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If this polling doesn’t change then hello PM Starmer – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,683
edited May 2022 in General
imageIf this polling doesn’t change then hello PM Starmer – politicalbetting.com

YouGov earlier this week had the Cons level pegging with Lab on the economy. Now we have this from Ipsos:https://t.co/xTbhsD49x4 pic.twitter.com/9OJ8jaG1VF

Read the full story here

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    Morning all and first. The Conservatives do appear frozen in the headlights currently, but will they end up as roadkill? There is still time for them.
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    Second
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Good morning, everyone.

    F1: will chekc for penalties/weather then peruse the markets. Not got any firm idea at the moment. Was interested to see how well Bottas did in the sprint, though.
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    darkagedarkage Posts: 4,796
    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.
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    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,999
    Sandpit said:

    Who dares wins…

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10746503/Putin-hunts-SAS-Ukraine-Russia-launches-probe-British-elite-specialists-sabotage.html

    So what do we think happens, if Russian forces in Ukraine encounter some random British special forces on a training mission?

    If the British SF are there they and get rumbled they would be massively outnumbered. So their options are Tactical Running Away (see Bravo Two Zero, etc.) or hoping Fizzy Lizzy can get better of Lavrov in the negotiations to get them back from insalubrious captivity.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242
    Dura_Ace said:

    Sandpit said:

    Who dares wins…

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10746503/Putin-hunts-SAS-Ukraine-Russia-launches-probe-British-elite-specialists-sabotage.html

    So what do we think happens, if Russian forces in Ukraine encounter some random British special forces on a training mission?

    If the British SF are there they and get rumbled they would be massively outnumbered. So their options are Tactical Running Away (see Bravo Two Zero, etc.) or hoping Fizzy Lizzy can get better of Lavrov in the negotiations to get them back from insalubrious captivity.
    The Russians are very complimentary about them though, aren’t they?

    The SAS is 'considered one of the most highly qualified in the world in organising coups d'etat, mass protest rallies, contract killings of political figures, recruiting agents, including those in the highest echelons of power, and preparing terrorist attacks', said the RIA Novosti report.

    I mean, considering they’ve been doing that with the FSB for years, to say that the SAS are better is quite a compliment.
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    Foxy said:

    It takes a long time to unpack all the misogyny on show. Perhaps Ms Rayner should wear a burka so as not to distract males from serious matters?

    From the Male on Sunday...


    I've never seen Basic Instinct, but I remember the hoo-hah about the scene in question - surely the Mail aren't suggesting that Labour's Deputy Leader is re-enacting it in its entirety?
    In any case, I would have thought that Boris Johnson would be quite desensitised to the sight of a c*nt, if only from looking in the mirror.
    She's got tights on, so given the speed involved, the non-presence of knickers would be difficult to assess.
    She might have been wearing No Knickers - more comfortable than ever before
    https://youtu.be/p7C9omHgE88
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Betting Post

    F1: backed Bottas to be top 6 at 2.1

    Had a good race yesterday and was within half a second of Ricciardo at the end. He and the Aussie were the most impressive chaps in the midfield, I think.

    https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2022/04/imola-pre-race-2022.html
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    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,999
    ydoethur said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Sandpit said:

    Who dares wins…

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10746503/Putin-hunts-SAS-Ukraine-Russia-launches-probe-British-elite-specialists-sabotage.html

    So what do we think happens, if Russian forces in Ukraine encounter some random British special forces on a training mission?

    If the British SF are there they and get rumbled they would be massively outnumbered. So their options are Tactical Running Away (see Bravo Two Zero, etc.) or hoping Fizzy Lizzy can get better of Lavrov in the negotiations to get them back from insalubrious captivity.
    The Russians are very complimentary about them though, aren’t they?

    The SAS is 'considered one of the most highly qualified in the world in organising coups d'etat, mass protest rallies, contract killings of political figures, recruiting agents, including those in the highest echelons of power, and preparing terrorist attacks', said the RIA Novosti report.

