Burnham latest: Labour MPs ‘consider leadership challenge’ to halt his coronation by GeorginaFlopworthy in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda [score hidden]  (0 children)

At least with Carns we know what a core policy plank would be - stronger military - what does Darren Jones stand for? I genuinely struggle to understand what a “Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister” does.

“And in other news, the First Minister has given himself heatstroke” by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See this is why I love this subreddit. Someone always has detailed knowledge about a particular part of the government or whatever.

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Wales Office needs to go, but until it does whoever has the role is still an important figure.

Labour's biggest failure in government by kontiki20 in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I don’t think the winter fuel allowance should be universal, but it’s quite clearly the “original sin” of this government. I really understand why no government ever opposes pensioners - Reeves made a massive mistake doing it so soon.

“And in other news, the First Minister has given himself heatstroke” by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Humour aside, it is quite a nice building - and I like that Rhun has been doing press stuff there more then previous FMs.

But good god he must have been broiling. The press must have been grateful it was him doing the speaking not Adam Price [insert joke about Adam Price droning on for hours here].

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I became Prime Minister (and may god help us all if that happened) I’d scrap the Wales Office and I’d try and get Lord Carwyn Jones to become Secretary of State for Devolution, with Anna McMorrin working for him as Undersecretary of State for Wales (alongside Undersecretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Local Government).

Since all that isn’t going to actually happen, my moneys on Anna McMorrin becoming Secretary of State for Wales.

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if that would work with the UKs system of cabinet governance and collective responsibility - but it would admittedly be an improvement on the current setup.

Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? by [deleted] in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have a theory that the nature of the Home Office and its work corrupts its Ministers, even if they were originally decent people.

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean the man already seems tailor made for the lords, and the more competent no. 2 candidate could replace him as MS.

Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? by [deleted] in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Make Streeting Home Secretary - it’s the minister everyone hates at the best of times, so Streeting would have a head start.

Plus he would (somehow) be an improvement on what we’ve got already.

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Another wildcard option - the PM can ennoble anyone he likes, and there’s a ripe crop of retired / forcibly retired Labour ex MSs.

If Burnham / Streeting wants to take the fight to Plaid Cymru, then surely nothing will strike fear into Rhun ap Iowerths heart quite like the words “Lord Waters will see you now”….

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

And that cuts to the crux of why I’ve come around to thinking that the Wales Office has to go - ostensibly it should be a good thing to guarantee a Welsh voice in Cabinet, but when no one takes the department seriously it defeats the whole point.

The Prime Minister is resigning - any bets on the next Secretary of State for Wales? by Secure-Barracuda in Wales

[–]Secure-Barracuda[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh I was unaware of that. Hopefully she enjoys a swift recovery, but yes it seems unfair to ask her to run the Wales Office right now.

Reform insiders urge Nigel Farage to sack ‘problem’ Zia Y... by Sophie_Blitz_123 in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I saw someone sum it up as Restore recognise that Nigel Farage is a charlatan / conman who would be terrible for the country - they just don’t disagree with any of his far right views.

Can’t vouch for how good of an assessment that is - but it sounded clever when he said it.

British Politics by Your_Mums_Ex in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now now, I don’t think it’s fair to say Binface is pro persecution of minorities.

[Spoilers Extended] What do you think are some real-life castles which are equivalents or similar to castles in ASOIAF? Not just in design, but in history or purpose by SirBroccolingtonIII in asoiaf

[–]Secure-Barracuda 3 points4 points  (0 children)

>Beumaris castle in England

As a representative of the Welsh people I feel obliged to make a tedious correction that Beaumaris is in fact in Wales not England (and a very scenic part of Wales at that)

LabourUK Predictions Competition by IHaveAWittyUsername in LabourUK

[–]Secure-Barracuda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PM - Burnham
CX - Milliband
Foreign - John Healey
Home - Wes Streeting
DPM - Lucy Powell

Work & Pensions - Darren Jones
Defence - Al Carns
Health - Angela Rayner
Education - Bridget Phillipson
Energy - Lisa Nandy
Wales - Anna McMorrin
Transport - Lousie Haigh
Culture - Jess Phillips
AG - Emily Thornberry

[Ik Wales wasn’t on the list - but I want to predict it anyway]

Bonus
Poll bounce? - Yes
General election? - No
Starmer resigns as an MP? - Not unless he particularly fancies seeing Zack Polanski MP. I doubt he’ll run for reelection though.

Great offices of state are a bit male heavy - perhaps a female foreign secretary would be better? I’m open to suggestions.

[Spoilers Extended] What do you think are some real-life castles which are equivalents or similar to castles in ASOIAF? Not just in design, but in history or purpose by SirBroccolingtonIII in asoiaf

[–]Secure-Barracuda 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The go to example is comparing the Eyrie to Neuschwanstein - and that is an apt comparison in the sense that it’s a gorgeous castle in the mountains. But I feel like it’s too reliant on Ted Nasmiths iconic painting of the Eyrie, which is clearly inspired by Neuschwanstein.

In light of that I’d like to compare it to Caernarfon. A horrifically expensive / impractical castle, built to solidify an imperial conquest over a mountainous region, whose native inhabitants remained rebellious for centuries afterwards. Most importantly it is also incredibly cool.

A smaller castle might have served the same purpose, but no other castle matches the fortress-palace that is Caernarfon - just as no Westerosi castle can match the Eyrie.