The first even faintly spring like day in Tallinn this year. In Kyiv it is wet and cold. Eastern Ukraine, somewhat similar, so less than ideal conditions for Russian heavy armour, but in fact there is growing concern here in the Baltic. Although Estonia is donating weapons and equipment on an extraordinary scale, helping tens of thousands of refugees, and leading in any way possible the aid to the beleagured Ukrainians, the situation is approaching critical.
The likely fall of Mariupol will release several Russian batallions for the assault and the Ukrainian forces are fully stretched already. The fact is that simply not enough NATO kit has come to off-set the force of numbers that the Putinists are able to bring to bear on the Eastern front. If that front crumbles, then the forces withdrawn to Belarus would likely have another attempt to take Kyiv. Putin has not given up on any of his strategic goals.
Boris may be hiding behind "There is a war on", but the truth is that the UK is ninth in level of support for Ukraine in proportion to GDP, it is not the level that they pretend.
I need hardly say that Estonia is way ahead, but then the sense of urgency is growing ever stronger here.
You may have noticed that the works of George Orwell have essentially been banned in Russia, which, I think gives you a very clear sense of the nature of the crackdown going on there. If Putin is not comprehensively defeated now, then the outlook for the world is very bleak indeed. Sooner or later nukes will come into the equation and the only way to stop that is to be extremely firm in our dealings with the despicable regime in the Kremlin.
A critical moment is coming and the gap between success and disaster is very slim indeed. Ukraine needs massive aid right now and Johnson is not stepping up to the plate to provide it. So less of the Daily Mail rubbish and more emergency assistance is needed immediately, or we will rue the consequences for years to come.
The greatest danger is that people conclude that Russia has had its ass kicked. They could potentially turn things around by way of brutality and sheer force of numbers. There is a dangerous sense of a false victory.
I agree, we must keep pressure on western governments to get the weapons into Ukraine rapidly.
Have to ask if some of these Tory MPs really think their colon-licking will go down well. Steve Baker's tongue had come out of Boris's nose then.
Disappointing because Baker was doing a decent impression of a man of principle when all this broke.
I was going to make a scorpion and the frog fable allusion, but it would appear the moral of the older scorpion and turtle story seems to apply better.
To cherish a base character is to give one's honor to the wind, and to involve one's own self in embarrassment.
Strong performances from left wing Labour MPs such as Burgon in the chamber. I don't understand all this faux outrage about Johnson, everybody on here who voted for the Tories in 2019 should be deeply shamed of themselves when Corbyn was the better option.
No, Corbyn and Johnson were just as bad as each other.
We should all be ashamed for voting for either.
I’m not ashamed. Having voted remain I was horrified by the behaviour of the 2017-2019 parliament. I wanted the vote respected and Brexit delivered. Only a vote for Johnson gave that. He’s done, and needs to go ASAP, but I’m not ashamed of how I voted.
I am ashamed
Don’t be. You had your belief in Corbin at the time.
The first even faintly spring like day in Tallinn this year. In Kyiv it is wet and cold. Eastern Ukraine, somewhat similar, so less than ideal conditions for Russian heavy armour, but in fact there is growing concern here in the Baltic. Although Estonia is donating weapons and equipment on an extraordinary scale, helping tens of thousands of refugees, and leading in any way possible the aid to the beleagured Ukrainians, the situation is approaching critical.
The likely fall of Mariupol will release several Russian batallions for the assault and the Ukrainian forces are fully stretched already. The fact is that simply not enough NATO kit has come to off-set the force of numbers that the Putinists are able to bring to bear on the Eastern front. If that front crumbles, then the forces withdrawn to Belarus would likely have another attempt to take Kyiv. Putin has not given up on any of his strategic goals.
Boris may be hiding behind "There is a war on", but the truth is that the UK is ninth in level of support for Ukraine in proportion to GDP, it is not the level that they pretend.
I need hardly say that Estonia is way ahead, but then the sense of urgency is growing ever stronger here.
You may have noticed that the works of George Orwell have essentially been banned in Russia, which, I think gives you a very clear sense of the nature of the crackdown going on there. If Putin is not comprehensively defeated now, then the outlook for the world is very bleak indeed. Sooner or later nukes will come into the equation and the only way to stop that is to be extremely firm in our dealings with the despicable regime in the Kremlin.
A critical moment is coming and the gap between success and disaster is very slim indeed. Ukraine needs massive aid right now and Johnson is not stepping up to the plate to provide it. So less of the Daily Mail rubbish and more emergency assistance is needed immediately, or we will rue the consequences for years to come.
The greatest danger is that people conclude that Russia has had its ass kicked. They could potentially turn things around by way of brutality and sheer force of numbers. There is a dangerous sense of a false victory.
Given Mariupol is probably going to be fully taken, one would hope people do not think Russia has lost its ability to threaten and destrou.
Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton . @jessphillips turns the "speeding fine" comparison against @BorisJohnson with great effect. She notes that after three tickets you get your licence removed, and asks after how many fines he'll resign.
Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton . @jessphillips turns the "speeding fine" comparison against @BorisJohnson with great effect. She notes that after three tickets you get your licence removed, and asks after how many fines he'll resign.
He'd be one of those people who has exceptional circumstances.
A speeding driver who clocked up 62 points on his licence is still allowed to drive, the BBC has learned.
The West Yorkshire man was among 10,000 motorists legally driving on British roads last month, despite having excessive points.
Usually 12 points means a ban, but magistrates can choose not to enforce it in "exceptional cases".
Politico.com - Ukraine pressing for $50B aid package to cover budget gap, adviser says Oleg Ustenko, a top economic adviser to Zelenskyy, said the country faces a critical financing shortfall.
Ukrainian officials are appealing to the U.S. and other Group of Seven nations for a $50 billion aid package to cover the country’s widening budget deficit, a top economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.
Oleg Ustenko said a delegation of Ukrainian officials, including finance minister Serhiy Marchenko, will present the plan to policymakers from the world’s biggest economies in Washington this week, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings. . . .
Ukraine’s economy relies heavily on exports of grain and metals that can no longer be shipped via the Black Sea, and roughly half the country’s businesses remain closed amid intense fighting, Ustenko said. That has sent budget revenue plunging. . . .
Asked whether Treasury would support such a plan, a department spokesperson said Secretary Janet Yellen “is committed to working with our partners and allies to support Ukraine’s economic needs in the short and long term, and will use her meetings this week to galvanize support.”
The Ukrainians are proposing an initial tranche of about $10 billion, half of which Ustenko proposed could be covered by the U.S., which he sees as leading the global effort to provide support. That would be followed by subsequent payments on an agreed-upon schedule.
“This is something which is needed to be resolved almost immediately,” he said. “It’s not like we have time to wait.”
Ustenko said the money would ideally be provided as grants that wouldn’t have to be repaid but said he expects at least some of the assistance could come in other forms, such as loans or loan guarantees. The U.S. provided several similar loan guarantees for Ukraine after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, which enabled the country to borrow on international markets.
Ukraine has already cut back spending on most everything but the military and safety net, Ustenko said. As more Ukrainian refugees have begun returning to the country from parts of Europe, safety net spending could begin to rise over the coming months, adding to the red ink, he added.
“The EU should be motivated to support us because our people are coming back,” he said. . . .
One thing we can all agree upon. Fine apology from Boris today.
🤔.
An apology re a fine.
I feel so stupid for not getting this until you explained it.
Am in same boat - just give StJ a retrospective like!
Also a "fine apology" could be one that Tories feel is adequate, but non-Tories think is inadequate... so both think it meets their specific objectives and hence is "fine"
Paul Middleton @ProfPMiddleton . @jessphillips turns the "speeding fine" comparison against @BorisJohnson with great effect. She notes that after three tickets you get your licence removed, and asks after how many fines he'll resign.
If you're a new driver (under two years since you obtain your license) it's removed if you get 6 points. But "new PM" rules don't apply, I guess.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
Surely one more fine or illegal gathering revealed will see him gone?
If that's the case he's odds on to go - since he's odds on to get at least 1 more PCN.
No. Johnson could paper the walls with FPNs and he would go nowhere. Come to think about it, papering the walls with FPNs would be cheaper than a roll of Lulu Lytle's wallpaper. They'd look less garish too.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
Yes, that was exactly my experience of it, right down to the sore throat and mild fever (for one night only). I have had worse colds (and bouts of flu which were far worse). I had notable symptoms for 3.5 days, the final day being characterised by extreme tiredness. After that, it was like I had never had it bar the tiniest lingering sore throat on the morning of day four.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
Possibly although remember that most of those hospitalisations are so-called 'incidental' ones – the patient is, by definition, admitted for something else.
Surely one more fine or illegal gathering revealed will see him gone?
If that's the case he's odds on to go - since he's odds on to get at least 1 more PCN.
No. Johnson could paper the walls with FPNs and he would go nowhere. Come to think about it, papering the walls with FPNs would be cheaper than a roll of Lulu Lytle's wallpaper. They'd look less garish too.
Is also my view. Certainly as regards resigning (lol) and it's only slightly less lol that Tory MPs are going to act. What a carry on, what a circus, what a horror show, what a you name it.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
Not just a bad cold for me. Fine now but a nasty bug.
Get well soon Mr Smithson. Me and the missus have got it too. She’s been floored for a couple of days, feels crap. I’ve had a bit of a tickly cough and a slightly blocked nose, like mild hay fever. I hope your experience is closer to mine than her’s.
Boris may be hiding behind "There is a war on", but the truth is that the UK is ninth in level of support for Ukraine in proportion to GDP, it is not the level that they pretend.
I need hardly say that Estonia is way ahead, but then the sense of urgency is growing ever stronger here.
I don't think that graph is very reliable. For one thing "new commitments since February 24th" cuts out weapons from the UK that were not only committed but delivered before then. In addition, according to Zelensky's office, the UK is responsible for 47% of all charitable aid to Ukraine since the war started.
