Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
He was but so were an awful lot of other people. It took a strange coalition of disparate belief systems, a huge amount of luck and a colossal degree of ineptitude: as you say, going right back to the LibDems and the coalition Gov't.
Even as late as 24th September 2019 Brexit might have been halted. On that fateful day when the spidery Lady Hale delivered the Supreme Court verdict, it would have been possible for Parliament to seize the moment and install a Gov't of national unity or at the least an acceptable moderate unifying Conservative. Corbyn's partly to blame that it didn't happen, of course, but not entirely.
Mr. Sandpit, the three line whip abstention on a Lisbon referendum, previously promised, was not a great move either.
But the blame there really lies with Labour reneging. That referendum would've seen a crushing defeat, and presented a moment for the British and EU political class to realise the situation and re-evaluate. Small chance, but could've seen things develop in a good way.
Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
Nick Clegg was the funniest, in favour of a referendum on EU membership until the day there was a chance of one actually happening.
Not that he cares now, sitting in California counting the millions he’s being paid by a company that’s turned civil society upside down.
Not that often that I 100% agree with you but I do now.
Mr. Doethur, and he wasn't exactly great when he was sane.
You could say that about most medieval kings though. It wasn’t a job that attracted the best and brightest. Only those who emerged from the right vagina in the right order with a penis.
Hm, is 'mediaeval' needed there? Or did the Divine Right theory sanitise British Royalty somehow from 1603?
Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
He was but so were an awful lot of other people. It took a strange coalition of disparate belief systems, a huge amount of luck and a colossal degree of ineptitude: as you say, going right back to the LibDems and the coalition Gov't.
Even as late as 24th September 2019 Brexit might have been halted. On that fateful day when the spidery Lady Hale delivered the Supreme Court verdict, it would have been possible for Parliament to seize the moment and install a Gov't of national unity or at the least an acceptable moderate unifying Conservative. Corbyn's partly to blame that it didn't happen, of course, but not entirely.
Corbyn was a fool. His big personal opportunity was to serve as a cabinet minister in a GoNU. He would have been seen at no10, he would have been seen with a red box and a ministerial car, the world would not have ended, He could have claimed to have served the national interest. But no, sitting next to Tories for a few weeks was beyond him. .
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
Nick Clegg was the funniest, in favour of a referendum on EU membership until the day there was a chance of one actually happening.
Not that he cares now, sitting in California counting the millions he’s being paid by a company that’s turned civil society upside down.
Not that often that I 100% agree with you but I do now.
The primary reason the UK quit the EU, was a failure of both UK and EU politicians over decades, to bring the people with them. All sides preferred to use the issue of EU membership to cover up their own deficiencies and implement unpopular policies, so when an opportunity was given to take back control, to coin a phrase, the British public went with it.
SF 25% (+1) DUP 17% (-1) All 14% (nc) UUP 14% (nc) TUV 12% (+1) SDLP 11% (-1)
(LucidTalk/Belfast Telegraph; changes from November)
Approx seat projection:
Unionists: DUP 19 UUP 13 TUV 11 Total 43
Pro-reunification: SF 23 SDLP 11 Total 34
Neutral: Alliance 13
While the compulsory coalition that is mandated by the Good Friday Agreement will be quite restricting, the symbolism of SF having the First Minister will be huge.
I think at that point the DUp would collapse the executive on the basis of A16 and the NI protocol. That won't be fixable to their satisfaction though because the issue is really the loss of Unionist dominance.
I don't see how a border poll can be put off much longer.
As you say, collapsing the executive after an election would probably be the quickest way to trigger a border poll - so it's probably worth pointing out prior to them doing it that it wouldn't be a good idea.
It is the DUP that we are talking about!
I think though they might collapse it before the elections on spurious grounds, preferring direct rule to SF.
And of course the more Keir Starmer winds-up the Corbynistas the better it looks for his electability with mainstream Britain.
To witness the venom and fury of the loony left over the defection was a thing of immense wonder and joy.
Tbh I doubt winding up the Corbynistas helps Labour's electability in any shape or form. As with Boris, antagonism to Corbyn was personal. Corbyn was seen as anti-British, obsessed by Venezuela and Palestine, far-off lands of which we know little, and, worse, pro-terrorist. All stoked up ruthlessly by CCHQ's social media campaigning in 2019. It was not based on policy. Indeed, the blue team co-opted the popular bits of Corbyn's 2017 platform.
Christian Wakeford's defection has reduced the number of vonc voters against Boris by one, and risks convincing cynical voters that there is no point in voting next time: if MPs like Wakeford can't see any significant difference between Conservative and Labour, why bother?
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
ha! It sounds like you deliberately set-up a rumble though ! Shall I bite? ermm - I will go this far- I have done the odd triathlon in the past and have of course worn a helmet (in the bike bit) as its the rules - fair enough. When i trained for it , I sometimes wore one and sometimes did not depending on my own risk assessment (did not actually fill in a form!) of where i was cycling. So (like facemasks ) I think it should be up to the individual to decide and I woudl have thought if Chris Boardman read your post he woudl find the name calling a bit tedious and disrespectful as would any human on the end of a judging insult like that. As you quote Meat Loaf - Isn't the line " will you hose me down with holy water if I get to hot" just about the best line in any rock song?
risks convincing cynical voters that there is no point in voting next time: if MPs like Wakeford can't see any significant difference between Conservative and Labour, why bother?
