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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

6/ She would want to tackle the causes of migration, including wars and, increasingly, global warming, rather than leave the ECHR which helps maintain the post World War 2 world order. Leaving the ECHR places us with Russia and Belarus, which would cause her shame.

Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

5/ As an (unsuccesful) social conservative who tried to roll back social change - S.28, for example - she might like aspects of Trump, but she would hate the extreme right and not want to ape it. She would want to strengthen the EU now, amidst such global insecurity and..

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

4/ No feminist, she still wanted to see more women in politics, as I know from writing a speech with her for the 300 Club which had that objective. She has had her wish, partly due to her groundbreaking achievement as our first female PM. Labour has yet to have a female leader

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

3/ What would she make of today's events? A strong friend of the Jewish community, she was the first PM to visit Israel but she condemned Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine and their invasion of Lebanon and banned armed sales to Israel. She would hope for lasting peace

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

2/ She was a towering international leader, helping to end the Cold War, and arguing at the UN for action on global warming. Despite criticising the EU, she saw the single market as one of her biggest acheivements and would deplore the economic damage leaving it has done..

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

Thatcher was born 100 years ago today. Her influence is still pervasive - Tories are still obsessed with her small state, low taxes view, despite failing to control either, Labour's 'Iron Chancellor' pays tribute and the economic north-south divide she created still endures🧵

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 4d

Heseltine is a brilliant commentator today, but what would Thatcher say, who’d have been 100 years old on Monday? I think she’d advocate a return to the EU for both economic and geopolitical reasons and lament Badenoch’s abandonment of net zero and the ECHR.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 4d

The story of how Blair met Epstein - a word from his mate Mandelson - speaks volumes about the private influence and access of the super rich to govt. Often hidden but the effects are everywhere. Look at the funding of the Blair Institute. Larry Ellison. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while prime minister

The ex-PM confirms he met Epstein in 2002, six years before the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

www.bbc.com

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 6d

Badenoch joked yesterday ‘As George Bernard Shaw said: ‘Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it’, apparently referencing Reform. But that’s exactly what the Tories (and Labour) are doing with their ever tougher migration policies. Race to the bottom.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 8d

Does anyone else think of McCarthy’s ‘unAmerican’ when politicians brand things as ‘unBritish’? I get what’s being said about sensitivity, intimidation and fighting racism but protests are as British as they come and we already have laws to use against racism, hate and violence.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 8d

Thatcher’s clothes at a ghostly, empty conference. I think Thatcher in her heyday would be shocked to see her party abandon international and net zero commitments, carelessly sacrificing our international standing at a time when our leadership matters more than ever.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 9d

The last govt introduced multiple restrictions on peaceful protests and this govt is on the same path. Bad laws are made in haste and Mahmood should have listened to all sides before acting. The police already have extensive powers. The banning of Palestine Action has backfired.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 14d

I know what Govt is going to do on its political fight against Reform but am hazy about their priorities for governing. First there were 5 missions, then 6 milestones, now 3 things: growth, NHS and security, I think. Any delivery chain needs clear orders, government even more so.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 15d

I like Starmer’s focus on giving people and communities agency, working in partnership with them to build a fairer Britain for all. Chimes very much with the Civil Society Covenant launched by the PM and Lisa Nandy in July. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Civil Society Covenant

www.gov.uk

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 15d

It was striking that Starmer had his audience most behind him when he was attacking racism, and with real passion. I suspect we were seeing the real man there, not the speechwriter, and many would like to see more of this, and not the Reform-lite policies.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 18d

Starmer’s vision for Britain is to be a world leader in AI and quantum mechanics. Digital ID will be, as Darren Jones says, the bedrock of modern services. Inspiring for the big tech companies Labour talks to, but what about us? Where do we fit into this future? #Technovision

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 20d

Conference speeches rarely stick but Davey’s jibe that Starmer’s govt is like Sunak’s made me think. Some policy differences eg net zero but many priorities the same. Starmer’s promise to work with civil society is genuinely new and could be a game changer but who’s heard of it?

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 20d

Tackling child poverty is an investment - we invest in our own children’s futures and the state should do the same for those in poverty. It’s the right thing to do but it will also contribute to our future prosperity, increasing GDP and reducing state support costs longer term.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 24d

Madness. Michael Ellis, Attorney General under Truss and MAGA fan, will fix ‘Broken Britain’ by abolishing the Supreme Court, leaving the ECHR and UN, hiring and firing judges, abolishing police operational independence and politicising civil service. www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 29d

Great to see the Hillsborough Law to require public servants to tell the truth, act with integrity and prevent cover ups. Tougher standards are good, as with Ministerial Code and new Ethics Commission. But the right culture and values must also be set by their political masters.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · Sep 14

If I were Morgan McSweeney I’d be very worried about this piece, which presents him almost as Mandelson’s creature, guiding him to get to the state that Labour is now in, elevating Starmer as their instrument for doing so but lamenting his failings now. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

How furious Peter Mandelson has brought Starmer to the brink

The Labour veteran has always felt undervalued. The sacking that’s ending his extraordinary political life has done nothing to change that

www.thetimes.com

Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · Sep 13

If Starmer does go, history suggests it’s initially staved off by sacking of Chief of Staff or resets of No 10 (May, Johnson) but ultimately forced by Cabinet resignations (Thatcher, May, Johnson) amidst poor polling and unhappy MPs.

So, McSweeney next?

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · Sep 10

I can see why Starmer wants to keep Mandelson, esp as sacking him just for being friends with Epstein will upset Trump. But how can a 'best pal' with Epstein, as made so clear by the b-day book, represent this country? At best, easily hoodwinked and seduced by money and power.

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · Sep 9

This and other revelations today give an insight into how former PMs might abuse their power and public funding to line their pockets. This Govt has given business appointment rules more teeth but an independent review by new Ethics Commission is needed. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Boris Johnson was paid £240,000 after Maduro meeting, invoice shows

Johnson’s office sent invoice to hedge fund manager, which was paid, weeks after meeting Venezuelan leader last year

www.theguardian.com

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Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · Sep 6

How does a govt criticised for the lack of a clear purpose show it has one? Reshuffle its Cabinet so almost all of them are on a learning curve and policies are up in the air, critical relationships at home and abroad are lost and a govt still learning how to govern is at sea.

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