Andy Burnham is now, more than ever, bloody brilliant imo.....and at least he remains as Mayor here, so it's not all bad.
However this pans out, it's surely opened up peoples eyes that the PM is there for his own self interest, 'running scared' sums him up.
Anonymous said
Jan 25 7:04 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Andy Burnham is now, more than ever, bloody brilliant imo.....and at least he remains as Mayor here, so it's not all bad.
However this pans out, it's surely opened up peoples eyes that the PM is there for his own self interest, 'running scared' sums him up.
I'd like to know (not really but you know what I mean) what he's like at home...does he wear big boy pants and rule the roost, or if he's as much of a pussy with his wife as he is in his job? I often feel that, generally, men who harshly oversee work colleagues are ineffective at home and vice versa.
Syl said
Jan 25 11:39 PM, 2026
His wife is very attractive, he isn't, neither in looks or personality.
Whether he is different at home, who knows.
Syl said
Jan 26 12:33 PM, 2026
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer explained that allowing Burnham to run for a Westminster seat would 'divert our resources' from Labour's campaigns in the upcoming May elections.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), including Starmer, voted to deny Burnham permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Starmer highlighted the importance of focusing all resources on existing crucial elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision was based on the need to avoid unnecessary elections that would draw focus and resources away from essential campaigns."
Magica said
Jan 26 2:35 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer explained that allowing Burnham to run for a Westminster seat would 'divert our resources' from Labour's campaigns in the upcoming May elections.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), including Starmer, voted to deny Burnham permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Starmer highlighted the importance of focusing all resources on existing crucial elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision was based on the need to avoid unnecessary elections that would draw focus and resources away from essential campaigns."
Starmer blocked Burnham knowing he would be a better PM than him. He can say what he likes, he is a dictator he won't give up his position.
Anonymous said
Jan 26 5:36 PM, 2026
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer explained that allowing Burnham to run for a Westminster seat would 'divert our resources' from Labour's campaigns in the upcoming May elections.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), including Starmer, voted to deny Burnham permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Starmer highlighted the importance of focusing all resources on existing crucial elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision was based on the need to avoid unnecessary elections that would draw focus and resources away from essential campaigns."
Starmer blocked Burnham knowing he would be a better PM than him. He can say what he likes, he is a dictator he won't give up his position.
He doesn't have to say anything Magica, everyone knows what he's about. Every time he opens his mouth or attempts to do anything that hole gets deeper.
He's totally out of his depth. He continues to make the UK a laughing stock.
Magica said
Jan 26 7:45 PM, 2026
Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer explained that allowing Burnham to run for a Westminster seat would 'divert our resources' from Labour's campaigns in the upcoming May elections.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), including Starmer, voted to deny Burnham permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Starmer highlighted the importance of focusing all resources on existing crucial elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision was based on the need to avoid unnecessary elections that would draw focus and resources away from essential campaigns."
Starmer blocked Burnham knowing he would be a better PM than him. He can say what he likes, he is a dictator he won't give up his position.
He doesn't have to say anything Magica, everyone knows what he's about. Every time he opens his mouth or attempts to do anything that hole gets deeper.
He's totally out of his depth. He continues to make the UK a laughing stock.
He has backing, Blair for one. Trump et al laugh at him. We would laugh at him if we wasn't so bloody peed off with him.
Syl said
Jan 27 11:46 AM, 2026
Magica wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer explained that allowing Burnham to run for a Westminster seat would 'divert our resources' from Labour's campaigns in the upcoming May elections.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), including Starmer, voted to deny Burnham permission to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Starmer highlighted the importance of focusing all resources on existing crucial elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision was based on the need to avoid unnecessary elections that would draw focus and resources away from essential campaigns."
Starmer blocked Burnham knowing he would be a better PM than him. He can say what he likes, he is a dictator he won't give up his position.
He doesn't have to say anything Magica, everyone knows what he's about. Every time he opens his mouth or attempts to do anything that hole gets deeper.
He's totally out of his depth. He continues to make the UK a laughing stock.