That is one way of looking at it, The other is "I was taken in by BoZo, but I now know he is a lair and a cheater..."
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
SF 25% (+1) DUP 17% (-1) All 14% (nc) UUP 14% (nc) TUV 12% (+1) SDLP 11% (-1)
(LucidTalk/Belfast Telegraph; changes from November)
Approx seat projection:
Unionists: DUP 19 UUP 13 TUV 11 Total 43
Pro-reunification: SF 23 SDLP 11 Total 34
Neutral: Alliance 13
While the compulsory coalition that is mandated by the Good Friday Agreement will be quite restricting, the symbolism of SF having the First Minister will be huge.
I think at that point the DUp would collapse the executive on the basis of A16 and the NI protocol. That won't be fixable to their satisfaction though because the issue is really the loss of Unionist dominance.
I don't see how a border poll can be put off much longer.
As you say, collapsing the executive after an election would probably be the quickest way to trigger a border poll - so it's probably worth pointing out prior to them doing it that it wouldn't be a good idea.
It is the DUP that we are talking about!
I think though they might collapse it before the elections on spurious grounds, preferring direct rule to SF.
That was my point, they are so thick that I suspect the most likely reason that a border poll occurs is because the DUP accidently / without thought creates the circumstances that triggers it.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
Also there's a deadpan link to a story Cyclist deaths soar on rural roads in England.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
He was but so were an awful lot of other people. It took a strange coalition of disparate belief systems, a huge amount of luck and a colossal degree of ineptitude: as you say, going right back to the LibDems and the coalition Gov't.
Even as late as 24th September 2019 Brexit might have been halted. On that fateful day when the spidery Lady Hale delivered the Supreme Court verdict, it would have been possible for Parliament to seize the moment and install a Gov't of national unity or at the least an acceptable moderate unifying Conservative. Corbyn's partly to blame that it didn't happen, of course, but not entirely.
Corbyn was a fool. His big personal opportunity was to serve as a cabinet minister in a GoNU. He would have been seen at no10, he would have been seen with a red box and a ministerial car, the world would not have ended, He could have claimed to have served the national interest. But no, sitting next to Tories for a few weeks was beyond him. .
The opportunity was blown up by the LibDems under the innumerate Swinson, who could not see her only route to success went through Corbyn. LBJ's first rule of politics: learn to count.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
I think JRM is a faction leader - The world needs faction leaders in the sense they are usually loyal to the mainstream but need to be heard so the mainstream stays true to the cause. Faction leaders are slightly thuggish , the best are pragmatic but willing to displease their more powerful allies - He is that i think.
The sweeping “zero-tolerance” strategy that China has used to keep COVID-19 case numbers low and its economy functioning may, paradoxically, make it harder for the country to exit the pandemic.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
The sweeping “zero-tolerance” strategy that China has used to keep COVID-19 case numbers low and its economy functioning may, paradoxically, make it harder for the country to exit the pandemic.
well what a surprise ! Its the arrogance of people who think control is everything and even to the extent of controlling the impossible (ie a pandemic)- The classis King Canute issue! On this issue Boris as been about the best world leader if you can overlook his obvious double standards about parties
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
I think JRM is a faction leader - The world needs faction leaders in the sense they are usually loyal to the mainstream but need to be heard so the mainstream stays true to the cause. Faction leaders are slightly thuggish , the best are pragmatic but willing to displease their more powerful allies - He is that i think.
'Last week, I came across a scent called Stercus. Made by perfumer Allessandro Gualtieri, Stercus is Latin for dung. “He [Gualtieri] is eccentric to say the least,” said Daniel Williams of the PR agency. “You’resitting there at a press launch and when you ask him what the smell is based around, he tells you it’s his anus.”'
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
ha! It sounds like you deliberately set-up a rumble though ! Shall I bite? ermm - I will go this far- I have done the odd triathlon in the past and have of course worn a helmet (in the bike bit) as its the rules - fair enough. When i trained for it , I sometimes wore one and sometimes did not depending on my own risk assessment (did not actually fill in a form!) of where i was cycling. So (like facemasks ) I think it should be up to the individual to decide and I woudl have thought if Chris Boardman read your post he woudl find the name calling a bit tedious and disrespectful as would any human on the end of a judging insult like that. As you quote Meat Loaf - Isn't the line " will you hose me down with holy water if I get to hot" just about the best line in any rock song?
Yes, I'll bite too. I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about. Also, it doesn't help as much as you think it does. Cyclists with helmets take more risks, and drivers take more risks with helmeted cyclists. It's a zero sum game: the safer you make people, the more risks they will take. Also, Chris Boardman's mum was killed while cycling (by a lorry, I think). He is tragically aware of the risks.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
Ms. Heathener, how toxic is Labour from Corbyn's time as leader?
Still quite toxic as OnlyLivingBoy suggests.
