UK Politics

  • UK gov. approval steady

    PM Andy Burnham may have a sense of achievement if he’s read the latest polling. YouGov suggests a 21% approval score against 53% disapproval, based off public responses on 7 September. It sees an improvement on both vectors since Starmer’s exit.

    A poll of government approval
    A poll of government approval by YouGov showing positive vectors for the Prime Minister (Source: YouGov)

    The Labour government has suffered an untimely exit from its first Prime Minister since 2010 and a slow uptake for its leader now. However, a small change in poll percentages represents a glimmer of hope for the party’s future.

    *A change was made to add more detail.

  • Reform UK celebrate their successes

    Reform UK is celebrating its electoral successes in Birmingham this week. It has a lot to be thankful for. A strong showing in local areas and a consistent presence in Parliament has entailed a swing in the public narrative in its favour.

    Nigel Farage addresses Reform UK party members at its
    conference in Birmingham (Credit: @NigelFarageOfficial/YouTube).

    Nigel Farage as leader shows his same verve and spirit for politics as he addresses his members. The party itself is also growing its roster of spokespeople and the party is encouraging a new generation of talent to take the helm.

    The naysayers in British politics believe they have the party of alternative politics in their crosshairs, but this conference signals the opposite. The party has the drive and ambition to get into power on its own terms.

  • Burnham fails to convince

    There’s a whiff of recycling in the air right now. Labour have sorted out the paper from the plastics. It’s ready to go. All they need now is for someone to pick it up. This Prime Minister isn’t that person.

    Andy Burnham MP (Makerfield/Labour) makes a stab at things as he goes, but his performance is hit and miss. The reliability factor is going to be a problem for Labour as they bet their chances on him.

    His policies refer back to everyone’s postcode (which in a time of data theft is less than tantalising) and works out from there. But this is precisely the problem.

    PM Andy Burnham speaking in the Commons today during PMQ’s (Credit: @ukparliament/YouTube).

    No Labour Prime Minister since Blair has convinced anyone that Labour can handle a budget. None have got a grip on where their heartland is or what really matters to their internal strategists.

    The bare facts are startling. The promises are easy to recite, but the numbers don’t add up. The statements reach out in proportion to the needy parts of the country, but delivery is patchy.

    The return of Parliament is a chance to test this new Prime Minister, but it may turn out to be the shortest examination in their recent history. If Burnham is to make a difference, he must do it fast.

  • Badenoch changes top team

    The Conservatives are changing things around, but it’s difficult to see how the UK public is going to notice. The top tier is now an invisible shadow cabinet due to the low profile of many of the figures, but hard work now may pay off.

    A graphic
    A graphic showing a new party ‘unit’ setup by the Conservatives (Credit: @Conservatives/X).

    Badenoch has kept a number of her strongest players in powerful positions and close to her leadership, such as Andrew Griffith MP as Shadow Chancellor, Chris Philp MP as Shadow Home Secretary, and Victoria Atkins MP as Shadow Environment Secretary.

    The ambition on her behalf is to boost the economic chances of the UK populations, to regain control of borders and policing, and to get rid of failed climate policies. These are clever candidates for such tasks before them.

  • Robinson steers away from Reform UK

    Activist Tommy Robinson has a celebrity level status in the UK but so far he’s not made any serious attempt to join himself to a known entity such as a party to float a political platform or to seek political office.

    He’s made it clear in private that Reform UK is of no interest to him and has said the politics of Nigel Farage bears no relation to what he thinks he should do as a ‘community supporter’, a term that’s still debated in reference to him.

    His claim to being a journalist is sketchy, but the notion he covers contemporary events and provides analysis isn’t far wrong. The trouble is the territory he’s on is too left-field for much of the media establishment to handle themselves.

    His trajectory as an activist is often set toward power. His staged events alongside social media commentary gives the impression he could make it into office one day. The reality is that as he seeks to advocate, few are able to raise the matter and so his future remains unclear.

  • US bans Palestine Action

    The terror network known as Palestine Action has been banned in the US as part of a move to exclude illegal acts from infiltrating domestic political infrastructure.

    The decision is said to enable law enforcement the impetus to move on individuals that seek to inspire violence in their own communities.

    The concerns raised in the UK include reports of hundreds of murders, community blockades, and the assault of public figures.

  • Syria is a state beset by terror

    The US’ decision to diminish the status of Syria by removing its terror label isn’t a precedent for other countries and is only indicative of other movements in the Middle East.

    The UK is still beset by terror in its own way. It continues to be proved weekly. We cannot afford to encourage or incite such angry and violent activity by making such public statements at this time. The choice to do so would be reckless.

    “I congratulate the Syrian people on the official removal of Syria’s name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and I thank His Excellency President Donald Trump for this historic decision, as well as all the brothers and friends who stood with Syria and the Syrians.”

    Ahmad Al-Sharaa/X.

