Tag Archives: Politics

Michael Douglas Is ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Joe Biden Staying In The US Presidential Race

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Michael Douglas isn’t convinced that Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump in the upcoming US election.

The Wall Street star joined a growing chorus of Democrats on Wednesday when, during an appearance on The View, he said the mounting question about whether Biden should drop out of the race is “a tough one” — before admitting to feeling “deeply, deeply concerned”.

“I adore the guy,” Douglas, who held a fundraiser in his home for Biden in April, told the panel. “Fifty years of public service, a wonderful guy, and this just happens to be one of these elections that is just so crucial, and it’s really hard.

“I don’t worry necessarily today or tomorrow, but a year down the line, I worry. I am concerned.”

Douglas said he had been “looking at some politicians who spoke about Biden dropping out last week and all of a sudden, this week, now they’re hedging their bets”.

He added that “we need some courage” in the matter from “both parties.”

Biden’s disastrous performance against Trump in the presidential debate last month has spurred five Democratic members of Congress, as well as longtime strategists like James Carville, to urge Biden to bow out — and invigorate voters with a new presidential nominee.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), meanwhile, left the door to Biden’s exit open.

Even George Clooney has joined the fray. He extolled the president’s character, career and morals in an op-ed for The New York Times before revealing that “the Joe Biden” he met in 2010 and 2020 was not “the same man we all witnessed at the debate”.

Douglas agreed with his fellow Oscar winner on Wednesday — and said the Gravity star had made “a valid point”.

President Biden, seen here delivering remarks at the 2024 NATO Summit on Wednesday.
President Biden, seen here delivering remarks at the 2024 NATO Summit on Wednesday.

Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

“I’m deeply, deeply concerned,” he continued on the show. “I mean, especially it’s difficult because the Democrats have a big bench, they’ve got a lot of heavy hitters, a lot of talent. And I do worry because with the debate … I mean, it was relatively simple.”

“First of all, they should have just told the president to stand up, put a little makeup on for the debate … and then where to look, and call the other guy [a convicted felon],” he continued. “And just don’t deal with all of your facts — just deal with [Trump’s] lies.”

A post-debate CNN poll showed 67% percent of viewers felt Trump performed better than Biden, who recently attempted to reassure voters he’s up for the job with an interview on ABC News. The president maintained on Monday that he is “not going anywhere”.

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Labour Minister Patrick Vallance Calls For Easier Migration From EU To Boost Science Industry

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A Labour minister has called for easier migration to the UK from the European Union in an apparent break from government policy.

Patrick Vallance, who was given a life peerage and appointed science minister following the election, said “Brexit was definitely a problem”.

He said he wanted to see the visa rules loosened to make it easier for scientists and their families to live in the UK.

Vallance’s comments put him at odds with Keir Starmer, who has insisted Labour will not bring back freedom of movement with the EU.

Speaking on Radio 4′s World At One, Vallance , who was the government’s chief scientific adviser during the Covid pandemic, said leaving the EU had damaged the competitiveness of the UK science sector.

He said: “Brexit was definitely a problem for science. We were part of a very successful European funding scheme with very large collaborations right the way across Europe which took a setback when we had to leave that scheme, and getting back into it has been a big achievement. I’m really pleased we are back in it.”

That was a reference to the Horizon scheme, a Europe-wide scientific co-operation project which the UK has agreed to rejoin after initially leaving as a result of the Brexit vote.

Asked if he would be pushing the prime minister to agree closer ties with the EU, even if that meant making concessions on free movement, the minister said: “You can’t do the type of science that everyone is trying to do to make progress in isolation.

“You need brains that come with other backgrounds, other thought processes, other training.”

On loosening the visa rules, Vallance said: “There is an opportunity there to try and make this easier for people who come in to do contributions to scientific knowledge creation and to companies.

“We’ve got to be realistic as to how we do that, but we need to be as competitive as other countries in terms of attracting that talent.”

He added: “There are lots of visa issues, including the cost, which is very high at the moment for people coming to the UK, that needs to be looked at.

“We need to think about how we make the environment right for people to come who we want to have here contributing to science.”

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‘Deranged’: Critics React To Trump’s ‘Fat Pig’ Rally Rant

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In his first campaign rally since the presidential debate, Donald Trump went on a bizarre tangent that left critics disgusted and questioning his fitness for office.

Speaking at his Doral golf club in Florida, the former president was discussing his campaign pledge to tipped workers when he began sharing an anecdote about a waitress he said he met in Nevada.

