Showing posts with label Andy Burnham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andy Burnham. Show all posts

August 29, 2026

US May Threaten UK over Falklands

The United Kingdom is about to find out whether it still has any balls. The US may reconsider its position regarding the Falklands, implying they may, in future, support Argentina's claim. 

The US position has been inaccurately reported for decades. The official position is that the US is neutral. In reality, when Argentina invaded the Falklands, the US tried to talk the UK out of forcefully taking the islands back. It was only after the UK crushed Argentina that the US suddenly popped up and began spouting about how they helped the British out. 

However, these days the UK has become far weaker. What they need to do is man up and get their military back in shape. They need to close their borders and sort out the shambles their economy has become. And if the US offers any ultimatums, tell them to pack up their bases and remove their kit from British territory. 

Part of me says this has more to do with the UK's reluctance to get involved in Iran and that foolish war Donald Trump started. The UK would be very unwise to buckle; the Falklands are a crucial strategic interest.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/us-britain-falklands-5Hjdgdk_2/

The US has threatened to oppose British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands if Andy Burnham does not increase defence spending sufficiently, it has been reported.

The Trump administration could make the bombshell declaration as senior defence officials at the Pentagon try to force allies to hit Nato's 5 per cent spending pledge.

A senior official in the US reportedly told The Telegraph that Britain will receive "special attention" from Washington in its attempts to get Nato up to the spending figure.

August 15, 2026

Nigel Farage Wins Clacton By-Election

A day before the Clacton by-election in the United Kingdom, Reform UK made it to the top of public opinion polls. Then, Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage followed that with a staggering win, placing him ahead of 628 MPs in terms of majority. He now has a majority larger than any other leader in the House of Commons.

The Conservatives made a huge strategic blunder by not putting up a candidate. Clacton has been a safe Tory seat in the past, but now Farage has turned it into a safe Reform seat, the very first safe Reform seat. Constituents have been reported as saying they'd vote for Farage even if he had three legs. 

Labour, Conservatives and LibDems are often called the Uniparty and there now appears to be evidence of them acting as such. They will be scared, that's for sure. Farage has turned the summer into talk about him. The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham is on his build a mandate find some legitimacy tour of the UK and yet few would know about it. Farage has upstaged the whole circus.

I have a question; in the last 250 years, what individual person has had such impact on the United Kingdom? Nigel Farage has re-shaped the foreign affairs and trade relations of a Great Power, a country with a Security Council veto and nuclear weapons. If you can think of someone who has had greater impact, let me know. However, caution is required when considering this question, as most names that crop up merely gained high status, they entrenched existing power structures, they did not effect any real change. 

What will the Uniparty do about Nigel Farage? 

August 12, 2026

Clacton By-election

Tomorrow, the people of Clacton will vote in a by-election to decide whether they support Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK. This is an important election as it could determine how the political landscape is shaped following the result.

Labour, Conservatives, LibDems and the Greens have declined to offer candidates. Kemi Badenoch is leader of the Conservatives and she has called the election fake. No, it isn't fake Ms Badenoch, your comment shows disdain for the democratic process. Or, does her party lack ideas altogether?

I'll make further comment on the result after the votes are counted. It does appear the United Kingdom is reaching a crisis point, but I'm sure a lot of water is yet to flow under the bridge.

June 20, 2026

Makerfield By-Election

The UK Labour Party has a new member of parliament, Andy Burnham, the so-called 'King of the North'. Some pundits are saying Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, may step down almost immediately, effectively anointing Burnham as his successor.

Labour has to do something as, right now, Reform UK are eating their lunch. Reform consistently poll as the most popular, leaving Labour fighting over second place with the Conservatives, and both are distant second.

Reform didn't do too badly in the by-election that saw Burnham elected. The Makerfield seat is a Labour stronghold and yet Reform grew their vote from the last time in 2024. They went for the same candidate and he was relentlessly attacked, as you may expect. But, he proved to be quite popular and Burnham's victory was only possible due to the tactical voting carried out. Voters hate Starmer and so many voters of varying stripes simply voted for the candidate they knew could replace him. Consequently, the LibDem and Green vote collapsed. 

I note 'helpful' criticism of Reform coming from right-of-centre sources. They amount to nothing more than those wishing Reform join them in the swamp. Reform must stay the course and keep doing what they're doing, keep standing non-politicians as candidates and stay on message. With the thousands of local authority councillors they now have, they're well positioned to launch into a campaign for a General Election if one is called soon.