However the HUGE difference is that Corbyn was only ever leader of the opposition not Prime Minister. Thankfully he never held the reins of power, never had a chance to inflict his brand of misery on the country, never therefore injected his poison into the veins of the British people. He was nothing more than the bogeyman: the monster in the woods. His toxic brand was 'out there' and has passed like a will o'the wisp.
Corbyn was a key enabler of Brexit. Like the Lib Dems, who unlocked Pandora’s box.
He was but so were an awful lot of other people. It took a strange coalition of disparate belief systems, a huge amount of luck and a colossal degree of ineptitude: as you say, going right back to the LibDems and the coalition Gov't.
Even as late as 24th September 2019 Brexit might have been halted. On that fateful day when the spidery Lady Hale delivered the Supreme Court verdict, it would have been possible for Parliament to seize the moment and install a Gov't of national unity or at the least an acceptable moderate unifying Conservative. Corbyn's partly to blame that it didn't happen, of course, but not entirely.
Corbyn was a fool. His big personal opportunity was to serve as a cabinet minister in a GoNU. He would have been seen at no10, he would have been seen with a red box and a ministerial car, the world would not have ended, He could have claimed to have served the national interest. But no, sitting next to Tories for a few weeks was beyond him. .
The opportunity was blown up by the LibDems under the innumerate Swinson, who could not see her only route to success went through Corbyn. LBJ's first rule of politics: learn to count.
The LibDems would have done better under the wiley Davey than the green Swinson in the chaotic autumn of 2019, but a GONU was never going to be possible. It would have had to call an election almost immediately, and wound up with the same result as GE 2019.
People were sick of the chaos over Brexit and just wanted it to stop. Not that it ever will, Brexit chaos now being endemic rather than pandemic.
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
Also there's a deadpan link to a story Cyclist deaths soar on rural roads in England.
Cyclists deaths and injuries have increased a lot in recent years - but by less, I think, than cycle miles travelled. Which means that cycling is getting proportionally safer.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
I think JRM is a faction leader - The world needs faction leaders in the sense they are usually loyal to the mainstream but need to be heard so the mainstream stays true to the cause. Faction leaders are slightly thuggish , the best are pragmatic but willing to displease their more powerful allies - He is that i think.
Is he though? The faction he was part of - Brexit hardliners of the awkward squad - mostly seem to still be doing their thing on the backbenches and include common critics of the government. By entering government he may have lost some factional influence with them.
Mr. Sandpit, a foolish notion if that's what they opt for due to craven unwillingness to swing the axe.
Henry IV (altogether better than Johnson, of course), was effectively removed from power due to illness and his son (the future Henry V, no less) ran things. Yet the crown was his and Henry IV managed to return to actual power.
When Richard II had conditions imposed due to a strong rebellion (on part due to the aforementioned king) he also returned to governing entirely on his own account.
Even Henry VI regained power after First St Albans despite the fact that by 1456 he was as mad as a box of frogs.
"he was as mad as a box of frogs." - You mean he started the DfE?
Or was it just the usual mundane walking around with his underpants on his head, pencils up his now, saying "wibble"?
Well, ironically he did found numerous schools and colleges, including Eton and King’s College Cambridge. They were in the charge of a government of lunatics then, and nothing’s changed.
But actually he was also of the more mundane sort. After the battle of Northampton he was found sitting under a tree singing songs about butterflies having not noticed there was a battle going on around him in which his cousin and last remaining supporter had been killed.
His founding of Eton and Kings weren’t exactly his genius though - they were an absolute copy and paste of what Richard II allowed his chancellor William of Wykeham to do with Winchester and New College Oxford even down to copying the foundation charter and pinching half the fellows etc. not an original bone in his body….!
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
Or the pedestrians crossing when the little person is green?
I was very nearly killed by a large group of reclaim-the-streets-for-selfish-shits-in-lycra-on-bikes whose idea of demonstrating was to go through a red light/green man when I was in the middle of the road.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Speaks his honest opinions? I have yet to hear him state in public that he regards us all as fools for his personal enrichment.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Speaks his honest opinions? I have yet to hear him state in public that he regards us all as fools for his personal enrichment.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
And of course the more Keir Starmer winds-up the Corbynistas the better it looks for his electability with mainstream Britain.
To witness the venom and fury of the loony left over the defection was a thing of immense wonder and joy.
Tbh I doubt winding up the Corbynistas helps Labour's electability in any shape or form. As with Boris, antagonism to Corbyn was personal. Corbyn was seen as anti-British, obsessed by Venezuela and Palestine, far-off lands of which we know little, and, worse, pro-terrorist. All stoked up ruthlessly by CCHQ's social media campaigning in 2019. It was not based on policy. Indeed, the blue team co-opted the popular bits of Corbyn's 2017 platform.
Christian Wakeford's defection has reduced the number of vonc voters against Boris by one, and risks convincing cynical voters that there is no point in voting next time: if MPs like Wakeford can't see any significant difference between Conservative and Labour, why bother?
I still don't understand your basic premise. Voters commonly switch between the two so I don't see why any significant number would be baffled at the idea. Not least because he has done so because he says he does see a significant difference between them, and it's why he is switching.
