A Johnson exit in 2022 moving up in the betting – politicalbetting.com
The recent record lows in Johnson’s leadership ratings and LAB taking the lead have sparked off a flurry of activity in several betting markets including the year in which Johnson will go.
What we won't see in 2022 or for sometime afterwards is a LAB government.
Goodnight all 👍
Great point, trouble is I cant see how this ends for a BJ-led Conservative govt either.... I am hoping (in a voyeuristic sort of way) that it is messy and undignified for the blues....they have had it too easy.
It looks like the cops in Liverpool have drafted in some national level units. That suggests the probability of attacking whatever property they are looking at.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I agree. Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it. At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma. But maybe that's just me.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I agree. Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it. At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma. But maybe that's just me.
"incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma."
That's interesting, as IME the chancers are usually smooth, well-dressed and articulate; all the better to persuade suckers to buy the medicine.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I agree. Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it. At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma. But maybe that's just me.
"incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma."
That's interesting, as IME the chancers are usually smooth, well-dressed and articulate; all the better to persuade suckers to buy the medicine.
I think it was discussed when our PM first got the job; he's the cheery chappie one meets in bar. Bit of a card; obviously a bit dodgy, but good company for a while. Then you realise he's there every night, every night people include him in rounds, but he's never been seen to put his hand in his pocket and buy anywhere near his share. And the one occasion when he was shamed into paying he found he'd left his wallet at tome.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
From that Mail link:- One theory police are probing is that the detonators on a potential bomb exploded but not the main charge. That would be a repeat of the failed 21/7 bombings three weeks after the 7/7 atrocity.
In the immediate aftermath of the blast local police handed command of the incident to the North West Counter Terror force based in Manchester. They stressed it was 'out of caution' and that the blast had not officially been deemed a terror attack.
So the Mail just seems to be reporting more speculation rather than more facts. If the authorities are playing it close to their chest, what choice is there?
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
It looks like a suicide vest that has gone off early in the taxi rather than amongst the chosen targets. And thank the lord for that. Weird thing is that it wasn't much of a bang if the poor taxi driver survived. It may have misfunctioned.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I agree. Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it. At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma. But maybe that's just me.
"incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma."
That's interesting, as IME the chancers are usually smooth, well-dressed and articulate; all the better to persuade suckers to buy the medicine.
Politics seems a bit different. Perhaps because of Blair and Cameron, we tend to distrust the smoothies. BoJo's scarecrow look makes him look more authentic, makes him stand out, and fits his "the rules don't apply to me" power play.
The slight surprise is that he can't / won't scrub up for those occasions- big summits, say- when it would be better to leave his hair tidy and wear a suit that fits.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
There are some facts being pointlessly withheld. For instance, did the bomber identify as a man or a woman?
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
I agree. Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it. At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma. But maybe that's just me.
"incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma."
That's interesting, as IME the chancers are usually smooth, well-dressed and articulate; all the better to persuade suckers to buy the medicine.
Politics seems a bit different. Perhaps because of Blair and Cameron, we tend to distrust the smoothies. BoJo's scarecrow look makes him look more authentic, makes him stand out, and fits his "the rules don't apply to me" power play.
The slight surprise is that he can't / won't scrub up for those occasions- big summits, say- when it would be better to leave his hair tidy and wear a suit that fits.
You'd think Carrie would have something to say on the subject. Can't see Mrs C letting me go off to somewhere important looking like a scruff.
On the subject of his spouses, his lawyers have managed to make sure they they all keep very quiet about life with him. Odd, that. Hell hath no fury and so on.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
From that Mail link:- One theory police are probing is that the detonators on a potential bomb exploded but not the main charge. That would be a repeat of the failed 21/7 bombings three weeks after the 7/7 atrocity.
In the immediate aftermath of the blast local police handed command of the incident to the North West Counter Terror force based in Manchester. They stressed it was 'out of caution' and that the blast had not officially been deemed a terror attack.
So the Mail just seems to be reporting more speculation rather than more facts. If the authorities are playing it close to their chest, what choice is there?
Lazy journalism again, 21/7 was obviously TWO weeks after 7/7.
On topic, I don't see any clamour within the Parliamentary Conservative party to replace Boris, he will retire as 'Sir' or Lord Boris quite soon after the 2024 election, win or lose.
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
There are some facts being pointlessly withheld. For instance, did the bomber identify as a man or a woman?
After a suicide vest goes off, the wearer tends to identify as a detached head. I suppose you can still have a look to see if it's bearded
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
The family fortune was made by his father Fred Trump who was something of a teenage genius, buying real estate in his mother's (Donald's Grandmother) name at first because he was under age.
They went on to make a vast fortune by buying up chunks of Manhattan at rock bottom prices when people were forced to sell during the Great Depression.
Fred had to retire in in 1990s because he developed Alzheimer's disease and he choose to hand over nearly all the family wealth to Donald because his eldest son, Fred Jnr. was a chronic alcoholic.
When he first became President someone calculated that if Donald had simply put all the money on deposit, he would have more money than he has now after his mostly unsuccessful business career.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
There are some facts being pointlessly withheld. For instance, did the bomber identify as a man or a woman?
After a suicide vest goes off, the wearer tends to identify as a detached head. I suppose you can still have a look to see if it's bearded
A person with a beard might still identify as a woman or non-binary.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
There are some facts being pointlessly withheld. For instance, did the bomber identify as a man or a woman?
