Best Of

#competition @Benpointer

1) Number of net gains (or losses -ve) for the Dems in the House? 7
2) Number of net gains (or losses -ve) for the Dems in the Senate? 3
3) Number of MSPs won by the SNP at the Holyrood election? 53
4) Number of AMs won by Plaid Cymru at the Senedd election? 38
5) UK Party recording the largest poll lead during 2026 and by what percentage (British Polling Council registered pollsters only)? Reform, 14% lead.
6) Labour’s Projected National Share of the vote based on the 2026 local elections according to the BBC? 15%
7) Number of Reform MPs on the 31st December 2026? 12
8) The name of the UK Prime Minister on 31st December 2026? Keir Starmer
9) Will Andy Burnham will be an MP on 31st December 2026? No
10) UK borrowing in the financial year to November 2026 (£132.3bn to November 2025)? £135.6bn
11) UK GDP growth in the 12 months to October 2026 (1.1% to October 2025)? 0.9%
12) Winners of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup? France

If the Dems gain 3 Senate seats, then I can't see how they aren't +20 in the House.

(Although I guess Alaska is a complete wildcard.)

Dems lose Georgia, NH and Michigan but gain Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq and Northeast Greenland National Park

I imagine the subset of people who want to see Mandelson in his pants is fairly small, but just for you..

https://x.com/mikeysmith/status/2017680644625604622?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

That's going to replace that Farage photo as go to photo for PB headers.

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned but grown men should not be walking round houses in their pants in front of girls in bathrobes unless they are in some sort of intimate (and lawful) relationship - let alone being photographed while doing so.

My pro guess as a fairly debauched person that knows some very rich louche people?

That’s a photo taken at Epstein’s New York townhouse the morning after a fun sex party. They’ve all been naked together, so the need for “proper attire” falls away

Which, of course, does not imply any illegality at all. Just libertinism. But it’s still not a great photo for The Mandelbot Set

Doesn't it rather undermine the "I'm gay so I had no idea about any girls" explanation?

I guess Epstein was supposed to be a charming man, but for someone who has moved about with the rich and powerful for decades what exactly did Mandy and Epstein talk about or do that made them such good friends? It's seemingly not suggested they merely had a light acquaintance, so take away the pervy and illegal sex connection that presumably made Epstein popular with others, what was the draw to Mandy (other than money, I guess)?

He was just that sparkling a conversationalist, or what?

Money and contacts and deals.

Apparently Epstein and provided advice on the sale of a RBS subsidiary called Sempra Commodities to JP Morgan in 2009 - 2010. Mandelson was Business Secretary for part of this time. Epstein's personal advisor at JP Morgan was Jes Staley, later Barclays CEO, then banned from U.K. finance jobs after lying about his relationship with Epstein.

Thats the key thing with these Epstein files. The elite all know each other, regardless of politics, and think they are untouchable. They enjoy the privileges and believe themselves above the law. Epstein wasn't alone in revelling in these connections, all cemented by trafficked youg women and men and freebie holidays, with a quid pro quo of benefits for friends of Epstein.