Politicians and political wonks like us get worked up about defections and overthink them. Voters just see one side losing support and the other gaining it. And competent leadership can be a big draw regardless of party labels.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Why not have one central fraud agency, that deals with fraud from start to finish instead of half centralising it but then farming it back out to local bobbies. The vast majority of fraud is international rather than local anyway, why does it need to touch a local force?
The sweeping “zero-tolerance” strategy that China has used to keep COVID-19 case numbers low and its economy functioning may, paradoxically, make it harder for the country to exit the pandemic.
well what a surprise ! Its the arrogance of people who think control is everything and even to the extent of controlling the impossible (ie a pandemic)- The classis King Canute issue! On this issue Boris as been about the best world leader if you can overlook his obvious double standards about parties
Awkwardly, China's had a better pandemic than the UK on some measures like economic growth and excess deaths.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
I think you've taken me a bit too literally. What I mean is why does the government put him up so often to speak for them when he is divisive even for the government and a rather junior figure within it?
Being quirky, unusual and controversial is a good reason for the media to want to hear from him, i think hed be a fun commentator, but those are not descriptors a government should want from people it is putting up - that's why those who are 'safe hands' get the media round on difficult periods.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Speaks his honest opinions? I have yet to hear him state in public that he regards us all as fools for his personal enrichment.
The sweeping “zero-tolerance” strategy that China has used to keep COVID-19 case numbers low and its economy functioning may, paradoxically, make it harder for the country to exit the pandemic.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Speaks his honest opinions? I have yet to hear him state in public that he regards us all as fools for his personal enrichment.
so how do you infer that then ?
His sneering, contempt, and lack of ethics?
which he is not that fussed about hiding - hence sorta my point
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
He's a secret SNP agent?
Well the villain of The King's Man was a Scot pretending to be a posh English toff so I guess it is possible.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Happy birthday Malc. Hope you have a great day and a few winners.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Happy birthday Malky! Grey but mild and dry over here.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
To be fair, there are very few Conservatives in the "scrap the Union" camp. Misadventure is not the same as homocide.
Aren’t they “lightweights “?
Mogg is sadly right about that. But then, so is he a lightweight. He doesn't seem to have the energy of a Gove, or the presence of a Boris, or the easy court-holding bonhomie of a Clarke. He's a sticky rag with superficial manners.
Superficial is right. And he isn't even a proper Cabinet Member so why we have to hear from him I dont know.
Isn't a democracy all about hearing from a lot of people not just cabinet ministers ? thb the reason he gets a lot of media opportunity is that fundamentally he is quite interesting (ie he is quirky, unusual, sometimes controversial , will speak his honest opinion)
Speaks his honest opinions? I have yet to hear him state in public that he regards us all as fools for his personal enrichment.
so how do you infer that then ?
His sneering, contempt, and lack of ethics?
which he is not that fussed about hiding - hence sorta my point
Being unfussed about looking guilty is not the same as being honest.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
Most do, yes. 16% of cyclists run red lights according to one study.
That's a pretty high number. Was that observed or self reported? As if the latter the real figure would be higher.
Observed. Obviously I wouldn't even bother to post self-reported numbers, that would be silly. It should be noted that it was a TfL survey, so your mileage may vary in other parts of the country. My hunch is that London cyclists are a bit looser with the rules, but that's only a hunch and I've not spent much time cycling in London.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome and good post. Don't worry though about the site after Johnson is defenestrated. I can assure you we can be bitchy and deranged about any politician if we really put our minds to it. In fact bitchy and deranged is often the default setting for some of us.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
Most do, yes. 16% of cyclists run red lights according to one study.
[deleted - my comment was a bit unkind even about cyclists on reflection]
Also, 71% of injuries to pedestrians at crossings were caused by cars running the red light. 4% were caused by bikes. It's a problem whoever does it, but people always tend to focus only on bikes in this type of conversation, because non-cyclists enjoy trolling cyclists, it seems. Which is fine, as long as it doesn't magnify or diminish the real extent of the problem.
EDIT: your comment deleted before I hit reply, but I'll leave what I said in place.
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
ha! It sounds like you deliberately set-up a rumble though ! Shall I bite? ermm - I will go this far- I have done the odd triathlon in the past and have of course worn a helmet (in the bike bit) as its the rules - fair enough. When i trained for it , I sometimes wore one and sometimes did not depending on my own risk assessment (did not actually fill in a form!) of where i was cycling. So (like facemasks ) I think it should be up to the individual to decide and I woudl have thought if Chris Boardman read your post he woudl find the name calling a bit tedious and disrespectful as would any human on the end of a judging insult like that. As you quote Meat Loaf - Isn't the line " will you hose me down with holy water if I get to hot" just about the best line in any rock song?
Yes, I'll bite too. I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about. Also, it doesn't help as much as you think it does. Cyclists with helmets take more risks, and drivers take more risks with helmeted cyclists. It's a zero sum game: the safer you make people, the more risks they will take. Also, Chris Boardman's mum was killed while cycling (by a lorry, I think). He is tragically aware of the risks.
For years I commuted to work by bike, though no longer due to a change in duties. The key to safe cycling is safe routes in cities more than anything and few British cities have safe cycle routes. In Leicester there were a number that just disappeared at the point that they were needed, such as complex junctions and roundabouts.
