#pat mcfadden

[adj4mp]

Pat McFadden and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

The role that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster seems to fill is one that's simultaneously very important and yet has almost no responsibilities. While Raynor is the deputy leader of the Labour Party and deputy Prime Minister the Duchy of Lancaster is the second highest rank within the Government. And while historically there were responsibilities to the Duchy of Lancaster those have largely been usurped or delegated making the one that's primary responsibility is advisory to the cabinet, PM and King.

In some ways the role is one that mirrors the Speaker for the House, they're the one who chairs meetings and discussions and ensure all the business is brought to the table. Though as chairman they're permitted to have their own say and opinion in meetings a way that the Speaker is not as a representative of the whole house.

McFadden himself was a minister under Gordon Brown, and a Secretary of Tony Blair so his expertise as an advisor comes from his presence during the last Labour Government. He has also worked within the shadow cabinet in several positions giving him a fairly rounded outlook of the role of the cabinet.

This is one of those jobs that I don't really have any opinion about the appointment mainly because I can't really judge the role, it's not especially prominent to the public and the requirements are somewhat unintuitive.

[head-post]

Britain “broke and broken,” says new government

The UK government claimed the country was “broke and broken” ahead of an assessment of the public finances, according to Euractiv.

The newly elected Labour Party is expected to use the assessment on Monday 29 July to blame its predecessors for a £20 billion (€23.7 billion) deficit. The party spent much of its first three weeks in power telling the public that things were worse than expected in almost every area of public policy.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will set out the results of the UK budget review in a statement to Parliament accusing the Conservative Party of committing to unfunded spending in an attempt to win public support.

The assessment will show that Britain is broke and broken – revealing the mess that populist politics has made of the economy and public services. It will show that the previous government made significant funding commitments for this financial year without knowing where the money would come from.

The Conservatives dismissed Labour’s much-discussed claim of a “black hole” in the public finances as a fabricated excuse for a tax rise that they had not reported during the election campaign. Some economists also argued that there were several big surprises that Labour could not have foreseen before taking office.

Reeves will reveal the date of her first UK budget, commission independent forecasts, and outline plans for a formal spending review process. It will determine how much money each department will receive. She is also expected to agree to above-inflation pay for teachers and health workers.

However, it is unclear how Labour will tackle the identified deficit. Reeves is constrained by election promises not to raise income tax rates, National Insurance social security payments, value added tax, and corporation tax.

Senior Labour minister Pat McFadden stated:

We will not shy away from being honest with the public about the reality of what we have inherited.

Read more HERE

[catherine-the-doll-ballerina]

what i read this year

One of us is lying - Karen M. Mcmanus

the fear - Natasha Preston

the island - Natasha Preston

the institute - Stephen King

11/22/63 - Stephen King

flowers in the attic - V.C. Andrews

petals on the wind - V.C. Andrews

the prince of tides - Pat Conroy

do you remember - Freida Mcfadden

a list of cages - Robin Roe

dark room etiquette - Robin Roe

the last child - John Hart

we now return to regular life - Martin Wilson

sleepers - Lorenzo Carcaterra

the last house on needless street - Catriona Ward

everyone here is lying - Shari Lapena

the push - Ashley Audrain

forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma

the only one left - Riley Sager

the cement garden - Ian McEwan

[mariacallous]

Keir Starmer has released an op-ed today for the Telegraph in which, in half a line he praises Margaret Thatcher (he also praises Blair and Attlee in the same paragraph) for changing the paradigm in which the UK operated.

Obviously, some have been up in arms about this ‘betrayal of the left’. But as they say the same every time Starmer so much as sneezes, their indignation has long since been drowned out by our indifference.

Twitter (No I don’t call it X and neither does anyone else) might be a bit skittish about it but most people who read the piece will see exactly what is happening here.

Essentially, to win elections - now bear with me here - you have to get more people to vote for you than for the other lot.

Sometimes that means fishing in the other guy’s pool. A Tory to Labour switcher counts double basically as it reduces their tally while increasing yours. It’s why well-meaning attempts to win over thrid party voters are usually naive in political strategy terms (With the exception of Scotland and Wales).