After a suicide vest goes off, the wearer tends to identify as a detached head. I suppose you can still have a look to see if it's bearded
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
There are some facts being pointlessly withheld. For instance, did the bomber identify as a man or a woman?
After a suicide vest goes off, the wearer tends to identify as a detached head. I suppose you can still have a look to see if it's bearded
A person with a beard might still identify as a woman or non-binary.
Unlikely to be the top concern of that person if their head is detached though.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
The family fortune was made by his father Fred Trump who was something of a teenage genius, buying real estate in his mother's (Donald's Grandmother) name at first because he was under age.
They went on to make a vast fortune by buying up chunks of Manhattan at rock bottom prices when people were forced to sell during the Great Depression.
Fred had to retire in in 1990s because he developed Alzheimer's disease and he choose to hand over nearly all the family wealth to Donald because his eldest son, Fred Jnr. was a chronic alcoholic.
When he first became President someone calculated that if Donald had simply put all the money on deposit, he would have more money than he has now after his mostly unsuccessful business career.
Was it Fred's father who kept (ahem) short-term hotels?
Grant Shapps had to be asked to stop summoning staff to talk about recreational flight during collapse of Thomas Cook - the biggest repatriation since Dunkirk, say two civil servants
I wish people would stop the disgusting and offensive transphobic comments on here. They're neither funny nor clever and merely display the ignorance and unpleasant nature of those making them.
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
I'd disagree on a fair few:
- Gordon Brown should be in the Conference - absolutely awful;
- Jim Callaghan Division One - he inherited a very poor position (economic crisis, strikes, no majority) and did with it as best as he could;
- Teresa May - Div 2 but only because she tried so hard on Brexit. Blew an election, no majority, split her party
- John Major - Championship - small majority, split party but economic policy a success
- BJ - Championship but too early - massive majority for the Tories
- Blair - I am tempted to put him into whatever Godforsaken minor league there is - tactically brilliant but, when it came to making decisions that impacted the country longer-term, a f**king disaster
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
I think you're underestimating the importance of "winning elections" which would see Johnson (for all his failings) promoted while May and Brown (for all their personal qualities) demoted.
I also wouldn't rank Cameron above Major. Major is often underestimated, without him the Thatcher reforms would have been rolled back by a Kinnock government.
I wish people would stop the disgusting and offensive transphobic comments on here. They're neither funny nor clever and merely display the ignorance and unpleasant nature of those making them.
I can't imagine what it would be like to be transphobic. The joke is at the expense of lefty wannabes who have arbitrarily selected transsexuals as an issue to be posturing wankers about, now that Palestine is a bit passé.
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
I think you're underestimating the importance of "winning elections" which would see Johnson (for all his failings) promoted while May and Brown (for all their personal qualities) demoted.
I also wouldn't rank Cameron above Major. Major is often underestimated, without him the Thatcher reforms would have been rolled back by a Kinnock government.
Also, you cannot set aside that Major is a decent man. I disagreed with him politically but he passionately cared for his country and for people. It wasn't an easy balance maintaining the winning Thatcherite platform and shaving off the harshest edges but he did it.
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
Ironically, the two Conservative Prime Ministers at the bottom of your league table might be the most significant. Ted Heath took us into Europe; Boris took us out.
Of the rest, I'd move Gordon Brown up for his handling of the global financial crisis, and David Cameron to the bottom as our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. He gave us Lansley's disastrous NHS reforms, IDS's UC which was undermined by the Chancellor, flatlined the recovery and attempted to rig the electoral system. He almost lost Scotland and did lose Europe. Even if you think Brexit a good thing, it was clearly not Cameron's government's policy.
Boris is sui generis. I find it impossible to rate him on the same scale as the others.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
You may be correct in your last sentence but Boris has the ability to surprise, especially when campaigning
So I got out my crayons. Bit in yellow is the original eastern leg of HS2. And the bits in orange are the “two new high speed lines” as briefed. And then it becomes clear… the easiest way to get TWO new rail lines is to… simply not build the middle section of the original plan! https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1459843398282657792/photo/1
So I got out my crayons. Bit in yellow is the original eastern leg of HS2. And the bits in orange are the “two new high speed lines” as briefed. And then it becomes clear… the easiest way to get TWO new rail lines is to… simply not build the middle section of the original plan! https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1459843398282657792/photo/1
Only in Britain could we end up with this half arsed mess.
We just cannot do infrastructure. Well, not since Victoria was on the throne.
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
Ironically, the two Conservative Prime Ministers at the bottom of your league table might be the most significant. Ted Heath took us into Europe; Boris took us out.
Of the rest, I'd move Gordon Brown up for his handling of the global financial crisis, and David Cameron to the bottom as our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. He gave us Lansley's disastrous NHS reforms, IDS's UC which was undermined by the Chancellor, flatlined the recovery and attempted to rig the electoral system. He almost lost Scotland and did lose Europe. Even if you think Brexit a good thing, it was clearly not Cameron's government's policy.
Boris is sui generis. I find it impossible to rate him on the same scale as the others.
I think anyone who says "worst Prime Minister since Lord North" should be made to write 2000 words to be marked by @ydoethur on North's strengths and weaknesses. He lost America at a time when generals not PMs won or lost wars. On the other hand he had an impressively long tenure, over 10 years I think, for some of which he was simultaneously CotE.
As Waterson points out the Brum to Notts link ends at Parkway, which is literally in the middle of some fields in the middle of nowhere. EM airport is close, but otherwise it links you to some sheep and the last coal power station in UK (closing soon obviously).