    I mean, considering they’ve been doing that with the FSB for years, to say that the SAS are better is quite a compliment.
    That still doesn't mean they have a better option than to keep running west and swim the Dnieper, Elbe and Rhine if they get discovered.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242

    Betting Post

    F1: backed Bottas to be top 6 at 2.1

    Had a good race yesterday and was within half a second of Ricciardo at the end. He and the Aussie were the most impressive chaps in the midfield, I think.

    https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2022/04/imola-pre-race-2022.html

    It’s mildly amusing to remember all those who were criticising Bottas last year when he was at Mercedes, and now look at him!
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    MalcolmDunnMalcolmDunn Posts: 139
    Starmer as PM? For all Boris Johnson's flaws I would hope that Britain would think very carefully before installing a man with with no policies ,ideas or principles to lead our country.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,007
    The odds are Starmer will be PM.in a hung parliament at the next general election. After 10 years if one party in power there is normally a change in government and Starmer does not yet put voters off in the way Kinnock did in 1992, he is seen as dull but competent.

    However it is still likely to be close, we are not heading for 1997 2 more 2010 or 1964 2
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. Doethur, it's nice to see Bottas doing so well.
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,953
    ...
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    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,262
    Devastating poll for the Conservatives.

    I'm guessing last night's Opinium offered some comfort but their changed methodology is not yet proven and I'm always wary of polling taking over bank holiday weekends/Christmas/Easter.

    This is the killer final paragraph from TSE with which I totally concur:

    'For as long as I’ve been active in politics (and even before then, particularly in 1992) there’s been a tranche of voters who consider the Conservatives as utter bastards but still vote for them because they know how to run an economy. The last time the Conservatives lost their reputation for economic competence they were out of power for thirteen years as Labour racked up eye watering majorities in 1997 and 2001 and a comfortable majority in 2005. I feel comfortable with my Labour most seats position at the next election betting strategy.'
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    TazTaz Posts: 11,179
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    moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,244
    Morning!

    A point of order on rcs comment that if the war ends, oil and gas prices will collapse. Maybe. Rather depends on the circumstances.

    I personally find it hard to imagine that Putin can now outlive the sanctions (and self-sanctions) being applied on Russian oil products (extraction capex and tech, trade, shipping and shipping insurance, port services etc…). And even if he goes, he might be replaced with a headliner. And as for the gas, surely we’re now at the point where short of a full blown Russian Spring, the Germans (and Europe) will be diversifying away from Russian even though it will cost them a lot more.

    Starmer spending too long on Partygate? The pandemic is now a historical event in the Uk and one that almost no one wants to dwell on further. Every time Starmer talks about covid rule breaking, all to serves for do is further attach Starmer’s image in the collective subconscious as a little sanctimonious and overly worthy, but also ties him to a period that none of us want to think about.

    I know CHB and other Labour partisans are enjoying the mid term polls but if I were his strategist I’d be telling to keep quiet now. The dissent in the Tory ranks over parliamentary missteps is already there and the process will now take its course. He’s in real danger of cementing his brand in an electorally unfavourable fashion. Sunny uplands are the key to winning a change election. Not grey clouds and finger wagging.
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    MalcolmDunnMalcolmDunn Posts: 139
    No parody at all Scott. As well you know but would never admit.
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    murali_smurali_s Posts: 3,040

    Starmer as PM? For all Boris Johnson's flaws I would hope that Britain would think very carefully before installing a man with with no policies ,ideas or principles to lead our country.

    ...but surely that is better than a disingenuous liar who is not fir for office?
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    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,937
    HYUFD said:

    The odds are Starmer will be PM.in a hung parliament at the next general election. After 10 years if one party in power there is normally a change in government and Starmer does not yet put voters off in the way Kinnock did in 1992, he is seen as dull but competent.

    However it is still likely to be close, we are not heading for 1997 2 more 2010 or 1964 2

    I think 2010 is the most likely scenario, right now. But we are only at the start of the cost of living crisis and it's one the Tories have very little control over. What's coming over the next two years are falling living standards and declining public services (from an already low base). People may get used to that, which will help the Tories; or they may decide that enough is enough, which will obviously help Labour. It's really hard to see how it will pan out. What is very clear, though, is that the Tories have largely squandered the benefit of the doubt and Labour have regained a fair bit of trust. It's competitive in a way that it hasn't been for a while.