The front page of the Telegraph is a great way to find those voters. If you read the article, it sets out a narrative of Tory failures that is as deep as it is comprehensive. It could easily win over some wavering traditional Tories who are long past fed up. It could convince a few more to stay at home and sit on their hands safe in the knowledge that Starmer doesn’t scare them.

But to get that onto the front page? That’s where the Thatcher praise comes in. Starmer’s team will have known that in order to lift this from the swirl of political pieces it is not enough simply to write for the Telegraph, they had to put something eye-catching in there that would get people talking. And would give certain readers permission to be open to Starmer’s argument.

That it would also piss off the left might be seen as a bonus by some in Starmer’s team. That’s a shame I think as - frankly - they need to move on from that phase of Starmer’s three-point plan. But I am never going to win that battle sadly. Every LOTO ever will act factionally and interfere where they shouldn’t. That Starmer’s lot are more successful at it than most does not mean that others didn’t try.

So on those grounds, I have no real problem with Stamer invoking Thatcher.

Nor do I have a problem with him saying that he would like to make changes to the country that are on the scale of those that Thatcher made. We need wholesale change - not least to make up for the changes that she wrought and the long-term damage that still echoes today in our lack of housing - particularly social housing; in our filthy rivers and beaches which can be taken back in a straight line to privatisation of water; and in the austerity brought in by her acolytes as a response to an overmighty city that was started with her ‘big bang’ reforms.

Where I think Starmer has a problem is that this is not an article about having a vision as big as Thatcher’s on economic remodelling or Attlee’s on building the welfare state. In fact, the rest of the article is all about Tory failure and Labour Party reinvention. There is not nearly enough forward vision to claim to be a new Thatcher-level figure.

A while back I wrote the generous and ungenerous cases for Starmer’s approach. This is an extract from the generous part. You will see that I too invoke both Thatcher and Attlee:

I return to this because I think in that piece I did make quite a good fist of setting out how Starmer can be a reforming Prime Minister in a time where high spending won’t be possible. But, here’s the thing. I’m a blogger. I am just an observer of politics. I don’t work for Starmer’s office. So why am I better linking that sense of being as reforming as Attlee or Thatcher to a sense of the future a Labour government could potentially offer than they are?

Sure, maybe I do have the shackles off. I don’t have to get anything past Pat McFadden. But nothing I wrote in that piece was about increasing spending. Instead, it’s about changing the machinery of Britain that we know to be broken.

At the start of the year, I offered Labour a simple slogan I still think they should take up as we go into a General Election year: Let’s Fix Britain. They don’t have to use that particular phrase (although my consultancy rates are VERY REASONABLE and I will explain to them exactly why they should) but they do need to give a sense of that renewal. That means not just talking about how bad the Tories have been or how much they have changed Labour but what the country will look like after five years under Starmer.

Why? Labour will almost certainly win the next election. But honestly, they don’t want to win by default. They need to make and keep promises that really will change this country. We need it.

If they don’t - the scariest thing of all is not that Starmer is invoking Thatcher - it’s that there isn’t a positive reason to vote Labour beyond “Not the Tories”. However mad the Tories are now, when they get their act together, Labour must have something to say for themselves.

[garenavn]

Bộ trưởng Nội các liên tục né tránh việc liệu Donald Trump có 'có thiện cảm với Đức Quốc xã mới' trong cuộc phỏng vấn khó hiểu hay không khi Keir Starmer cố gắng xoa dịu những chỉ trích của Đảng Lao động đối với tổng thống đắc cử_Nhy

Một bộ trưởng Nội các liên tục né tránh việc liệu Donald Trump ngày nay có ‘sự đồng cảm với Đức Quốc xã mới’ khi Đảng Lao động vật lộn với chiến thắng lớn trong cuộc bầu cử của Đảng Cộng hòa. Pat McFadden đã bỏ qua ba lần khi được yêu cầu trong một cuộc phỏng vấn để bác bỏ những lời chỉ trích mà đồng nghiệp đã đưa ra trước đó David Lammy. Cuộc trao đổi vụng về trên LBC diễn ra như Keir Starmer cố…

[news-buzz]