Prime Ministers of the last 50 years ranked (by me)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major Gordon Brown Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath Jim Callaghan Boris Johnson
Ironically, the two Conservative Prime Ministers at the bottom of your league table might be the most significant. Ted Heath took us into Europe; Boris took us out.
Of the rest, I'd move Gordon Brown up for his handling of the global financial crisis, and David Cameron to the bottom as our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. He gave us Lansley's disastrous NHS reforms, IDS's UC which was undermined by the Chancellor, flatlined the recovery and attempted to rig the electoral system. He almost lost Scotland and did lose Europe. Even if you think Brexit a good thing, it was clearly not Cameron's government's policy.
Boris is sui generis. I find it impossible to rate him on the same scale as the others.
I think anyone who says "worst Prime Minister since Lord North" should be made to write 2000 words to be marked by @ydoethur on North's strengths and weaknesses. He lost America at a time when generals not PMs won or lost wars. On the other hand he had an impressively long tenure, over 10 years I think, for some of which he was simultaneously CotE.
Reading commentary on the COP26 deal - some anger about how India and China kyboshed the stronger text with supposedly the US and EU watching on.
Here is realpolitik - you can't force these other countries to sign a deal they don't want to - or stick to it regardless of what they sign. What are we to do, war with China over coal?
What we should be doing is leading the charge to replace fossil fuels, so that we can both push the technology needed and sell it for profit. Lets throw resources at leading edge Hydrogen (for trucks and buses) and wind / tidal power. That way as countries like India and China start coming off coal there is something there to offer as a replacement.
Never mind cash for honours and dodgy PPE contracts, lets have cash for R&D, for manufacturing, for technology. Down the road in Aberdeen and across the county we are set up for both ends of the process - carbon capture from fossil fuels, Hydrogen already powers buses and some hire cars, and we're generating a lot of wind power and tidal is coming.
But it needs cash and vision. And the Tories keep saying no.
Oliver Dowden seems to be suggesting to Nick Robinson that the proof the Ofcom appointment process isn’t corrupt is that Paul Dacre doesn’t yet have the job. Which has weird implications for if he does https://twitter.com/janinegibson/status/1460162573748293632
Reading commentary on the COP26 deal - some anger about how India and China kyboshed the stronger text with supposedly the US and EU watching on.
Here is realpolitik - you can't force these other countries to sign a deal they don't want to - or stick to it regardless of what they sign. What are we to do, war with China over coal?
What we should be doing is leading the charge to replace fossil fuels, so that we can both push the technology needed and sell it for profit. Lets throw resources at leading edge Hydrogen (for trucks and buses) and wind / tidal power. That way as countries like India and China start coming off coal there is something there to offer as a replacement.
Never mind cash for honours and dodgy PPE contracts, lets have cash for R&D, for manufacturing, for technology. Down the road in Aberdeen and across the county we are set up for both ends of the process - carbon capture from fossil fuels, Hydrogen already powers buses and some hire cars, and we're generating a lot of wind power and tidal is coming.
But it needs cash and vision. And the Tories keep saying no.
China is doing a pretty good job of leading the charge and developing the technology on its own. It has stacks more renewable, evs etc than we do, it's just that you can't do an industrial revolution without coal and steel and concrete.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
You may be correct in your last sentence but Boris has the ability to surprise, especially when campaigning
Except Johnson needs rubbish discredited opponents - like Corbyn and Livingstone. Never been tested against someone mediocre or better.
Reading commentary on the COP26 deal - some anger about how India and China kyboshed the stronger text with supposedly the US and EU watching on.
Here is realpolitik - you can't force these other countries to sign a deal they don't want to - or stick to it regardless of what they sign. What are we to do, war with China over coal?
What we should be doing is leading the charge to replace fossil fuels, so that we can both push the technology needed and sell it for profit. Lets throw resources at leading edge Hydrogen (for trucks and buses) and wind / tidal power. That way as countries like India and China start coming off coal there is something there to offer as a replacement.
Never mind cash for honours and dodgy PPE contracts, lets have cash for R&D, for manufacturing, for technology. Down the road in Aberdeen and across the county we are set up for both ends of the process - carbon capture from fossil fuels, Hydrogen already powers buses and some hire cars, and we're generating a lot of wind power and tidal is coming.
But it needs cash and vision. And the Tories keep saying no.
Investment? Vision? You are Dominic Cummings AICMFP.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
The family fortune was made by his father Fred Trump who was something of a teenage genius, buying real estate in his mother's (Donald's Grandmother) name at first because he was under age.
They went on to make a vast fortune by buying up chunks of Manhattan at rock bottom prices when people were forced to sell during the Great Depression.
Fred had to retire in in 1990s because he developed Alzheimer's disease and he choose to hand over nearly all the family wealth to Donald because his eldest son, Fred Jnr. was a chronic alcoholic.
When he first became President someone calculated that if Donald had simply put all the money on deposit, he would have more money than he has now after his mostly unsuccessful business career.
Was it Fred's father who kept (ahem) short-term hotels?
Friedrich Trump first left Germany aged 16 and moved to New York where he became an apprentice barber, then he joined the Klondike Gold Rush where he opened a restaurant for the prospectors which doubled as a brothel.
With the money he made from that he went back to Germany and got married, but he soon returned to the US to avoid military service and became an American citizen, Fred was born in 1905.