Agreed it is a moving target, but the claims of "global leadership" in aid to Ukraine are clearly wide of the mark. We need to radically up our game here. Despite the incredible intelligence asisistance from 5 eyes, the crisis is growing and we need to take drastic steps to ensure Ukraine can come through this.
Surely one more fine or illegal gathering revealed will see him gone?
If that's the case he's odds on to go - since he's odds on to get at least 1 more PCN.
No. Johnson could paper the walls with FPNs and he would go nowhere. Come to think about it, papering the walls with FPNs would be cheaper than a roll of Lulu Lytle's wallpaper. They'd look less garish too.
Is also my view. Certainly as regards resigning (lol) and it's only slightly less lol that Tory MPs are going to act. What a carry on, what a circus, what a horror show, what a you name it.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
Not just a bad cold for me. Fine now but a nasty bug.
It does seem to vary a lot. I finally succumbed to it for the first time about four weeks ago, and for me it was super-mild: just a slight sore throat, a very slight cough for a couple of days, and that was it - no tiredness or loss of taste/smell, or any of the other symptoms. It was actually less severe than a typical cold. (Of course that's after the three jabs.) But some of the various friends in their fifties and sixties who've also contracted it recently have been much more badly affected, despite also being triple-jabbed. Not badly enough to be hospitalised, fortunately, but a nasty few days at home and sometimes with the lingering loss of taste/smell.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
New strains might have higher or lower mortality. Experience suggests there will be new strains and that current vaccines will be less effective against them.
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
The way he delivered it reminded me of Ossoff's withering of David Perdue. No raised voice, no anger, just a ruthless repetition of facts that speak for themselves.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
The way he delivered it reminded me of Ossoff's withering of David Perdue. No raised voice, no anger, just a ruthless repetition of facts that speak for themselves.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Ossoff was the real star of the 2020 Senatorial elections. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to go on to become President one day.
Macron continues to inch further ahead in the French Presidential polling - obviously, the debate tomorrow night may yet be a game changer but Le Pen is going to have to do a lot better than five years ago to close the gap.
Slovenia also votes this Sunday and the question is whether Janez Jansa's coalition can stand a strong challenge from Robert Golob and his new Svoboda movement.
We also have Schleswig-Holstein's regional election on May 8th. The polling is to say the least variable - Infratest has a large CDU lead, INSA does not - Infratest has the CDU leading the SPD 36-20 while INSA has 28-27 so some volatility in that polling - imagine if we had one poll showing the Conservatives 16 points ahead and another showing them one point ahead...
Currently, Schleswig-Holstein is governed by a CDU-Green-FDP coalition which has 44 seats in the Landtag. The SPD has 21 with 3 for the South Schleswig Voters Association (SSV) and 5 for Alternative for Germany.
At the 2017 election, the CDU won 32% of the vote (25 seats), the SPD 27.3% (21), the Greens 13% (10), the FDP 11.5% (9), AfD 6% (5). The SSV won 3.3% and 3 seats - an anomaly within the German voting system allows the SSV representation in the Landtag. The same anomaly got the SSV a seat in the Bundestag after last year's Federal election.
As you might imagine, the SSV is strongest in the areas immediately adjoining the Danish border such as Harrislee and parts of north Flensburg. My recollection is a 10 minute journey from Padborg on the Danish side across to Flensburg passing through the Flensburg suburbs to the main station.
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
The way he delivered it reminded me of Ossoff's withering of David Perdue. No raised voice, no anger, just a ruthless repetition of facts that speak for themselves.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Ossoff was the real star of the 2020 Senatorial elections. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to go on to become President one day.
Ossoff for the Dems in 2024? Oh please, that would be funny.
'Perhaps president Trump would be better placed to have formulated a policy on Ukraine if he wasn't constantly fending off federal investigations for tax evasion?
It's not just that you're a crook, Mr President, it's that you've made every American less safe because you're too busy lining your own pockets to deal with the threats we face.'
Cicero - thanks again for your worthwhile remarks. Could the west be supplying more weapons? Definitely. The Germans need to get in line with their public opinion. France seems a bit passive. We could ALL do more (well maybe not Estonia). I wouldn't be panicking though. Russia could make a breakthrough in Donbass but it will come at a cost. A new assault on Kiev? I can't really see it. It would make Mariupol look like a picnic. So long as the west doesn't get complacent and Putin can't get air supremacy the major cities seem safe.
An oil embargo and a serious gas reduction plan would help too.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
The ministers on the front bench looked like reanimated corpses. In Johnson's and Sunak's cases, possibly just corpses.
Even if it survives, I will be very surprised if it can achieve anything useful from hereon in. That requires confidence, energy and a belief that you can improve things. Not what we're seeing here.
Anecdotally a lot of friends have recently said things along the line of "Had Covid, symptoms were very mild, barely even a sniffle. Couldn't get out of bed for 4 days and have slept for 23 hours a day mind."
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
New strains might have higher or lower mortality. Experience suggests there will be new strains and that current vaccines will be less effective against them.