Labour Ministers Popularity Plummets Before Crucial Budget News Buzz

It was, according to one Labour MP, a “barnstormer” of a speech. Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the most powerful man in the country you’ve probably never heard of, was addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party in Committee Room 14 last Monday. Not noted for his rousing oratory, the slightly-built, taciturn Glaswegian had decided that it was necessary to reassure…

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: Great British Energy Bill: Second Reading

Ayes: 348 (96.2% Lab, 2.3% Ind, 1.2% Green, 0.3% UUP) Noes: 95 (98.9% Con, 1.1% DUP) Absent: ~207

Day's business papers: 2024-9-5

Likely Referenced Bill: Great British Energy Bill

Description: A Bill to make provision about Great British Energy.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Commons Bill Stage: Money resolution

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Labour (329 votes)

Abena Oppong-Asare Abtisam Mohamed Adam Jogee Adam Thompson Afzal Khan Al Carns Alan Gemmell Alan Strickland Alex Baker Alex Ballinger Alex Barros-Curtis Alex Davies-Jones Alex Mayer Alex McIntyre Alex Norris Alice Macdonald Alison Hume Alison McGovern Alistair Strathern Allison Gardner Amanda Hack Amanda Martin Andrew Cooper Andrew Gwynne Andrew Lewin Andrew Ranger Andrew Western Andy MacNae Andy Slaughter Anna Dixon Anna Gelderd Anna McMorrin Anna Turley Anneliese Midgley Antonia Bance Ashley Dalton Bambos Charalambous Barry Gardiner Bayo Alaba Beccy Cooper Becky Gittins Ben Coleman Ben Goldsborough Bill Esterson Blair McDougall Brian Leishman Bridget Phillipson Callum Anderson Calvin Bailey Carolyn Harris Cat Smith Catherine Atkinson Catherine Fookes Catherine McKinnell Catherine West Charlotte Nichols Chi Onwurah Chris Bloore Chris Bryant Chris Curtis Chris Evans Chris Hinchliff Chris Kane Chris McDonald Chris Murray Chris Vince Chris Webb Christian Wakeford Claire Hazelgrove Claire Hughes Clive Betts Clive Efford Clive Lewis Connor Rand Damien Egan Dan Aldridge Dan Carden Dan Tomlinson Daniel Francis Daniel Zeichner Danny Beales Darren Jones Darren Paffey Dave Robertson David Baines David Burton-Sampson David Pinto-Duschinsky David Smith David Taylor Dawn Butler Debbie Abrahams Deirdre Costigan Derek Twigg Diana Johnson Douglas Alexander Douglas McAllister Ed Miliband Elaine Stewart Ellie Reeves Elsie Blundell Emma Foody Emma Hardy Emma Lewell-Buck Emma Reynolds Euan Stainbank Fabian Hamilton Feryal Clark Fleur Anderson Florence Eshalomi Frank McNally Fred Thomas Gill Furniss Gill German Gordon McKee Graham Stringer Grahame Morris Gregor Poynton Gurinder Singh Josan Hamish Falconer Harpreet Uppal Heidi Alexander Helen Hayes Helena Dollimore Henry Tufnell Ian Lavery Ian Murray Imogen Walker Irene Campbell Jack Abbott Jacob Collier Jade Botterill Jake Richards James Asser James Frith James Murray James Naish Janet Daby Jayne Kirkham Jeevun Sandher Jeff Smith Jen Craft Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Jess Asato Jess Phillips Jessica Morden Jessica Toale Jim Dickson Jim McMahon Jo Platt Jo Stevens Jo White Jodie Gosling Joe Morris Joe Powell Johanna Baxter John Grady John Whitby Jon Pearce Jon Trickett Jonathan Brash Jonathan Davies Jonathan Reynolds Josh Dean Josh Fenton-Glynn Josh MacAlister Josh Newbury Josh Simons Julia Buckley Julie Minns Juliet Campbell Justin Madders Kanishka Narayan Karl Turner Kate Dearden Kate Osamor Kate Osborne Katie White Katrina Murray Keir Mather Kerry McCarthy Kevin Bonavia Kevin McKenna Kim Leadbeater Kirsteen Sullivan Kirsty McNeill Laura Kyrke-Smith Lauren Sullivan Laurence Turner Lee Barron Lee Pitcher Leigh Ingham Lewis Atkinson Liam Byrne Liam Conlon Lilian Greenwood Lillian Jones Linsey Farnsworth Liz Kendall Liz Twist Lloyd Hatton Lola McEvoy Louise Jones Lucy Rigby Luke Akehurst Luke Charters Luke Murphy Luke Pollard Maria Eagle Marie Tidball Mark Ferguson Mark Hendrick Mark Sewards Markus Campbell-Savours Marsha De Cordova Martin McCluskey Martin Rhodes Mary Creagh Mary Glindon Matt Bishop Matt Rodda Matt Turmaine Matthew Patrick Matthew Pennycook Maureen Burke Maya Ellis Meg Hillier Melanie Onn Melanie Ward Miatta Fahnbulleh Michael Payne Michael Shanks Michael Wheeler Michelle Scrogham Michelle Welsh Mike Amesbury Mike Kane Mike Reader Mike Tapp Mohammad Yasin Nadia Whittome Natalie Fleet Natasha Irons Navendu Mishra Neil Duncan-Jordan Nesil Caliskan Nicholas Dakin Nick Thomas-Symonds Noah Law Oliver Ryan Olivia Bailey Olivia Blake Pam Cox Pamela Nash Pat McFadden Patricia Ferguson Patrick Hurley Paul Davies Paul Foster Paul Waugh Paula Barker Paulette Hamilton Perran Moon Peter Dowd Peter Kyle Peter Lamb Peter Prinsley Peter Swallow Phil Brickell Polly Billington Preet Kaur Gill Rachael Maskell Rachel Blake Rachel Hopkins Rachel Taylor Richard Baker Richard Quigley Rosie Duffield Rosie Wrighting Ruth Cadbury Sadik Al-Hassan Sally Jameson Sam Carling Sam Rushworth Samantha Dixon Samantha Niblett Sarah Champion Sarah Coombes Sarah Edwards Sarah Hall Sarah Jones Sarah Owen

