Cedar Lounge Revolution (@clrevolution) Bsky

Speaking of Starmer There was this yesterday: Keir Starmer has full confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney,Downing Street has said. There have been calls by backbenchers for the sacking of McSweeney, whom many blame for his ally Peter Mandelson’s appointment to the ambassadorship. Asked if the prime minister agreed with calls for his chief of staff to be sacked, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: It’s full confidence. Really? In similar circumstances, would you, would I, would any of us?

Speaking of Starmer

There was this yesterday: Keir Starmer has full confidence in his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney,Downing Street has said. There have been calls by backbenchers for the sacking of McSweeney, whom many blame for his ally Peter Mandelson’s appointment to the ambassadorship. Asked…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Any predictions on how long Starmer will last? It's not looking good is it? What's the wisdom of this crowd regarding how long he might stay as PM and leader of the British Labour Party? Wes Ferry noted yesterday that: Odds on resignation and when will Keir Starmer resign? According to Odds Checker, which aggregates odds from a number of bookmakers, Starmer is unlikely to make it through 2026 in his current job.

Any predictions on how long Starmer will last?

It's not looking good is it? What's the wisdom of this crowd regarding how long he might stay as PM and leader of the British Labour Party? Wes Ferry noted yesterday that: Odds on resignation and when will Keir Starmer resign? According to Odds…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Meanwhile, back at the British Labour Party: Unforced ‘error’ piled on unforced ‘error’ The thought comes to mind reading this that Keir Starmer sure doesn't seem to want to give Keir Starmer a break, does he? Keir Starmer has confirmed for the first time he knew about Peter Mandelson’s longer-term relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador, saying the former peer had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of his contact with the child sex offender.

Meanwhile, back at the British Labour Party: Unforced ‘error’ piled on unforced ‘error’

The thought comes to mind reading this that Keir Starmer sure doesn't seem to want to give Keir Starmer a break, does he? Keir Starmer has confirmed for the first time he knew about Peter Mandelson’s…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

The IT/Ipsos B&A Poll The Irish Times offers this today about their latest poll: Support for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has stabilised while Sinn Féin has slipped back since last year, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll, the first of the year. The personal rating of Taoiseach Micheál Martin has recovered after a slump in the wake of Fianna Fáil’s disastrous presidential election campaign last year and he is now once again the most popular party leader.

The IT/Ipsos B&A Poll

The Irish Times offers this today about their latest poll: Support for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has stabilised while Sinn Féin has slipped back since last year, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll, the first of the year. The personal rating of…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Man of the people news! This from the Guardian: Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000 after he was given two guest passes by an Iranian-born billionaire, documents show. The Reform UK leader officially declared his attendance at the conference on the register of MPs’ interests, after giving speeches at the Switzerland summit in which he pledged to “put the global elites on notice”.

Man of the people news!

This from the Guardian: Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000 after he was given two guest passes by an Iranian-born billionaire, documents show. The Reform UK leader officially declared his attendance at the conference on the register of MPs’…

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

‘If the left come together [in Galway West] they’ll win this seat’ So says Independent candidate Thomas Welby, who is supported by Noel Grealish and other Independent TDs. He thinks, according to this report in The Irish Times: As a founding member of Independents Together, a national support group for Independent councillors, Welby can count on the backing of the likes of Noel Grealish, Senator Gerard Craughwell and a variety of councillors from all over the constituency.

‘If the left come together [in Galway West] they’ll win this seat’

So says Independent candidate Thomas Welby, who is supported by Noel Grealish and other Independent TDs. He thinks, according to this report in The Irish Times: As a founding member of Independents Together, a national support…

2 months ago 0 1 0 0

Those invisible Independents in government Useful point made on RTÉ's politics podcast that the Independents supporting this government do not fulfil a vital role, for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, that the Green Party did in the last one. That is that unlike the GP, they're much less visible. They're in Government sure, but they're not seen as a single bloc. This is, no doubt, of great benefit to them, and their re-election prospects, but problematic for the Government, which no longer has a party to point at and blame for this policy or that policy, as the GP experienced time and again.