Corrected that for you. When I checked a couple of weeks ago almost half of all "Covid deaths" were primarily from another cause.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
COVID hospitalisation is upto 75% incidental admissions, consistently 50-60%. That's not helpful hospitals themselves having to work around this, but saying 20,000 people are in hospital for COVID and 200 dying isn't painting a true picture.
And I would be interested to know of those there not incidentally, how many are still bloody people who aren't fully jabbed up. Also, be interesting to know what the uptake on jab 4 is. I don't think the government have pushed that message hard enough.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
Of course, Johnson is an immigrant.
And a criminal.
Could we send him to Rwanda?
It would separate him from his family, well, one of (about six of) them, but it would at least get rid of him.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination. [snip]
No, they've said that it's only for single men - families will not be split up or sent to Rwanda.
However, as Theresa May pointed out, what that actually means is there will be a perverse incentive for the migrants to bring their wives and children with them, rather than hoping to bring them here later. So probably more deaths of children.
Personally I think the whole policy is a charade. I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly. I think they are hoping it will be struck down in the courts, so they can blame Labour-supporting do-gooders, lefty lawyers, and other enemies of the people for the failure to deal with the issue.
As Yvette Cooper said, a bloody expensive press release, if we do indeed fork out £120 million up-front to Rwanda as a non-refundable bung.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
It’s not a joke. It’s indecent. I can’t even believe it’s the policy. Is it really? I’m ashamed of it, if it is.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
It’s not a joke. It’s indecent. I can’t even believe it’s the policy. Is it really? I’m ashamed of it, if it is.
It is a joke because they aren't serious. We have it in writing from the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office that it is unworkable and a likely financial and legal black hole. So he required Patel to instruct him to ignore their advice.
Its immoral and indecent and why are you surprised. This government is immoral and indecent. As are the people who vouch for them.
Macron continues to inch further ahead in the French Presidential polling - obviously, the debate tomorrow night may yet be a game changer but Le Pen is going to have to do a lot better than five years ago to close the gap.
Slovenia also votes this Sunday and the question is whether Janez Jansa's coalition can stand a strong challenge from Robert Golob and his new Svoboda movement.
We also have Schleswig-Holstein's regional election on May 8th. The polling is to say the least variable - Infratest has a large CDU lead, INSA does not - Infratest has the CDU leading the SPD 36-20 while INSA has 28-27 so some volatility in that polling - imagine if we had one poll showing the Conservatives 16 points ahead and another showing them one point ahead...
Currently, Schleswig-Holstein is governed by a CDU-Green-FDP coalition which has 44 seats in the Landtag. The SPD has 21 with 3 for the South Schleswig Voters Association (SSV) and 5 for Alternative for Germany.
At the 2017 election, the CDU won 32% of the vote (25 seats), the SPD 27.3% (21), the Greens 13% (10), the FDP 11.5% (9), AfD 6% (5). The SSV won 3.3% and 3 seats - an anomaly within the German voting system allows the SSV representation in the Landtag. The same anomaly got the SSV a seat in the Bundestag after last year's Federal election.
As you might imagine, the SSV is strongest in the areas immediately adjoining the Danish border such as Harrislee and parts of north Flensburg. My recollection is a 10 minute journey from Padborg on the Danish side across to Flensburg passing through the Flensburg suburbs to the main station.
I don't believe it's an anomaly: it's a very deliberate choice to allow parties that are geographically concentrated (like the SSV) to get seats, even if they don't make the 5% threshold.
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
Macron continues to inch further ahead in the French Presidential polling - obviously, the debate tomorrow night may yet be a game changer but Le Pen is going to have to do a lot better than five years ago to close the gap.
Slovenia also votes this Sunday and the question is whether Janez Jansa's coalition can stand a strong challenge from Robert Golob and his new Svoboda movement.
We also have Schleswig-Holstein's regional election on May 8th. The polling is to say the least variable - Infratest has a large CDU lead, INSA does not - Infratest has the CDU leading the SPD 36-20 while INSA has 28-27 so some volatility in that polling - imagine if we had one poll showing the Conservatives 16 points ahead and another showing them one point ahead...
Currently, Schleswig-Holstein is governed by a CDU-Green-FDP coalition which has 44 seats in the Landtag. The SPD has 21 with 3 for the South Schleswig Voters Association (SSV) and 5 for Alternative for Germany.
At the 2017 election, the CDU won 32% of the vote (25 seats), the SPD 27.3% (21), the Greens 13% (10), the FDP 11.5% (9), AfD 6% (5). The SSV won 3.3% and 3 seats - an anomaly within the German voting system allows the SSV representation in the Landtag. The same anomaly got the SSV a seat in the Bundestag after last year's Federal election.
As you might imagine, the SSV is strongest in the areas immediately adjoining the Danish border such as Harrislee and parts of north Flensburg. My recollection is a 10 minute journey from Padborg on the Danish side across to Flensburg passing through the Flensburg suburbs to the main station.
Believe it was Lord Palmerston who observed re: the Schleswig-Holstein Question, that (I paraphrase) only three men every understood it: Prince Albert, who was dead; a German (in some versions Danish) professor who went mad; and Pam himself, who'd forgotten everything he ever knew about it.