Sarah Russell Satvir Kaur Scott Arthur Sean Woodcock Seema Malhotra Sharon Hodgson Shaun Davies Simon Opher Siobhain McDonagh Sojan Joseph Sonia Kumar Stella Creasy Stephen Kinnock Stephen Morgan Steve Race Steve Witherden Steve Yemm Sureena Brackenridge Taiwo Owatemi Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Tim Roca Toby Perkins Tom Collins Tom Hayes Tom Rutland Tonia Antoniazzi Torcuil Crichton Torsten Bell Tracy Gilbert Tristan Osborne Uma Kumaran Valerie Vaz Warinder Juss Wes Streeting Will Stone Yasmin Qureshi Yuan Yang Zubir Ahmed

Independent (8 votes)

Adnan Hussain Apsana Begum Imran Hussain Iqbal Mohamed John McDonnell Rebecca Long Bailey Richard Burgon Zarah Sultana

Green Party (4 votes)

Adrian Ramsay Carla Denyer Ellie Chowns Siân Berry

Ulster Unionist Party (1 vote)

Robin Swann

Noes

Conservative (94 votes)

Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alex Burghart Alicia Kearns Alison Griffiths Andrew Bowie Andrew Griffith Andrew Mitchell Andrew Murrison Andrew Rosindell Andrew Snowden Aphra Brandreth Ashley Fox Ben Obese-Jecty Ben Spencer Bernard Jenkin Blake Stephenson Bob Blackman Bradley Thomas Caroline Dinenage Caroline Johnson Charlie Dewhirst Chris Philp Claire Coutinho Damian Hinds David Davis David Mundell David Reed David Simmonds Desmond Swayne Edward Argar Edward Leigh Gagan Mohindra Gareth Davies Geoffrey Cox George Freeman Graham Stuart Greg Smith Gregory Stafford Harriet Cross Harriett Baldwin Helen Whately Iain Duncan Smith Jack Rankin James Cartlidge James Cleverly James Wild Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Wright Jesse Norman Joe Robertson John Cooper John Glen John Hayes John Lamont John Whittingdale Joy Morrissey Julia Lopez Julian Lewis Karen Bradley Katie Lam Kevin Hollinrake Kieran Mullan Kit Malthouse Lewis Cocking Lincoln Jopp Louie French Mark Francois Mark Garnier Mark Pritchard Martin Vickers Matt Vickers Mel Stride Mike Wood Mims Davies Neil O'Brien Neil Shastri-Hurst Nick Timothy Nigel Huddleston Oliver Dowden Patrick Spencer Peter Bedford Peter Fortune Priti Patel Rebecca Harris Rebecca Paul Rebecca Smith Richard Fuller Saqib Bhatti Sarah Bool Stuart Anderson Stuart Andrew Tom Tugendhat Victoria Atkins

