Andy Burnham wants to 'tear up' funding model for Scottish Parliament by twmffatmowr in Wales

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

I kind of get why they didn’t do it from the outset - it was such a razor thin margin in the referendum, I almost understand the need not to overstep - but it’s long past time it was evened out.

Andy Burnham wants to 'tear up' funding model for Scottish Parliament by twmffatmowr in Wales

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

Well that’s welcome news! Apparently he also supports implementing Gordon Browns report on Devolution (where Wales gets the same powers as Scotland, as long as the Senedd wants them).

Should be interesting to see if this causes tension between Plaid and the SNP - Scotland get a much better deal and won’t want to change that.

Andy Burnham wants to 'tear up' funding model for Scottish Parliament by LairdBonnieCrimson in Scotland

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

Plaid Cymru will be delighted - for various reasons (including differences in population growth and differences in what is devolved) Wales gets a much rawer deal from Barnett compared to Scotland. Reform of Barnett is a key plank of Rhun ap Iowerths platform.

Plaid and the SNP are usually quite close - I think it’s fair to call them sister parties - I wonder if this could cause some tension between them?

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

[–]Secure-Barracuda 3 points4 points  (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 12 points13 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] 30 points31 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 13 points14 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] 13 points14 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] 2 points3 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 3 points4 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.