Best Of

Good afternoon

I have not posted much recently because it seems everything is upside down, predicting what comes next is impossible and with the exception of Reform, who I oppose with a passio, I am resigned to just watching and waiting to see how politics evolves

Interesting I received some oranges from Asda from Spain with not for the EU on the label

Are Spain producing non EU range of exports ?

No. As I understand it:

1. Asda cannot re-export these Spanish oranges, even to Spain, without copious paperwork.

2. "Not for EU" means, in practical terms, Asda can send them to Northern Ireland with no or cursory paperwork without the EU complaining too much about the fact they might reach the Republic.

3. It's legal for a resident of the Republic to go to Northern Ireland and buy the oranges and take them home. It's not legal for a small shop-owner in the Republic to buy them at Asda in the North and then try to retail them in the Republic.

4. This is the compromise worked out: oranges from the UK (and sausages) may enter the Republic, so long as they are not sold.

5. Actually, a pretty big concession on the part of the EU. But not really a win, because it remains more complicated than pre-brexit.

(Happy to be corrected on the above.)

The problem of the Democrats is similar to Labour’s problems here. There is a growing disconnect between their middle class public sector supporters and the working classes they are supposed to represent. The obsessions of the middle classes are simply not shared by the working class and their worries, such as immigration and gang related violence, are thought both vulgar and racist.

In the US those vulgar people are now MAGA supporters and here they are now Reform.

How that coalition is rebuilt is an interesting question in both cases. The middle class consider themselves morally superior because they “care” but what they care about is of little to no interest to those they pretend to represent.

It won't be, the white working class in most of the West is now solidly rightwing, fuelled by anti immigration, anti woke, anti net zero taxes and protectionism in particular.

The left liberal core vote is the public sector and ethnic minorities and those living in inner cities (albeit Hispanics and non Muslim Asians in particular can vote conservative in significant numbers).

The swing voters are now white suburban and commuter belt high earning graduates

I feel I need to push back a little against this assertion that the white working class are a monolithic, “anti-woke”, anti-immigrant, Farage-loving bloc a little.

I think it is fairer to say that a lot of people in that category feel increasingly let down by the mainstream and are increasingly distrustful of the ‘establishment’. That does not in and of itself always manifest in right wing protest politics. It can do, and for some increasingly does, but it is not universal.

I'm beginning to think Sanders is the only hope for America. If he can give tens of more speeches like this, he can mobilise millions. In fact, I see that duplicate version of this are already attracting millions on social media.

Bernie is too mad to do that. The DNC needs to find a straight version of Pete Buttigieg. With a pretty wife and all American name. Pete is sensationally good. But he’s gat, and appalling as it is I think that’s enough to sink him as a post-Trump contender.

Assuming there are any post-Trump contenders…

Buttgieg was also mediocre in office and was one of the liars who said that Biden was good for another four years.

The Dems need a clean break from those involved in the administration of the Biden crime family.

I am certain they will get it. As for Biden Crime Family, I do have to laugh. Trump is running the US government like a mafia don and you’re targeting his predecessor as the crook.

'Generation Z are giving up on work, a new study suggests, with almost four in 10 considering leaving their job and ending up on benefits.

PwC warned that a generation of workers were now in danger of permanently drifting out of the jobs market, and identified mental health conditions as a “major driver” of youth worklessness.

It said economic inactivity, where people are neither in work nor looking for a job, was on course to rise further, with 4.4m workers – one in 10 of the overall workforce – now “on the brink of leaving the labour market”.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/17/gen-z-risk-benefit-crisis-four-in-10-consider-give-up-work/

Perhaps it is time to look at the question in a different way?
Why is paid employment in the UK so uniquely unpopular, unfulfilling and unattractive?