Democratic Unionist Party (1 vote)

Sammy Wilson

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Allison Janowski at DNC:

5:30 PM Call to Order Minyon Moore Chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee Gavel In The Honorable Veronica Escobar Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Invocation Everett Kelly National President of the American Federation of Government Employees Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem Masjidullah Mosque, West Oak Lane, PA Presentation of Colors Illinois State Police Honor Guard Pledge of Allegiance Luna Maring 6th Grader from Oakland, California Welcome Remarks The Honorable Veronica Escobar Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Joint Remarks Becky Pringle President of the National Education Association Randi Weingarten President of the American Federation of Teachers Remarks The Honorable Alex Padilla United States Senator, California

6:00 PM

Remarks The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Remarks The Honorable Ted W. Lieu Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, California Remarks The Honorable Tammy Baldwin United States Senator, Wisconsin Remarks The Honorable Katherine Clark U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Whip Remarks The Honorable Joe Neguse U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader Remarks The Honorable Leonardo Williams Mayor of Durham, North Carolina Remarks The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois Remarks The Honorable Bob Casey United States Senator, Pennsylvania Remarks The Honorable Elizabeth Warren United States Senator, Massachusetts Remarks: “Project 2025—Chapter Four: Making America Weaker and Less Secure” The Honorable Jason Crow Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado Remarks The Honorable Elissa Slotkin Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan Remarks The Honorable Pat Ryan Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York Remarks Reverend Al Sharpton Civil rights leader Joint Remarks from representatives of “the Central Park Five” The Honorable Dr. Yusef Salaam Member of the New York City Council Korey Wise Activist Raymond Santana Activist Kevin Richardson Activist

7:00 PM

Joint Remarks Amy Resner Former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Harris Karrie Delaney Director of Federal Affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Lisa Madigan Former Attorney General of Illinois Marc H. Morial President of the National Urban League Nathan Hornes Former student at Corinthian Colleges Tristan Snell Former New York State Assistant Attorney General Remarks The Honorable Maura Healey Governor of Massachusetts Remarks Courtney Baldwin Youth organizer and human trafficking survivor Remarks The Honorable Deb Haaland Remarks John Russell Content creator Remarks The Honorable Maxwell Alejandro Frost Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Remarks The Honorable Colin Allred Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Joint Remarks on “A New American Chapter” Anya Cook, Florida Craig Sicknick, New Jersey Gail DeVore, Colorado Juanny Romero, Nevada Eric, Christian, and Carter Fitts, North Carolina

8:00 PM

National Anthem The Chicks Host Introduction Kerry Washington Joint Remarks Meena Harris Ella Emhoff Helena Hudlin Remarks D.L. Hughley Remarks The Honorable Chris Swanson Sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan A Conversation on Gun Violence The Honorable Lucy McBath Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia Joined by Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut, Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas, Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina, and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago, Illinois. Remarks The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona Performance P!NK Remarks The Honorable Mark Kelly United States Senator, Arizona Remarks The Honorable Leon E. Panetta Former United States Secretary of Defense Remarks The Honorable Ruben Gallego Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona Remarks The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan

9:00 PM

Remarks Eva Longoria American actress and film producer Remarks The Honorable Adam Kinzinger Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois Remarks Maya Harris Remarks The Honorable Roy Cooper Governor of North Carolina Remarks The Honorable Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States

The speakers list for the 4th and final night of the DNC is here. The main speaker is Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

There could be a surprise guest or two.

Other notable speakers: Elizabeth Warren, Gretchen Whitmer, Ted Lieu, Tammy Baldwin, Al Sharpton, Roy Cooper, Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly, and Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Performers: The Chicks, P!nk.