“A waitress came over, beautiful waitress — and I never liked talking about physical — she’s beautiful inside, because you never talk about a person’s look. Ever,” said Trump, who has called women “fat,” “disgusting” and “unsexy,” among other misogynistic attacks, over the decades.

He then launched into a backhanded attack on former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally turned critic who went up against the former president in the presidential primaries.

“The other day, I got very angry,” Trump continued. “Some man called Chris Christie fat. And I said, ‘Sir.’ And then he said he was a pig. I said, ‘Sir! Chris Christie is not a fat pig!’ Please remember he is not a fat pig. Please take it back.”

Trump has previously mocked Christie’s weight.

At a rally in New Hampshire in August, he said Christie was off “eating right now” before pointing into the crowd and saying, “Sir, please do not call him a fat pig.”

Christie, at the time, invited Trump to “say it to my face.”

Trump’s Doral rally contained multiple eyebrow-raising moments where he trailed off, rambled incoherently and blatantly lied.

The Biden campaign called the appearance “deranged.” President Joe Biden has consumed the spotlight since his fumbling debate performance and has faced calls to step aside.

“Imagine if Joe Biden said whatever tf Trump is saying here,” conservative attorney George Conway said on social media of the “fat pig” sidebar.

“Deranged. Utterly unfit for office,” the Republicans Against Trump group posted.

Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett wrote, “Somebody anybody in the news!!! Are you going to report on this?!?! Does this sound normal? And this is EVERY TIME HE SPEAKS.”

See those reactions and more below.

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Keir Starmer Leads Tributes To Diane Abbott Weeks After Selection Row

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Keir Starmer has led tributes in the Commons to Diane Abbott, just weeks after she was at the centre of a row over whether she would stand for Labour at the election.

The veteran left-winger has become the mother of the House of Commons as the longest-serving female MP.

But just two months ago, it looked as though she would not even be a Labour candidate over a long-running feud with party bosses.

Abbott, who was first elected MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1987, was stripped of the Labour whip in April last year over allegations of anti-Semitism.

She eventually had the whip restored at the end of May, but senior Labour sources said she would not be allowed to stand as an election candidate for the party.

However, after a furious backlash, Labour bosses finally relented and she was re-elected last week with a majority of 15,080.

As MPs returned to parliament today for the first time since the election, Starmer and Rishi Sunak both praised Abbott’s contribution to British politics.

Addressing the re-elected Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, the prime minister said: “I hope you will not begrudge me for a slight departure from convention to also pay tribute to the new mother of the house, Diane Abbott, who has done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a parliament that truly represents modern Britain. We welcome her back to her place.”

Sunak said: “We have our differences on policy, but no one can deny the right honourable lady’s important role in this house and the inspiration for so many young women of colour that she has provided.

“The right honourable lady is truly, in every sense of the word, a trailblazer.”

Abbott said: “When I was a new member in 1987, there were only 40 female members of parliament. Today we have 264, and some of us are glad that we have lived to see this.

“And I can’t speak about the increased numbers of female members of parliament without referencing my predecessor, Baroness Harriet Harman, who did so much to work to have an equal and diverse house.”

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‘I Am Sorry’: Rishi Sunak Apologises To Former Tory MPs Who Lost Their Seats In Labour Landslide

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Rishi Sunak has apologised to the hundreds of former Tory MPs who lost their seats in last week’s Labour landslide.

The former prime minister said “I am sorry” as he addressed the Commons for the first time as leader of the opposition.

Parliament returned just four days after Labour won a 174-seat majority as the Conservatives lost two-thirds of their MPs.

Keir Starmer, in his first Commons speech as prime minister, had earlier said it was time to “replace the politics of performance with a politics of service”.

Flanked by the 120 fellow Tory MPs who survived last week’s electoral massacre, Sunak said: “For those of us in my party, let me begin with a message for those who are no longer sitting behind me: I am sorry.

“We have lost too many diligent, community-spirited representatives whose wisdom and expertise will be missed in the debates the discussions ahead.

“It is important after 14 years in government that the Conservative Party rebuilds. So now we will take up the crucial role of His Majesty’s official opposition professionally, effectively and humbly.

“And restoring trust begins my remembering that being here is an opportunity to do what those we serve expect of us, and in our case that means holding the new government to account.”

For the first time in 14 years, Labour’s MPs are sitting on the government benches, even though there is not enough room for all 411 of them.

Speaking after Lindsay Hoyle was re-elected as Commons Speaker, Starmer said: “The need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike. We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good.

“So whatever our political difference, it is now time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal, and make this new parliament a parliament of service.”

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Rishi Sunak’s Furniture Is Seen Being Removed From Downing Street As Labour Era Begins

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The former prime minister’s time behind the famous black door of No.10 came to an end in the wake of the Tories’ catastrophic defeat in last week’s general election.