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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    moonshine said:

    Morning!

    A point of order on rcs comment that if the war ends, oil and gas prices will collapse. Maybe. Rather depends on the circumstances.

    I personally find it hard to imagine that Putin can now outlive the sanctions (and self-sanctions) being applied on Russian oil products (extraction capex and tech, trade, shipping and shipping insurance, port services etc…). And even if he goes, he might be replaced with a headliner. And as for the gas, surely we’re now at the point where short of a full blown Russian Spring, the Germans (and Europe) will be diversifying away from Russian even though it will cost them a lot more.

    Starmer spending too long on Partygate? The pandemic is now a historical event in the Uk and one that almost no one wants to dwell on further. Every time Starmer talks about covid rule breaking, all to serves for do is further attach Starmer’s image in the collective subconscious as a little sanctimonious and overly worthy, but also ties him to a period that none of us want to think about.

    I know CHB and other Labour partisans are enjoying the mid term polls but if I were his strategist I’d be telling to keep quiet now. The dissent in the Tory ranks over parliamentary missteps is already there and the process will now take its course. He’s in real danger of cementing his brand in an electorally unfavourable fashion. Sunny uplands are the key to winning a change election. Not grey clouds and finger wagging.

    Partygate is to Boris, what cash for questions was for Major and the expenses scandal was for Brown.

    It shows a government out of touch. It is Boris who has mishandled this. Starmer is absolutely correct to keep lifting the lid on the stench.
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    IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    No parody at all Scott. As well you know but would never admit.

    You mean Scott realises that you are stupid enough to post that non-ironically, but isn't going to blow the whistle on you? Good bloke

    Can you entertain us further by pointing us to any one of a policy, idea or principle of the PM?
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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    IshmaelZ said:

    No parody at all Scott. As well you know but would never admit.

    You mean Scott realises that you are stupid enough to post that non-ironically, but isn't going to blow the whistle on you? Good bloke

    Can you entertain us further by pointing us to any one of a policy, idea or principle of the PM?
    Boris Johnson is wholeheartedly devoted to the idea, principle and policy of furthering the interests of Boris Johnson.
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    SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 599
    On the recommendation of OGH, I watched "Anatomy Of A Scandal. What a load of rubbish. I'd be interested to hear Roger's views on it.
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    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242
    Jonathan said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    No parody at all Scott. As well you know but would never admit.

    You mean Scott realises that you are stupid enough to post that non-ironically, but isn't going to blow the whistle on you? Good bloke

    Can you entertain us further by pointing us to any one of a policy, idea or principle of the PM?
    Boris Johnson is wholeheartedly devoted to the idea, principle and policy of furthering the interests of Boris Johnson.
    Snap!
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    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,262
    Another £2bn spaffed by the PM, feting the doomed Bulb energy company

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-bulbs-blowout-left-taxpayers-with-a-2bn-energy-bill-dbzcjcd78

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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
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    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,262
    And another prick in the balloon of Boris' bluster over Ukraine

    "Ukraine spent seven years begging three PMs for weapons — and no one listened
    Cameron, May and Johnson all thought they could contain Putin. How wrong they were"

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-spent-seven-years-begging-three-pms-for-weapons-and-no-one-listened-58t5m9kkq
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    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    Jonathan said:

    moonshine said:

    Morning!

    A point of order on rcs comment that if the war ends, oil and gas prices will collapse. Maybe. Rather depends on the circumstances.

    I personally find it hard to imagine that Putin can now outlive the sanctions (and self-sanctions) being applied on Russian oil products (extraction capex and tech, trade, shipping and shipping insurance, port services etc…). And even if he goes, he might be replaced with a headliner. And as for the gas, surely we’re now at the point where short of a full blown Russian Spring, the Germans (and Europe) will be diversifying away from Russian even though it will cost them a lot more.

    Starmer spending too long on Partygate? The pandemic is now a historical event in the Uk and one that almost no one wants to dwell on further. Every time Starmer talks about covid rule breaking, all to serves for do is further attach Starmer’s image in the collective subconscious as a little sanctimonious and overly worthy, but also ties him to a period that none of us want to think about.