Illinois: Lisa Madigan, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Adam Kinzinger

[featurenews]

Reeves’ statement will show Tory government was ‘running away’ from truth about public finances, says minister – UK politics live

Pat McFadden says ministers have discovered new information about government’s spending liabilities since taking office The Labour party has put a post on social media confirming that today’s Treasury report will identify a “black hole” worth around £20bn in the public finances. The Tories left Britain’s finances in their worst state since the Second World War. This Labour Government will take tough decisions to deliver the long-term solutions that will make you better off. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/jul/29/rachel-reeves-statement-treasury-taxes-public-finances-uk-politics-latest?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[randgugotur-6]

As engineers frantically battle to restore services and share prices dropped following what Elon Musk called 'the biggest IT fail ever' - NHS services across the country are hit as GP booking system go down - with one hospital postponing cancer appointments; Huge queues are seen at airports with Ryanair flights grounded and trains also axed - although 'most' services are still running; Experts reveal the truth behind blackout as computer users seen 'the blue screen of death' ; US - American Airlines and Delta ground ALL flights as 911 and hospital systems go down ; Australia - Qantas makes stunning announcement to passengers as global crash sends travel into chaos' ; Office workers rejoiced after the the outage shut down systems as staff joked they could end the week early ; The Cobra system that deals with matters of national emergency or major disruption has been fired up to manage the UK Government's response, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said this morning. Ministers are in touch with their sectors to tackle the fallout from the IT failures, with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh saying she is working 'at pace with industry' after trains and flights ground to a halt. Mr McFadden, who is in charge of the Whitehall machine, said: 'Many people are being affected by today's IT outages impacting services across the country and globally. 'Ministers are working with their sectors and respective industries on the issue. I am in close contact with teams co-ordinating our response through the COBR response system.'

An emergency Cobra meeting was held at official-level - rather than ministers - on Friday morning to discuss the IT chaos, Downing Street said. A No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: 'We recognise the impact this is having on services and the Government is working closely with the respective sectors and industries on this issue, which is affecting services not only across the UK but also globally. 'Officials have met in the Cobra unit this morning and of course are updating ministers regularly on this issue.' She said she was not aware of plans for a Cobra gathering with ministers present. Asked why Sir Keir Starmer did not chair the meeting of the committee, she said: 'The Prime Minister's had bilaterals with President Zelensky and Cabinet this morning, but all ministers including the Prime Minister are being kept informed with the latest.' Royal Surrey Hospital today said it had seen issues with Varian, the IT system the hospital uses to deliver radiotherapy treatments. Earlier the hospital was unable to deliver scheduled radiotherapy treatments, but this afternoon's appointments will take place as scheduled, the trust said in an update. Appointments into next week could still be affected due to remaining disruption to the system, the statement added.

[thoughtlessarse]

Starmer appointed his Cabinet after a landslide election victory on Thursday which saw his Labour party romp home with 412 seats. In his victory speech on Friday morning, Starmer vowed to restore trust in politics and a build a "government of service". Lawmakers for the UK's Labour Party arrived at 10 Downing Street on Friday as the country's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer named his new Cabinet. The party's deputy leader Angela Rayner has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, the first senior politician to be appointed by Starmer. Rayner, who has served as Starmer's deputy party leader since 2020, will also take the role of the Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. […] Rachel Reeves has been appointed Treasury Secretary, becoming the first woman to hold the job. […] David Lammy has been named Foreign Secretary, while Yvette Cooper is the Home Secretary, looking after key issues including immigration and policing. John Healey was named the Defence Secretary. Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the most senior minister in the Cabinet after the prime minister. Starmer's Cabinet includes the highest number of female ministers in history and more than 40% of the seats in the Commons will be held by women.

read complete article

[news2024news]

General election live: Rishi Sunak and Labour's Pat McFadden face BBC's Laura Kuenssberg http://dlvr.it/T8yrpD

[sztupy]

Hopefully with even more conservative policy ideas...