Certainly there are lots of anti-social cyclists breaking the rules of the road, and also unlit in dark clothes, but we cannot base policy on them.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
Anyway enough of me ,its Saturday - I day I like to indulge a bit of my inner rebel -so off to do a long hike with some of the route over non-public forest (for a bit of thrill and to keep the anarchist cause!) and get some provisions for it from a shop where I will present myself maskless!
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Happy birthday Malc. Hope you have a great day and a few winners.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
We can get back to sensible discussions, like the right punishment for putting pineapple on a pizza.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Happy birthday Malky! Grey but mild and dry over here.
Cheers Carnyx. Dry here as well , a bit damp but reasonable luckily no rain which means I can get out on the open terracing rather than being stuck under cover.
PS: Update on nags. I added a single on Palmers Hill in the 2:55 Ascot for fun as well.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
We can get back to sensible discussions, like the right punishment for putting pineapple on a pizza.
This is a no-brainer. The correct punishment is that they must eat said pizza.
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Notice also the absence of lycra. Cycling in liveable cycleable cities is not about a mad dash to the next set of lights.
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
This is becoming a very serious and divisive crisis for the EU
UK supplying Ukraine with arms and personnel will be very well received by the Baltic states
It’s definitely being received very well in Kiev, and widely reported in the media. The Ukrainians (and the Baltics) know who their friends are, and thankfully the UK is one of their closest friends.
SF 25% (+1) DUP 17% (-1) All 14% (nc) UUP 14% (nc) TUV 12% (+1) SDLP 11% (-1)
(LucidTalk/Belfast Telegraph; changes from November)
Approx seat projection:
Unionists: DUP 19 UUP 13 TUV 11 Total 43
Pro-reunification: SF 23 SDLP 11 Total 34
Neutral: Alliance 13
While the compulsory coalition that is mandated by the Good Friday Agreement will be quite restricting, the symbolism of SF having the First Minister will be huge.
I think at that point the DUp would collapse the executive on the basis of A16 and the NI protocol. That won't be fixable to their satisfaction though because the issue is really the loss of Unionist dominance.
I don't see how a border poll can be put off much longer.
Although having SF as the largest single party would be symbolic, this poll doesn't make the case for a border poll at all.
The Unionist total of 43%, doesn't compare badly to the 43.9% for Unionist parties in 2017 given rounding and margin of error.
The Nationalist total of 36% is actually a bit down on the 39.8% polled in 2017.
On the basis of this opinion poll it is the Nationalists who are losing votes to the Alliance Party, not the Unionists. Not exactly a groundswell of support for Irish Unity.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
We can get back to sensible discussions, like the right punishment for putting pineapple on a pizza.
How did we end up back talking about the death penalty?
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
We can get back to sensible discussions, like the right punishment for putting pineapple on a pizza.
How did we end up back talking about the death penalty?
Looks like All my pre-Novax withdrawl bets on the Aus Open have been voided across the whole field.
As I said at the time I didn't see how simply voiding Novax bets in a cross matched market where the Cashout button gives you dozens of bets against the field would work.
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
This is becoming a very serious and divisive crisis for the EU
UK supplying Ukraine with arms and personnel will be very well received by the Baltic states
Back in the day, of course, it was the GERMANS who seemed to enjoy invading Ukraine, not only in 1941 (Barbarossa), but also in 1918, in the wake of Brest-Litovsk. They reached as far east as Rostov, in fact.
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
I get how the optics are terrible in making it look like Germany is taking Russia's side on this, but should we have requested flight paths over rather heavily populated northern Germany for planes stuffed with explosives?
Surely such flights should take the least populated route, just in case? If the Germans were sending similarly loaded planes to Dublin for some reason, I'd prefer them not to fly right over London.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich. I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup. Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf. Trixie Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot Shishkin 15:35 Ascot Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Hope the Buddies gie ye a right guid seein tae.
Happy birthday Malkie! Nearly the same date as the Bard.
Posting a bit early, before morning check going stick and non runners, I might sleep in if I get comfortable. I have fallen off horses so many times my back and hip not happy from time to time.
All three PB Racing Shrewdies tipped a winner last week, yours truly 2/4
I appreciate not every gambler loves sharing and sharing publicly. I suspect though some reading PB may be betting on horse racing regular particularly the Saturday coverage, I will be placing at least Lucky 15 today and means a degree of “due diligence” on my choices - I’m a open and honest girl I don’t mind sharing what led to my decision even if it likely a illegal mix of chemicals 😵💫
It’s my chance of contributing something back to the site actually 🙂 as I know nothing about anti tank drones, Epidemiology, chimpanzee testicles, or how 200 conservative PMs can collectively lose their spines at the same time.
My Lucky 15 today and my reasons
ASCOT - 13:45 - Stellar Magic (NAP) Secret weapon on my betting slip. Just the 4 races under rules in career so far, 2 wins at this distance.
HAYDOCK - 14:00 - Hunters Call Has form, but not like the favourite of this race, I’m betting against Tommys Oscar managing 4 in a row. I do such things sometimes. Maybe today it will work.
ASCOT - 14:55 - Amour De Nuit (LONG SHOT) Based on form in last race, and previous history for being there or thereabouts.