Those invisible Independents in government

Useful point made on RTÉ's politics podcast that the Independents supporting this government do not fulfil a vital role, for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, that the Green Party did in the last one. That is that unlike the GP, they're much less visible.…

2 months ago 1 0 0 0

Fair point

Fair point

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

What you want to say – 4th February 2026 As always, following on Dr. X’s suggestion, it’s all yours, “announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose”, feel free.

What you want to say – 4th February 2026

As always, following on Dr. X’s suggestion, it’s all yours, “announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose”, feel free.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

Culture Thread 2/11/2025 gregtimo proposed in comments some while back the idea of a Culture Thread. It’s a great idea. Currently culture is a bit strange, but people read, listen to music, watch television and film and so on – spread the net wide, sports, activities, interests, all relevant – and any pointers are always welcome. And it’s not just those areas but many more. Suggestions as to new or old things, events that might have been missed, literally anything.

Culture Thread 2/11/2025

gregtimo proposed in comments some while back the idea of a Culture Thread. It’s a great idea. Currently culture is a bit strange, but people read, listen to music, watch television and film and so on – spread the net wide, sports, activities, interests, all relevant – and…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Sunday and other stupid statements from this week All examples welcome. Quite the political analysis here: Ironically, what Fine Gael might need is a new, but very different, Garret FitzGerald — if such a person even exists. He or she would need Garret’s energy and intellect but instead of dragging the party to the left, they would move the party decisively on to centre-right territory and take the fight to the left both morally and intellectually.

Sunday and other stupid statements from this week

All examples welcome. Quite the political analysis here: Ironically, what Fine Gael might need is a new, but very different, Garret FitzGerald — if such a person even exists. He or she would need Garret’s energy and intellect but instead of…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Conflict of interests… Wait, what? News this evening that: Ivan Yates’s role as a co-presenter of the popular Path to Power podcast with Today FMbroadcaster Matt Cooper has been ended “with immediate effect” after it emerged he had coached Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin during the recent presidential race. We may recall his intervention in the Presidential campaign where he argued that FG should “should smear the bejaysus” out of Catherine Connolly.

Conflict of interests…

Wait, what? News this evening that: Ivan Yates’s role as a co-presenter of the popular Path to Power podcast with Today FMbroadcaster Matt Cooper has been ended “with immediate effect” after it emerged he had coached Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin during the recent presidential…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

In praise of libraries Recently had to update my library card and was very impressed by how streamlined the library system is. Updating it online was almost immediate, no messing around, no having to bring it to the library itself. And using libraries is a pleasure these days. Emails when books are overdue, no fines, a good online interface (was entertained by how on the nose the recommendations online 'similar to titles that you have previously borrowed' actually were) and the libraries themselves well stocked.

In praise of libraries

Recently had to update my library card and was very impressed by how streamlined the library system is. Updating it online was almost immediate, no messing around, no having to bring it to the library itself. And using libraries is a pleasure these days. Emails when books…

5 months ago 1 0 0 0

Reading Deighton backwards Earlier in the year found myself picking up Len Deighton's Mexico Set. Like many of us I'd read a few books on the go - usually three or more, one non-fiction, a couple of fiction, one for falling asleep too. But with Mexico Set there was another purpose. Some time in 2019 it seemed like a good idea to read the entirety of the nine book series that that is part of.

Reading Deighton backwards

Earlier in the year found myself picking up Len Deighton's Mexico Set. Like many of us I'd read a few books on the go - usually three or more, one non-fiction, a couple of fiction, one for falling asleep too. But with Mexico Set there was another purpose. Some time in…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Gaming news From the Journal this morning, not unexpected news. A UNION HAS claimed more than 30 UK staff of Rockstar Games – the developers of Grand Theft Auto – have been sacked in a “union-busting” move by bosses. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has said it appears that staff at the company’s base in Edinburgh had been sacked for “trade union activity” and claimed that the dismissals were “unlawful and retaliatory”.

Gaming news

From the Journal this morning, not unexpected news. A UNION HAS claimed more than 30 UK staff of Rockstar Games – the developers of Grand Theft Auto – have been sacked in a “union-busting” move by bosses. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has said it appears that…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

This Weekend I’ll Mostly Be Listening to… We Lost the Sea We Lost the Sea are an instrumental post-rock band from Sydney, Australia that have been around since 2007.