Friedrich worked as a hotel manager in New York and died in the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
As Waterson points out the Brum to Notts link ends at Parkway, which is literally in the middle of some fields in the middle of nowhere. EM airport is close, but otherwise it links you to some sheep and the last coal power station in UK (closing soon obviously).
It's clear that no one has explained that the greatest advantages actually come from the Leeds extension which opens capacity across both the East Coast and Midland Mainline tracks.
With the new plan their improve capacity to Nottingham / Derby from London and if I'm being generous the cross country capacity into Birmingham from Nottingham.
I'm seriously tempted to say it's a worse plan than scrapping it in its entirety except for the fact if its half built building the rest would rapidly make commercial sense.
So I got out my crayons. Bit in yellow is the original eastern leg of HS2. And the bits in orange are the “two new high speed lines” as briefed. And then it becomes clear… the easiest way to get TWO new rail lines is to… simply not build the middle section of the original plan! https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/1459843398282657792/photo/1
Only in Britain could we end up with this half arsed mess.
We just cannot do infrastructure. Well, not since Victoria was on the throne.
Its utterly utterly stupid. I almost get the Kingsbury - East Midlands section if it wasn't for the fact they're truncating the thing at a badly located East Midlands parkway. The claims about Birmingham to Nottingham times are laughable.
The northern section? Delusional. Exit from Leeds towards Sheffield isn't at capacity, but the section through Rotherham and Meadowhall to the hopeless Sheffield Midland is at capacity. Only building this northern section does nothing but still smashes up Leeds city centre so that the new slightly faster but still slow trains to Sheffield have a vast terminus to rattle around in. Again, journey time claims hysterical.
If we need to speed up journeys along this access then build it properly. Don;t build two sections so you can claim they are two new lines as a distraction from having cancelled NPR across the Pennines.
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
Swiss don't half rob you to pass through though. Salzberg is beautiful but your suggestion of Fussen area is a good one , it is beautiful around there. Used to weekend in Hohen Schwangau when I was in Munich. @Benpointer
Reading commentary on the COP26 deal - some anger about how India and China kyboshed the stronger text with supposedly the US and EU watching on.
Here is realpolitik - you can't force these other countries to sign a deal they don't want to - or stick to it regardless of what they sign. What are we to do, war with China over coal?
What we should be doing is leading the charge to replace fossil fuels, so that we can both push the technology needed and sell it for profit. Lets throw resources at leading edge Hydrogen (for trucks and buses) and wind / tidal power. That way as countries like India and China start coming off coal there is something there to offer as a replacement.
Never mind cash for honours and dodgy PPE contracts, lets have cash for R&D, for manufacturing, for technology. Down the road in Aberdeen and across the county we are set up for both ends of the process - carbon capture from fossil fuels, Hydrogen already powers buses and some hire cars, and we're generating a lot of wind power and tidal is coming.
But it needs cash and vision. And the Tories keep saying no.
Yes, there is a lot of sense in this and a lot to gain by doing so. We already have a fair bit going on with hydrogen at the moment and further investment recently announced and wind has a lot of investment with more to come. We can do more and should and we should certainly invest in tidal power. It is not a bleak picture but the govt should invest more for certain.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
You may be correct in your last sentence but Boris has the ability to surprise, especially when campaigning
Except Johnson needs rubbish discredited opponents - like Corbyn and Livingstone. Never been tested against someone mediocre or better.
Fair comment, and he may not even be in office, but assuming the conservatives cannot win with Boris is quite an assumption
As Waterson points out the Brum to Notts link ends at Parkway, which is literally in the middle of some fields in the middle of nowhere. EM airport is close, but otherwise it links you to some sheep and the last coal power station in UK (closing soon obviously).
It's clear that no one has explained that the greatest advantages actually come from the Leeds extension which opens capacity across both the East Coast and Midland Mainline tracks.
With the new plan their improve capacity to Nottingham / Derby from London and if I'm being generous the cross country capacity into Birmingham from Nottingham.
I'm seriously tempted to say it's a worse plan than scrapping it in its entirety except for the fact if its half built building the rest would rapidly make commercial sense.
If they are phasing construction - as in start at both ends and work inwards then ok. But seemingly not, they have cancelled it. Which means huge expense and disruption especially in Leeds for no real gains. And as you say the bottlenecks on the East Coast remain unsolved.
I get that some MPs don't want to spend the money. Fine. Cancel it then. Don't waste gazillions building pointless bits that get left as a white elephant.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
You may be correct in your last sentence but Boris has the ability to surprise, especially when campaigning
He certainly has his cheerleaders on here who think he is the Messiah.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
It's a combination of -
1) His "empire" is a pile of debt. While this is in the style of the old style "billionaires" before Silicon Valley created people with an actual billion or 2... his empire is particularly built on bullshit. 2) He has completely toxified his brand with 50% of the population.
2) is feeding into 1) - People don't want to be seen to be doing business with him, because of 2)
Which is particularly problematic when it comes to banks which finance 1)
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
It depends on hte seat, There are Red Wall marginals, like Darlington, High Peak, and some pretty flukey wins, like Burnley or Leigh, which Labour could easily win back.
But there are seats where the Labour vote has simply collapsed, over the course of 20 years, in ex-mining constituencies. I see those seats going the same way as places like Forest of Dean or NW Leicestershire.
