Best Of

Starmer/Reeves in full panic and change IHT for farmers

Have they said they'd reverse that? I'd be surprised. It would lead to a revolt not least from me.

BBC News - Government waters down inheritance tax plan for farms
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e9n3y28g1o

This is the best Christmas present me, my family and my friends could have had. I can now safely sleep at night, that is how bad it has been. Especially for those older than me with serious health issues. Bad news for agricultural valuers of course who would have made a fortune over the arguing the toss over the values of farms. It takes my estate out of the danger zone and so we can now look forwards to building the shed which we have needed for many years.

I had expected this to become a jockeying point when the new Labour leader was selected or else it to be put off for a year, and a year and a year.

They pointed the shotgun at the whole farming industry. We stood up to them and they have blinked. But we won't forget, no we won't forget ...

Based on this polling I wouldn’t be surprised the Tories ahead of Reform at some point in quarter one of 2026, if present trends hold, not consistently but on an outlier basis.

Word missing there?

On the substantive point, am I right in thinking as well that Farage is at the same time the oldest and the least experienced of the four major party leaders? He's not likely to be improving now as he ages and he's never been in cabinet.

No, Starmer is about 18 months older than Farage.

Blair and Cameron had never been in government before they became PM.

Fair enough on the first point.

Cameron and Blair had both been Leaders of the Opposition. Farage hasn't even done that.

Indeed he quite often skives off Parliament. I think he finds it boring because its not all about him.

This has recently set me wondering if Nigel Farage might bail soon. He is rarely in the Commons or in Clacton, and does not even seem to have much to say about Streeting or Lammy advocating customs unions with the EU, an issue you'd think would be mother's milk to him. Is he still interested in politics? (That said, maybe he is just under the weather as there are some nasty bugs doing the rounds.)

I wonder if the 'I can't really remember what happened 50 years ago but I definitely did not say those racist and antisemitic things' row has put his gas at a peep. The one time I saw Farage address the issue directly he seemed uncharacteristically shifty and evasive.

28 witnesses, including Jewish students, and written communications amongst teachers, is quite a lot to dismiss as "lies, all lies". Tice is that crass imo; Farage is not.

It's also quite awkward with respect to Farage's position on Israel, and the portrayal of Muslims as The Mortal Enemy of Western Civilisation.

Witnesses at the time (as in recording in diaries, letters etc) or witnesses ‘recalling’ events of 50 years ago. Very big difference, as all good historians know.

28 witnesses seems pretty corroborative to me.
The man’s a bully, and a spiv, and has been so since his earliest years.

You Gov are always bad for Reform, but this must be the worst for some time

Westminster Voting Intention:

REF: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @YouGov, On 21-22 December,
Changes w/ 14-15 December.

https://x.com/electpoliticsuk/status/2003369188841443503?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

YouGov had a Reform 25% in late November. There's a clear sign of a small Tory recovery mirrored by Reform declining in the opinion poll average graph on Wikipedia.

The unknown is whether this trend will be reinforced by campaigning for the May elections, or if that will interrupt it.

Also, given the personal ambitions of many of those involved, what are the chances Kemi gets ditched after losing lots of councillors in May anyway?

Barring immense change during the next few months, the story of election night is almost written already, as significant Reform and Green gains are surely nailed on. The competition is for who gets seen as the biggest loser, and there Labour already has a very good head start.

Part of the question will be timing. The first results often create the story.

I think Wales is still in doubt though. If Reform do come further off the boil then the big story might be a Plaid victory in Wales, rather than Reform doing very well there.

Sunderland voting in a Reform council will be the first news story. Then will come some London boroughs.

Picking up on Wales, and the conversation yesterday, I see that on 20mh default speed limits in towns we have:

- Con current policy is to reverse, despite their noisy demands back in 2020/21 that timid Labour were not implementing it quicky enough.
- Ref UK committed to reverse.
- Evidence of the benefits is firming up in reduced casualties, safety and reduced insurance premiums, with annother year of data due before the Senedd elections next May.

One to watch.

(Checking, the position in England is that 20mph limits now cover areas where just under 20 million people live. TBH that is a lot higher than I thought it was.)
-

I had the opportunity recently to spend at least half an hour in total driving through 20mph speed limits in Wales and so, in true PB.com fashion, I am now an expert.

What surprised me most, given the vitriol in online discussions about them, is how well-observed they were. My experience in the past of driving through 20mph speed limits in England and Scotland is that a lot of drivers will speed past anyone obeying the speed limit.

That was exactly my experience of driving in Wales soon after the limit was introduced. I have the impression that the vitriol has died down now, and some may even be acknowledging that lives have been saved and things are generally pleasanter but I don't follow Welsh politics much so I wouldn't really know if the hostility to Labour on this issue has abated at all.

I am a convert to the 20, after being opposed to it in the start. The roads in towns are so much safer. You can also pull out easily from side roads.

Most newer cars also have a limiter which means you don't have to keep monitoring your speed.