    Syria is in disarray. Its President, while safe, isn’t in control. He doesn’t hold sway and cannot determine what his people may do. The US is able to marshal resources far beyond the capability of the UK, and may safeguard itself in this way.

    In the UK, some Civil Servants do this sort of thing to manipulate forces beyond their control to attack coworkers they’re jealous of. This also cannot be a reason why. It’s not a legitimate form of working.

    As usual, this issue has to be waited on but it’s unlikely to be changed in its status soon. No goalposts need moving. No points need rewriting. The facts of the matter stare at the UK in its face. There cannot be any further risk of societal decay.

  • Burnham backs Ukraine

  • Ireland never stopped agitating us

    The perceived ‘fruits’ of Labour government efforts to bring peace in Ireland have failed the test of time. A lack of professionalism – and a tendency to conduct meetings in backrooms – has been the reason for it. It’s clear Labour isn’t at all good at foreign policy.

    Making the world a better place has to involve the right people over a long time, but this is in short supply for Labour. They, too, fail to stick at things and yet handle the most challenging matters as if it’s their birthright.

    A shot of a book
    A shot of a book co-authored by PM Andy Burnham in bookshop window.

    Ireland is in a state of disarray. They cannot handle their crime rate and have subjugated decent individuals as part of a purge of the nation’s character. The EU at the top has barely intervened. The people crave internal stability and yet have warring instead.

    Northern Ireland is clearly left vulnerable at times. MI5 and others like them have to work harder to secure streets that can’t suffer their lives being interfered with by inhumane activity. We thrive on normal living conditions, yet Ireland threatens this.

    A hard-nosed look the situation reveals that Ireland never stopped – and our leaders fell asleep. As long as Ireland is there it will have this dream in mind. The UK state is obligated to continue its affairs without a change of perspective. The time has come to reckon with its laziness.

    *A change was made to include a photo.

  • Farage is seeking a fight

    The Reform UK ticket is predicated on a rise to prominence and a populist, straightforward path to power. It’s the idea, anyway. The reality will be different now the party has an actual Parliamentary presence. It’s also prone to controversy.

    Nigel Farage MP
    Nigel Farage MP speaking to a journalist in Whitehall on farming matters.

    Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK) has a way that suggests he know’s what is to come. His focus on his own safety illustrates that a self-awareness many have said is necessary for politics exists deeply set in his mind. The portents for his career are laid there.

    The dimensions to politics that define the UK aren’t all perfectly suited to his personality. There are areas where he already struggles. However, his talent for speaking helps him pack a punch. The road ahead is going to need a lot of that, and whatever else his party can offer.

  • Foreign policy away days

  • Burnham has to fight back

  • Gov. approval up

    The changeover to a Burnham government has come with a slight bounce for Labour’s approval rating in government.

    According to YouGov, Burnham has 21% approval against 55% disapproval, an improvement of 4% and 6% apiece since July 20, when Starmer left office.

  • Reform UK smell blood

    Just as Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK) prepares to return to Parliament, Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex/Conservatives) – his nearest rival for Number 10 – has been cleared of Council Tax evasion by London-based authorities.

    Farage is looking to grow a support base for Reform UK to build momentum and win future general elections. If it’s to take on the Conservatives and Labour in Parliament and win big, he has to see off the competition.

    “The fact Badenoch hasn’t been caught out shows her integrity, but to some extent it shows we don’t really know her anyway.

    The Conservative party is lost, broken, and divided, and we’re ready for more of this. Reform UK is on the rise.”

    Nigel Farage MP/Reform UK.

    Today, Badenoch is safe from public execution by faithfulness in her financial affairs. Farage knows it, but feels jaded. It’s far from his own sense of accountability. He believes the episode is over, but his bid is only in the beginning stages.

    His own finances may be under review by authorities in Parliament, but he’s confident about the future. His own need for security is beyond doubt. The transactions have been transparent and the funding is credible. His next task is kicking Labour out of power.

  • Reform UK handle a real brief

    Reform UK, the party of insurgency, is getting to grips with the real point of politics but a problem is opening up for its leader.

    Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK) has made a return to his seat in Westminster. Therefore, he’s able to continue stating his case in the halls of power. The trouble is brewing on that side of things.

    While the public has been willing to show its support, the Parliamentary situation is tightening for all concerned.

    “It’s been the misfortune of Messrs. Nigel Farage and Polanski to find themselves floundering in a sea of woes at a time when Andy Burnham has given Labour a new flicker of life.”

    – Andrew Neil/The Andrew Neil Report.

    Burnham has settled in and has a number of options in his sights, and that means war. The backing he gets from Labour – including on the sidelines – is said to go deep and last long. He’s survived a Manchester Mayoralty on the back of it.

    Farage faces an uphill struggle as he looks to translate a huge vote share into winnable seats. The local ‘politics’ of campaigning will be difficult, and may offset his ambitions.

    The long game is arduous. The are worries he’s not up to it and polling suggests enough time gives the other parties an advantage.