Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
Why not go to the Caribbean somewhere? I'm sure you could get something (relatively) reasonably priced outside of the school holidays. Go somewhere off the beaten track like Dominica. Not sure about lockdown status.
I believe there an empty villa in BVI with excellent internet links to the UK?
Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
So many countries I love are fucked. Syria was amazing once. Ethiopia is now at war. Mexico is ruined by drugs. Trini & Tobago is ruined by drugs and ISIS. China is a prison. On and on.
Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
"rail replacement bus service"
The four most dreaded words in England.
Not quite, you should have been on the 14:00 London to Aberdeen service on Tuesday.
They finally got to Darlington at 23:15 with such delights as “the replacement train is following behind” when thrown off at Doncaster only for the driver to be time served so couldn’t continue. That was after having to move from train 1 to train 2 using just a blank between the trains.
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
Some branding, calling people by *mock horror* their name!!!
I'd have thought you'd be more concerned if you were worried about 'branding' with Sunak's sleek social media operations with his signature attached to his policies. That's not even attempting to hide the branding.
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
I'm disappointed you persist in pretending those that disagree with you about the effectiveness of such a brand are just being stupid and not 'getting' your point. We get it, we just don't put as much onto it as you appear to.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
"rail replacement bus service"
The four most dreaded words in England.
I remember the endless WCML "upgrades" Never a partial refund on the ticket either
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
yes - I loved the Michael Palin Around the World in 80 days and his follow -ups Pole to Pole and Full Circle because at the time (mid 1980s) they seemed so exotic , going to places that you just not imaging going to . They lost their sparkle by 2000 when the whole world seemed to be available. Brexit though was a disaster for free movement of people
Are you suggesting a connection? That's putting a lot on yourself.
About a decade ago there was a span of a few years in a row where after my girlfriend/fiancée/wife and I visited a foreign country, the next year there'd be a coup or other major outbreak of violence.
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
Are you suggesting a connection? That's putting a lot on yourself.
About a decade ago there was a span of a few years in a row where after my girlfriend/fiancée/wife and I visited a foreign country, the next year there'd be a coup or other major outbreak of violence.
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
Taking all three of your girlfriend, fiancee and wife on holiday together was probably tempting fate enough as it was.
Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
Lots have bus drivers have shifted to HGV. Lucky to get a driver at all!
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
yes - I loved the Michael Palin Around the World in 80 days and his follow -ups Pole to Pole and Full Circle because at the time (mid 1980s) they seemed so exotic , going to places that you just not imaging going to . They lost their sparkle by 2000 when the whole world seemed to be available. Brexit though was a disaster for free movement of people
Himalaya is probably the finest travel series, and one of the finest of any series across all genres, ever made. An outstanding pinnacle of Michael Palin's broadcasting, in every sense.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
Are you suggesting a connection? That's putting a lot on yourself.
About a decade ago there was a span of a few years in a row where after my girlfriend/fiancée/wife and I visited a foreign country, the next year there'd be a coup or other major outbreak of violence.
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
Taking all three of your girlfriend, fiancee and wife on holiday together was probably tempting fate enough as it was.
Goldsmith Senior, wasn't it, who said that when you married your girlfriend you created a vacancy?
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
Obviously covid makes a difference, but there are countries that have become safe for tourists too. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Colombia for example.
I missed out on Kashmir before the troubles, it used to get rave reviews.
Leon, Eilat in southern Israel might tick the right boxes. Rock solid covid programme. Average 21C max in January.
You can throw in some magical tourist experiences along the way. Masada is a stand-out as too is Jerusalem (Yad Vashem is a must). For a bit of hedonism, Tel Aviv.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
CNN has a long read on "how the UK became the sick man of European tourism". One very legitimate point is about the arbitrariness of our quarantine policy
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I think you are right. It has gone. We are not bothered about abroad too much now. We are discovering parts of the UK. This year went to Bradford on Avon. Fantastic,
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
Cox has no reason to resign. His story isn’t one of sleaze. Far from it.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
Yes, I don't think that I will be doing much more long haul, though I do rather fancy Botswana and Namibia. Partly its the hassle factor of long haul but also the carbon footprint. I won't stop, but will do fewer but longer trips when I go semi retired in a couple of years. I am planning the Trans-Mongolian plus a bit of China to mark the occasion.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
His constituents have consistently re-elected him because he was the Conservative party candidate.