A lorry from the Platimum Move removals firm was spotted parked in Downing Street this afternoon.

Removal men were also photographed carrying a chest of drawers, a sofa and a bed into it.

Starmer and his family are expected to formally move into their new grace-and-favour home in the coming days.

However, it is not known yet whether they will live in the flat above No.10 or in the larger property above No.11, which has been used by several prime ministers dating back to Tony Blair’s time in office.

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Keir Starmer’s Newly-Assembled Government: 5 Surprise Appointments – And 1 Snub

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Keir Starmer has wasted no time in assembling his new top team for the government – but there have been a few surprising decisions.

Most of the cabinet is made up of top Labour MPs who covered the same portfolio while in Opposition, including a record eleven women.

But, the new PM has also introduced a few non-political ministers into the mix and brought back a few names from the New Labour era.

1. Patrick Vallance

Vallance became a well-known name during the Covid pandemic, as the UK’s then-chief scientific adviser.

He regularly appeared in briefings alongside then-PM Boris Johnson and the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, although he left this role in April 2023 once his fixed five-year term was over.

He was knighted two years ago and will now receive a peerage so he can go to parliament.

He supported Labour’s flagship manifesto pledge to introduce a publicly owned energy company earlier this year.

Starmer has decided to appoint him as a science minister under science, innovation and technology secretary Peter Kyle.

2. Richard Hermer

A KC from Matrix chambers – which was co-founded by Tony Blair’s wife Cherie – Hermer has been appointed as the attorney general.

That means he will oversee the government’s legal department, serious fraud office and the crown prosecution service.

He will get a life peerage so he can sit in the cabinet.

Hermer was among many Jewish lawyers who warned that Israel’s retaliation to the October 7 attack from Hamas should be within the confines of international law.

He has also spoken at Labour conference and donated £5,000 to Starmer’s campaign.

His appointment means Emily Thornberry – who was shadow attorney general – has now lost out on a place in cabinet.

It’s an especially interesting choice considering the Labour vote was squeezed by pro-Gaza independent candidates in many constituencies, and even ousted former shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth from his seat.

3. Jacqui Smith

Smith held six roles in Blair’s government, and was promoted to be the first female home secretary under Gordon Brown.

Smith resigned in 2009 over a series of expenses scandals and in the 2010 general election her seat went to the Conservatives.

Starmer is now giving her a life peerage so that she can return to government as a higher education minister, reporting to education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

This is the same role Smith held under Blair, 25 years ago.

4. Douglas Alexander

Alexander held multiple ministerial roles in the New Labour years, including transport secretary and Scotland secretary under Blair, and international development secretary under Gordon Brown.

He was the shadow work and pensions secretary and shadow foreign secretary under Ed Miliband, too.

However, he has not been in parliament for the last nine years as he lost his seat in 2015 when the SNP swept through Scotland.

He was just elected in a new seat – Lothian East– last week and is now a business minister in Starmer’s government.

5. James Timpson

Rehabilitation campaigner and CEO of the Timpson Group – which regularly employs former prisoners – James Timpson is now the prisons minister.

Starmer praised the businessman in his news conference on Saturday, saying he had invested “a huge amount over many years” into rehabilitating offenders and that he was “very pleased” to appoint him as a minister.

Timpson is also chair of the Prison Reform Trust charity which looks to reduce imprisonment and improve conditions for inmates and families.

The role will be under the spotlight as British prisons continue to struggle with serious overcrowding at the moment.

6. Emily Thornberry

The Labour MP has been on the party’s front benches for years, under both Jeremy Corbyn and Starmer, and ran to be leader in 2020.

So the decision not to include Thornberry, a former criminal barrister, in the cabinet in some capacity therefore came as a surprise.

Emily Thornberry Labour MP
Emily Thornberry Labour MP

Nicola Tree via Getty Images

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Laura Kuenssberg Tears Into Top Tory Who Says UK Is Still ‘Instinctively Conservative’

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Tory MP Victoria Atkins has claimed that the UK is still “instinctively Conservative”, just days after the party endured a historic defeat at the polls.

On BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the former health secretary – who is widely expected to put herself forward as a contender to be the next Tory leader – said the Conservatives needs to “act on those values” in the party which voters support.

Alluding to the meagre 121 seats the Tories took in the election, Kuenssberg asked Atkins: “What went wrong with your values then?”

Atkins replied: “We know that the country, actually, is instinctively Conservative, if you look, people want lower taxes.”