BTW (and also FYI) one MP in Hungary was just elected on similar basis, as representative of German minority. Though in Hungarian case, this is likely just way of ensuring more seat for Orban, helping insure his legislative super-majority.
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
The way he delivered it reminded me of Ossoff's withering of David Perdue. No raised voice, no anger, just a ruthless repetition of facts that speak for themselves.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Ossoff was the real star of the 2020 Senatorial elections. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to go on to become President one day.
Ossoff for the Dems in 2024? Oh please, that would be funny.
'Perhaps president Trump would be better placed to have formulated a policy on Ukraine if he wasn't constantly fending off federal investigations for tax evasion?
It's not just that you're a crook, Mr President, it's that you've made every American less safe because you're too busy lining your own pockets to deal with the threats we face.'
A couple of years ago, I would have said the Republicans had the better young rising stars. Now, with Buttigieg and Ossoff, I'd say the Democrats have the edge.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination. [snip]
No, they've said that it's only for single men - families will not be split up or sent to Rwanda.
However, as Theresa May pointed out, what that actually means is there will be a perverse incentive for the migrants to bring their wives and children with them, rather than hoping to bring them here later. So probably more deaths of children.
Personally I think the whole policy is a charade. I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly. I think they are hoping it will be struck down in the courts, so they can blame Labour-supporting do-gooders, lefty lawyers, and other enemies of the people for the failure to deal with the issue.
As Yvette Cooper said, a bloody expensive press release, if we do indeed fork out £120 million up-front to Rwanda as a non-refundable bung.
On one hand, I agree.
On the other hand, there have been lots of cases where "I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly" hasn't stopped the Johnson adminstration trying.
COVID hospitalisation is upto 75% incidental admissions, consistently 50-60%. That's not helpful hospitals themselves having to work around this, but saying 20,000 people are in hospital for COVID and 200 dying isn't painting a true picture.
And I would be interested to know of those there not incidentally, how many are still bloody people who aren't fully jabbed up. Also, be interesting to know what the uptake on jab 4 is. I don't think the government have pushed that message hard enough.
Yes, excellent post.
One thing I do think is there has been drift on jab four. Regarding Covid’s severity, it’s inarguably been defanged. It can be nasty, but it rarely is for most people these days.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
COVID hospitalisation is upto 75% incidental admissions, consistently 50-60%. That's not helpful hospitals themselves having to work around this, but saying 20,000 people are in hospital for COVID and 200 dying isn't painting a true picture.
And I would be interested to know of those there not incidentally, how many are still bloody people who aren't fully jabbed up. Also, be interesting to know what the uptake on jab 4 is. I don't think the government have pushed that message hard enough.
Someone tried asking that question with a Freedom of Information request in December 2021, but HMG basically said they didn't know.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this. The government needs to fall NOW.
No no no! The only men coming to these shores are terrorists and scroungers. So off they go to Rwanda, The women and children get on these boats to claim asylum because being drowned in the channel is preferable to just claiming asylum in the oh yeah there is no legal way they can claim asylum.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
You sick bastard.
Now be fair. At least when you fly out of Manchester you're leaving the place.
A better system would be to fly them into it and see how many immediately demanded to be put on the next flight back to where they came from...
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
Compared to diet sage PBers are positively relaxed about Covid.
Nothing to do with Brexit. Nothing to do with Spanish exporters refusing to try and get their produce into the UK, after repeatedly seeing their produce rot and have to be fed to French pigs. Pay no attention to the heaving shelves on the continent.
Oh, and I've just caught up with Patel as well. Astonishing. Apparently, we don't want to release too many details on the Rwandan scheme because if we do, the criminal gangs will exploit any loophole in the law.
It's rather like introducing fines for speeding, but not telling motorists what the speed limits are.
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
The difference with covid and influenza is not just severity, now more or less equal in the immunised, it is the neurological features. Influenza tends to full recovery, while for many the neurological legacy of covid in terms of headache, myalgia, fatigue, dizziness, loss of smell is prolonged.
Get well soon, but Covid is over. I'm sure I read that somewhere. Maybe it's just a bad cold...
I'm fairly sure I've currently got it again, round 2 - had Delta in September.
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night. I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
We're still at about 2000 hospitalisations per day, so I think 99.9% is probably a slight exaggeration.
New strains might have higher or lower mortality. Experience suggests there will be new strains and that current vaccines will be less effective against them.
Biggest question right now is what to tailor the autumn vaccines against. Hopefully it will still be omicron, but a new variant can’t be ruled out.
Oh, and I've just caught up with Patel as well. Astonishing. Apparently, we don't want to release too many details on the Rwandan scheme because if we do, the criminal gangs will exploit any loophole in the law.
It's rather like introducing fines for speeding, but not telling motorists what the speed limits are.
I thought that was roughly what they do on the M6 from West Brom to Stafford?
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
Compared to diet sage PBers are positively relaxed about Covid.
Indeed so. But everything, as they say, is relative.