Now perhaps you should consider whether Cox is an asset or a liability to the Conservative party.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
His constituents have consistently re-elected him because he was the Conservative party candidate.
Now perhaps you should consider whether Cox is an asset or a liability to the Conservative party.
Yes, for a party with such a strong line on "let the electors decide" there is a rather contradictory strong aversion to having recall by-elections. Indeed that was what kicked the current furore off.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
Yes, I don't think that I will be doing much more long haul, though I do rather fancy Botswana and Namibia. Partly its the hassle factor of long haul but also the carbon footprint. I won't stop, but will do fewer but longer trips when I go semi retired in a couple of years. I am planning the Trans-Mongolian plus a bit of China to mark the occasion.
Greta will be proud of you . Dont overdo it with the eco warrior stuff )))
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
I think most people would like to see a MP who can clearly get things done , knows a lot and a lot of people and has drive (of any party) than one who is a massive politico and sits in Westminster all the time
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
Why not go to the Caribbean somewhere? I'm sure you could get something (relatively) reasonably priced outside of the school holidays. Go somewhere off the beaten track like Dominica. Not sure about lockdown status.
Not a bad idea. I'm not a huge fan of the Caribbean - they can be beautiful but the food is meh and they lack cultural interest (for me). Cuba is the exception of course
But Dominica. Hmm
Cyprus is quite warm in winter, I believe. We're thinking of that or, if I can face a long haul, Singapore.
Depends on your definition of warm. As a kid growing up there, I thought the winters were cold. Certainly it would get down to the 40sF, but 60sF (16C) was more common. Not my definition of warm, which starts somewhere in the 80s (27C up)
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
Obviously covid makes a difference, but there are countries that have become safe for tourists too. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Colombia for example.
I missed out on Kashmir before the troubles, it used to get rave reviews.
Lot to be said for Laos. Laos People Democratic Republic. aka Laos; Please Don't Rush. Very laid back sort of place.
And I'm told there's a lot to be said for N Vietnam. Only been to Ho Chi Minh City, so can't comment on, for example, Hanoi.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
Perhaps he needs the practice, seeing as how he was wrong about the prorogation of parliament. Still, Sir Geoffrey got his knighthood for it.
It wasn't exactly a niche opinion, the High Court in England had agreed after all.
Oh dear. That bridge is almost directly under the concourse of Brighton station, so the bus only made it about 20 yards if it was on its way out. Even to the naked eye it's obvious that it's too low for a double decker. And it appears to be going the wrong way up a one-way street.
"rail replacement bus service"
The four most dreaded words in England.
Not quite, you should have been on the 14:00 London to Aberdeen service on Tuesday.
They finally got to Darlington at 23:15 with such delights as “the replacement train is following behind” when thrown off at Doncaster only for the driver to be time served so couldn’t continue. That was after having to move from train 1 to train 2 using just a blank between the trains.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
I think most people would like to see a MP who can clearly get things done , knows a lot and a lot of people and has drive (of any party) than one who is a massive politico and sits in Westminster all the time
That depends who is benefiting from those talents.
If its the country or the constituency then that's great.
If its only the MP while the constituency is ignored then that's a different matter.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
Yes, I don't think that I will be doing much more long haul, though I do rather fancy Botswana and Namibia. Partly its the hassle factor of long haul but also the carbon footprint. I won't stop, but will do fewer but longer trips when I go semi retired in a couple of years. I am planning the Trans-Mongolian plus a bit of China to mark the occasion.
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
I'm disappointed you persist in pretending those that disagree with you about the effectiveness of such a brand are just being stupid and not 'getting' your point. We get it, we just don't put as much onto it as you appear to.
First time I've mentioned it in ages.
You bridle at it because, I think, you're thinking that I think you've succumbed to the Boris brand yourself, given you're an habitual user of the "Boris" handle. I can reassure you on this. I don't think that. Indeed I think the opposite - that you haven't. You don't use "Boris" in a manner that indicates to me you've succumbed.
