Steve Jary
@unionsteve.bsky.social
News, views and occasional abuse. Former @ProspectUnion Nat Sec for aviation (and, before that, various bits of the Civil Service, including the MoD). Now retired and emigrated from N16 to the Highlands. PhD technology & employment (1990). Photo ©Jess Hurd
Some of the noises coming out of today’s Cabinet meeting suggest I might’ve been onto something here…
Given Sarwar’s political history, is it just a teeny bit possible that his Starmer-must-go speech was carefully choreographed?
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
February 10, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Some of the noises coming out of today’s Cabinet meeting suggest I might’ve been onto something here…
Much of the debate misses a key point: the decline in the wage-share. Pre-election, Labour had a policy on the extension of collective bargaining. That may have been a sop to keep the unions onboard, but it remains part of the ‘solution’. Yet, like other structural things, will need more than 3y.
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Much of the debate misses a key point: the decline in the wage-share. Pre-election, Labour had a policy on the extension of collective bargaining. That may have been a sop to keep the unions onboard, but it remains part of the ‘solution’. Yet, like other structural things, will need more than 3y.
Given Sarwar’s political history, is it just a teeny bit possible that his Starmer-must-go speech was carefully choreographed?
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
February 10, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Given Sarwar’s political history, is it just a teeny bit possible that his Starmer-must-go speech was carefully choreographed?
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
1. It distances Scottish Labour a bit, meaning it’ll lose a little less badly
2. It bolsters Starmer by mobilising supporters
OK - that may be far-fetched, but…
News bulletins always tell us whether economic data is in line with forecasts. So, when they are talking about the historically high amount of rain, it would be helpful if they pointed out that this is in line with climate emergency forecasts.
February 10, 2026 at 10:12 AM
News bulletins always tell us whether economic data is in line with forecasts. So, when they are talking about the historically high amount of rain, it would be helpful if they pointed out that this is in line with climate emergency forecasts.
I left the Labour Party a month ago, quietly cancelling my subscription. The Party emailed, so I thought I should reply. There has been no further communication (I was probably correct in assuming no-one would read a resignation letter).
But, when it comes to the ‘reset’, this is what I told them…
But, when it comes to the ‘reset’, this is what I told them…
February 10, 2026 at 9:51 AM
I left the Labour Party a month ago, quietly cancelling my subscription. The Party emailed, so I thought I should reply. There has been no further communication (I was probably correct in assuming no-one would read a resignation letter).
But, when it comes to the ‘reset’, this is what I told them…
But, when it comes to the ‘reset’, this is what I told them…
If only Keir could be a bit more like Ed. #r4today.
Nick reads out the Daily Mail (surprise!?) headline - “Class war!”
Ed: “oh, come off it…”
Nick reads out the Daily Mail (surprise!?) headline - “Class war!”
Ed: “oh, come off it…”
February 10, 2026 at 8:33 AM
If only Keir could be a bit more like Ed. #r4today.
Nick reads out the Daily Mail (surprise!?) headline - “Class war!”
Ed: “oh, come off it…”
Nick reads out the Daily Mail (surprise!?) headline - “Class war!”
Ed: “oh, come off it…”
Reposted by Steve Jary
😡 Four former defence insiders hired by Palantir in a single year.
A £240m MoD contract awarded without competition.
A “strategic partnership” announced soon after.
The revolving door between defence and big tech is spinning fast.
A £240m MoD contract awarded without competition.
A “strategic partnership” announced soon after.
The revolving door between defence and big tech is spinning fast.
The great Ministry of Defence-to-Palantir pipeline
Senior defence officials are moving into Palantir roles as the company secures ever-deeper footholds across government
eastangliabylines.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:32 PM
😡 Four former defence insiders hired by Palantir in a single year.
A £240m MoD contract awarded without competition.
A “strategic partnership” announced soon after.
The revolving door between defence and big tech is spinning fast.
A £240m MoD contract awarded without competition.
A “strategic partnership” announced soon after.
The revolving door between defence and big tech is spinning fast.
The problem is, the Labour Party machine is fixated on getting power, but forgets what it is seeking that power for.
February 10, 2026 at 7:56 AM
The problem is, the Labour Party machine is fixated on getting power, but forgets what it is seeking that power for.
Reposted by Steve Jary
Mission (to destabilize a previously stable democracy) accomplished
We've had 5 new Prime Ministers since June 2016 Brexit referendum in 9 & a half years
- May (3 yesrs)
- Johnson (3 years)
- Truss (50 days)
- Sunak (20 momths)
- Starner (19 momths, 2 years by July)
Previous 5 PMs lasted 37 years,1979-2016
Average: 7
Thatcher 11
Major 7
Blair 10
Brown 3
Cameron 6
- May (3 yesrs)
- Johnson (3 years)
- Truss (50 days)
- Sunak (20 momths)
- Starner (19 momths, 2 years by July)
Previous 5 PMs lasted 37 years,1979-2016
Average: 7
Thatcher 11
Major 7
Blair 10
Brown 3
Cameron 6
February 9, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Mission (to destabilize a previously stable democracy) accomplished
Apart from the fact that Streeting will most probably lose his seat at the next GE, the NHS contract with Palantir and Streeting’s connection with paid Palantir lobbyist Mandelson means the Labour membership is highly unlikely to vote him in. Even holding their noses.