I was chatting to a chap from South Wales the other week. He says he loves driving at exactly 20 mph and watching the queue build up behind him. And if they get too close, he'll slow to 18...

There are a few who do this, but it in itself is dangerous causing anger and tailgating, even unsafe overtaking

The speed in these 20mph zones is not enforced until you reach 27mph

As far as the present position is, most councils are or have reviewed and reinstated some of the 30mph which have generally been accepted

I know someone who got done for 24 in a 20 mph zone in London and Google AI says 24 - 25.

I'm currently having lessons for my Advanced Drivers Test and speed limits are important for that and I struggle with some 20 and 30 limits at the margins and also don't want the distraction of keep checking so I am going to set my limiter on. Annoyingly I got told off for driving too slowly on my last lesson at one point on a country lane. They expect good progress. It was a bit weird as my wife thinks I drive too fast on country lanes.

You Gov are always bad for Reform, but this must be the worst for some time

Westminster Voting Intention:

REF: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @YouGov, On 21-22 December,
Changes w/ 14-15 December.

https://x.com/electpoliticsuk/status/2003369188841443503?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

Good morning

Maybe the shine is coming off Farage and hopefully it will continue

Proportionately the tit whisperer is down by a greater percentage than Reform.

Taz I enjoy your posts but why oh why do you always have to be so offensive about politicians. Your post refering to Harris the other day with the Camel Toe name was a new low. I am not suggesting you are not critical of the policies but why use offensive names for the individuals. You wouldn't (I assume) do it to their face.

Sorry, I do have a somewhat juvenile sense of humour at times.

I also think Polanski gets a free pass for his rather interesting past.

Oh damn. I feel a bit school mamish now after your more than pleasant reply. You could have told me to f**k off.

I wouldn’t do that as I like you and your posts here and you’re never rude 👍

If this keeps up we are going to have to find a room

You Gov are always bad for Reform, but this must be the worst for some time

Westminster Voting Intention:

REF: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @YouGov, On 21-22 December,
Changes w/ 14-15 December.

https://x.com/electpoliticsuk/status/2003369188841443503?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

YouGov had a Reform 25% in late November. There's a clear sign of a small Tory recovery mirrored by Reform declining in the opinion poll average graph on Wikipedia.

The unknown is whether this trend will be reinforced by campaigning for the May elections, or if that will interrupt it.

Also, given the personal ambitions of many of those involved, what are the chances Kemi gets ditched after losing lots of councillors in May anyway?

Barring immense change during the next few months, the story of election night is almost written already, as significant Reform and Green gains are surely nailed on. The competition is for who gets seen as the biggest loser, and there Labour already has a very good head start.

Part of the question will be timing. The first results often create the story.

I think Wales is still in doubt though. If Reform do come further off the boil then the big story might be a Plaid victory in Wales, rather than Reform doing very well there.

A Plaid outright majority is unlikely, they would still likely have to do a deal with Labour

Yes. I'm thinking of the difference between a Plaid 30%, Reform 28% result, or one where it is Plaid 30%, Reform 22%.

The latter is much more clearly a Plaid victory, whereas the former is close to even, and so more likely to be folded into a story of Reform winning across all the elections.

You Gov are always bad for Reform, but this must be the worst for some time

Westminster Voting Intention:

REF: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @YouGov, On 21-22 December,
Changes w/ 14-15 December.

https://x.com/electpoliticsuk/status/2003369188841443503?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

YouGov had a Reform 25% in late November. There's a clear sign of a small Tory recovery mirrored by Reform declining in the opinion poll average graph on Wikipedia.

The unknown is whether this trend will be reinforced by campaigning for the May elections, or if that will interrupt it.

Also, given the personal ambitions of many of those involved, what are the chances Kemi gets ditched after losing lots of councillors in May anyway?

Barring immense change during the next few months, the story of election night is almost written already, as significant Reform and Green gains are surely nailed on. The competition is for who gets seen as the biggest loser, and there Labour already has a very good head start.

Part of the question will be timing. The first results often create the story.

I think Wales is still in doubt though. If Reform do come further off the boil then the big story might be a Plaid victory in Wales, rather than Reform doing very well there.

Sunderland voting in a Reform council will be the first news story. Then will come some London boroughs.

Picking up on Wales, and the conversation yesterday, I see that on 20mh default speed limits in towns we have:

- Con current policy is to reverse, despite their noisy demands back in 2020/21 that timid Labour were not implementing it quicky enough.
- Ref UK committed to reverse.
- Evidence of the benefits is firming up in reduced casualties, safety and reduced insurance premiums, with annother year of data due before the Senedd elections next May.

One to watch.

(Checking, the position in England is that 20mph limits now cover areas where just under 20 million people live. TBH that is a lot higher than I thought it was.)
-

I had the opportunity recently to spend at least half an hour in total driving through 20mph speed limits in Wales and so, in true PB.com fashion, I am now an expert.

What surprised me most, given the vitriol in online discussions about them, is how well-observed they were. My experience in the past of driving through 20mph speed limits in England and Scotland is that a lot of drivers will speed past anyone obeying the speed limit.