This Weekend I’ll Mostly Be Listening to… We Lost the Sea

We Lost the Sea are an instrumental post-rock band from Sydney, Australia that have been around since 2007.

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Outages Caught by this on Wednesday: Microsoft said its cloud services were recovering from an outage that disrupted its workplace software products and the operations of several companies. The outage hit a service called Azure Front Door, which acts as an entry point for web applications built on the company’s servers, beginning at about 4pm on Wednesday Irish time, the company said.

Outages

Caught by this on Wednesday: Microsoft said its cloud services were recovering from an outage that disrupted its workplace software products and the operations of several companies. The outage hit a service called Azure Front Door, which acts as an entry point for web applications built on…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

‘Hurtful’? GUBU. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has sought to defend himself and fight to survive as Fianna Fáil leader, saying that “no one gets it right all the time.” Mr Martin said MEP Billy Kelleher did not tell him soon enough that he wanted to run for president, while he wasn’t sure why former taoiseach Bertie Ahern would want to “bring on himself.”

‘Hurtful’?

GUBU. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has sought to defend himself and fight to survive as Fianna Fáil leader, saying that “no one gets it right all the time.” Mr Martin said MEP Billy Kelleher did not tell him soon enough that he wanted to run for president, while he wasn’t sure why former…

5 months ago 0 1 0 0

A deliberate confusion of terms? Note how the terms 'immigration' and 'migration' and 'asylum' are 'confused' in the following: Ireland is experiencing economic migration and people should not come here if they know “deep down” they won’t be granted international protection, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. The Fianna Fáil leader was speaking after Tánaiste Simon Harris said that the number of people migrating to Ireland was “too high” and that it is taking too long for people with no right to be here to leave.

A deliberate confusion of terms?

Note how the terms 'immigration' and 'migration' and 'asylum' are 'confused' in the following: Ireland is experiencing economic migration and people should not come here if they know “deep down” they won’t be granted international protection, Taoiseach Micheál…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

ILA Podcast #67: Madeleine Johansson: Red Network In this episode we talk to Madeleine Johansson of Red Network. Madeleine moved from Sweden to Ireland in the 2000s where she became active with the Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP) and People Before Profit (PBP). She was a party organiser and director of elections for the 2016 General Election campaign in Dublin Mid-West, subsequently co-opted on to South Dublin County Council in 2016, and returned in the 2019 and 2024 local elections.

ILA Podcast #67: Madeleine Johansson: Red Network

In this episode we talk to Madeleine Johansson of Red Network. Madeleine moved from Sweden to Ireland in the 2000s where she became active with the Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP) and People Before Profit (PBP). She was a party organiser and…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Reform’s ceiling Interesting thread here: That point re an upper limit is really intriguing. It makes sense. The days of a simple binary +1 (plus nationalist parties) in the UK are long gone. So are the days when a party could gain a very significant share of the vote at an election. That said let's not overstate those days either. 1983, Thatcher's landslide of 397 and Labour's nadir of 209 was built off 42.4% of the vote for the Tories and 27.6% for Labour.

Reform’s ceiling

Interesting thread here: That point re an upper limit is really intriguing. It makes sense. The days of a simple binary +1 (plus nationalist parties) in the UK are long gone. So are the days when a party could gain a very significant share of the vote at an election. That said…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

An outrageous and treacherous claim, and it must be refuted. Excellent piece by Theresa Reidy, which Stan noted, found in the Examiner. She writes about: a small but vocal minority of enraged voters. A total of 213,738 people spoiled their votes. And this figure is probably an under-estimate because evidence from the Ireland Thinks poll showed that some voters cast their preference for the Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin in protest, or in the belief that this would be a spoiled vote.

An outrageous and treacherous claim, and it must be refuted.

Excellent piece by Theresa Reidy, which Stan noted, found in the Examiner. She writes about: a small but vocal minority of enraged voters. A total of 213,738 people spoiled their votes. And this figure is probably an under-estimate…

5 months ago 5 3 0 0

What you want to say – 29th October 2025 As always, following on Dr. X’s suggestion, it’s all yours, “announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose”, feel free.

What you want to say – 29th October 2025

As always, following on Dr. X’s suggestion, it’s all yours, “announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose”, feel free.