“Do you think the country is still instinctively Conservative when they booted you out? You’ve got your worst defeat ever.” The BBC host hit back.

Atkins said: “In terms of their values, their instincts, they are, I believe, still instinctively Conservative.

“They want lower taxes, they want to build a better future for their children, they want to help them thrive in their personal lives, and in their livelihoods.”

“Those values are important to us all,” she added.

It’s worth noting that Conservatives took just 24% of the vote share overall on Thursday.

So Kuenssberg pushed: “What was it that went wrong, though?

“The country has dramatically kicked you out.

“This was not the standard defeat. Labour won a landslide. What was it that was wrong?”

Atkins said it was about “trust” with voters, but refused to outline what the party will actually do next, saying that the parliamentary party has not reconvened since the abysmal general election.

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Putin’s Foreign Minister Had Quite The Bizarre Take On Labour’s Landslide Victory

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Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov offered the BBC a very strange response when asked what he thought of the UK general election.

Shortly after Labour secured a landslide victory and the Conservatives endured a historic loss, the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg asked one of Putin’s top aides what this could mean for international relations between the two countries.

“Ah, it’s you!” Lavrov said with a chuckle upon seeing the famous BBC journalist.

Rosenberg replied: “It’s me, yes… Do you think anything will change in UK-Russian relations?”

“Diplomacy is not an art of guessing,” Lavrov said, staring back at the reporter.

There was a pause while Rosenberg waited for further explanation, before he said: “What is it?”

Lavrov replied: “You know the saying about the pudding? You understand that this is a pudding when you eat it.”

The UK has been resolutely on Ukraine’s side ever since Putin chose to invade the country back in 2022.

And, like many Western countries, it has tried to hit Russia’s economy by weaning itself off Russian oil and gas exports, and imposing sanctions.

Lavrov’s comments come after Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said he does not think Labour’s victory will alter anything between the two countries.

He told Sky News: “This is domestic affairs for Great Britain, so as far as we understand it, it can hardly influence the Russian-Britain relationship.”

Asked if thought Putin would ever “welcome” Keir Starmer to the Kremlin, Peskov said: “It is very much unlikely.”

Pressed over what it would take for Starmer to get an invitation, Peskov said: “Putin is open to contact. This is Britain, this is London, that insists there shouldn’t be any continuation of dialogue.”

Peskov said he did not think the Russian president would be phoning Starmer to congratulate him on his win any time soon, saying: “Britain is quite hostile towards our country. Why should we do it?”

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Who Is In Keir Starmer’s New Cabinet? PM Appoints UK’s First Ever Female Chancellor

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Hours after getting into No.10 as the first Labour prime minister for 14 years, Keir Starmer started to announced his new cabinet today.

The PM had a victorious night, taking 412 seats in a landslide victory – but he did lose his party’s attack dog and shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth to a pro-Palestine candidate in one of the election’s most surprising results.

The shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire also lost her seat to the Greens in Bristol Central, meaning Starmer was on the hunt to replace her.

Political pundits were keenly watching to see who would take on these two roles – and wondering if Starmer would have any shock appointments up his sleeve…

Here’s what the UK’s new cabinet looks like so far.

1. Angela Rayner

The deputy party leader since Starmer was elected in 2020, Rayner was the first to find out her new role today – she was appointed as the deputy PM.

She also became the levelling up, housing and communities secretary – a job she previously held in the shadow cabinet.

2. Rachel Reeves

Having been shadow chancellor since 2021, Reeves has just become the first woman to officially head up the Treasury as the chancellor in its 803-year history.

3. Pat McFadden

McFadden is now the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, having held the same role in opposition.

4. David Lammy

Lammy has become the new foreign secretary, despite brief speculation he could be moved away from the brief.

5. Yvette Cooper

Now the home secretary, she has retained her brief after serving as the shadow home secretary before the election.

6. John Healey

After four years acting as the shadow counterpart, Healey has now officially become the defence secretary.

7. Shabana Mahmood

Mahmood now holds the same role she had in the shadow cabinet – the Lord chancellor and Justice secretary.

She replaces the Tory’s Alex Chalk, who was one of the 11 cabinet ministers to lose their seats last night.

8. Wes Streeting

The new health secretary held the same role in the shadow cabinet for years before today’s appointment.

His seat ended up being surprisingly marginal, as he won by just 528 votes over the independent pro-Gaza candidate Leanne Mohamad in Ilford North.

9. Bridget Phillipson

Phillipson – like her colleagues – holds the same job she had in the shadow cabinet, education secretary.

10. Ed Miliband

Miliband – former Labour leader – is holding an identical brief now he’s in government, as the climate change and net zero secretary.

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