Always calling him "Boris" is a necessary but not sufficient piece of evidence of having succumbed. The extra evidence required lies in the tone in which "Boris" is said and discussed. Does the speaker seem to be talking about a bloke they know well and are rather fond of? Could one insert the missing words "good old" before the "Boris" without compromising the sentiment being expressed?
If the answer here is 'yes' one knows one is in the presence of one who has succumbed.
Cox will stand down at the next election I reckon. He's never needed the job for the money, he has no prospect of regaining high office, and while he might well do enough for his constituents if he is right, he obviously isn't throwing himself into that work like committed backbenchers.
As Quincel says sticking by him until at least then, if not beyond, doesn't really take much effort.
Agree. He won't resign because he's technically done nothing wrong, or at least it is, as yet, unproven
But why endure all the crap? Step down to spend more time with his hoard of gold
Cox will stand down at the next election I reckon. He's never needed the job for the money, he has no prospect of regaining high office, and while he might well do enough for his constituents if he is right, he obviously isn't throwing himself into that work like committed backbenchers.
As Quincel says sticking by him until at least then, if not beyond, doesn't really take much effort.
Agree. He won't resign because he's technically done nothing wrong, or at least it is, as yet, unproven
But why endure all the crap? Step down to spend more time with his hoard of gold
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
On the other hand, there is at least one major sleaze story coming up. All the media need to do is to keep the slipway lightly lubricated with regular applications of slush and things will be nicely ready for the big launch.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
His constituents have consistently re-elected him because he was the Conservative party candidate.
Now perhaps you should consider whether Cox is an asset or a liability to the Conservative party.
Given Cox has taken the Conservative vote in Torridge and West Devon from 38% in 1997 (when it was a LD seat) to 40% when he was first a candidate in 2001 to taking the seat from the LDs in 2005, to a whopping 60% of the vote in 2019, quite clearly an asset
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
We've family, including our last sub-teenage grandchild, in Thailand. We hope they're coming over here this Christmas ..... all planned, but just might be a visa issue. And we want to go and see them when I'm mobile again.
We've been to lots of places, but there are some I regret not having done; the Caribbean area for one, and Patagonia for another.
How long did he stay in any one of them? Looks like he got bored very quickly.
That’s an unpleasant snark by you
He was in the Medical Corps and then moved to the reservists and became a surgeon. So that’s just military to civilian.
He then got sick and was unable to work as a surgeon any more so trained as a lawyer.
I see you have been properly briefed by CCHQ, Lord Charles. The way he gets written up makes it sound as though he had lots of different professions.
I had the same thought, 'that's an anomaly'; if I were interviewing him and saw that CV I'd be probing to find the explanation. As you say, really the one profession in different manifestations.
Afternoon all! Saturday recording session - had to open a new Minidisc. That pop as you break the plastic seal on the wrapper - ooh. Kids these days are missing out on the joy of recordable media.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
If a few people motivated by envy don't want top non political professionals in politics then banning people from continuing to practice their profession after being elected would be a way to do so.
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
I'm disappointed you persist in pretending those that disagree with you about the effectiveness of such a brand are just being stupid and not 'getting' your point. We get it, we just don't put as much onto it as you appear to.
First time I've mentioned it in ages.
You bridle at it because, I think, you're thinking that I think you've succumbed to the Boris brand yourself, given you're an habitual user of the "Boris" handle. I can reassure you on this. I don't think that. Indeed I think the opposite - that you haven't. You don't use "Boris" in a manner that indicates to me you've succumbed.
Always calling him "Boris" is a necessary but not sufficient piece of evidence of having succumbed. The extra evidence required lies in the tone in which "Boris" is said and discussed. Does the speaker seem to be talking about a bloke they know well and are rather fond of? Could one insert the missing words "good old" before the "Boris" without compromising the sentiment being expressed by them?
If the answer here is 'yes' one knows one is in the presence of one who has succumbed.
I didn't say you had mentioned it much in ages, I cannot remember the last time you did. The reason I bridle is I think it is fundamentally patronising, eg your 'disappointed how few seem [to get it]' line. I know you don't mean to be, and you're right branding is important for a politician and Boris's is powerful, but I think you present a picture where we should presume use of the name indicates someone has 'succumbed', when as you've just noted more than that is needed. I just spent a weekend in a Corbynite household which unprompted literally wished death on 'Boris' more than once - even if that is not the norm, I just find it hard to accept the brand of the name cannot equally be a hindrance to him.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
I think most people would like to see a MP who can clearly get things done , knows a lot and a lot of people and has drive (of any party) than one who is a massive politico and sits in Westminster all the time
That depends who is benefiting from those talents.