He has backing, Blair for one. Trump et al laugh at him. We would laugh at him if we wasn't so bloody peed off with him.
Cringe...
Magica said
Jan 27 12:12 PM, 2026
I laughed. He thought he was going to speak, Trump went in front of him. He's a cringworthy joke.
I saw an indian fella behind Trump laugh.😄
-- Edited by Magica on Tuesday 27th of January 2026 12:12:47 PM
Syl said
Jan 27 12:23 PM, 2026
Magica wrote:
I laughed. He thought he was going to speak, Trump went in front of him. He's a cringworthy joke.
I saw an indian fella behind Trump laugh.😄
-- Edited by Magica on Tuesday 27th of January 2026 12:12:47 PM
It summed up his servile personality very well.
Mind you, Trump didn't come off too well either, a waffling megalomaniac who loves the sound of his own voice.
Digger said
Jan 27 1:23 PM, 2026
Thank God the Tribunal threw out her claim. This is typical of why the work place is so fucked up.
A socially anxious scientist who claimed disability discrimination after she was not invited to her work Christmas has lost her claim.
Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues.
The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination.
However, colleagues decided against inviting her because they believed attending would cause her further distress, particularly as she had said she felt too 'overwhelmed' to return to work at the time.
An employment judge ruled that while the decision arose from her disability, it was justified in the circumstances and did not breach discrimination law.
Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'.
In June 2024, she took a week off as Statutory Sick Pay after she had issues with her mental health and agreed she would have a phased return to work following this.
From the beginning of July 2024 Ms Caughman went on sick leave and did not return to work until she resigned in February 2025.
During this time, Echoes Ecology got in touch with her to see if she was well enough to return to work.
An occupational health report was made by an occupational therapist, which claimed that Ms Caughman needed adjustments to be made to allow her return because of her disabilities, like flexible working hours and being able to work from home.
The report also stated that she wanted to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings so that she could miss them.
After the report was produced, Ms Caughman clarified in a meeting that she did not agree with the wording around exemption from meeting and social gatherings because she enjoyed social gatherings and 'just wanted a choice'.
Although she was supposed to return to work in December, she said it was making her feel 'overwhelmed' and discussed moving the return date into the new year.
The company held the Christmas party in December, and they decided not to invite Ms Caughman to this to 'avoid creating further anxiety for her'.
They said this decision was based on the report provided to them about her agoraphobia and also that she was too 'overwhelmed' to return to work.
Ms Caughman sent an email saying that she had noticed she was not invited to the Christmas party, and she was told they thought it would be 'insensitive' and cause her stress if they did, but apologised if they had misinterpreted the situation.
The tribunal ruled that not inviting Ms Caughman to the Christmas party was discrimination, but it was a 'justified' reaction to her comments about her mental health at the time.
Employment Judge Peter O'Donnell said: 'The Tribunal considers that this was because of 'something' arising from her disability, that is, the fact that she was absent from work and [Echoes Ecology's] view that it would be insensitive to invite her in circumstances where they understood (mistakenly) that she would be unfit to attend and that, based on the OH report, she was seeking to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings.
'There was, therefore, discrimination arising from disability in respect of the exclusion from the Christmas night out.
'However, the Tribunal considers that this was objectively justified.
Red Okktober said
Jan 27 1:53 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Cringe...
That's hilarious! LoL at him standing there like a grinning fool with his hand in the air, Trump calling him forward then ignoring him. All it needed was for Trump to ruffle his hair like a cheeky school mascot.
It reminds me of when Orban greeted all the world leaders in Hungary with a handshake, but when Starmer got out of his car, only the bloke who opens the car doors was there and Orban had gone.
I bet secretly Starmer is an absolute laughing stock at these meetings - it will be interesting how he is depicted in any future memoirs some of these people might write.
Magica said
Jan 27 2:14 PM, 2026
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
Cringe...
That's hilarious! LoL at him standing there like a grinning fool with his hand in the air, Trump calling him forward then ignoring him. All it needed was for Trump to ruffle his hair like a cheeky school mascot.
