Michael
@michaeljsc.bsky.social
tweeting about: politics, pop culture, general nonsense
the Tories’ combination under Kemi Badenoch of very aggressive personal attacks on Reform defectors and complete refusal to occupy a different political space to Reform is pretty frustrating to watch
January 26, 2026 at 1:41 PM
the Tories’ combination under Kemi Badenoch of very aggressive personal attacks on Reform defectors and complete refusal to occupy a different political space to Reform is pretty frustrating to watch
Reposted by Michael
Andy Burnham's basic problem: essentially every Labour power broker who is not a dyed-in-the-wool Burnhamite has a vested interest in keeping him out of Parliament. (Some of the politicians who claimed this week to want him back have key allies on the NEC who voted to block him)
Diminished Keir Starmer at the limit of his powers
Andy Burnham veto leaves government where it started — with a weakened PM struggling to push controversial policy through parliament
www.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Andy Burnham's basic problem: essentially every Labour power broker who is not a dyed-in-the-wool Burnhamite has a vested interest in keeping him out of Parliament. (Some of the politicians who claimed this week to want him back have key allies on the NEC who voted to block him)
there is something “aww you’re sweet” / “hello, human resources?!” about how people react to e.g. Mamdani vs Starmer trying to bring everything back to the cost of living
I guess you just have to be charismatic and likeable!
I guess you just have to be charismatic and likeable!
NEW: Keir Starmer says Labour should concentrate on improving cost of living & fighting Reform UK rather than internal divisions.
"The single most important thing for people across the country is cost of living & that's why we're bearing down on it in everything we're doing, pulling every lever.
"The single most important thing for people across the country is cost of living & that's why we're bearing down on it in everything we're doing, pulling every lever.
January 26, 2026 at 10:40 AM
there is something “aww you’re sweet” / “hello, human resources?!” about how people react to e.g. Mamdani vs Starmer trying to bring everything back to the cost of living
I guess you just have to be charismatic and likeable!
I guess you just have to be charismatic and likeable!
Reposted by Michael
I actually think the truth is that Starmer's failure to go to Burnham & Khan, and urge them to step aside for new candidates in 2024 so they could be back in parliament in time to be cabinet ministers in his government shows exactly why we're in this mess
Yeah. I'd say this is the other way round. The decision to block him is only a problem because Starmer is in such a weak position and its clear his party are looking for an alternative. If Labour were polling reasonably well "stick to your current job Andy" would be rather well received.
“This is undemocratic.” He’s mayor of Greater Manchester. That comes with responsibilities, like don’t abandon your job two years in.
“This makes Starmer look weak.” No argument there, but show me a decision that wouldn’t - at this point Starmer would look weak for choosing toast over cornflakes
“This makes Starmer look weak.” No argument there, but show me a decision that wouldn’t - at this point Starmer would look weak for choosing toast over cornflakes
January 26, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I actually think the truth is that Starmer's failure to go to Burnham & Khan, and urge them to step aside for new candidates in 2024 so they could be back in parliament in time to be cabinet ministers in his government shows exactly why we're in this mess
Reposted by Michael
𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩—wax was a bad call. I should’ve flagged heat resistance as a 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 instead of assuming you’d stay within 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴. That one’s on me.
January 25, 2026 at 9:43 PM
𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩—wax was a bad call. I should’ve flagged heat resistance as a 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 instead of assuming you’d stay within 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴. That one’s on me.
One thing I’ve thought re: Burnham is that in a mature system of devolution, we should see it as normal for politicians to be able to move between tiers of government, and if we won’t allow double jobbing then that will necessarily involve by-elections.
January 25, 2026 at 8:36 PM
One thing I’ve thought re: Burnham is that in a mature system of devolution, we should see it as normal for politicians to be able to move between tiers of government, and if we won’t allow double jobbing then that will necessarily involve by-elections.
Reposted by Michael
scrapping jury trials, defining palestine action protesting as terrorism, starting to talk about how elections are expensive and inconvenient. honestly amazed by how careless they are.
January 25, 2026 at 6:51 PM
scrapping jury trials, defining palestine action protesting as terrorism, starting to talk about how elections are expensive and inconvenient. honestly amazed by how careless they are.
Reposted by Michael
nigel farage is leading the polls and you are seeding the idea that elections are a waste of public money?
January 25, 2026 at 5:21 PM
nigel farage is leading the polls and you are seeding the idea that elections are a waste of public money?
The thing about Andy Burnham is that he isn’t very good, and Labour can’t really afford to get the next leader wrong again.
This would be an easier argument to make if there was an obvious candidate who was any good.
This would be an easier argument to make if there was an obvious candidate who was any good.
January 25, 2026 at 1:36 PM
The thing about Andy Burnham is that he isn’t very good, and Labour can’t really afford to get the next leader wrong again.
This would be an easier argument to make if there was an obvious candidate who was any good.
This would be an easier argument to make if there was an obvious candidate who was any good.
Reposted by Michael
Maybe Trump's lawsuit is having the effect he intended?
I’m really quite surprised at the BBC website today. ‘Here is a video, some people say it does not show what it very obviously shows’ is not how you report this.
January 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Maybe Trump's lawsuit is having the effect he intended?
Someone in these people’s lives needs to tell them to get over it.
