Best Of
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
Not a lot of laughs in that list.O/T with apologies for diverting a thread right away but the Guardian have now published their readers' list of 100 greatest novels and it looks a lot better to me than the authors' and critics' list from a few weeks ago:War and Peace is number 6. So people really have finished reading it?!
https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/jun/06/readers-top-100-novels-of-all-time
In general, to my slight frustration, people seem to devalue things which make them laugh. But being genuinely funny at the same time as doing creativity should be genuinely impressive.
This is also true of poetry and pop music.
Cookie
1
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
All this shit needs to end."Middle-class white men banned from public sector internshipThames Water hosting a refugee only recruitment day !!
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/insight/thames-water-defends-refugee-only-careers-day-amid-backlash/gm-GM8D04174F?gemSnapshotKey=GM8D04174F-snapshot-1
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
That's not the point. This is officially sanctioned discrimination by sex and race, and that will create injustice."Middle-class white men banned from public sector internshipAre white, middle-class heterosexual men the most put upon cohort in UK society?
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
If you play this game, you create social division.
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
War and Peace is fantastic.O/T with apologies for diverting a thread right away but the Guardian have now published their readers' list of 100 greatest novels and it looks a lot better to me than the authors' and critics' list from a few weeks ago:War and Peace is number 6. So people really have finished reading it?!
https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/jun/06/readers-top-100-novels-of-all-time
I've read it twice.
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
"Middle-class white men banned from public sector internship
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
Andy_JS
1
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
Having had a bit of a look, I'd say he's setting himself up for the second last chapter. He's perhaps in the phase equivalent to when @Big_G & Mrs Big_G went travelling and cruising. He's been a Brompton man forever so probably gets the extra healthy life years that come on average with consistent cycling, has done things like car camping, and was one of the people in the Cycling UK High Court action that stopped the Mansfield total cycling ban a few years ago.A turn up for the books.Surely, the last thing China needs right now is more houses?
A friend from Mansfield - late 60s / early 70s who is a widower - has just moved to semi-rural China, and is currently building a house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPZEtRuzJ2U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMIIsVJ3lhY
I have not seen him for 1-2 years, so ... there's a story to find out about.
He's prosperous Midlands blue collar with a consistent career, and has a nice 4 bed house in an above average suburb. He will have a decent and secure occupational pension, and is shifting to a twin base of small bungalow in Retford (nice small town in North Notts) and his new house in Changping in China. He's on his own now so he's going exploring and life will be interesting.
When he becomes less active, he will I think come back to Retford for small town life. It's a good place for it.
I think he has been disillusioned by the current situation in the UK, media, and local politics.
And this is his reaction. I say good for him.
MattW
1
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
People complain about refugees not making an adequate economic contribution. Then when somebody does something to try to help them overcome the additional hurdles they face so they can make that economic contribution, the same people shout and scream about that too.This one had me thinking. Normally refugees have neither the 'right to work' or the 'right to rent' - unless they have been granted refugee status i.e. have been confirmed as genuine refugees. Once given the 'right to work' they need to be economically active and TW must be canvassing for skills within the refugee cohort. There are definitely a lot of skills there, from my experience."Middle-class white men banned from public sector internshipThames Water hosting a refugee only recruitment day !!
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/insight/thames-water-defends-refugee-only-careers-day-amid-backlash/gm-GM8D04174F?gemSnapshotKey=GM8D04174F-snapshot-1
This then begs the question which no doubt the usual suspects will raise such as :
* are they simply economic migrants hiding among refugees
* are they stealing jobs that the domestic population could do
* are they just here for the benefits (a high proportion of those on benefits are in work)
People will have their own views. The main issue though is that in a nation bound by the rule of law (one assumes) once their status has been confirmed, they are here legally for work and accommodation purposes. Unless of course you do something on a bus you shouldn't.
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
"Middle-class white men banned from public sector internshipThames Water hosting a refugee only recruitment day !!
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/insight/thames-water-defends-refugee-only-careers-day-amid-backlash/gm-GM8D04174F?gemSnapshotKey=GM8D04174F-snapshot-1
Taz
3
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
Billy Britain out of Viz on all denominations. End of discussion.What would your picks be, Casino ?Also, on the list of novels - the readers were asked for favourites but I think the experts were asked for the "best".It's the Guardian.
There's a difference.
Dura_Ace
1
Re: The forgotten by-elections – politicalbetting.com
"Middle-class white men banned from public sector internshipTwo-tier auditing. That's the final straw.
National Audit Office’s six-week paid programme only accepts female, black heritage or lower socio-economic applicants" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/06/middle-class-white-men-banned-from-public-sector-internship/
I feel a cold, hard rage enveloping me.
