Mandelson failed security vetting. Starmer says he didn’t know

Oreo

A lot do it seems.

Where has that been said?

Many back benchers and activists were clear, they’d support Keir because he’d win the election, then move to replace him
None of this is a surprise to anyone,
Ditto many voters were so angry and disillusioned they voted against the Conservatives but were never really Labour supporters

Then we have so many grumpy, dissatisfied disaffected moaners who love to complain but have no constructive suggestions other than stop the boats

stop the boats
Or even, at the moment, mend the potholes!

Is your council not having a pothole blitz (their words) like mine is Mollygo? Everybody here is moaning about all the roadworks instead now.

Casdon

Is your council not having a pothole blitz (their words) like mine is Mollygo? Everybody here is moaning about all the roadworks instead now.

We travelled up north today and the roads have improved dramatically in the space of a few weeks. I’m sure the government said they were putting a lot of money into repairing potholes?

MayBee70

Casdon

Is your council not having a pothole blitz (their words) like mine is Mollygo? Everybody here is moaning about all the roadworks instead now.

We travelled up north today and the roads have improved dramatically in the space of a few weeks. I’m sure the government said they were putting a lot of money into repairing potholes?

You didn't come anywhere near where I live, then, MayBee

They’d resurfaced a lot of the A1 round Newcastle and the potholes in the side roads when we left it had been filled in.

Casdon
Is your council not having a pothole blitz (their words) like mine is Mollygo?^^Everybody here is moaning about all the roadworks instead now.

MayBee70

We travelled up north today and the roads have improved dramatically in the space of a few weeks. I’m sure the government said they were putting a lot of money into repairing potholes?

There’s an awful lot of roads up North.

The improvements haven’t reached us yet, unless you count them putting white lines round them especially the deeper potholes, so they’re easier to see in the dark.😂😂

The government can say a lot of things.
But if you query your local MP about potholes, they say they can’t do anything because your County Council isn’t Labour.

So who knows where the money is going? If it’s not improving our roads then Thé LP boast is useless.

Our Council is so far behind with filling potholes they claim it would cost £60 million to fill them.

Why are we talking about potholes or is it because we think Mandelson should be shoved into one?

If you look it up you should be able to see what your own council is doing. All councils have had additional funding to tackle it. As I said, mine is doing a pothole blitz, it started last financial year, and they have now invested in new technology, including JCB "pothole pro" machines, which can fix a pothole in 8 minutes apparently.

I believe Powys has one of the biggest rural road networks in the UK by the way. Obviously this doesn’t address backlog underinvestment issues, but at least it means that our tyres should survive.

Isn't it usual for councils to spend money at the end of the financial year?

Yes, but there has been an additional allocation this year. I’m in Wales, and we have had a similar funding stream.

‘As of April 2026, the UK government is implementing strict new rules for £1.6 billion in pothole funding, threatening to withhold up to one-third of funds from councils in England that fail to effectively maintain roads. This initiative is part of a larger £7.3 billion, four-year funding package for local highway maintenance to tackle the "pothole plague". ‘
GOV.UK
+5

Withholding money from councils that fail to effectively maintain roads sounds a good idea, except the councils who are already not doing that will simply add the “no money” excuse to their existing reasons.

We currently have regular sessions of MPs standing round on pothole photoshoots, but they say they can’t do anything . . .

Doodledog

Isn't it usual for councils to spend money at the end of the financial year?

Yes that is normal because if they don't spend the budget they have failed, no credits for economy and it can't be carried forward

Yes, that’s what I was getting at.

Of more interest will be Barton and McSweeney before Emily Thornberry this morning.

I had to laugh at Starmer in parliament pleading the vetting process was handled correctly, when it obviously WASNT.

Copied from another forum written by someone who isn’t a fan of Starmer
“A criminal trial, in which the Prime Minister will be indirectly involved, commenced today in the Old Bailey. But you could be forgiven for not knowing it.

To recap, three Ukrainians (one a Romanian citizen) are accused of committing acts of arson against properties and vehicles owned (or formerly owned) by Keir Starmer. They are charged with endangering life – a very serious matter.

Yet the media, including outlets which are not friendly to Starmer and his government, seem to believe this to be not newsworthy. Not even a small paragraph anywhere”.

Doodledog

Isn't it usual for councils to spend money at the end of the financial year?

Yes, but if you have £7 million left to spend on potholes and the estimate to do a Proper Job is £60 million, it's not going to fill many.

Did Mandelson have a company contracted to fill potholes?
Why are we discussing this? I know threads meander but I had to remind myself what the OP was about 😀

DH woke me with a cup of tea this morning and started grumbling about Parliament wasting time going on and on about Starmer's future as PM. "Good morning to you, too, dear".

I agree with your DH Allira it is a waste of time when there is so much more they should be getting on with.
That's my grumble for the day.

Just as he said too 'so much happening both at home and overseas- what is the matter with them?'
He said they need to get on with the jobs they are paid for instead of wasting time.
They are too introspective at times.

By this time I was well awake 😀

McSweeney says “I got it wrong”.

And?

Primrose53

McSweeney says “I got it wrong”.

They’re all covering their backs now, everyone loses their jobs bar Starmer.
Funny that 🤔