It reminds me of when Orban greeted all the world leaders in Hungary with a handshake, but when Starmer got out of his car, only the bloke who opens the car doors was there and Orban had gone.
I bet secretly Starmer is an absolute laughing stock at these meetings - it will be interesting how he is depicted in any future memoirs some of these people might write.
I remember that Red. I laughed, I bet lots did too.
What a joke he is
Magica said
Jan 27 2:18 PM, 2026
Digger wrote:
Thank God the Tribunal threw out her claim. This is typical of why the work place is so fucked up.
A socially anxious scientist who claimed disability discrimination after she was not invited to her work Christmas has lost her claim.
Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues.
The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination.
However, colleagues decided against inviting her because they believed attending would cause her further distress, particularly as she had said she felt too 'overwhelmed' to return to work at the time.
An employment judge ruled that while the decision arose from her disability, it was justified in the circumstances and did not breach discrimination law.
Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'.
In June 2024, she took a week off as Statutory Sick Pay after she had issues with her mental health and agreed she would have a phased return to work following this.
From the beginning of July 2024 Ms Caughman went on sick leave and did not return to work until she resigned in February 2025.
During this time, Echoes Ecology got in touch with her to see if she was well enough to return to work.
An occupational health report was made by an occupational therapist, which claimed that Ms Caughman needed adjustments to be made to allow her return because of her disabilities, like flexible working hours and being able to work from home.
The report also stated that she wanted to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings so that she could miss them.
After the report was produced, Ms Caughman clarified in a meeting that she did not agree with the wording around exemption from meeting and social gatherings because she enjoyed social gatherings and 'just wanted a choice'.
Although she was supposed to return to work in December, she said it was making her feel 'overwhelmed' and discussed moving the return date into the new year.
The company held the Christmas party in December, and they decided not to invite Ms Caughman to this to 'avoid creating further anxiety for her'.
They said this decision was based on the report provided to them about her agoraphobia and also that she was too 'overwhelmed' to return to work.
Ms Caughman sent an email saying that she had noticed she was not invited to the Christmas party, and she was told they thought it would be 'insensitive' and cause her stress if they did, but apologised if they had misinterpreted the situation.
The tribunal ruled that not inviting Ms Caughman to the Christmas party was discrimination, but it was a 'justified' reaction to her comments about her mental health at the time.
Employment Judge Peter O'Donnell said: 'The Tribunal considers that this was because of 'something' arising from her disability, that is, the fact that she was absent from work and [Echoes Ecology's] view that it would be insensitive to invite her in circumstances where they understood (mistakenly) that she would be unfit to attend and that, based on the OH report, she was seeking to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings.
'There was, therefore, discrimination arising from disability in respect of the exclusion from the Christmas night out.
'However, the Tribunal considers that this was objectively justified.
I read that Digs. What a woman! Playing on her so called disability, which if real, they were correct in not inviting her. Would she have gone?
Just after money, I'm sick of these people. Glad the Tribunal saw through her!
Anonymous said
Jan 27 2:51 PM, 2026
Digger wrote:
Thank God the Tribunal threw out her claim. This is typical of why the work place is so fucked up.
A socially anxious scientist who claimed disability discrimination after she was not invited to her work Christmas has lost her claim.
Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues.
The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination.
However, colleagues decided against inviting her because they believed attending would cause her further distress, particularly as she had said she felt too 'overwhelmed' to return to work at the time.
An employment judge ruled that while the decision arose from her disability, it was justified in the circumstances and did not breach discrimination law.
Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'.
In June 2024, she took a week off as Statutory Sick Pay after she had issues with her mental health and agreed she would have a phased return to work following this.
From the beginning of July 2024 Ms Caughman went on sick leave and did not return to work until she resigned in February 2025.
During this time, Echoes Ecology got in touch with her to see if she was well enough to return to work.
An occupational health report was made by an occupational therapist, which claimed that Ms Caughman needed adjustments to be made to allow her return because of her disabilities, like flexible working hours and being able to work from home.