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
Swiss don't half rob you to pass through though. Salzberg is beautiful but your suggestion of Fussen area is a good one , it is beautiful around there. Used to weekend in Hohen Schwangau when I was in Munich. @Benpointer
The Swiss are certainly good at fleecing travellers - but then robbing people passing through the Alps has been that country's business model dating back to ancient times.
But the iniquity of the annual pass is really that the Swiss themselves pay so little. If you compare the €40-odd Swiss pass, for doing a single or return trip across the entire country en route from the UK, to the cost you pay on the French motorways for a similar length, it isn't so bad.
I was in Schwangau just two months' back, stayed at the edge of that flat plain just below the castles, with the mountain views, and a great beer garden just along the road. I hope to return on a future trip. I'm sure we all know the closing scenes of the Great Escape, with McQueen being pursued through Alpine countryside on his motorbike - that was all filmed in that area, between Fussen and Pfronten.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Whilst Johnson absolutely cut through into the red wall, I'm not sure that will still be the case. Brexit is done, Covid is done, and people will get to the election worse off not better off as promised. Whats more they will have seen the Tories line their own pockets at the same time as picking theirs.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
You may be correct in your last sentence but Boris has the ability to surprise, especially when campaigning
He certainly has his cheerleaders on here who think he is the Messiah.
As Waterson points out the Brum to Notts link ends at Parkway, which is literally in the middle of some fields in the middle of nowhere. EM airport is close, but otherwise it links you to some sheep and the last coal power station in UK (closing soon obviously).
It's clear that no one has explained that the greatest advantages actually come from the Leeds extension which opens capacity across both the East Coast and Midland Mainline tracks.
With the new plan their improve capacity to Nottingham / Derby from London and if I'm being generous the cross country capacity into Birmingham from Nottingham.
I'm seriously tempted to say it's a worse plan than scrapping it in its entirety except for the fact if its half built building the rest would rapidly make commercial sense.
If they are phasing construction - as in start at both ends and work inwards then ok. But seemingly not, they have cancelled it. Which means huge expense and disruption especially in Leeds for no real gains. And as you say the bottlenecks on the East Coast remain unsolved.
I get that some MPs don't want to spend the money. Fine. Cancel it then. Don't waste gazillions building pointless bits that get left as a white elephant.
Oh I know the new plan is an utter waste of money - I just hope that were the two bits built a sensible future Government would finish the project (as the benefits would easily outweigh the costs).
As for the loss of Northern Power Rail - I will be paying more attention to the announcement or not of platforms 15/16 at Manchester Piccadilly (as that is one of the major blocks in the North West nowadays).
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
I mean, that's not even remotely true. If there are some people who use the word only in that specific way, that's all well and good, but language isn't a technocracy. The vast majority will use "bomb" for most anything that it built to go boom, dropped or not.
Indeed. I don't remember the IRA ever dropping anything from the air.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
It's a combination of -
1) His "empire" is a pile of debt. While this is in the style of the old style "billionaires" before Silicon Valley created people with an actual billion or 2... his empire is particularly built on bullshit. 2) He has completely toxified his brand with 50% of the population.
2) is feeding into 1) - People don't want to be seen to be doing business with him, because of 2)
Which is particularly problematic when it comes to banks which finance 1)
One odd thing about Donald Trump that we forget is that his fortune was propped up at a crucial time by The Apprentice, which added about $400 million to Trump's bottom line because he co-owned it.
I got a 4,000 CHF fine and 3 month driving ban in Swizterland than began with immediate effect on the Grimsel pass. I waited until the cops left and then nicked a number plate off a German registered R1200GS to put on my MV. I then went full Five Star Grand Theft Auto to the Italian border.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
Thatcher at least you knew what she stood for (and against). Boris promised levelling up and if the forthcoming railways announcements are as leaked - he's failed. As for where he stands on anything - that depends on who is talking to him that moment and in 5 minutes he will have done another u-turn.
And that failure added to corruption is going to be long term damaging to a party that with Boris has already turned it's back on it's historic supporters.
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
I mean, that's not even remotely true. If there are some people who use the word only in that specific way, that's all well and good, but language isn't a technocracy. The vast majority will use "bomb" for most anything that it built to go boom, dropped or not.
Indeed. I don't remember the IRA ever dropping anything from the air.
The worrying thing is that explosives were used at all, as it suggests far more planning and logistical support than some idiot grabbing a kitchen knife on his way out.
I wish people would stop the disgusting and offensive transphobic comments on here. They're neither funny nor clever and merely display the ignorance and unpleasant nature of those making them.
I've noted before that it reminds me of the gay jokes which were around a couple of decades or so back. Embarrassing stuff.
I wish people would stop the disgusting and offensive transphobic comments on here. They're neither funny nor clever and merely display the ignorance and unpleasant nature of those making them.
I can't imagine what it would be like to be transphobic. The joke is at the expense of lefty wannabes who have arbitrarily selected transsexuals as an issue to be posturing wankers about, now that Palestine is a bit passé.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
I expect Boris will continue in office for a while but he is losing his popularity and needs to get a grip quickly if he wants to lead into GE24
Yesterday he said he saw the Queen on wednesday when it was friday, referred to Edinburgh re COP26 and his dress sense at times is embarrassing and justifies the contrast to Benny Hill
He is in the greatest danger since taking office, and many see him as a diminishing asset to the party
BBC Breakfast news had the police still not confirming it was a bomb (ETA maybe it wasn't, if a suicide vest is different) and it is hard to know how much more can be reported if the police are withholding information that is clearly already known to the bad guys.