    I know CHB and other Labour partisans are enjoying the mid term polls but if I were his strategist I’d be telling to keep quiet now. The dissent in the Tory ranks over parliamentary missteps is already there and the process will now take its course. He’s in real danger of cementing his brand in an electorally unfavourable fashion. Sunny uplands are the key to winning a change election. Not grey clouds and finger wagging.

    Partygate is to Boris, what cash for questions was for Major and the expenses scandal was for Brown.

    It shows a government out of touch. It is Boris who has mishandled this. Starmer is absolutely correct to keep lifting the lid on the stench.
    And if Starmer makes it harder for the Tories to change leader, all the better. At this point, keeping Johnson in place is very much in Labour's interests (although I think Johnson will probably be gone by the autumn).
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    There are loads of Ukrainian flags about, I wonder where they all came from. Not hard to make, but still seems like a niche market before Feb.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,262
    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,442
    ydoethur said:

    Jonathan said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    No parody at all Scott. As well you know but would never admit.

    You mean Scott realises that you are stupid enough to post that non-ironically, but isn't going to blow the whistle on you? Good bloke

    Can you entertain us further by pointing us to any one of a policy, idea or principle of the PM?
    Boris Johnson is wholeheartedly devoted to the idea, principle and policy of furthering the interests of Boris Johnson.
    Snap!
    Is what Johnson tends to do when called out on it.
  • Options
    BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,989
    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
  • Options

    HYUFD said:

    The odds are Starmer will be PM.in a hung parliament at the next general election. After 10 years if one party in power there is normally a change in government and Starmer does not yet put voters off in the way Kinnock did in 1992, he is seen as dull but competent.

    However it is still likely to be close, we are not heading for 1997 2 more 2010 or 1964 2

    I think 2010 is the most likely scenario, right now. But we are only at the start of the cost of living crisis and it's one the Tories have very little control over. What's coming over the next two years are falling living standards and declining public services (from an already low base). People may get used to that, which will help the Tories; or they may decide that enough is enough, which will obviously help Labour. It's really hard to see how it will pan out. What is very clear, though, is that the Tories have largely squandered the benefit of the doubt and Labour have regained a fair bit of trust. It's competitive in a way that it hasn't been for a while.

    Good morning

    I simply have no idea how Starmer and Labour would ever take hard and difficult decisions especially over public sector wages, and just where their income comes from seeing they oppose every tax rise and of course face a 19% tax rate from 2024

    Everything they say is that we will spend more, and now even on defence spending, and it is this uncontested and even surreal environment Labour live in and while they may get away with it now it will be very different when they have to come clean in a GE

    They also have issues like brexit, immigration, and yes, transgender controversy to confront

    I really have no idea how GE24 will play out, indeed I do not know if Boris will be PM by the end of may
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.
  • Options
    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 24,395
    edited April 2022

    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
    Yes, China has long been communist in name only. It is capitalist but with an incredibly authoritarian dictatorship. It shows capitalism and democracy do not go hand in hand, as in the West. (See also Hong Kong under British rule which was more benign but hardly democratic.)
  • Options
    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 25,197
    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    The Tories can blame the cost of living on whoever they like. One of the few shortcomings of incumbency is governments are deemed responsible for the rough as well as the smooth
  • Options
    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,937
    Foxy said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.

    Quite a few down here in East Devon.

  • Options
    YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172
    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    And I have just voted for an independent, famous locally for telling an English second homer "we don't want your sort round here".
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    ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 4,978

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    And I have just voted for an independent, famous locally for telling an English second homer "we don't want your sort round here".
    Are you in Royston Vasey?
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    The Tories can blame the cost of living on whoever they like. One of the few shortcomings of incumbency is governments are deemed responsible for the rough as well as the smooth
    Yes, and it doesn't even have to be ongoing, as we saw in 1997, just recent.