ASCOT - 15:35 - Amoola Gold (THE GIRLS LOST IT) Alcohol, Tranquillisers, pickled eggs, a bad back and bad night means I am overlooking its priced at 100-1? With a bit of looking into its history and there is no way it should be priced at that in this small field.
Good luck 🙋♀️
Good luck. Amour de Nuit is a non-runner btw. Hunters Call is 12 and Amoola Gold is, well, good luck.
My own tentative itv yankee is as follows but is subject to change:- Ascot 1.45 Fils d'Oudaries so against you there Ascot 2.20 Anything for Love Haydock 2.35 Empire Steel Ascot 2.55 Knight in Dubai
Anything for Love will have silly money on it from Meat Loaf mourners
I’m hoping now that he’s sadly died his lawyer will call a press conference and open a sealed envelope which will reveal exactly what Meatloaf wasn’t prepared to do for love. One of the great mysteries of life finally solved.
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
Pedal cycling is not motorcycling. Although I do choose to wear a helmet, this is mostly out of respect and deference to the feelings of my wife.
I've tripped over and fallen a couple of times when walking or running and I don't feel the need to wear a helmet as a pedestrian. The times when I have come off my bicycle, the helmet has made no difference at all.
We can argue all day about whether the marginal improvement in safety afforded by a bicycle helmet is worth the reduction in the number of cyclists that obsessing over helmets (and thereby the implication that cycling is more dangerous than it is). It's a handy way for motorists to distract from their role as the main cause of harm to cyclists.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
What a load of crap
Alternatively: if “Brexit was the virus’ then the British europhile Establishment were the arrogant scientists in the crappy BSL2 virology lab which fucked around with British democracy in evil ways for thirty years, seeing how it responded to referendums constantly promised then denied, injecting venom into the humanized mice of the people, until eventually this nasty virus escaped from the lab and destroyed everything the scientists had hoped for. Wankers
Looks like All my pre-Novax withdrawl bets on the Aus Open have been voided across the whole field.
As I said at the time I didn't see how simply voiding Novax bets in a cross matched market where the Cashout button gives you dozens of bets against the field would work.
Betfair have clearly realised it didn't.
BF completely screwed up this market. Have they ever tried to void bets on a non-runner in play before? They must have known the chaos it would cause.
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
I get how the optics are terrible in making it look like Germany is taking Russia's side on this, but should we have requested flight paths over rather heavily populated northern Germany for planes stuffed with explosives?
Surely such flights should take the least populated route, just in case? If the Germans were sending similarly loaded planes to Dublin for some reason, I'd prefer them not to fly right over London.
Surely there are plenty of routes across Germany which do not pass over massive population centres? It's a big country.
Johnson should certainly go - not only as the one ultimately responsible for these parties taking place, but for not being forthcoming with confessions and apologies. One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party. Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Welcome.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
We can get back to sensible discussions, like the right punishment for putting pineapple on a pizza.
How did we end up back talking about the death penalty?
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
I get how the optics are terrible in making it look like Germany is taking Russia's side on this, but should we have requested flight paths over rather heavily populated northern Germany for planes stuffed with explosives?
Surely such flights should take the least populated route, just in case? If the Germans were sending similarly loaded planes to Dublin for some reason, I'd prefer them not to fly right over London.
Surely there are plenty of routes across Germany which do not pass over massive population centres? It's a big country.
The problem is, certainly round here, many of the routes were hastily put in and ooorly thought out, just to use the money.
Basically its a mess. The Greens are constitutionally opposed to the deployment of German weapons abroad. The US is getting seriously impatient with both the Secretary of State and the head of the CIA delivering increasingly blunt messages. The Chancellor seems out of his depth and more focused on divisions in the SPD. The Germans are still dependent upon Russia for 45% of their gas. They have no LPG port and the Greens have serious reservations about importing gas gained from fracking anyway.
Leaderless, policy free, trying to please everyone but in fact pleasing no one.
Freedman tickling my prejudices nicely in the Guradian:
We need have no illusions about the Conservative party of old. We know its record. We know that Margaret Thatcher had her own kind of revolutionary zeal, just as we know the destructive impact of David Cameron’s austerity. But there were lines it dared not cross, monarchy and the union among them. This is a different animal. Brexit transformed it from a conservative party into a national-populist party. Its instincts now are those of Viktor Orbán, funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies, ready to burn down even the most valued institutions that stand in its way. Of course, it has contempt for the people, as all populists ultimately do. It even had contempt for the Queen on the night of her greatest grief. So let’s not pretend these faults were Johnson’s alone. Brexit is the virus. Boris Johnson was only ever its most visible carrier.
It’s a good article, the fuck business, disrespect HM, break the BBC, scrap the Union Tory party are anything but conservative.
What a load of crap
Alternatively: if “Brexit was the virus’ then the British europhile Establishment were the arrogant scientists in the crappy BSL2 virology lab which fucked around with British democracy in evil ways for thirty years, seeing how it responded to referendums constantly promised then denied, injecting venom into the humanized mice of the people, until eventually this nasty virus escaped from the lab and destroyed everything the scientists had hoped for. Wankers
Brexiteers continuing to blame Remainers for the problems caused by Brexit still.