If its the country or the constituency then that's great.
If its only the MP while the constituency is ignored then that's a different matter.
And this could be where much of the difference in view between the red wall Conservatives and those from the safe southern seats arises.
The red wall Conservatives are used to their constituents being ignored by absentee, troughing MPs.
But those absentee, troughing MPs were the previous Labour MPs and it was that absentee, troughing attitude they fought against.
Add on the red wall Conservatives will have a streak of anti-establishment attitude - the Conservative party after all not being the political establishment in mining towns up north.
So they're not going to have sympathy for absentee, troughing MPs just because they happen to be Conservatives who think they're entitled to do what they want because that's the way establishment politicians have always done so.
Are you suggesting a connection? That's putting a lot on yourself.
About a decade ago there was a span of a few years in a row where after my girlfriend/fiancée/wife and I visited a foreign country, the next year there'd be a coup or other major outbreak of violence.
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
Taking all three of your girlfriend, fiancee and wife on holiday together was probably tempting fate enough as it was.
Goldsmith Senior, wasn't it, who said that when you married your girlfriend you created a vacancy?
No, he said when your marry your mistress then you're creating a vacancy.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
If a few people motivated by envy don't want top non political professionals in politics then banning people from continuing to practice their profession after being elected would be a way to do so.
If QCs, partners in city firms, surgeons etc can earn multiple times an MPs salary, almost none of them would bother standing for parliament if they were banned from still practicing and earning from their former career after election.
Plaintive apologies. Pardon while I go and slice an onion at the temerity of the hoi polloi for complaining that X is paid a great deal of money by them to do job A and still wants to do Job B, hustle C, and fiddle D on top.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
I vote labour and I agree with HYUFD. Cox has done nothing wrong apart from a minor technical breach. I also don’t see a great deal of anger aside from on social media. Clearly it’s cut through and the media are happy to keep it going for the clicks.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
I think most people would like to see a MP who can clearly get things done , knows a lot and a lot of people and has drive (of any party) than one who is a massive politico and sits in Westminster all the time
It is though somewhat too much. He should be getting things done in Parliament or in his constituency. Maybe he has been doing that too.
He seems to have let his constituents down somewhat and certainly let himself down. I don't think it's a resigning matter unless he concludes that it is.
But you won't see it reported on the leftie, biased BBC
It appears to me that the BBC has, shifted significantly Tory-wards of late, presumably under threats from Downing St. Not that, as a leftie, I always felt it biased to 'our side'.
Are you suggesting a connection? That's putting a lot on yourself.
About a decade ago there was a span of a few years in a row where after my girlfriend/fiancée/wife and I visited a foreign country, the next year there'd be a coup or other major outbreak of violence.
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
Taking all three of your girlfriend, fiancee and wife on holiday together was probably tempting fate enough as it was.
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
Perhaps he needs the practice, seeing as how he was wrong about the prorogation of parliament. Still, Sir Geoffrey got his knighthood for it.
That's unfair, the High Court agreed with his view, if it was a really bad decision then it would have been overturned there.
"The Adidas Original Superstars trainer can be made either right or left footed. Real shoelaces give the brick-built model a realistic appearance. Tagged inside just like a real adidas trainer. Comes with stand and plaque to display your creation."
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
I posted about Leyla Moran earlier, but was assured that because the money involved was less it was not an issue
Amazing Lib Dems cannot see that if it is prohibited it is prohibited, and she has broken the rule with no doubt many others
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
Some branding, calling people by *mock horror* their name!!!
I'd have thought you'd be more concerned if you were worried about 'branding' with Sunak's sleek social media operations with his signature attached to his policies. That's not even attempting to hide the branding.
But keep banging on about names if you like.
Once again, it's not about names, it's about where we're getting a brand, or to put it another way, a persona in lieu of a person.