    My prediction for tonight: Macron 58, Le Pen 42. I have a good green position if he makes 60%+, or if Le Pen pulls off a polling upset.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    Foxy said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.
    I did see quite a few in Baden-Wurtenburg last week.
  • Options
    Rather depressingly, the sky is grey and gloomy. I was up and ready to go early enough to catch the (supposed) train back to Vilajuïga, then bus or walk to Garriguella, and on to the tortoise sanctuary. But their sign told me that if I came on a cloudy day not to expect to see tortoises, and not to complain! So I decided not to potentially waste eight hours (five travelling there and back, three waiting to see if they came out into the gloom) of my last whole day, and to enjoy Girona and its food and wine instead.

    On a somewhat brighter note, mask wearing has definitely dropped off in the three weeks I’ve been here. I noticed it in Barcelona, but thought that may have been a big city effect. I can really see the change back here in Girona though; I’ve been to three cafés so far this morning and none of the ladies who’ve served me have worn one, my hotel receptionists last night and this morning weren’t, and from about one in three or four wearing them out on the street it’s dropped to about one in twenty. I love seeing more smiles 😀


  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    And I have just voted for an independent, famous locally for telling an English second homer "we don't want your sort round here".
    Are you in Royston Vasey?
    We are all in Royston Vasey now.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    Foxy said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.

    Quite a few down here in East Devon.

    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.
  • Options
    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I have just sent in my postal for the independent candidate
  • Options
    YBarddCwscYBarddCwsc Posts: 7,172

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    And I have just voted for an independent, famous locally for telling an English second homer "we don't want your sort round here".
    Are you in Royston Vasey?
    I knew as I posted it, that it would hit pb.com's buttons.

    Those poor discriminated-against second home-owners.
  • Options
    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    With my independent it is 1-1-1--1
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,929
    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,999
    Taz said:
    I see she no longer identifies as ginger. I'd be surprised but not shocked if the Labour party would have her as has been fash-curious in the past.
  • Options
    nico679nico679 Posts: 4,821
    One variable that could effect turnout in the French election but also more particularly who might vote .

    Many departments are either just finishing holidays or just starting them . I wouldn’t have thought this would favour Macron but more helpful to Le Pen as more of the formers voters would actually be able to afford a holiday and would be away from home .

  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641
    Jonathan said:

    Foxy said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.

    Quite a few down here in East Devon.

    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.
    Easy to order them online, this company has it second on its most popular list, to Union Jack bunting. Nice quality and quick delivery, I have bought from them before.

    https://www.theflagshop.co.uk/flags.html
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    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 25,197
    Heathener said:

    Another £2bn spaffed by the PM, feting the doomed Bulb energy company

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-bulbs-blowout-left-taxpayers-with-a-2bn-energy-bill-dbzcjcd78

    The taxpayer is apparently still paying the Bulb Energy Chief Exec's quarter of a million pound salary, which is very benevolent of us.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,179
    Dura_Ace said:

    Taz said:
    I see she no longer identifies as ginger. I'd be surprised but not shocked if the Labour party would have her as has been fash-curious in the past.
    They took Wakeford and although not fash curious, to my knowledge, was still quite right wing.
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    BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,989
    edited April 2022

    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
    Yes, China has long been communist in name only. It is capitalist but with an incredibly authoritarian dictatorship. It shows capitalism and democracy do not go hand in hand, as in the West. (See also Hong Kong under British rule which was more benign but hardly democratic.)
    China is run like a PLC. Leaders are not elected but selected by their peers. It can plan for the long term without pesky elections interfering.
  • Options
    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    edited April 2022
    I see My Man Evan McMullin has got the backing of the Utah Dems to take on the traitor Mike Lee for the Utah Senate seat.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 9,618
    edited April 2022
    Jonathan said:

    Foxy said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    None round my way, but a few flying on houses in the Isle of Wight last week.

    Quite a few down here in East Devon.

    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.
    It’s odd, I’ve not seen any for sale out and about so I wonder where people are getting them. They must be actually ordering online rather than happening upon them.

    There are very few around here on private houses as OLB notes. But then there are always very few flags of any type in the inner suburbs. The occasional England one during football tournaments (but generally not otherwise, unlike on the other side of the Shooters Hill county lines), one or two Palestinian ones inside student windows. There used to be an Israeli flag in an upstairs window on Breakspears road but that’s gone. There also used to be EU flags between 2016 and 2019 but they got quietly packed away.