I saw one estimate that the customs delays in Kent are adding about £400 per crossing in cost to the logistics companies, mostly in lost costs while queuing. Quite some inflationary pressure.
Comments
Even as late as 24th September 2019 Brexit might have been halted. On that fateful day when the spidery Lady Hale delivered the Supreme Court verdict, it would have been possible for Parliament to seize the moment and install a Gov't of national unity or at the least an acceptable moderate unifying Conservative. Corbyn's partly to blame that it didn't happen, of course, but not entirely.
But the blame there really lies with Labour reneging. That referendum would've seen a crushing defeat, and presented a moment for the British and EU political class to realise the situation and re-evaluate. Small chance, but could've seen things develop in a good way.
.
"funnelling public money and jobs to ideological allies"
The worst part of the whips blackmail story is not that they are doing it (which is bad enough), it's that they are doing it with public funds.
"You only get a school if you publicly support BoZo"
Fuck the kids...
... WITHOUT a helmet.
Stupid f-ing idiot.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60092864
p.s. I realise that this is lighting a blue touch paper to a few of you hardiest freedom-at-all-costs folk on here who think the Meatloaf approach to control is the right example
Funding for schools and hospital should never be contingent on support for this awful Prime Minister.
The British public deserve more respect than this. Boris Johnson and his Minister are failing our country.
https://twitter.com/AngelaRayner/status/1484645537546743810
https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1484632316026757130
https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-blocks-nato-ally-from-transferring-weapons-to-ukraine-11642790772
I think though they might collapse it before the elections on spurious grounds, preferring direct rule to SF.
Christian Wakeford's defection has reduced the number of vonc voters against Boris by one, and risks convincing cynical voters that there is no point in voting next time: if MPs like Wakeford can't see any significant difference between Conservative and Labour, why bother?
As you quote Meat Loaf - Isn't the line " will you hose me down with holy water if I get to hot" just about the best line in any rock song?
https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-coronavirus-pandemic-science-sports-health-261ffc8ba574dbf1cf0e456606985143
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/jan/22/scents-and-sensibility-whats-behind-the-rise-of-extreme-smells
'Last week, I came across a scent called Stercus. Made by perfumer Allessandro Gualtieri, Stercus is Latin for dung. “He [Gualtieri] is eccentric to say the least,” said Daniel Williams of the PR agency. “You’resitting there at a press launch and when you ask him what the smell is based around, he tells you it’s his anus.”'
I know a bit about Chris Boardman's position on this. Which is that if we are hoping for cycling to become the norm, like in the Netherlands, we shouldn't be putting obstacles to people cycling in place. It's not the responsibility of the cyclist to armour himself up against careless drivers. Cycling should be as unremarkable a way of getting about as walking. When Chris Boardman had this role in Mamchester, he was very deliberate that promotional material should not show helmeted cyclists, but that cycling should be a normal, unremarkable way of getting about.
Also, it doesn't help as much as you think it does. Cyclists with helmets take more risks, and drivers take more risks with helmeted cyclists. It's a zero sum game: the safer you make people, the more risks they will take.
Also, Chris Boardman's mum was killed while cycling (by a lorry, I think). He is tragically aware of the risks.
https://twitter.com/brenttoderian/status/1483710392094265344
People were sick of the chaos over Brexit and just wanted it to stop. Not that it ever will, Brexit chaos now being endemic rather than pandemic.
I was very nearly killed by a large group of reclaim-the-streets-for-selfish-shits-in-lycra-on-bikes whose idea of demonstrating was to go through a red light/green man when I was in the middle of the road.
One gets the impression that his regret is more that this was found out rather than the parties happened, and, in classic Corbynite fashion, he genuinely seems to blame the media for covering this.
What I don't fully understand is the demand for him to go right this instant, and that if he doesn't go, he will tarnish the entire brand for a decade.
After the 2019 election, we were informed that Corbyn had toxified the Labour brand and that it would not recover for a generation.
Sir Kier, who served in Corbyn's shadow cabinet and so presumably sat in many private meetings with him, discovered that the man was racist (or at the very least had a blind spot to certain forms of racism) only after the result of an enquiry and Corbyn's response to it, at which point he expelled him from the party.
Sir Kier also devised Labour's Brexit policy for the 2019 election, which some might consider a factor in Labour's defeat, even convincing the lifelong Eurosceptic Corbyn to adopt and endorse it. Prior to that he turned down any proposed Brexit deals from the May government, even rejecting those parts that were directly copied and pasted from the Labour 2017 manifesto. He now supports, surely with great sincerity, a policy of Make Brexit Work.
This would seem to indicate how quickly a party can reinvent itself. All it requires is politicians who can read the weather and a certain amount of pragmatism and flexibility of principle. You can even do it with someone from the old regime if they are not perceived to be tarnished by it.
From the Tories' point of view the sensible thing to do is wait to see who else is implicated in this whole affair - whether politician or civil servant. It would be bad for them (though hilarious for everyone else) if they appoint a leader who turns out to have had their own booze up.