Eg, Cameron, Blair, Brown in the world of internet punditry often got called Dave, Gordon, Tony but there was no Dave or Gordon or Tony brand to speak of. Maybe a touch of it with the latter but not really. Certainly nothing to touch the BB juggernaut.
And you're dead right about Sunak. Well spotted there. He is hell bent on a brand. He's seen "Boris" win the sort of landslide that "Johnson" - or even "Boris Johnson" - wouldn't have been able to and he's taken notes. He wants to be a consumer product and he wants that product to be called Rishi.
Whatever, I won't be buying it. Not because I dislike Rishi Sunak, I don't, but because I wish to retain some detachment, assess him objectively as a politician.
1950-2015 (roughly) was a golden age of travel, looking back. The entire world got freer and more accessible.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
It has gone and won't return.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I've a friend in Canada I'm determined to go and visit again before too many more years are out, but beyond that I've no interest in going long haul, either. Once the constant waves of Covid panic flapping have finally stopped then I can see the attraction of visiting the near neighbours (especially if this can be done without having to resort to air travel, which is bloody horrible,) but I've no desire to go all over the world. Long haul travel, if you want to do it in any degree of comfort, is hideously expensive and altogether too much trouble. No point in going on a holiday that you then need another holiday to get over.
Yes, I don't think that I will be doing much more long haul, though I do rather fancy Botswana and Namibia. Partly its the hassle factor of long haul but also the carbon footprint. I won't stop, but will do fewer but longer trips when I go semi retired in a couple of years. I am planning the Trans-Mongolian plus a bit of China to mark the occasion.
Greta will be proud of you . Dont overdo it with the eco warrior stuff )))
Yes, on the one hand there is the carbon footprint, but on the other, tourism is a major source of Forex for lots of poor countries, and a major reason to preserve wilderness and ecological diversity.
I have cut back my carbon footprint a lot, but not yet ready to give up flights entirely.
The obituaries for Johnson seem a little premature to me. Have we forgotten that governments tend to be behind in the polls in midterm? It won't necessarily be easy for them to find someone as amenable to the electorate.
That said Boris is an instant gratification prime minister who's unlikely to be able to afford a giveaway come 2024. And he doesn't command much sense of loyalty from the troops.
I still expect him to lead into the GE, however I no longer think he's a massive fav to be PM after it. Therefore I've cashed out my long BJ/Con positions and I'm starting again. I price it now (on PM post GE) as Johnson 50% Starmer 30% Other 20%.
As for that 'Other', I'm picking up in Toryland the pushing of a new cult of personality around the CoE. Just as Johnson is brand "Boris" - and people know my feelings about this - so Sunak seems to be becoming "Rishi" to lots of people who know him only through the tv. An unwelcome development.
Overegged?
I think he's been Rishi in the papers since I noticed him.
Yes the papers are in on it. They're lining up someone to get behind to stop the dreaded slightly left of centre Labour prevailing in the event of Johnson coming a cropper.
This is how you come across banging on about Boris, Ed, Dave, Rishi, Nicola etc getting referred to by their names:
It's not 1st names per se that I bridle at, it's when I detect the pushing and the swallowing of a brand. Wouldn't expect everyone to get the point but I'm slightly disappointed at how few seem to.
Some branding, calling people by *mock horror* their name!!!
I'd have thought you'd be more concerned if you were worried about 'branding' with Sunak's sleek social media operations with his signature attached to his policies. That's not even attempting to hide the branding.
But keep banging on about names if you like.
Once again, it's not about names, it's about where we're getting a brand, or to put it another way, a persona in lieu of a person.
Eg, Cameron, Blair, Brown in the world of internet punditry often got called Dave, Gordon, Tony but there was no Dave or Gordon or Tony brand to speak of. Maybe a touch of it with the latter but not really. Certainly nothing to touch the BB juggernaut.
And you're dead right about Sunak. Well spotted there. He is hell bent on a brand. He's seen "Boris" win the sort of landslide that "Johnson" - or even "Boris Johnson" - wouldn't have been able to and he's taken notes. He wants to be a consumer product and he wants that product to be called Rishi.
Whatever, I won't be buying it. Not because I dislike Rishi Sunak, I don't, but because I wish to retain some detachment, assess him objectively as a politician.
Dave, Gordon, Tony all had brands in that sense. Quite strong ones.