5 months ago 0 0 1 0

Not before time? Fine Gael edition Yesterday wrote: Fine Gael may be licking their wounds, but theirs was a problem brought about by sheer bad political luck. Their front runner had to retire and they were left scrambling around for another option. If they made the wrong choice, and there was arguably no right choice, that was somewhat out of their control. Too soon! For yesterday there came mutterings of dissent in the FG camp.

Not before time? Fine Gael edition

Yesterday wrote: Fine Gael may be licking their wounds, but theirs was a problem brought about by sheer bad political luck. Their front runner had to retire and they were left scrambling around for another option. If they made the wrong choice, and there was…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

DCAR Statement Full text here. Last week a hugely significant Dublin City Council meeting took place, which neither Malachy Steenson nor Gavin Pepper bothered to attend. This was a specially convened meeting to consider three important reports, all of which will have a huge impact on housing provision in the City. While this important meeting was ignored by the anti-immigrant councillors, Steenson and his crew were delivering “Spoil Your Vote” leaflets.

DCAR Statement

Full text here. Last week a hugely significant Dublin City Council meeting took place, which neither Malachy Steenson nor Gavin Pepper bothered to attend. This was a specially convened meeting to consider three important reports, all of which will have a huge impact on housing…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

That Business Post/RedC poll from the weekend So, the weekend brought not just the result of the Presidential election, but somewhat less remarkably, a poll from the Business Post/RedC stable. Sinn Féin 23 +2 Fine Gael 19 NC Fianna Fáil 17 - 1 Ind 12 -1 Social Democrats 9 +2 Independent Ireland 5 -1 Labour 4 NC Aontú 4 +1 Green NC PBP/Solidarity 3 -1 What to say?

That Business Post/RedC poll from the weekend

So, the weekend brought not just the result of the Presidential election, but somewhat less remarkably, a poll from the Business Post/RedC stable. Sinn Féin 23 +2 Fine Gael 19 NC Fianna Fáil 17 - 1 Ind 12 -1 Social Democrats 9 +2 Independent Ireland 5…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Cedar Lounge Revolution Meetup, Mid-November? Usual place. Promised after the September meet-up, a late Autumn/early Winter gathering, for weighty discussion of the Presidential election results or maybe not. Anyone around early in usual spot some evening? Say November Thursday 13th, that week?

Cedar Lounge Revolution Meetup, Mid-November? Usual place.

Promised after the September meet-up, a late Autumn/early Winter gathering, for weighty discussion of the Presidential election results or maybe not. Anyone around early in usual spot some evening? Say November Thursday 13th, that week?

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Not before time? Wasn't it on here that someone suggested just after the Jim Gavin debacle that in any other party Micheál Martin would be toast, and correctly so. But before he would find himself being roasted there was the small matter of the Presidential election to get out of the way. No point in compounding the original error with a leadership election until the dust had settled.

Not before time?

Wasn't it on here that someone suggested just after the Jim Gavin debacle that in any other party Micheál Martin would be toast, and correctly so. But before he would find himself being roasted there was the small matter of the Presidential election to get out of the way. No point…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

Left Archive: Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes, leaflets, 2011/2 To download the above please click on the following links: CAHWT LEAFLETDownload CAHWT 2Download Please click here to go the Left Archive. Many thanks to Joan Collins who forwarded these to the Archive. These are the first documents produced by the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes in the Archive - although individual documents released by groups in tandem with the campaign have been added in the past number of years.

Left Archive: Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes, leaflets, 2011/2

To download the above please click on the following links: CAHWT LEAFLETDownload CAHWT 2Download Please click here to go the Left Archive. Many thanks to Joan Collins who forwarded these to the Archive. These are the first…

5 months ago 0 0 0 0

A few thoughts on the Campaign It's been a crazy few months. Candidates dropping out for health reasons, Candidates dropping out as they realised they didn't have any support , A Candidate dropping out mid campaign and still on the ballot. A Candidate becoming a cause celebre for certain groups after not getting on the ballot despite trying her hardest to do so for a fortnight.

A few thoughts on the Campaign

It's been a crazy few months. Candidates dropping out for health reasons, Candidates dropping out as they realised they didn't have any support , A Candidate dropping out mid campaign and still on the ballot. A Candidate becoming a cause celebre for certain groups…

5 months ago 9 2 0 3

Posts by Cedar Lounge Revolution