Almost nobody uses bombs, as technically a bomb is an explosive device dropped from the air.
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
I mean, that's not even remotely true. If there are some people who use the word only in that specific way, that's all well and good, but language isn't a technocracy. The vast majority will use "bomb" for most anything that it built to go boom, dropped or not.
Indeed. I don't remember the IRA ever dropping anything from the air.
Such things are not helped by the usual; behaviour by journalists...
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
Yes Major's win in 92 was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the Tories. If they had just lost to Kinnock they would probably have been back in 96 or 97. I think Major did a good job in winning and governing considering the internal fighting. It is ironic that doing a good job resulted in years out of government.
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
Swiss don't half rob you to pass through though. Salzberg is beautiful but your suggestion of Fussen area is a good one , it is beautiful around there. Used to weekend in Hohen Schwangau when I was in Munich. @Benpointer
Like the websites that charge you as a wraparound on free services, in Czechia they put kiosks in front of the machines at border entry points, and add money to do the purchase.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
Yes Major's win in 92 was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the Tories. If they had just lost to Kinnock they would probably have been back in 96 or 97. I think Major did a good job in winning and governing considering the internal fighting. It is ironic that doing a good job resulted in years out of government.
Likewise Cameron's surprise win is 2015 - when even he was hoping for another coalition (to allow awkward manifesto bits to be removed).
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
Thatcher at least you knew what she stood for (and against). Boris promised levelling up and if the forthcoming railways announcements are as leaked - he's failed. As for where he stands on anything - that depends on who is talking to him that moment and in 5 minutes he will have done another u-turn.
And that failure added to corruption is going to be long term damaging to a party that with Boris has already turned it's back on it's historic supporters.
In 2019 Boris held almost all the party's historic supporters (bar a few diehard Remainers) and won seats in the North and Midlands and North Wales no Tory leader had won since Thatcher and indeed some working class seats even Thatcher did not win.
Ditching an electorally successful leader never ends well for the party longer term, as the Tories found out when they removed Thatcher and Labour found out when it pushed Blair out for Brown
I got a 4,000 CHF fine and 3 month driving ban in Swizterland than began with immediate effect on the Grimsel pass. I waited until the cops left and then nicked a number plate off a German registered R1200GS to put on my MV. I then went full Five Star Grand Theft Auto to the Italian border.
I've been waiting for a Swiss speeding fine from one of those cameras that very clearly went off as I passed through a tunnel near Lucerne. But no sign of it yet, and doing some Googling it appears that a (probably temporary) 'benefit' of Brexit is that we're no longer sharing drivers' details with Switzerland. So I could be in line for a special Brexit dividend all of my own....
Planning a road trip to the Italian Lakes next summer and we fancy coimng back via Austria with a few nights stop somewhere.
I don't know Austria at all, what's our best bet for a stop... Innsbruck? Salzburg? Vienna is a bit out of the way since we have to drive back to the Channel
I saw this from last night - Sean’s suggestion of the South Tyrol was on the money in terms of its attractions, but not necessarily the geography. It depends which lake you are finishing at. If your trip ends at Garda, then heading up through the Brenner can be the way home, and South Tyrol is a great extra stop - Bolzano or Brixen, as he said, or Merano, for a small detour or Ortisei for a moderate detour.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
Swiss don't half rob you to pass through though. Salzberg is beautiful but your suggestion of Fussen area is a good one , it is beautiful around there. Used to weekend in Hohen Schwangau when I was in Munich. @Benpointer
Like the websites that charge you as a wraparound on free services, in Czechia they put kiosks in front of the machines at border entry points, and add money to do the purchase.
Does this take place n Austria?
You can stop and buy at the border, and there are plenty of signs as you enter warning drivers (in German and English) of the fines if you don't have a vignette. But provided you pay 14 days in advance (because there's a cooling off period during which you can cancel, so they don't sell them at short notice) it's very easy to buy the pass, plus any special tolls for stretches like the Brenner, online.
One of my grandsons (12) and his father (double vaccinated) have been diagnosed with covid this morning
Indeed my grandson has not been vaccinated yet through Wales NHS
Sad to read that Mr G. However, as one who contracted Covid after being double vaccinated, I can attest that it wasn't nearly as bad as might have been had we not been vaccinated. I had one flu-like day and a bit of a cough; Mrs C had a cough which lasted about a week. Both coughs were infected though, from the appearance of the sputum, but responded well to antibiotics. We're fine now. Much younger relatives have had it and recovered well.
I can't stand Johnson personally and think he is a dire PM and worse person.
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Indeed, Boris is the most electorally successful Tory leader since Thatcher and the Tories lost 3 out of 4 general elections after they removed her.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
Yes Major's win in 92 was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the Tories. If they had just lost to Kinnock they would probably have been back in 96 or 97. I think Major did a good job in winning and governing considering the internal fighting. It is ironic that doing a good job resulted in years out of government.
Agreed, Had Major lost in 1992 Heseltine would likely have become leader of the opposition and could well have won in 1997. So in pure party politics terms it was bad longer term for the Tories.
However Major's win was the best thing for the country for as was mentioned before PM Kinnock would have reversed many of the Thatcherite reforms and PM Heseltine would have likely been a return to Heathism. There would also have been no Blair Labour leadership or premiership had Kinnock won in 1992 as Labour would not have needed to go further to New Labour to win again
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Goodnight all 👍
https://www.newsweek.com/united-nations-giving-names-uyghur-dissidents-china-opinion-1649060
But they'd be crazy to ditch him. I'm afraid the truth is he reaches parts other Tories cannot reach. A more traditional Tory may save Esher, but that's not worth doing at the expense of red wall seats, which it would be. And the people who are similar to Johnson in populist instincts lack his charisma.