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
I posted about Leyla Moran earlier, but was assured that because the money involved was less it was not an issue
Amazing Lib Dems cannot see that if it is prohibited it is prohibited, and she has broken the rule with no doubt many others
I suppose when she saw so many across the House doing far more, and there was issue about a Zoom site (IIRC) she got enthusiastic and went for it.
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
I love this. Really love it. The more you take this kind of line the more I know Labour will win the next election.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
If a few people motivated by envy don't want top non political professionals in politics then banning people from continuing to practice their profession after being elected would be a way to do so.
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
I posted about Leyla Moran earlier, but was assured that because the money involved was less it was not an issue
Amazing Lib Dems cannot see that if it is prohibited it is prohibited, and she has broken the rule with no doubt many others
Interesting that you mentioned Moran, but not Blunt or Khan.
When I posted about Moran I did not know about the other two
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
At least the Tories are being consistent in offering the good people of Shropshire a Birmingham lawyer to vote for……
This is reminding me a bit of the old rule in Cricket around extension of the arm, and that once they looked at it scientifically it appeared virtually all bowlers were technically in breach, so they made the rules more flexible. It feels like a lot of MPs are going to be caught out, particularly with Zoom calls, and I wonder if there will be a push for zero tolerance adherence, or an attempt to distinguish a bit around the non-parliamentary work in question - eg political lobbying or significant external exployment.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
I posted about Leyla Moran earlier, but was assured that because the money involved was less it was not an issue
Amazing Lib Dems cannot see that if it is prohibited it is prohibited, and she has broken the rule with no doubt many others
I suppose when she saw so many across the House doing far more, and there was issue about a Zoom site (IIRC) she got enthusiastic and went for it.
You do the crime you should do the time, you cannot be a bit pregnant.
Dr Raghib Ali MD(Epi) MPH MSc(Epi) MA DLSHTM FRCP @drraghibali · 4h As those us who supported step 4 in July said at the time, an 'exit wave' was inevitable and it was better to have it before the Winter. That higher level of immunity we gained is now preventing the surges we are seeing in many European countries.
Comments
There should be a website or app where you can just search for "nearest hot & sunny place in January"
The four most dreaded words in England.
So many countries I love are fucked. Syria was amazing once. Ethiopia is now at war. Mexico is ruined by drugs. Trini & Tobago is ruined by drugs and ISIS. China is a prison. On and on.
And now there's Covid AS WELL
They finally got to Darlington at 23:15 with such delights as “the replacement train is following behind” when thrown off at Doncaster only for the driver to be time served so couldn’t continue.
That was after having to move from train 1 to train 2 using just a blank between the trains.
I'd have thought you'd be more concerned if you were worried about 'branding' with Sunak's sleek social media operations with his signature attached to his policies. That's not even attempting to hide the branding.
But keep banging on about names if you like.
https://twitter.com/soapachu/status/1459543831754461189?s=20
I think it's the white sports socks that really disgust me.
So much of that has gone, whether by war, drugs, crime, Islamism, terror, China, I wonder if it will ever return. And now climate change and Covid on top
Never a partial refund on the ticket either
It became a creepy coincidence after a while, then suddenly stopped happening.
The longer this goes on, the more we enter 1992-7 territory.
It's worth re-watching.
I was very lucky. I travelled to far flung parts when the world was yet young to travel. I experienced sights, sounds and tastes which have now forever passed.
I have given up on international travel. Instead I am rediscovering the glories of the British Isles. These islands are spectacular. I wonder now why I ever bothered going away. I shall not do so again. It's too much hassle and not enough fun.
I missed out on Kashmir before the troubles, it used to get rave reviews.
You can throw in some magical tourist experiences along the way. Masada is a stand-out as too is Jerusalem (Yad Vashem is a must). For a bit of hedonism, Tel Aviv.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/uk-tourism-decline-restrictions-cmd/index.html
His earnings have all come from the Bar, so that is just keeping his hand in his previous profession as a QC not lobbying. His constituents have consistently re elected him on that basis
Same progression, as far as I can see.
You don't have a clue how angry people are about this ...
Now perhaps you should consider whether Cox is an asset or a liability to the Conservative party.