    Out in Kent there are many more Ukrainian flags and just generally more flags, including on actual American style front garden flagpoles.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    It is nice to see them but it does also have a whiff of cheap virtue signalling about it so we haven't done it ourselves.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 9,618

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    With my independent it is 1-1-1--1
    I’m planning to do a tactical Green vote to try to break the 50/50 Labour monopoly on Lewisham council. So that’s 1-1-1-1-1 (will still be delivering Lib Dem leaflets though).
  • Options
    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,999
    Jonathan said:



    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.

    Mickey Pearce has borrowed 200 sovs off Rodney to go and join the Azov Battalion.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,179
    TimS said:

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    With my independent it is 1-1-1--1
    I’m planning to do a tactical Green vote to try to break the 50/50 Labour monopoly on Lewisham council. So that’s 1-1-1-1-1 (will still be delivering Lib Dem leaflets though).
    1 here for will not vote. Due to an absence of local elections in Durham.
  • Options
    BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,989
    TimS said:

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    With my independent it is 1-1-1--1
    I’m planning to do a tactical Green vote to try to break the 50/50 Labour monopoly on Lewisham council. So that’s 1-1-1-1-1 (will still be delivering Lib Dem leaflets though).
    So it's a very close run set of elections so far!
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 9,618
    Barnesian said:

    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
    Yes, China has long been communist in name only. It is capitalist but with an incredibly authoritarian dictatorship. It shows capitalism and democracy do not go hand in hand, as in the West. (See also Hong Kong under British rule which was more benign but hardly democratic.)
    China is run like a PLC. Leaders are not elected but selected by their peers. It can plan for the long term without pesky elections interfering.
    Not anymore. They’ve found themselves an autocrat for life now.

    The state equivalent of taking a PLC private - like Elon Musk buying Twitter.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 11,179
    Dura_Ace said:

    Jonathan said:



    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.

    Mickey Pearce has borrowed 200 sovs off Rodney to go and join the Azov Battalion.
    Taking with him some broken lawn mower engines.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242

    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
    I think it is fair to say their knowledge of China is not all it might be. It may be summed up in the following syllogism:

    Mao was a Communist.
    China worships Mao
    Therefore China is Communist.

    I haven't yet said 'hello puss' to their dog, but give me time...
  • Options
    BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,989
    TimS said:

    Barnesian said:

    ydoethur said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    That's interesting, where is that? I don't think I've seen a Ukrainian flag on a house here in SE London, lots on official buildings or businesses obvs.
    The house not quite opposite me has one.

    Normally they flew a Chinese flag, because they're very left wing.

    I prefer the Ukrainian one for all sorts of reasons...
    The Chinese flag is an interesting choice, especially for someone who is left wing I would have thought!
    Yes, China has long been communist in name only. It is capitalist but with an incredibly authoritarian dictatorship. It shows capitalism and democracy do not go hand in hand, as in the West. (See also Hong Kong under British rule which was more benign but hardly democratic.)
    China is run like a PLC. Leaders are not elected but selected by their peers. It can plan for the long term without pesky elections interfering.
    Not anymore. They’ve found themselves an autocrat for life now.

    The state equivalent of taking a PLC private - like Elon Musk buying Twitter.
    Jack Welch was Chairman and CEO of GE for 20 years. Xi has been President for only 9 years so far.
  • Options
    Classy!


  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641
    Taz said:

    TimS said:

    Barnesian said:

    Heathener said:

    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat,

    And I've just voted Labour in a marginal so that's 1-1
    And I've just voted LibDem so that's 1-1-1
    With my independent it is 1-1-1--1
    I’m planning to do a tactical Green vote to try to break the 50/50 Labour monopoly on Lewisham council. So that’s 1-1-1-1-1 (will still be delivering Lib Dem leaflets though).
    1 here for will not vote. Due to an absence of local elections in Durham.
    I too shall abstain as not having an election here.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,668
    edited April 2022

    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    It is nice to see them but it does also have a whiff of cheap virtue signalling about it so we haven't done it ourselves.
    By mentioning that, are you not virtue-signalling your avoidance of virtue-signalling? ;-)
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114