It's a populist problem, not unlike the Republican problem. It would take time to rebrand as traditional GOP. And Trump isn't ideal for populists (even less ideal than Johnson) but a smoother tribute act like just Josh Hawley just won't work - he's not an authentic enough nutcase, and the hardcore fear he's actually borderline sane but faking it.
Although I have obviously been double vaxxed and boostered to be immune from sensing his "charisma". Though I know some are overpowered by it.
At the presser he seemed to me an incoherent, ill- informed, scruffy chancer in comparison to the smooth and on the ball Sharma.
But maybe that's just me.
That's interesting, as IME the chancers are usually smooth, well-dressed and articulate; all the better to persuade suckers to buy the medicine.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10200811/Bomb-squad-called-hospital-sounds-explosion-heard-outside-entrance.html
Then you realise he's there every night, every night people include him in rounds, but he's never been seen to put his hand in his pocket and buy anywhere near his share.
And the one occasion when he was shamed into paying he found he'd left his wallet at tome.
One theory police are probing is that the detonators on a potential bomb exploded but not the main charge. That would be a repeat of the failed 21/7 bombings three weeks after the 7/7 atrocity.
In the immediate aftermath of the blast local police handed command of the incident to the North West Counter Terror force based in Manchester. They stressed it was 'out of caution' and that the blast had not officially been deemed a terror attack.
So the Mail just seems to be reporting more speculation rather than more facts. If the authorities are playing it close to their chest, what choice is there?
So the police can use semantics to not confirm it was a bombing.
The slight surprise is that he can't / won't scrub up for those occasions- big summits, say- when it would be better to leave his hair tidy and wear a suit that fits.
On the subject of his spouses, his lawyers have managed to make sure they they all keep very quiet about life with him. Odd, that. Hell hath no fury and so on.
The money paid to that hotel by foreign governments during his Presidency stinks to high heaven but its the loss of a prestigious site in Washington itself, near the Whitehouse. It also suggests, again, that the Trump name is not an asset in running such a business. His claim to be a successful businessman is rapidly catching up with his claim that the election was stolen in credibility.
On topic, I don't see any clamour within the Parliamentary Conservative party to replace Boris, he will retire as 'Sir' or Lord Boris quite soon after the 2024 election, win or lose.
But you’ll still then have a long drive home, too long for a single leg. Tubingen or Freiburg are great spots for an overnight to break the driving. Or Fussen, which is a great stopover, if not that far into the driving.
However if you’re at the western lakes it would obviously be more sensible to come back through Switzerland, and even from Iseo Austria would be a considerable detour. Indeed Garda via Austria is more driving than via France or Switzerland, assuming you’re heading for Calais or similar.
You can buy Austrian motorway passes online provided you do so at least two weeks before the journey.
According to the govt minister that is ‘effectively the same’ as an apology over the handling of sleaze claims.
#KayBurley
https://trib.al/5J1pu6I https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1460152923401474052/video/1
They went on to make a vast fortune by buying up chunks of Manhattan at rock bottom prices when people were forced to sell during the Great Depression.
Fred had to retire in in 1990s because he developed Alzheimer's disease and he choose to hand over nearly all the family wealth to Donald because his eldest son, Fred Jnr. was a chronic alcoholic.
When he first became President someone calculated that if Donald had simply put all the money on deposit, he would have more money than he has now after his mostly unsuccessful business career.
News this week about the broken promises on northern infrastructure won't help either. They can win the next election but not with Johnson.
https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1460155822063988740?s=20
He "backed off" after CAA chair intervened
Govt disputes this account
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/62eb0e48-44c9-11ec-b414-b1f6389ab345?shareToken=d37fc7e81435dff878189a670ecfe0ac
PREMIER LEAGUE
Margaret Thatcher
Tony Blair
CHAMPIONSHIP
David Cameron
DIVISION ONE
John Major
Gordon Brown
Theresa May
DIVISION TWO
Ted Heath
Jim Callaghan
Boris Johnson
https://twitter.com/flodebarre/status/1459958446342774787?s=20
Remember 98% vs 96% isn't "about the same" it's 2% unvaccinated vs 4% unvaccinated - in other words its twice as good.
F1: surprised Ladbrokes has the pair equal (1.83) for the title. Betfair has Hamilton slight outsider at 2.1.
He was significantly faster at Interlagos than Verstappen. But he also had a new engine which he had to cane for two hours (not including qualifying).
I do think Hamilton has a decent shot of retaining the title, but Ricciardo's engine-related DNF is a serious concern.
- Gordon Brown should be in the Conference - absolutely awful;
- Jim Callaghan Division One - he inherited a very poor position (economic crisis, strikes, no majority) and did with it as best as he could;
- Teresa May - Div 2 but only because she tried so hard on Brexit. Blew an election, no majority, split her party
- John Major - Championship - small majority, split party but economic policy a success
- BJ - Championship but too early - massive majority for the Tories
- Blair - I am tempted to put him into whatever Godforsaken minor league there is - tactically brilliant but, when it came to making decisions that impacted the country longer-term, a f**king disaster
I also wouldn't rank Cameron above Major. Major is often underestimated, without him the Thatcher reforms would have been rolled back by a Kinnock government.