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
The way he delivered it reminded me of Ossoff's withering of David Perdue. No raised voice, no anger, just a ruthless repetition of facts that speak for themselves.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Ossoff was the real star of the 2020 Senatorial elections. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to go on to become President one day.
Ossoff for the Dems in 2024? Oh please, that would be funny.
'Perhaps president Trump would be better placed to have formulated a policy on Ukraine if he wasn't constantly fending off federal investigations for tax evasion?
It's not just that you're a crook, Mr President, it's that you've made every American less safe because you're too busy lining your own pockets to deal with the threats we face.'
A couple of years ago, I would have said the Republicans had the better young rising stars. Now, with Buttigieg and Ossoff, I'd say the Democrats have the edge.
So I have spent the past few days “defending” the Rwanda policy to my friends, or at least refusing to condemn it outright.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off. This is an abomination. [snip]
No, they've said that it's only for single men - families will not be split up or sent to Rwanda.
However, as Theresa May pointed out, what that actually means is there will be a perverse incentive for the migrants to bring their wives and children with them, rather than hoping to bring them here later. So probably more deaths of children.
Personally I think the whole policy is a charade. I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly. I think they are hoping it will be struck down in the courts, so they can blame Labour-supporting do-gooders, lefty lawyers, and other enemies of the people for the failure to deal with the issue.
As Yvette Cooper said, a bloody expensive press release, if we do indeed fork out £120 million up-front to Rwanda as a non-refundable bung.
Yes, this is culture war shit stirring by a tired government that apparently has nothing else left to offer except rousing the faithful with outraged stories about asylum seekers / economic migrants or gender/sexuality wars. Prepare for a series of dead cats in various states of decay as we get closer to the next general election; I preduct it‘s going to be an exceptionally pungent time.
Cicero - thanks again for your worthwhile remarks. Could the west be supplying more weapons? Definitely. The Germans need to get in line with their public opinion. France seems a bit passive. We could ALL do more (well maybe not Estonia). I wouldn't be panicking though. Russia could make a breakthrough in Donbass but it will come at a cost. A new assault on Kiev? I can't really see it. It would make Mariupol look like a picnic. So long as the west doesn't get complacent and Putin can't get air supremacy the major cities seem safe.
An oil embargo and a serious gas reduction plan would help too.
I'm surprised that Germany hasn't worked out just how much economic damage this war is doing, and will continue to do. The benefits to them ((and the rest of us) of helping rapidly to defeat the invasion are as much economic as anything else.
Oh, and I've just caught up with Patel as well. Astonishing. Apparently, we don't want to release too many details on the Rwandan scheme because if we do, the criminal gangs will exploit any loophole in the law.
It's rather like introducing fines for speeding, but not telling motorists what the speed limits are.
Ignorance is no defence.
I think speed limits should be left vague and depend on conditions. Basically allow the police the power to stop any car at any speed and to give a ticket.
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
The difference with covid and influenza is not just severity, now more or less equal in the immunised, it is the neurological features. Influenza tends to full recovery, while for many the neurological legacy of covid in terms of headache, myalgia, fatigue, dizziness, loss of smell is prolonged.
Do you have any clear statistics on what the legacy symptoms are, frequency and duration?
It is something that greatly worries my wife, and I have no idea what the risks are.
There is a lingering feeling that PBers are less keen on moving on from covid than the public at large. The statistics are clear: it’s less risky than influenza and has been for some time.
The difference with covid and influenza is not just severity, now more or less equal in the immunised, it is the neurological features. Influenza tends to full recovery, while for many the neurological legacy of covid in terms of headache, myalgia, fatigue, dizziness, loss of smell is prolonged.
I spoke to a German security consultant this morning. He is hawkish and rightly scathing of the SDP.
He did note tho that Germany has accepted 350,000 Ukrainian refugees.
How many has the UK accepted?
For shame, Britain. For shame.
Germany is much closer (geographically) to Ukraine than we are. Many more refugees will be seeking German assistance than British help.
Additionally the EU couldn't even think about trying to maintain their borders. We clearly can, and it's right to do so.
Ireland has received over 20,000. I think the UK is still in low 4 figures.
So you’re geography argument doesn’t hold up much, and morally let’s just say I disagree vigorously that it is “right” not to accept them.
Ireland has the EU's policy. No choice. We're quite distant from any stream of refugees and we have a set of rules. We should modify and have modified the rules to make sure that many Ukranians can seek refuge here.
Whilst we don't need to throw the rulebook out of the window then I don't think we should.
The idea that I'd suggest that we shouldn't accept refugees is frankly insulting.
Inpainting with DALL·E 2 is super fun. With some ingenuity, you can create arbitrarily large artwork like the murals shown below – which I assume are the largest #dalle-produced images created so far.
Nothing to do with Brexit. Nothing to do with Spanish exporters refusing to try and get their produce into the UK, after repeatedly seeing their produce rot and have to be fed to French pigs. Pay no attention to the heaving shelves on the continent.
Nothing to do with Brexit. Nothing to do with Spanish exporters refusing to try and get their produce into the UK, after repeatedly seeing their produce rot and have to be fed to French pigs. Pay no attention to the heaving shelves on the continent.