February 9, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Apart from the fact that Streeting will most probably lose his seat at the next GE, the NHS contract with Palantir and Streeting’s connection with paid Palantir lobbyist Mandelson means the Labour membership is highly unlikely to vote him in. Even holding their noses.
Reposted by Steve Jary
Starmer will never be great at this, and will have to go sooner or later, but he has a golden opportunity to stop kicking Labour MPs, members and voters in the head
NEW - Statement from the Tribune group of soft left MPs backing Starmer to remain as PM.
But a subtle call for a cabinet reshuffle, saying change will require "a Cabinet and front bench that reflect the breadth of views across the PLP... and the diverse traditions that make up our movement."
But a subtle call for a cabinet reshuffle, saying change will require "a Cabinet and front bench that reflect the breadth of views across the PLP... and the diverse traditions that make up our movement."
February 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Starmer will never be great at this, and will have to go sooner or later, but he has a golden opportunity to stop kicking Labour MPs, members and voters in the head
You’re going to irritate the power engineers with all that talk of pylons. They’re called towers. 😉
Mind you, I doubt a wordsearch on tower would yield anything either.
Mind you, I doubt a wordsearch on tower would yield anything either.
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
You’re going to irritate the power engineers with all that talk of pylons. They’re called towers. 😉
Mind you, I doubt a wordsearch on tower would yield anything either.
Mind you, I doubt a wordsearch on tower would yield anything either.
Reposted by Steve Jary
Ironic that a man barely ever in his workplace should make such a call.
BREAKING: Nigel Farage calls for an end to working from home and the focus on work-life balance
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
"People aren't more productive working from home - it's a load of nonsense”
Whatever you do JUST DON’T VOTE REFORM!
February 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Ironic that a man barely ever in his workplace should make such a call.
That sound is even louder now. A sacrificial stalking horse? #sarwar
It’s starting to sound like the Labour Together project is preparing to dump Starmer, rather than the other way round. He served his purpose, I guess. #wato
February 9, 2026 at 2:57 PM
That sound is even louder now. A sacrificial stalking horse? #sarwar
And therein lies a question. None of the above! Those that aren’t Blair’s retreads are clones.
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
And therein lies a question. None of the above! Those that aren’t Blair’s retreads are clones.
The Cabinet seems to have forgotten that general elections aren’t a vote for a Prime Minister.
February 9, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The Cabinet seems to have forgotten that general elections aren’t a vote for a Prime Minister.
It’s starting to sound like the Labour Together project is preparing to dump Starmer, rather than the other way round. He served his purpose, I guess. #wato
February 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM
It’s starting to sound like the Labour Together project is preparing to dump Starmer, rather than the other way round. He served his purpose, I guess. #wato
BBC asking the wrong question #wato. It’s not “do these resignations suggest that Starmer cannot survive?” It’s more “are these resignations (and more to come) the *only* way Starmer can survive?”
February 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM
BBC asking the wrong question #wato. It’s not “do these resignations suggest that Starmer cannot survive?” It’s more “are these resignations (and more to come) the *only* way Starmer can survive?”
Reposted by Steve Jary
Just beyond parody at this point
February 8, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Just beyond parody at this point
Reposted by Steve Jary
Dear Keir
You've been given an unbelievable opportunity to reset this government and remember (a) you're Labour and (b) what Human Rights are.
Please take it.
Yours in forlorn hope
A voter
You've been given an unbelievable opportunity to reset this government and remember (a) you're Labour and (b) what Human Rights are.
Please take it.
Yours in forlorn hope
A voter
February 9, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Dear Keir
You've been given an unbelievable opportunity to reset this government and remember (a) you're Labour and (b) what Human Rights are.
Please take it.
Yours in forlorn hope
A voter
You've been given an unbelievable opportunity to reset this government and remember (a) you're Labour and (b) what Human Rights are.
Please take it.
Yours in forlorn hope
A voter
But you can deliberately not press release anything vaguely socialist, or publicise it on a noisy news day, so it gets buried. You already know that the media is not going to cover it positively, or not at all.
February 9, 2026 at 12:49 PM
But you can deliberately not press release anything vaguely socialist, or publicise it on a noisy news day, so it gets buried. You already know that the media is not going to cover it positively, or not at all.
Has anyone who still mooches around on Twitter seen any posts from QAnon pointing out that they were right all along and there really was a global elite paedo ring. You think they’d want to take the credit. Apart from putting Trump on the side of the angels, of course.
February 9, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Has anyone who still mooches around on Twitter seen any posts from QAnon pointing out that they were right all along and there really was a global elite paedo ring. You think they’d want to take the credit. Apart from putting Trump on the side of the angels, of course.
“Why is it that all people know about this government is what has gone wrong”? The strategy has been to hide the good stuff in case it offends your target voter (those red wall hero voters) or the lobbyists (and corporate donors) who really didn’t want you to do it.
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM
“Why is it that all people know about this government is what has gone wrong”? The strategy has been to hide the good stuff in case it offends your target voter (those red wall hero voters) or the lobbyists (and corporate donors) who really didn’t want you to do it.