The voters want soundbite politics and easy answers - “us before them”was it ever thus 🤦🏻‍♂️

Tbh i think the problem is with Labour MPs. They thought they were elected whereas it was a vote for “anyone but Tories”. Starmer needed a middle ground but reducing the Welfare State vs increase in business taxation etc just hacks off too many. We all want easy solutions with no pain.

Sorry i thought you approved of the article in which this was implied… however if you were basically just reposting then apologies…

What I don’t quite follow is that Robbins approved the vetting because he felt he could manage the risks. Then it all blows up. So why is HIS judgement not called into account? He seems very capable but the MPs gave him an easy ride on this one matter?

Yeah he was probably persuaded the risks could be managed and that they could “win big”. Hindsight is a great tool (of the literati’s)…

That horse has been shot. Starmer wanted a trade negotiator not a ambassador/networker. He was wrongly persuaded Mandelson was a “risky choice but could “win big”” and then it blew up in his face over later stories. He owned up to that.

But this is not what he said? The appointment was fast tracked (because of the Trump circumstances). However passing the vetting was accepted as necessary before he could start? Seems rational.

Nope. He fudged the red flag box questions with his casual “they were leaning towards…” cosy chat. He should have nailed this down. He didn’t. Otherwise a creditable relaying of his “world”…

Robbins said the vetting was likely to be after the appointment (for speed) but before he could take up the role he’d still need to pass it. Not what you implied. Has to Doyle, i can imagine many past Cabinet Offices enquiring “about job options for colleagues” - let’s not be naive 🤦🏻‍♂️

Then i am not sure we are reading the same facts.

Indeed. I am constantly surprised by social media’s ability to not actually listen.

Speed. He was not allowed to start his job until the vetting process was over.

I recall Mandelson was supported to be the trade wizard to secure Trump deal, not Ambassadorial “networking”. Priorities. The process was moving fast hence the push. No evidence PM team did “not care about vetting” vs following due process. But the clock can be against you. Otherwise “hindsight 101”

Actually that’s almost the version. Brexit was crap, we needed a trade deal with a maverick in charge of US policy so a trade negotiator with a track record was required.

You clearly didn’t listen to the testimony then…

Only if it’s exceptional.

Sorry for a (partly) repeat posting but I caught #messier82 the other night with necessary Ha data from my LENH filter, so decided to revisit nearby #messier81 and take some Ha data to reprocess into my earlier image posted last week - well they ARE a matched pair!! #astrophotography 🔭

For Trade Negotiations it was - which was the fixation at the time… Media loves hindsight…

She had no trade negotiating skillsets vs Mandelson and a big deal was on the horizon. She is a relationship networker. Different needs. Any sensible nation would have used both skills by creating a “special role” for each of them.

So unbiased then?

Still a fact though however you add the quote marks…

a field of faint stars with two bright ones plus a set of cut-out images revealing the location of a Quasar in the field of view.

New #quasar record for my site (Bortle 5). My z value is now 4.57 and a look-back time of 12.4 billion years. I pushed my total imaging exposure beyond self-imposed limit of 60 mins (moved to 100 mins). Sadly not much science data exists on this quasar 🔭 #astrophotography @callump.bsky.social

Oh do take a look at the world and get in the real game?

Now if only we had (more) probes in lunar orbit? 🤔

Finally addressing a backlog of #astro #galaxy images over recent weeks. Still under 60 mins exposure but am creeping close to the bar! #messier81 #messier65 #messier66 #messier106 #NGC3628 #EAA #space #astronomy Hope you all like them...

Then work to block access to markets if no attempt to engage with serious regulation…

And my ZWO is attached to my feather-touch in any case!!

Focus is indeed a challenge- Jupiter pops in and out of focus in my 8”and even with the ZWO i just can’t decide which is the “money shot” on the focus point- and whether it has any real effect or “just in the general region” is good enough and just let sharpening do its thing!

… in human spaceflight and its geopolitics. We over promote the daring without explaining the end game. Astronomy is routed in wonder at a human scale - everyone can take part, not just the elites…

But around insights that lead to the betterment of the human condition. Astronomy asks profound questions and offers tools and technology that has shaped our lives today, from navigation and wifi to lightweight structures and the quantum world. Astronomy has utility AND inspiration- something absent