Best Of

Zia Yusuf

@ZiaYusufUK
Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.

They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

In which case their advice is going to be biased and completely worthless...

This sneering session with no actual material to sneer about is most unbecoming.

So tell me what world class software engineers have to do with auditing what work is done - it's a set of buzz words designed to make it look like something clever is being done - when reality is it's designed to provide cover to bin some people.

Problem is I'm not sure what it will be as I know council budgets and it's 95% required spending with very little left for discretionary spending.

The point of the headline article is actually irrelevant. The fact that Reform are even where they are at all is relevant and thats all that counts right now.

Off thread, the Ukrainian attack on Russian strategic aviation assets may go down as one of the most significant single military strikes anywhere at any point in the last two decades in terms of degrading one country's strategic capabilities in a single stroke

If the figures are verified and they have put out of action 30 or more strategic assets in the form of bombers and AEW aircraft, consider the ramifications. Its not just significantly damaged the Russian long range strike capability used in the current war, its taken out maybe a third of Russians nuclear strategic air forces. It could be a greater proportion, because those aircraft hit were mobilised assets, ie in use, not in repair, mothballed or whatever.

Whilst none of those locations are believed to normally hold nuclear warheads, it could be a rubicon crossing operation . I suspect the White House will have an absolute panic attack because Trump, with his 19th century view of the world consisting of imperial powers with spheres of influence, still believes Russia is some mighty state and he is frightened by Putin's regime.

Russia wasnt a great power in 2022 and it sure as hell isn't in 2025.

Didn’t expect Luxembourg to be this… agreeable

I’m putting it on my list of potential holiday places. You’re the second recommendation this week!

It’s not mind blowing but it is rather pleasant and tranquil and makes an unusual change. The people are a nice mix of German calm and efficiency but with some more charm and humour but without French hauteur

I guess being insanely rich adds to national gaiety

Also it’s NOT expensive as far as I can see. They may have gdp per capita way higher than Switzerland but bars and restaurants are about French prices

We are off tomorrow for a week in Germany (Bad Kreuznach), Switzerland (Leysin) and France (Epernay). Any hints and tips welcome. How much more expensive is Switzerland than Germany and France?

Switzerland is v expensive but there are ways you can save money. If you do more than minimal travel invest in one of the passes. Also cafeterias in supermarkets and station buffets etc can do very acceptable dish of the day plus salad. Used to be about 15F, probably hasn't changed much. Thing about Switzerland, basic standards are high. You don't need to go upscale.

I agree. In my experience Switzerland is all the same standard food wise

Unless you’re actually going Michelin 3 star it will all be ok to quite pleasant but unexceptional, so there’s
zero point in paying for posh

What is worth paying for is a view. Eating besides glittering lake Lucerne or Lugano is wonderful. But you might as well eat a burger as you gaze

Another way around insane Swiss prices is supermarkets. They are very good and full of great cheese and bread and charcuterie. You can’t move for brilliant picnic spots in Switzerland so why not stock up on picnic stuff and a bottle of wine and head for the hills over looking a sunlit waterfall that tumbles to an alpine lake

THAT is bliss and will cost you a quarter what you’d pay in a restaurant. And you won’t ever forget it