Just believe harder. Unicorns are coming.
It’s not like tomatoes are essential.
I can report that German shops have no shortages at all, although this may be because they are never open!
Comments
To cherish a base character is to give one's honor to the wind, and to involve one's own self in embarrassment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_and_the_Frog
If Johnson claimed the credit for being 'Fastest growing ....' Quickest roll out....' blah blah blah perhaps his MPs could explain ?
.
@jessphillips turns the "speeding fine" comparison against
@BorisJohnson with great effect. She notes that after three tickets you get your licence removed, and asks after how many fines he'll resign.
A speeding driver who clocked up 62 points on his licence is still allowed to drive, the BBC has learned.
The West Yorkshire man was among 10,000 motorists legally driving on British roads last month, despite having excessive points.
Usually 12 points means a ban, but magistrates can choose not to enforce it in "exceptional cases".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39053658
Of course, since one fine has made him so focused on doing the right thing (under duress), further fines should only help him do the job even more.
Oleg Ustenko, a top economic adviser to Zelenskyy, said the country faces a critical financing shortfall.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/18/ukraine-50-billion-aid-package-00026032
Ukrainian officials are appealing to the U.S. and other Group of Seven nations for a $50 billion aid package to cover the country’s widening budget deficit, a top economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.
Oleg Ustenko said a delegation of Ukrainian officials, including finance minister Serhiy Marchenko, will present the plan to policymakers from the world’s biggest economies in Washington this week, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings. . . .
Ukraine’s economy relies heavily on exports of grain and metals that can no longer be shipped via the Black Sea, and roughly half the country’s businesses remain closed amid intense fighting, Ustenko said. That has sent budget revenue plunging. . . .
Asked whether Treasury would support such a plan, a department spokesperson said Secretary Janet Yellen “is committed to working with our partners and allies to support Ukraine’s economic needs in the short and long term, and will use her meetings this week to galvanize support.”
The Ukrainians are proposing an initial tranche of about $10 billion, half of which Ustenko proposed could be covered by the U.S., which he sees as leading the global effort to provide support. That would be followed by subsequent payments on an agreed-upon schedule.
“This is something which is needed to be resolved almost immediately,” he said. “It’s not like we have time to wait.”
Ustenko said the money would ideally be provided as grants that wouldn’t have to be repaid but said he expects at least some of the assistance could come in other forms, such as loans or loan guarantees. The U.S. provided several similar loan guarantees for Ukraine after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, which enabled the country to borrow on international markets.
Ukraine has already cut back spending on most everything but the military and safety net, Ustenko said. As more Ukrainian refugees have begun returning to the country from parts of Europe, safety net spending could begin to rise over the coming months, adding to the red ink, he added.
“The EU should be motivated to support us because our people are coming back,” he said. . . .
But "new PM" rules don't apply, I guess.
Wasn't sure of the proper word; posthumous didn't sound right! After-the-fact?
Delta was a week of fever, along with a throat so sore it took over an hour to down a glass of water - I had to take soluble painkillers because I couldn't get normal ones in me.
This is similar symptoms at a fraction of the intensity - I barely feel ill, I've just a bit of a sore throat, and a mild fever for a few hours last night.
I started getting symptoms Friday, but wasn't particularly ill till Monday, I'll probably be back at work tomorrow.
If I get it again, I suspect it will be even less serious still. I'm probably pretty typical of most people with it at the moment.
So yes, for 99.9% of the population, its just a bad cold now.
Get well soon!
2. When conditions are met, set new conditions
3. Goto 2
Much in thoughts.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/mitchell-marsh-ipl-covid-australia-26744902
Yakety Sax anyone?
Britain deserves better.
https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1516464346074951682
Keir"s finest moment. The man we deserve - the man we need.
New strains might have higher or lower mortality. Experience suggests there will be new strains and that current vaccines will be less effective against them.
I seem to remember I compared the expression on Perdue's face to that of a man being forced to drink neat horse piss. Johnson looked, if anything, even worse.
He may survive because he's as shameless as he is stupid. But he looks utterly broken and bereft.
And Perdue, of course, narrowly lost the election...
(At least all this explains how that useless twat Cummings got away with his asinine lies, but was hurried out over a different issue. It couldn't have been over his flagrant breaches of Covid rules because nobody in government was paying any attention to them.)
Slovenia also votes this Sunday and the question is whether Janez Jansa's coalition can stand a strong challenge from Robert Golob and his new Svoboda movement.
We also have Schleswig-Holstein's regional election on May 8th. The polling is to say the least variable - Infratest has a large CDU lead, INSA does not - Infratest has the CDU leading the SPD 36-20 while INSA has 28-27 so some volatility in that polling - imagine if we had one poll showing the Conservatives 16 points ahead and another showing them one point ahead...
Currently, Schleswig-Holstein is governed by a CDU-Green-FDP coalition which has 44 seats in the Landtag. The SPD has 21 with 3 for the South Schleswig Voters Association (SSV) and 5 for Alternative for Germany.