Indeed my grandson has not been vaccinated yet through Wales NHS
Of the rest, I'd move Gordon Brown up for his handling of the global financial crisis, and David Cameron to the bottom as our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. He gave us Lansley's disastrous NHS reforms, IDS's UC which was undermined by the Chancellor, flatlined the recovery and attempted to rig the electoral system. He almost lost Scotland and did lose Europe. Even if you think Brexit a good thing, it was clearly not Cameron's government's policy.
Boris is sui generis. I find it impossible to rate him on the same scale as the others.
We just cannot do infrastructure. Well, not since Victoria was on the throne.
Here is realpolitik - you can't force these other countries to sign a deal they don't want to - or stick to it regardless of what they sign. What are we to do, war with China over coal?
What we should be doing is leading the charge to replace fossil fuels, so that we can both push the technology needed and sell it for profit. Lets throw resources at leading edge Hydrogen (for trucks and buses) and wind / tidal power. That way as countries like India and China start coming off coal there is something there to offer as a replacement.
Never mind cash for honours and dodgy PPE contracts, lets have cash for R&D, for manufacturing, for technology. Down the road in Aberdeen and across the county we are set up for both ends of the process - carbon capture from fossil fuels, Hydrogen already powers buses and some hire cars, and we're generating a lot of wind power and tidal is coming.
But it needs cash and vision. And the Tories keep saying no.
https://twitter.com/janinegibson/status/1460162573748293632
https://twitter.com/janinegibson/status/1460163666087751681
#r4today
https://twitter.com/JoelTaylorhack/status/1460162502382305283
Otherwise known as the Scooby Doo defence. https://twitter.com/RobDotHutton/status/1460164217856790533/photo/1
With the money he made from that he went back to Germany and got married, but he soon returned to the US to avoid military service and became an American citizen, Fred was born in 1905.
Friedrich worked as a hotel manager in New York and died in the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.
With the new plan their improve capacity to Nottingham / Derby from London and if I'm being generous the cross country capacity into Birmingham from Nottingham.
I'm seriously tempted to say it's a worse plan than scrapping it in its entirety except for the fact if its half built building the rest would rapidly make commercial sense.
The northern section? Delusional. Exit from Leeds towards Sheffield isn't at capacity, but the section through Rotherham and Meadowhall to the hopeless Sheffield Midland is at capacity. Only building this northern section does nothing but still smashes up Leeds city centre so that the new slightly faster but still slow trains to Sheffield have a vast terminus to rattle around in. Again, journey time claims hysterical.
If we need to speed up journeys along this access then build it properly. Don;t build two sections so you can claim they are two new lines as a distraction from having cancelled NPR across the Pennines.
I get that some MPs don't want to spend the money. Fine. Cancel it then. Don't waste gazillions building pointless bits that get left as a white elephant.
1) His "empire" is a pile of debt. While this is in the style of the old style "billionaires" before Silicon Valley created people with an actual billion or 2... his empire is particularly built on bullshit.
2) He has completely toxified his brand with 50% of the population.
2) is feeding into 1) - People don't want to be seen to be doing business with him, because of 2)
Which is particularly problematic when it comes to banks which finance 1)
But there are seats where the Labour vote has simply collapsed, over the course of 20 years, in ex-mining constituencies. I see those seats going the same way as places like Forest of Dean or NW Leicestershire.
But the iniquity of the annual pass is really that the Swiss themselves pay so little. If you compare the €40-odd Swiss pass, for doing a single or return trip across the entire country en route from the UK, to the cost you pay on the French motorways for a similar length, it isn't so bad.
I was in Schwangau just two months' back, stayed at the edge of that flat plain just below the castles, with the mountain views, and a great beer garden just along the road. I hope to return on a future trip. I'm sure we all know the closing scenes of the Great Escape, with McQueen being pursued through Alpine countryside on his motorbike - that was all filmed in that area, between Fussen and Pfronten.
Sunak might just about be Major to Boris' Thatcher if Labour start to build a big lead in the polls with Starmer as Kinnock but Major's premiership after his narrow re election was all downhill
As for the loss of Northern Power Rail - I will be paying more attention to the announcement or not of platforms 15/16 at Manchester Piccadilly (as that is one of the major blocks in the North West nowadays).
Boris promised levelling up and if the forthcoming railways announcements are as leaked - he's failed. As for where he stands on anything - that depends on who is talking to him that moment and in 5 minutes he will have done another u-turn.
And that failure added to corruption is going to be long term damaging to a party that with Boris has already turned it's back on it's historic supporters.
Embarrassing stuff.
Yesterday he said he saw the Queen on wednesday when it was friday, referred to Edinburgh re COP26 and his dress sense at times is embarrassing and justifies the contrast to Benny Hill
He is in the greatest danger since taking office, and many see him as a diminishing asset to the party
Does this take place n Austria?
Ditching an electorally successful leader never ends well for the party longer term, as the Tories found out when they removed Thatcher and Labour found out when it pushed Blair out for Brown
We're fine now.
Much younger relatives have had it and recovered well.
Having done a little reading into the Shapps story from yesterday, it looks like toast now or toast later.
However Major's win was the best thing for the country for as was mentioned before PM Kinnock would have reversed many of the Thatcherite reforms and PM Heseltine would have likely been a return to Heathism. There would also have been no Blair Labour leadership or premiership had Kinnock won in 1992 as Labour would not have needed to go further to New Labour to win again