[nflsundayticket]

Andy Reid's Contract Extension Sends Shockwaves Through NFL

The Chiefs announced the contract extension for the 66-year-old head coach, as well as GM Red Beach and the team president, Mark Donovan. Reed's deal is going to run through 2029, and NFL Network reports that it's going to make him the highest-paid head coach in the league. And remember, Kansas City coming off their third Super Bowl title in the Reid era. They've also won eight straight AFC West titles and have made six straight appearances in the AFC title game. For now, or for more, I should say, let's welcome in our NFL analyst and two-time Super Bowl champ himself, Brian McFadden. And look, BMac, there was a lot of talk after the Super Bowl that Reid might be hanging it up. Clearly, that's not happening. So what do you make of Big Red staying in Kansas City for half a decade? This is huge for the organization. This is huge for the fan base. I mean, this is big time for all of us as well, right, Chris? Because we're in the midst of talking about this dynasty the Chiefs are currently involved in, of course, trying to win their third Super Bowl in a row, something that we've never seen done in the Super Bowl era. This is huge when you talk about the commitment, right? So one would think and one would assume Andy Reid is not making this commitment not knowing if Patrick Mahomes will be the quarterback the rest of the way when you look at the length of his contract. So clearly, there's been some communication when you talk about Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes just staying tied to the H with that organization, which is huge, because when you look at that player-coach relationship, one of the best relationships that we've watched in the National Football League. So when you talk about just having that stability on the offensive side, and don't forget, Chris, as well, remember they signed Steve Spagnuolo to an extension a week or so after winning the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. So now they have their defensive coordinator locked up for the long term. The same can be said for their head coach and play caller. So the structure they have on the coaching staff is huge when you look at the development and the production that they've been able to do with those two guys on the sideline in Steve Spagnuolo and Andy Reid, two of the best coaches in the game by far. Now, the other thing we have to talk about, BMac, Reid's age. So he's going to be 71 by the time this contract runs out. Do you have any concerns about the length of this deal, or has he earned the benefit of the doubt that he's still going to be able to perform at a high level and have that creativity with the offensive schemes once he does reach 71? I don't have any issues with the deal because I think 5 years is a nice sweet spot for Andy Reid, especially when the motivation is still there, and most importantly, winning. Who gets tired of winning, right, Chris? Who gets tired of being successful? I mean, that's something that we're all driven by is winning and trying to continue to do something that many people say that you can't do. So when you talk about the 5-year window being 71, last time I checked, Bill Belichick just finished coaching. I think he was 69 or 70, if I'm not mistaken, and he clearly wants to continue to coach. Unfortunately, he will not be coaching this year. So I think that's a nice sweet spot for Andy Reid. And when you know he hits that four-year plateau or that five-year plateau, then it's something to think about. But I have when you look at this window, this five-year window, and seeing how well this team has been able to perform with Pat Mahomes, one would think more in good health in a 5-year stretch, they should at least, bare minimum, right, Chris, see two more sticky Lombardis. Hey, I think that's at the bare minimum. I think that's doable as long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are there, Travis Kelce. I think it's very likely. Now, speaking about hoisting more Lombardi trophies, they're going for an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, which would be crazy. Do you think they get there from what you've seen so far and what you expect going into the season? Man, I'm not betting against Kansas City. I'm not betting against Andy Reid, Pat Mahomes, Steve Spagnuolo, what they did last year. For me, watching how they were able to win ball games and win the championship, I feel like this was the time to get to really catch Kansas City sleeping at the wheel because they had some issues on the offensive side. The wide receivers were dealing with drops. They weren't as efficient as what we've seen in years past, especially scoring points per ball game. But their defense prevailed. And then, of course, the offense came to the party, making timely plays that led them to win a championship. One would think they will improve their team on both sides of the football, specifically speaking on the offensive side. So what happens to the rest of the National Football League? What happens to the rest of the AFC West if this team that just won a Super Bowl and what I saw, it was kind of like a down year because we didn't really see the video game-like numbers that we've seen in years past from Pat Mahomes? What happens if they improve when it comes to the personnel with talent? So to answer your question, no question, I'm not betting against Kansas City until I see otherwise. I'm I have to ride with Kansas City. Now, anything can happen. That's why the game of football, the NFL, is such an entertaining league because anything can happen. But number 15 has shown all of us going back to year a year ago in 2022, he was able to prevail on one leg, one ankle. Then going back to what we just most recently witnessed, dealing with inconsistencies at the wide receiver position, he still found a way. You better believe number 15 will find a way in 2024. Yeah. Uh, I'm with you. I'm never betting I bet against KC when they played the Ravens never doing that again whatsoever, BAC with the latest giving great perspective on Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. He loves it, saying, 'Yes, sir,' as Andy Reid is going to be the head coach of Kansas City through 2029. Read the full article

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on https://yaroreviews.info/2024/02/post-office-victims-had-lives-utterly-destroyed

Post Office victims had lives 'utterly destroyed'

Getty Images

By Tom Espiner

Business reporter, BBC News

Sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted by the Post Office had their lives “utterly destroyed” by the scandal, lawyers acting for them have said.