    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    It is nice to see them but it does also have a whiff of cheap virtue signalling about it so we haven't done it ourselves.
    By mentioning that, are you not virtue-signalling your avoidance of virtue-signalling? ;-)
    The paradox of virtue signalling!
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125
    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    Every little village in rural Devon seems to have several.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 9,618
    My optimistic prediction for today is that Le Pen will slightly underperform and it’ll be 57:43. I hope I’m right.
  • Options
    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,336
    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    None that I've seen round here, except on our Council website. But at a trivial level, Pokerstars is absolutely awash with people claiming to be either Lithuanian or from Belarus, both of which were rare a few months ago. I assume the former are people expressing solidarity (or, more cynically, hoping for an easier ride from other players) and the latter are Russians getting round the ban.

    I'm visiting family in various bits of the southwest this week - will look out for election posters and flags...
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,114
    Taz said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Jonathan said:



    Just imagine Delboy with a lock up garage filled with dusty boxes of hundreds of Ukrainian flags he’s had since 1998, realising his lottery numbers came in.

    Mickey Pearce has borrowed 200 sovs off Rodney to go and join the Azov Battalion.
    Taking with him some broken lawn mower engines.
    Only Fools and Horses is very popular in parts of Eastern Europe IIRC.
  • Options
    BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 5,243
    edited April 2022
    Starmer boozing was legal.

    Because the police said it was legal.

    Because the local PCC was boozing with him?
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,990
    edited April 2022

    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    Every little village in rural Devon seems to have several.
    Morning all.
    Lovely morning here, and yesterday one of the pubs had a 'Support Ukraine' day with music and food. Did quite well I understand. I can confirm that the beer was good!
    Not a lot of flags in this small town but the Facebook says people are getting ready to welcome a couple of refugee families.
    They've been delayed, though, and our MP, one P Patel, has not been of much help!

    No elections, but I gather things are quite lively in our neighbours to the North-East, Colchester.
  • Options
    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,937

    Rather depressingly, the sky is grey and gloomy. I was up and ready to go early enough to catch the (supposed) train back to Vilajuïga, then bus or walk to Garriguella, and on to the tortoise sanctuary. But their sign told me that if I came on a cloudy day not to expect to see tortoises, and not to complain! So I decided not to potentially waste eight hours (five travelling there and back, three waiting to see if they came out into the gloom) of my last whole day, and to enjoy Girona and its food and wine instead.

    On a somewhat brighter note, mask wearing has definitely dropped off in the three weeks I’ve been here. I noticed it in Barcelona, but thought that may have been a big city effect. I can really see the change back here in Girona though; I’ve been to three cafés so far this morning and none of the ladies who’ve served me have worn one, my hotel receptionists last night and this morning weren’t, and from about one in three or four wearing them out on the street it’s dropped to about one in twenty. I love seeing more smiles 😀


    I think the mask mandate has very recently been dropped in Spain for everywhere except hospitals. health centres and pharmacies, so anyone you see in a mask now outside of those places is doing it entirely voluntarily.

  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    Starmer boozing was legal.

    Because the police said it was legal.

    Because the local PCC was boozing with him?

    No, because it legitimately was a work event 🙄
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    The Ukrainian crisis does seem to have reached people who hitherto were unmoved by global conflict and injustice. I’ve never seen my village hall take a position on anything.

    I wonder if a side effect of this might be a more sympathetic hearing given to people motivated by other global issues.

    This might be unfair, but I get the impression that some of those flying the Ukrainian flag perhaps didn’t understand the motivations of those flying Palestinian flags.
  • Options

    Rather depressingly, the sky is grey and gloomy. I was up and ready to go early enough to catch the (supposed) train back to Vilajuïga, then bus or walk to Garriguella, and on to the tortoise sanctuary. But their sign told me that if I came on a cloudy day not to expect to see tortoises, and not to complain! So I decided not to potentially waste eight hours (five travelling there and back, three waiting to see if they came out into the gloom) of my last whole day, and to enjoy Girona and its food and wine instead.