Notwithstanding the above; apart from Johnson, the cabinet members who probably need to leave for a perceived 'fresh start' in the direction of the government would be people like Rees-Mogg, Patel and Raab, maybe more. Others, like Truss and Javid, have served under Cameron, May and Johnson so seem to be flexible enough to stay on under a potential new regime, assuming neither became leader.
Besides which, this site has been very entertaining during the period of Johnson's leadership of the Tories. Ever since he became leader the posts about him have been delightfully bitchy and increasingly deranged. It's a flavour of writing I shall miss when Johnson is replaced.
Politicians and political wonks like us get worked up about defections and overthink them. Voters just see one side losing support and the other gaining it. And competent leadership can be a big draw regardless of party labels.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60085936
Why not have one central fraud agency, that deals with fraud from start to finish instead of half centralising it but then farming it back out to local bobbies. The vast majority of fraud is international rather than local anyway, why does it need to touch a local force?
More importantly, what are the Baltics, Poland, Romania et al thinking of Germany, the EU and NATO right now?
Being quirky, unusual and controversial is a good reason for the media to want to hear from him, i think hed be a fun commentator, but those are not descriptors a government should want from people it is putting up - that's why those who are 'safe hands' get the media round on difficult periods.
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich.
I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup.
Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf.
Trixie
Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot
Shishkin 15:35 Ascot
Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single
Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags.
Mr. Sandpit, they're addicted to Vladdy's sweet, sweet gas.
It should be noted that it was a TfL survey, so your mileage may vary in other parts of the country. My hunch is that London cyclists are a bit looser with the rules, but that's only a hunch and I've not spent much time cycling in London.
UK supplying Ukraine with arms and personnel will be very well received by the Baltic states
It's a problem whoever does it, but people always tend to focus only on bikes in this type of conversation, because non-cyclists enjoy trolling cyclists, it seems. Which is fine, as long as it doesn't magnify or diminish the real extent of the problem.
EDIT: your comment deleted before I hit reply, but I'll leave what I said in place.
Certainly there are lots of anti-social cyclists breaking the rules of the road, and also unlit in dark clothes, but we cannot base policy on them.
Oh, I'm sure we can find something else to be deranged about
Reset in government is a differentl challenge to reset in opposition, and the policy challenge of 'where after Johnsonism' will be harder to get electorally right than the personality reset. Especially as the practical political foundation of the various flavours of this 12 years of Conservative government has perhaps been even shallower than that of New Labour and continuity centrism.
For the cause !
My bet for today. My birthday , 21 again , so looking to win but will not make me rich.
I will enjoy first football match for a while, off to see Ayr United v St Mirren in Scottish cup.
Also put a small amount for nostalgia re Meat Loaf.
Trixie
Irish Hill 12:35 Ascot
Shishkin 15:35 Ascot
Galia Des Liteaux 16:05 Ascot
Single
Outlaw Peter 12:58 Taunton
Good luck to all on the nags. Cheers
PS: Update on nags. I added a single on Palmers Hill in the 2:55 Ascot for fun as well.
I usually dismount and walk across, check my phone for any PB notifications etc
The Unionist total of 43%, doesn't compare badly to the 43.9% for Unionist parties in 2017 given rounding and margin of error.
The Nationalist total of 36% is actually a bit down on the 39.8% polled in 2017.
On the basis of this opinion poll it is the Nationalists who are losing votes to the Alliance Party, not the Unionists. Not exactly a groundswell of support for Irish Unity.
As I said at the time I didn't see how simply voiding Novax bets in a cross matched market where the Cashout button gives you dozens of bets against the field would work.
Betfair have clearly realised it didn't.
Surely such flights should take the least populated route, just in case? If the Germans were sending similarly loaded planes to Dublin for some reason, I'd prefer them not to fly right over London.
If you have not read any of his books then I recommend that you do so.
Happy birthday Malkie! Nearly the same date as the Bard.
I've tripped over and fallen a couple of times when walking or running and I don't feel the need to wear a helmet as a pedestrian. The times when I have come off my bicycle, the helmet has made no difference at all.
We can argue all day about whether the marginal improvement in safety afforded by a bicycle helmet is worth the reduction in the number of cyclists that obsessing over helmets (and thereby the implication that cycling is more dangerous than it is). It's a handy way for motorists to distract from their role as the main cause of harm to cyclists.
Alternatively: if “Brexit was the virus’ then the British europhile Establishment were the arrogant scientists in the crappy BSL2 virology lab which fucked around with British democracy in evil ways for thirty years, seeing how it responded to referendums constantly promised then denied, injecting venom into the humanized mice of the people, until eventually this nasty virus escaped from the lab and destroyed everything the scientists had hoped for. Wankers
Basically its a mess. The Greens are constitutionally opposed to the deployment of German weapons abroad. The US is getting seriously impatient with both the Secretary of State and the head of the CIA delivering increasingly blunt messages. The Chancellor seems out of his depth and more focused on divisions in the SPD. The Germans are still dependent upon Russia for 45% of their gas. They have no LPG port and the Greens have serious reservations about importing gas gained from fracking anyway.
Leaderless, policy free, trying to please everyone but in fact pleasing no one.
I saw one estimate that the customs delays in Kent are adding about £400 per crossing in cost to the logistics companies, mostly in lost costs while queuing. Quite some inflationary pressure.