The report also stated that she wanted to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings so that she could miss them.
After the report was produced, Ms Caughman clarified in a meeting that she did not agree with the wording around exemption from meeting and social gatherings because she enjoyed social gatherings and 'just wanted a choice'.
Although she was supposed to return to work in December, she said it was making her feel 'overwhelmed' and discussed moving the return date into the new year.
The company held the Christmas party in December, and they decided not to invite Ms Caughman to this to 'avoid creating further anxiety for her'.
They said this decision was based on the report provided to them about her agoraphobia and also that she was too 'overwhelmed' to return to work.
Ms Caughman sent an email saying that she had noticed she was not invited to the Christmas party, and she was told they thought it would be 'insensitive' and cause her stress if they did, but apologised if they had misinterpreted the situation.
The tribunal ruled that not inviting Ms Caughman to the Christmas party was discrimination, but it was a 'justified' reaction to her comments about her mental health at the time.
Employment Judge Peter O'Donnell said: 'The Tribunal considers that this was because of 'something' arising from her disability, that is, the fact that she was absent from work and [Echoes Ecology's] view that it would be insensitive to invite her in circumstances where they understood (mistakenly) that she would be unfit to attend and that, based on the OH report, she was seeking to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings.
'There was, therefore, discrimination arising from disability in respect of the exclusion from the Christmas night out.
'However, the Tribunal considers that this was objectively justified.
Eh? Socially anxious and agoraphobic, yet had a strop because she wasn't invited to a social gathering, which would have meant her leaving her home.
You couldn't make this up.
Anonymous said
Jan 27 2:58 PM, 2026
Red Okktober wrote:
Syl wrote:
Cringe...
That's hilarious! LoL at him standing there like a grinning fool with his hand in the air, Trump calling him forward then ignoring him. All it needed was for Trump to ruffle his hair like a cheeky school mascot.
It reminds me of when Orban greeted all the world leaders in Hungary with a handshake, but when Starmer got out of his car, only the bloke who opens the car doors was there and Orban had gone.
I bet secretly Starmer is an absolute laughing stock at these meetings - it will be interesting how he is depicted in any future memoirs some of these people might write.
His own memoir will be worth a read I reckon...self-proclaimed Billy-Big-Bollox.
Syl said
Jan 27 3:06 PM, 2026
I don't think Starmer will take up much space in anyone's memoirs, he will be too easily forgettable imo.
Magica said
Jan 27 3:15 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
I don't think Starmer will take up much space in anyone's memoirs, he will be too easily forgettable imo.
One line
I am, said no one!
Syl said
Jan 28 11:56 AM, 2026
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
I don't think Starmer will take up much space in anyone's memoirs, he will be too easily forgettable imo.
One line
I am, said no one!
More like one word ... 'Who?'
Magica said
Jan 28 2:44 PM, 2026
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
Syl wrote:
I don't think Starmer will take up much space in anyone's memoirs, he will be too easily forgettable imo.
However this pans out, it's surely opened up peoples eyes that the PM is there for his own self interest, 'running scared' sums him up.
I'd like to know (not really but you know what I mean) what he's like at home...does he wear big boy pants and rule the roost, or if he's as much of a pussy with his wife as he is in his job? I often feel that, generally, men who harshly oversee work colleagues are ineffective at home and vice versa.
Whether he is different at home, who knows.
Starmer speaks about the reason for blocking of Andy to re-enter politics as an MP.
Starmer blocked Burnham knowing he would be a better PM than him. He can say what he likes, he is a dictator he won't give up his position.
He doesn't have to say anything Magica, everyone knows what he's about. Every time he opens his mouth or attempts to do anything that hole gets deeper.
He's totally out of his depth. He continues to make the UK a laughing stock.
He has backing, Blair for one. Trump et al laugh at him. We would laugh at him if we wasn't so bloody peed off with him.
Cringe...
I laughed. He thought he was going to speak, Trump went in front of him. He's a cringworthy joke.