That was exactly my experience of driving in Wales soon after the limit was introduced. I have the impression that the vitriol has died down now, and some may even be acknowledging that lives have been saved and things are generally pleasanter but I don't follow Welsh politics much so I wouldn't really know if the hostility to Labour on this issue has abated at all.

I am a convert to the 20, after being opposed to it in the start. The roads in towns are so much safer. You can also pull out easily from side roads.

Most newer cars also have a limiter which means you don't have to keep monitoring your speed.

I was chatting to a chap from South Wales the other week. He says he loves driving at exactly 20 mph and watching the queue build up behind him. And if they get too close, he'll slow to 18...

There are a few who do this, but it in itself is dangerous causing anger and tailgating, even unsafe overtaking

The speed in these 20mph zones is not enforced until you reach 27mph

As far as the present position is, most councils are or have reviewed and reinstated some of the 30mph which have generally been accepted

The only cause of tailgating is bad driving from the person doing the tailgating.

If a driver has a problem with the person in front driving at the speed limit, then they need to sort themselves out. A bit of meditation before they take to the road may do the trick.

Train drivers on up to £80,000 a year categorised as ‘working class’

The Office for National Statistics ranks the role as a ‘lower supervisory and technical occupation’, while police officers on half the salary are ‘middle class’

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/train-drivers-working-class-salaries-ons-fql8dbhjm

Detectives in the police force would be earning at least as much as train drivers if not more.

More police officers are likely to be graduates than train drivers too, though being a train driver is a skilled and important job

Just had a look at pay scales. Fuck me Im underpaid as a senior lecturer at a top 10 U.K. uni… Should have followed Dads footsteps into the police.

You Gov are always bad for Reform, but this must be the worst for some time

Westminster Voting Intention:

REF: 25% (-3)
LAB: 20% (+2)
CON: 19% (+2)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 15% (-2)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @YouGov, On 21-22 December,
Changes w/ 14-15 December.

https://x.com/electpoliticsuk/status/2003369188841443503?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

YouGov had a Reform 25% in late November. There's a clear sign of a small Tory recovery mirrored by Reform declining in the opinion poll average graph on Wikipedia.

The unknown is whether this trend will be reinforced by campaigning for the May elections, or if that will interrupt it.

Also, given the personal ambitions of many of those involved, what are the chances Kemi gets ditched after losing lots of councillors in May anyway?

Barring immense change during the next few months, the story of election night is almost written already, as significant Reform and Green gains are surely nailed on. The competition is for who gets seen as the biggest loser, and there Labour already has a very good head start.

Part of the question will be timing. The first results often create the story.

I think Wales is still in doubt though. If Reform do come further off the boil then the big story might be a Plaid victory in Wales, rather than Reform doing very well there.

Sunderland voting in a Reform council will be the first news story. Then will come some London boroughs.

Picking up on Wales, and the conversation yesterday, I see that on 20mh default speed limits in towns we have:

- Con current policy is to reverse, despite their noisy demands back in 2020/21 that timid Labour were not implementing it quicky enough.
- Ref UK committed to reverse.
- Evidence of the benefits is firming up in reduced casualties, safety and reduced insurance premiums, with annother year of data due before the Senedd elections next May.

One to watch.

(Checking, the position in England is that 20mph limits now cover areas where just under 20 million people live. TBH that is a lot higher than I thought it was.)
-

I had the opportunity recently to spend at least half an hour in total driving through 20mph speed limits in Wales and so, in true PB.com fashion, I am now an expert.

What surprised me most, given the vitriol in online discussions about them, is how well-observed they were. My experience in the past of driving through 20mph speed limits in England and Scotland is that a lot of drivers will speed past anyone obeying the speed limit.

That was exactly my experience of driving in Wales soon after the limit was introduced. I have the impression that the vitriol has died down now, and some may even be acknowledging that lives have been saved and things are generally pleasanter but I don't follow Welsh politics much so I wouldn't really know if the hostility to Labour on this issue has abated at all.

I am a convert to the 20, after being opposed to it in the start. The roads in towns are so much safer. You can also pull out easily from side roads.

Most newer cars also have a limiter which means you don't have to keep monitoring your speed.

I was chatting to a chap from South Wales the other week. He says he loves driving at exactly 20 mph and watching the queue build up behind him. And if they get too close, he'll slow to 18...

There are a few who do this, but it in itself is dangerous causing anger and tailgating, even unsafe overtaking

The speed in these 20mph zones is not enforced until you reach 27mph

As far as the present position is, most councils are or have reviewed and reinstated some of the 30mph which have generally been accepted

The only cause of tailgating is bad driving from the person doing the tailgating.

If a driver has a problem with the person in front driving at the speed limit, then they need to sort themselves out. A bit of meditation before they take to the road may do the trick.

Speaking from experience there are a few who do this and as the police themselves do not prosecute under 27 mph then it does cause annoyance, though I just sit back and drive along