I suspect people will tire of it unless there are some major revelations in the Sunday’s. Recent stories are pretty thin stuff.
aka Laos; Please Don't Rush.
Very laid back sort of place.
And I'm told there's a lot to be said for N Vietnam. Only been to Ho Chi Minh City, so can't comment on, for example, Hanoi.
England cases 33,493 so you underestimated by quite a bit.
Come to think of it, what even is his speciality?
If its the country or the constituency then that's great.
If its only the MP while the constituency is ignored then that's a different matter.
You bridle at it because, I think, you're thinking that I think you've succumbed to the Boris brand yourself, given you're an habitual user of the "Boris" handle. I can reassure you on this. I don't think that. Indeed I think the opposite - that you haven't. You don't use "Boris" in a manner that indicates to me you've succumbed.
Always calling him "Boris" is a necessary but not sufficient piece of evidence of having succumbed. The extra evidence required lies in the tone in which "Boris" is said and discussed. Does the speaker seem to be talking about a bloke they know well and are rather fond of? Could one insert the missing words "good old" before the "Boris" without compromising the sentiment being expressed?
If the answer here is 'yes' one knows one is in the presence of one who has succumbed.
https://twitter.com/remkorteweg/status/1459550812326309893?s=21
And we want to go and see them when I'm mobile again.
We've been to lots of places, but there are some I regret not having done; the Caribbean area for one, and Patagonia for another.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59275207
If QCs, partners in city firms, surgeons etc can earn multiple times an MPs salary, almost none of them would bother standing for parliament if they were banned from still practicing and earning from their former career after election. Certainly Sir Keir is quite happy to still do paid legal work
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7484061/Keir-Starmer-pockets-6-000-15-hours-legal-work-MPs-salary.html
The red wall Conservatives are used to their constituents being ignored by absentee, troughing MPs.
But those absentee, troughing MPs were the previous Labour MPs and it was that absentee, troughing attitude they fought against.
Add on the red wall Conservatives will have a streak of anti-establishment attitude - the Conservative party after all not being the political establishment in mining towns up north.
So they're not going to have sympathy for absentee, troughing MPs just because they happen to be Conservatives who think they're entitled to do what they want because that's the way establishment politicians have always done so.
He seems to have let his constituents down somewhat and certainly let himself down. I don't think it's a resigning matter unless he concludes that it is.
Whatever the truth he'll be a lot less smug now.
Not that, as a leftie, I always felt it biased to 'our side'.
I do like that Blunt is a little off message by saying he'll accept the findings of any investigation, but basically it never even occurred to him and there's a feeding frenzy.
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The stewards are Tw@s
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/13/chris-bryant-ill-report-the-next-mp-who-tries-to-lobby-me
I agree with his view that it’s being paid to lobby which is the really objectionable thing.
Amazing Lib Dems cannot see that if it is prohibited it is prohibited, and she has broken the rule with no doubt many others
Eg, Cameron, Blair, Brown in the world of internet punditry often got called Dave, Gordon, Tony but there was no Dave or Gordon or Tony brand to speak of. Maybe a touch of it with the latter but not really. Certainly nothing to touch the BB juggernaut.
And you're dead right about Sunak. Well spotted there. He is hell bent on a brand. He's seen "Boris" win the sort of landslide that "Johnson" - or even "Boris Johnson" - wouldn't have been able to and he's taken notes. He wants to be a consumer product and he wants that product to be called Rishi.
Whatever, I won't be buying it. Not because I dislike Rishi Sunak, I don't, but because I wish to retain some detachment, assess him objectively as a politician.
I have cut back my carbon footprint a lot, but not yet ready to give up flights entirely.
1. The ERM disaster destroyed the Tories economic credibility
2. Maastricht and all the other rows over Europe destroyed the Tories internal discipline.
3. Tony Blair destroyed everything else.
"Tory Sleaze" was part of the picture in 92-97 (a big part for sure) but the situation was vastly graver for the Conservatives then than it is now.
https://twitter.com/JamesEnders/status/1459563960529731597?s=20
@drraghibali
·
4h
As those us who supported step 4 in July said at the time, an 'exit wave' was inevitable and it was better to have it before the Winter.
That higher level of immunity we gained is now preventing the surges we are seeing in many European countries.
===
Fingers crossed...