I'm neither a Labour voter nor supporter
I'm not defending Starmer here nor the government
I am just not hearing that being under pressure was a problem for Robbins
He seems to be able to have handled the pressure & ensure that his staff were protected from any pressure he was under
He has said that pressure was part of his role
And that "(we) did't let this pressure cloud our judgment"
I am sure (like most organisations) there is an atmosphere of pressure to make decisions and quickly
He seems comfortable with being under pressure, had 25 yrs experience
This part seems normal
He also said pressure was part of his job & "(we) did not let this pressure cloud our judgment"
Why would pressure necessarily lead to different decisions?
I don't see contradiction
We all make decisions under pressure many of which we're happy with
& Robbins had 25 yrs experience to deal with this
I've not heard that at any time from Robbins
He said "(We) did not let..pressure cloud our judgment"
It's a manager's job in many (most?) organisations to move business forward & get decisions as quickly as possible, Robbins seems comfortable with this
He also thinks STRAP clearance is a reassurance
I'm listening to this & I don't hear the same position
Nothing I've heard Robbins say indicates that he thinks the pressure was "undue"
A lot of pressure - yes
But he seems comfortable & familiar with the pressure
"(we) did not let this cloud our judgment"
He said unambiguously not only was pressure part of the job but that "(we) did not let this cloud our judgment"
He also has just said that he had responsibility & did his best to prevent his team from being affected by this pressure & didn't abdicate his responsibilities
He seems comfortable with it
What he has said is that he was under pressure to make a quick decision (but then surely all managers in all organisations are subject to that)
He also said "(we) did not let this pressure cloud our judgment"
* Robbins
He has also just said that although there was pressure "(we) did't allow that to cloud our judgment"
The way I am hearing it, there was pressure (but I am sure every professional is put under pressure to make decisions quicker than they want)
He has just said
"(we) didn't allow that to cloud our judgment"
Surely it was the job of ministers to get the job done as quickly as possible & Robins job to manage the pressure
In every job (I'm sure yours included!) people are put under pressure to do things quicker than they'd want
It's every professionals job to manage pressure & Robins seems to have done so
They both agree there was pressure
I am listening to Robins right now
I haven't heard hims say that there was undue pressure - a lot of pressure, yes
But he has also said managing this was his job & the guidelines he had were clear
He has also said that pressure didn't affect his decision making
Is it though?
Surely managing this is just the job?
Managers in all organisations want things done asap
It's experts' / advisors' job to handle this
Sorry about this but the MSM seem to be having a collective meltdown and can’t bring you any news so I’m going to have to bring you this little nugget because they’re incapable.
Who else agrees Biden was—without a doubt—a better president than Trump could ever be? #VoteYesVirginia
Today I turn 89. I’ve seen this country at its best and its worst, and I know how much community matters. For my birthday, I’m asking you to stand with PFLAG and support the work that’s helped so many in the LGBTQ+ community, including me. give.pflag.org/page/95493/d...
If Starmer was weak we would currently be in a war against Iran. One thing is for sure though, if it were not for Trump, Mandelson would never have been appointed. I opposed the appointment at the time for a number of reasons but many in the media were commending it as a smart move.
Disgraceful @jonsopel1.bsky.social
The world was/is struggling to know how to deal w/Trump
Starmer got this wrong
We can see that w/hindsight
At the time many thought it was a gamble worth taking
Meet fire w/fire
Mandelson has info & a lack of scruples that match the GOP
No-one is yet managing Trump
As PM, surely you have to trust people are (by & large) doing their job?
No-one can be expected to ask
"When you said "xxx" was that the truth? Are you sure?"
With more to do & of more consequence than most of us can imagine, PM has to trust their team
I trust him much more than I did, eg, Johnson
Starmer had a very successful career outside politics and is surely unique in rising to the top in two different professions. Love him or loathe him that takes talent and hard work. What a shame our media seem to hate him for it or is it because he won't play their games or let them set his agenda.
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Whatever the rights and wrongs of appointing Mandelson as US ambassador, the UK needs a safe pair of hands as PM given the uncertainty of the international situation following Trump's unlawful attack on Iran.
#r4today #bbcbreakfast #GMB #PoliticsLive #C4News #Newsnight #toriesgone654
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Does she know what the world is thinking right now?
For some of us that will define him forever😂😡
Here is another great example of the UK and France working together and with the wider international community.
On Friday, both nations convened 51 countries for an international summit on the Strait of Hormuz.
Afterwards they issues a joint statement. Since then 14 other countries have signed it.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell could not have sold children for sex without rich perverts buying them for sex. I feel this needs to be emphasized much more than it is.
It's that time of year 😂
Also been pickling wild garlic buds & making wild garlic pesto ( the most delicious) wild garlic cheese rough puff scones
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... The ribboned asparagus w/ avocado dressing is lovely & very simple as are the buckwheat & the quinoa recipes
For a tart Anna Jones is great
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
If you've wild garlic
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
I've just put them on pizza!
Dear fellow Brits, from this Brit-American:
Please don't come here. It's dangerous. You may be targeted, arrested and unlawfully detained - likely courtesy of ICE - without access to legal representation.
I've told my family to stay away.
Please boycott America. 🇬🇧💙
news.sky.com/story/englan...
Right out in the open, Donald Trump is suing his own IRS to try to steal $10 BILLION taxpayer dollars.
I just introduced a bill that would make this theft ILLEGAL.
The simplicity resonates with many older people I know
That feeling of being overwhelmed by forms to fill, tech to learn, admin to complete
Penalties for late filing, driving in a bus lane, exclusion from so much which is only accessible on line
Change is fast, difficult & frightening for many