Hundreds of people were convicted after faulty Horizon software flagged false discrepancies in accounts.

An ongoing public inquiry has been looking at how the court cases were brought against sub-postmasters.

One lawyer said this phase of the probe had “pulled back the curtain” on the scandal.

The fourth phase of the inquiry into the Horizon scandal drew to a close on Friday, having taken evidence from Post Office and Fujitsu employees over several months.

It looked at how investigations were conducted, and how information that the Post Office had which cast doubt on Horizon was not disclosed during court proceedings.

The next stages of the inquiry will see former Post Office boss Paula Vennells give evidence.

Last month, Ms Vennells handed back her CBE after facing mounting pressure following the broadcast of the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

Politicians will also testify in phases five and six of the inquiry, including the former and current Liberal Democrat leaders Jo Swinson and Sir Ed Davey, Labour MP Pat McFadden and former conservative MP Margot James. All served for a time in various governments as the minister with responsibility for overseeing the Post Office.

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Summing up at the end of stage four, Tim Moloney KC, said 76 sub-postmasters had their convictions quashed “only after having their lives utterly destroyed by the scandal at the heart of this inquiry”.

Speaking on behalf of Hudgell Solicitors, he said the firm represented many of the sub-postmasters whose stories were featured in ITV drama.

In the series, sub-postmistress Jo Hamilton is portrayed as being “surrounded by paperwork, distraught and seeking assistance from a helpline”.

“The help offered was no help at all, doubling a discrepancy before her eyes,” he said, adding this was “real life for Jo”.

“Our clients’ stories repeatedly echo that awful fear, and the impossible question of themselves and Horizon,” Mr Moloney said.

“Time and again they asked for help,” he said. “For many, because none came, they stopped asking.

“Time and again their lives were ruined” by prosecution, he added, despite their telling the Post Office about the discrepancies and maintaining their innocence.

This phase in the inquiry had been “critically important in getting at the real truth for them, about what they went through”, he said.

The inquiry had shown that the Post Office approach to investigation and the recovery of losses, supported by Fujitsu, was “deeply and fundamentally flawed”.

He said the management and oversight of investigations and prosecutions was “wilfully blind” or “disregarding” of the “proper, lawful administration of justice”.

Mr Moloney added the Post Office and Fujitsu, which supplied the software, were focused on their own commercial interests, including brand reputation, rather than on the interests of sub-postmasters.

He said that evidence given to the inquiry could now lay some of the witnesses open to “rigorous criminal investigation”.

Sam Stein KC, representing the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA) and 157 individual sub-postmasters, said this phase of the inquiry had “pulled back the curtain on the decades of the great Post Office cook-up and cover-up”.

The process wrecked the “physical, mental and economic health” of sub-postmasters, he said.

He said the inquiry had shown “disdain and dislike of sub-postmasters by the Post Office and their employees”, underlined by a Post Office investigator saying sub-postmasters were “all crooks”.

Mr Stein added that the latest phase of the inquiry had shown an “appalling lack of professionalism of lawyers, combined with bullying investigators”, a refusal to investigate the Horizon system because of what that would reveal, and that Post Office employees felt the firm “must be protected at all costs”.

He also criticised “corporate amnesia”, referring to a number of witnesses who said they could not remember details of events.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We fully support the aims of the ongoing public inquiry to get to the truth of what happened in the past, and it is vital that Post Office witnesses are able to provide evidence openly so that the inquiry can assess all the evidence.”

On Thursday three more sub-postmaster convictions were overturned. The Post Office said at the time: “We are deeply sorry for past wrongs.”

“We’re doing our utmost to ensure any injustices are put right as swiftly as possible and full, fair compensation is paid.”

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Post Office Inquiry

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