At the 2017 election, the CDU won 32% of the vote (25 seats), the SPD 27.3% (21), the Greens 13% (10), the FDP 11.5% (9), AfD 6% (5). The SSV won 3.3% and 3 seats - an anomaly within the German voting system allows the SSV representation in the Landtag. The same anomaly got the SSV a seat in the Bundestag after last year's Federal election.
As you might imagine, the SSV is strongest in the areas immediately adjoining the Danish border such as Harrislee and parts of north Flensburg. My recollection is a 10 minute journey from Padborg on the Danish side across to Flensburg passing through the Flensburg suburbs to the main station.
I see today that scheme is for men only?
Presumably husbands will be separated from their wives; fathers from their children.
Fuck right off.
This is an abomination.
I see too the IMF is predicting the UK will be slowest economy between 20 and 24 - essentially static on a per capita basis.
We can’t stand another two years of this.
The government needs to fall NOW.
'Perhaps president Trump would be better placed to have formulated a policy on Ukraine if he wasn't constantly fending off federal investigations for tax evasion?
It's not just that you're a crook, Mr President, it's that you've made every American less safe because you're too busy lining your own pockets to deal with the threats we face.'
An oil embargo and a serious gas reduction plan would help too.
He did note tho that Germany has accepted 350,000 Ukrainian refugees.
How many has the UK accepted?
For shame, Britain. For shame.
Even if it survives, I will be very surprised if it can achieve anything useful from hereon in. That requires confidence, energy and a belief that you can improve things. Not what we're seeing here.
So yeah. Separate families it is. You're against that? Big wet blanket ye are.
To be fair its not hard enough. Lets punish them further! Make them live on Canvey Island! Make them drink tapwater! Fly them out of Manchester Airport!
I got Covid round 2 a month ago.
I was mildly fluey but then it developed into a chest infection and I was down and out for two weeks pretty much.
And I would be interested to know of those there not incidentally, how many are still bloody people who aren't fully jabbed up. Also, be interesting to know what the uptake on jab 4 is. I don't think the government have pushed that message hard enough.
And a criminal.
Could we send him to Rwanda?
It would separate him from his family, well, one of (about six of) them, but it would at least get rid of him.
However, as Theresa May pointed out, what that actually means is there will be a perverse incentive for the migrants to bring their wives and children with them, rather than hoping to bring them here later. So probably more deaths of children.
Personally I think the whole policy is a charade. I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly. I think they are hoping it will be struck down in the courts, so they can blame Labour-supporting do-gooders, lefty lawyers, and other enemies of the people for the failure to deal with the issue.
As Yvette Cooper said, a bloody expensive press release, if we do indeed fork out £120 million up-front to Rwanda as a non-refundable bung.
It’s indecent.
I can’t even believe it’s the policy. Is it really?
I’m ashamed of it, if it is.
Additionally the EU couldn't even think about trying to maintain their borders. We clearly can, and it's right to do so.
Its immoral and indecent and why are you surprised. This government is immoral and indecent. As are the people who vouch for them.
BTW (and also FYI) one MP in Hungary was just elected on similar basis, as representative of German minority. Though in Hungarian case, this is likely just way of ensuring more seat for Orban, helping insure his legislative super-majority.
On the other hand, there have been lots of cases where "I don't think anyone in government can seriously believe this nonsense is going to fly" hasn't stopped the Johnson adminstration trying.
One thing I do think is there has been drift on jab four. Regarding Covid’s severity, it’s inarguably been defanged. It can be nasty, but it rarely is for most people these days.
That he got caught.
You'd think it would be bloody important to know.
I think the UK is still in low 4 figures.
So you’re geography argument doesn’t hold up much, and morally let’s just say I disagree vigorously that it is “right” not to accept them.
A better system would be to fly them into it and see how many immediately demanded to be put on the next flight back to where they came from...
https://twitter.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1516486881017540609
Nothing to do with Brexit. Nothing to do with Spanish exporters refusing to try and get their produce into the UK, after repeatedly seeing their produce rot and have to be fed to French pigs. Pay no attention to the heaving shelves on the continent.
Just believe harder. Unicorns are coming.
It’s not like tomatoes are essential.
It's rather like introducing fines for speeding, but not telling motorists what the speed limits are.
The benefits to them ((and the rest of us) of helping rapidly to defeat the invasion are as much economic as anything else.
I think speed limits should be left vague and depend on conditions. Basically allow the police the power to stop any car at any speed and to give a ticket.
It is something that greatly worries my wife, and I have no idea what the risks are.
For what proportion of them is it prolonged?
The problem is it requires not just awareness but a backbone.
Whilst we don't need to throw the rulebook out of the window then I don't think we should.
The idea that I'd suggest that we shouldn't accept refugees is frankly insulting.
Inpainting with DALL·E 2 is super fun. With some ingenuity, you can create arbitrarily large artwork like the murals shown below – which I assume are the largest #dalle-produced images created so far.
https://twitter.com/_dschnurr/status/1516449112673071106?s=20&t=zhcYF14SLxwUpYW2Jl0pqA
At least, until the chip kicks in.