I saw an indian fella behind Trump laugh.😄
-- Edited by Magica on Tuesday 27th of January 2026 12:12:47 PM
It summed up his servile personality very well.
Mind you, Trump didn't come off too well either, a waffling megalomaniac who loves the sound of his own voice.
Thank God the Tribunal threw out her claim. This is typical of why the work place is so fucked up.
A socially anxious scientist who claimed disability discrimination after she was not invited to her work Christmas has lost her claim.
Ecologist Shelby Caughman sued Echoes Ecology after she was deliberately not invited to a small festive gathering while off sick with anxiety-related issues.
The 35-year-old, who suffers from agoraphobia - a condition involving fear of leaving home or being in crowded places - tried to claim that being excluded from the eight-person work party amounted to disability discrimination.
However, colleagues decided against inviting her because they believed attending would cause her further distress, particularly as she had said she felt too 'overwhelmed' to return to work at the time.
An employment judge ruled that while the decision arose from her disability, it was justified in the circumstances and did not breach discrimination law.
Ms Caughman made several grievance complaints to the company from a 'build up of work stress' and a 'lack of reasonable adjustments'.
In June 2024, she took a week off as Statutory Sick Pay after she had issues with her mental health and agreed she would have a phased return to work following this.
From the beginning of July 2024 Ms Caughman went on sick leave and did not return to work until she resigned in February 2025.
During this time, Echoes Ecology got in touch with her to see if she was well enough to return to work.
An occupational health report was made by an occupational therapist, which claimed that Ms Caughman needed adjustments to be made to allow her return because of her disabilities, like flexible working hours and being able to work from home.
The report also stated that she wanted to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings so that she could miss them.
After the report was produced, Ms Caughman clarified in a meeting that she did not agree with the wording around exemption from meeting and social gatherings because she enjoyed social gatherings and 'just wanted a choice'.
Although she was supposed to return to work in December, she said it was making her feel 'overwhelmed' and discussed moving the return date into the new year.
The company held the Christmas party in December, and they decided not to invite Ms Caughman to this to 'avoid creating further anxiety for her'.
They said this decision was based on the report provided to them about her agoraphobia and also that she was too 'overwhelmed' to return to work.
Ms Caughman sent an email saying that she had noticed she was not invited to the Christmas party, and she was told they thought it would be 'insensitive' and cause her stress if they did, but apologised if they had misinterpreted the situation.
The tribunal ruled that not inviting Ms Caughman to the Christmas party was discrimination, but it was a 'justified' reaction to her comments about her mental health at the time.
Employment Judge Peter O'Donnell said: 'The Tribunal considers that this was because of 'something' arising from her disability, that is, the fact that she was absent from work and [Echoes Ecology's] view that it would be insensitive to invite her in circumstances where they understood (mistakenly) that she would be unfit to attend and that, based on the OH report, she was seeking to be exempt from team meetings and social gatherings.
'There was, therefore, discrimination arising from disability in respect of the exclusion from the Christmas night out.
'However, the Tribunal considers that this was objectively justified.
That's hilarious! LoL at him standing there like a grinning fool with his hand in the air, Trump calling him forward then ignoring him. All it needed was for Trump to ruffle his hair like a cheeky school mascot.
It reminds me of when Orban greeted all the world leaders in Hungary with a handshake, but when Starmer got out of his car, only the bloke who opens the car doors was there and Orban had gone.
I bet secretly Starmer is an absolute laughing stock at these meetings - it will be interesting how he is depicted in any future memoirs some of these people might write.
I remember that Red. I laughed, I bet lots did too.
What a joke he is
I read that Digs. What a woman! Playing on her so called disability, which if real, they were correct in not inviting her. Would she have gone?
Just after money, I'm sick of these people. Glad the Tribunal saw through her!
Eh? Socially anxious and agoraphobic, yet had a strop because she wasn't invited to a social gathering, which would have meant her leaving her home.
You couldn't make this up.
His own memoir will be worth a read I reckon...self-proclaimed Billy-Big-Bollox.
One line
I am, said no one!
More like one word ... 'Who?'
Why????