And yet, it could all backfire for Burnham.
Even if he gets through all the hurdles, there's no guarantee he'll be welcomed.
“Where was he in the Corbyn years?," says one MP. "I was in the trenches, dealing with all the abuse, with people in tears – and he swans off to be mayor of Manchester."
Even if he gets through all the hurdles, there's no guarantee he'll be welcomed.
“Where was he in the Corbyn years?," says one MP. "I was in the trenches, dealing with all the abuse, with people in tears – and he swans off to be mayor of Manchester."
January 25, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Someone in these people’s lives needs to tell them to get over it.
Reposted by Michael
I would describe this as misreading the mood
January 25, 2026 at 1:10 AM
I would describe this as misreading the mood
Reposted by Michael
The BBC summary relays false claims but does not prioritise the facts at all
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
The BBC summary relays false claims but does not prioritise the facts at all
Reposted by Michael
In conclusion, America is a land of contrasts
January 24, 2026 at 11:04 PM
In conclusion, America is a land of contrasts
Reposted by Michael
I see a lot of people debating the funniest outcome and to be clear the answer is:
1) They let Burnham run.
2) He wins it.
3) They lose the mayoral by-election.
4) This forces a leadership election.
5) Andy doesn't win it.
1) They let Burnham run.
2) He wins it.
3) They lose the mayoral by-election.
4) This forces a leadership election.
5) Andy doesn't win it.
January 24, 2026 at 5:27 PM
I see a lot of people debating the funniest outcome and to be clear the answer is:
1) They let Burnham run.
2) He wins it.
3) They lose the mayoral by-election.
4) This forces a leadership election.
5) Andy doesn't win it.
1) They let Burnham run.
2) He wins it.
3) They lose the mayoral by-election.
4) This forces a leadership election.
5) Andy doesn't win it.
I’m obviously not a Starmer partisan by any means, but it’s kind of funny to talk about “risking handing victory to a far right party” in the context of a by-election to a parliament where Labour has a huge majority, and not worry about the same risk in replacing Burnham as mayor of GM.
Sorry but if the most unpopular Labour government in history intervenes to block our only senior Labour politician with a net positive public approval rating - in doing so risking handing victory to a far right party - that’s putting petty factionalism before the country. 2/3
January 24, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I’m obviously not a Starmer partisan by any means, but it’s kind of funny to talk about “risking handing victory to a far right party” in the context of a by-election to a parliament where Labour has a huge majority, and not worry about the same risk in replacing Burnham as mayor of GM.
Reposted by Michael
Newly discovered photo of a gay couple during World War One. Queer people have always been here despite your attempts to erase us 🌈
January 24, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Newly discovered photo of a gay couple during World War One. Queer people have always been here despite your attempts to erase us 🌈
Reposted by Michael
such a perfect story on so many levels. it’s a story about people choosing to be faithful to each other. it’s a story about people complementing each other: Stephen had the best social game, Rachel the best strategic game, and it was a winning combo.
#TheTraitors
#TheTraitors
January 23, 2026 at 11:37 PM
such a perfect story on so many levels. it’s a story about people choosing to be faithful to each other. it’s a story about people complementing each other: Stephen had the best social game, Rachel the best strategic game, and it was a winning combo.
#TheTraitors
#TheTraitors
Reposted by Michael
Great, entertaining television obviously but also rather moving to see two people stick together like that when they had so many opportunities to turn on each other.
January 23, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Great, entertaining television obviously but also rather moving to see two people stick together like that when they had so many opportunities to turn on each other.
Reposted by Michael
The FBI thing working is honestly insane, love when someone makes a Bit happen through sheer force of will.
January 23, 2026 at 10:20 PM
The FBI thing working is honestly insane, love when someone makes a Bit happen through sheer force of will.
January 23, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Michael
Reposted by Michael
Astonishing judgement from @ipso.co.uk
Says that when Trevor Phillips said that "the fact that it is likely" that
a) "likely" does not mean "likely" but means "could happen"
b) "the fact that it is" was a comment not a factual statement.
Bizarre and laughable
www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/0348...
Says that when Trevor Phillips said that "the fact that it is likely" that
a) "likely" does not mean "likely" but means "could happen"
b) "the fact that it is" was a comment not a factual statement.
Bizarre and laughable
www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/0348...
03483-25 Portes v The Times - IPSO
Jonathan Portes complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that The Times breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “Labour’s class war plan...
www.ipso.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Astonishing judgement from @ipso.co.uk
Says that when Trevor Phillips said that "the fact that it is likely" that
a) "likely" does not mean "likely" but means "could happen"
b) "the fact that it is" was a comment not a factual statement.
Bizarre and laughable
www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/0348...
Says that when Trevor Phillips said that "the fact that it is likely" that
a) "likely" does not mean "likely" but means "could happen"
b) "the fact that it is" was a comment not a factual statement.
Bizarre and laughable
www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/0348...
I still think Stephen is winning this, and it’s well deserved, but he could have won with Rachel and with a hell of a lot less stress if different decisions had been made #TheTraitors
January 22, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I still think Stephen is winning this, and it’s well deserved, but he could have won with Rachel and with a hell of a lot less stress if different decisions had been made #TheTraitors