Andy Burnham has spent the week telling anybody who will listen that – despite calls coming for him to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister – he's happy where he is as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Which, of course, means he's running.
The clamour for the part-time DJ, full-time 'King in the North' to step up his tilt for No 10 at Labour's party conference this weekend will "remind many of how Boris Johnson used to dominate Conservative party conferences from the political wilderness – dragging all the attention away from whoever happened to be the hapless Tory leader at the time," noted Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin. A shiny new problem for Starmer to deal with, then.
Elsewhere, Nigel Farage had Boris on the brain too, taking aim at the so-called 'Boriswave' of immigration that rolled into Britain on the ex-PM's watch and setting out Reform's plans to reverse it, before – baselessly - telling LBC Radio host Nick Ferrari that "swans are being eaten in royal parks" by Eastern Europeans. "What's obvious to me is that, in his own little way, Farage is trying to out-Trump Trump," explained Alexandra Jones, a Romanian emigre herself. "Take it from me: Romanians don't eat swans. Too chewy."
In actual Trumpland, the President of the United States debuted a new theory that taking paracetamol during pregnancy can cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children. "I think you're going to find it to be amazing," he told a crowd at the Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial last Sunday. "I think we found an answer to autism." Complete rubbish of course, said Victoria Richards, who happens to be a parent of a child with ASD. But Trump knows what he's doing. "Tell the people the world is flat for long enough and they'll believe it. Tell the people the world is flat but you alone can fix it, and they'll think you a God."
What Trump and his ilk don't like is when people point out their foolishness, said stand-up Shaparak Khorsandi, after Trump critic Jimmy Kimmel was reinstated to his American late-night show following remarks he admitted were "ill-timed" about the murder of Charlie Kirk. Trump cannot stand Kimmel. "It is always the same with leaders who rely on dominance. Court jesters in medieval Europe were often the only ones allowed to mock the king, precisely because humour punctured pomposity and reminded rulers of their humanity. But when power grows insecure, jesters are no longer tolerated. In the modern world, comedians who go too far in mocking authoritarian leaders often pay dearly. That they are feared more than rival politicians tells us something important about power: it cannot endure being laughed at." So let's hear it for the jesters. In the face of extraordinary power and pomposity, sometimes all you can do is laugh. |
|
|
From the Dave Brown archive, for the Independent |
|
|
If people have nothing to hide, why do they object to identity cards? Everyone wants something done about illegal immigrants, but as soon as an idea is broadcast, those same people shout about civil liberties. |
|
|
Share your opinion and read the full debate here |
|
|
FEATURED COLUMNIST: KAT BROWN
|
|
|
| Why you can't simply 'demand' that women have more children |
The ways in which women's choices, or lack of them, are discussed offer a fairly glaring insight into why fertility rates continue to fall Read more |
|
|
Don't forget to complete your registration |
You haven't completed your registration with The Independent. It's free, quick, and helps support our journalism while tailoring your experience.
Register now to enjoy benefits including access to limited Premium articles, The Independent app, more than 20 newsletters and commenting on independent.co.uk.
Complete your registration today to unlock access.
|
|
|
| I absolutely adore Coldplay, their music, their commitment to helping the climate and everything about them |
| |
|
| A well written piece by someone who understands the needs of the poorest and cares. We have seen people and children placed in abject poverty by the Israeli war on Gaza, it's horrendous this has been allowed |
| |
|
| Problem with O'Grady's argument is that Brexit didn't cause the problems either. Neither caused the problems we face. They're endemic to the economic system that hasn't recovered from the 2008 crash |
| |
|
For a chance to have your opinions featured in future newsletters alongside other readers, register here. |
|
|
Having problems with work, love, family or friends? Get in touch with... |
I hate my job and it's making me ill |
I have a very demanding job in the City that pays well, has good benefits – a great pension, generous holiday allowance, private healthcare – but I am utterly miserable.
I can't sleep, I have heart palpitations and I don't even breathe properly. The stress and worry of what's on my morning "to do" list just makes me feel like I'm drowning. Read more |
|
|
Join the conversation and follow us |
|
|
Download the free Independent app |
|
|
Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Voices newsletter. To unsubscribe from The Independent's Voices newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345
Read our privacy policy and cookie policy
|
|
|
|
0 comentários:
Postar um comentário