    On a somewhat brighter note, mask wearing has definitely dropped off in the three weeks I’ve been here. I noticed it in Barcelona, but thought that may have been a big city effect. I can really see the change back here in Girona though; I’ve been to three cafés so far this morning and none of the ladies who’ve served me have worn one, my hotel receptionists last night and this morning weren’t, and from about one in three or four wearing them out on the street it’s dropped to about one in twenty. I love seeing more smiles 😀


    I think the mask mandate has very recently been dropped in Spain for everywhere except hospitals. health centres and pharmacies, so anyone you see in a mask now outside of those places is doing it entirely voluntarily.

    Ah that would explain it. Though everyone is still wearing them on the trains and buses (and they still have Covid signs up in the trains telling me to wear a mask and not to eat or drink..)
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,226

    Rather depressingly, the sky is grey and gloomy. I was up and ready to go early enough to catch the (supposed) train back to Vilajuïga, then bus or walk to Garriguella, and on to the tortoise sanctuary. But their sign told me that if I came on a cloudy day not to expect to see tortoises, and not to complain! So I decided not to potentially waste eight hours (five travelling there and back, three waiting to see if they came out into the gloom) of my last whole day, and to enjoy Girona and its food and wine instead.

    On a somewhat brighter note, mask wearing has definitely dropped off in the three weeks I’ve been here. I noticed it in Barcelona, but thought that may have been a big city effect. I can really see the change back here in Girona though; I’ve been to three cafés so far this morning and none of the ladies who’ve served me have worn one, my hotel receptionists last night and this morning weren’t, and from about one in three or four wearing them out on the street it’s dropped to about one in twenty. I love seeing more smiles 😀


    I think the mask mandate has very recently been dropped in Spain for everywhere except hospitals. health centres and pharmacies, so anyone you see in a mask now outside of those places is doing it entirely voluntarily.

    Seems basically that Spain is getting our usual weather. Another very bright, sunny, cloudless day here in my bit of Blighty with a cooling but very drying NE wind. Been like this for most of April iirc.

    Starting to become a pain to keep watering all the seedlings in small pots and trays.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Last year we had the fastest growing economy in the G7, this year we are expected to match the best. Unemployment is no more than frictional in most of the country, the government's deficit is coming in lower than expected (if still very high, reflecting high public spending), I must confess that I am at loss as to how so many think it would be better under Labour.

    Of course, there is the cost of living crisis brought about by inflation like we haven't seen in 20 years, led by politically sensitive rises in fuel and gas with food in danger of falling on behind. What people think Labour can do about these things I am really not sure. Most come from international pressures, not least because of sanctions on Russia and the disruption of food harvests in Ukraine itself.

    Labour's policies seem to me to be a windfall tax on north sea producers at a time that we want them to significantly increase investment and, ehm, I am not really sure. They seem to want to increase public spending in a variety of ways, notably health, further increasing demand in an economy running pretty near capacity giving an extra spin to inflation.

    What I think we are actually seeing is that people are pretty unhappy. Wages are rising strongly but are being significantly outpaced by prices and most are seeing a difficult squeeze in their budgets. Those on fixed incomes or benefits are doing even worse. So they blame the government and hope something different would be better. When you add general dissatisfaction that the PM is a lying b****** it is hardly surprising that they do not give the government the benefit of the doubt. But Labour's cupboard looks pretty bare to me.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 20,744

    Pulpstar said:

    Flag Anecdote. Loads of yellow and blue here in North Notts

    It is nice to see them but it does also have a whiff of cheap virtue signalling about it so we haven't done it ourselves.
    Everyone on all sides seems so against virtue signalling theses days. It is hardly crime of the century and can be positive as well as negative.
  • Options
    Foxy said:

    Starmer boozing was legal.

    Because the police said it was legal.

    Because the local PCC was boozing with him?

    No, because it legitimately was a work event 🙄
    That would explain why Sir Keir Karma Starmer so calmly dismissed it. Not rattled at all.
    https://twitter.com/gtmac786/status/1517984514643042306
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    mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,140
    murali_s said:

    Starmer as PM? For all Boris Johnson's flaws I would hope that Britain would think very carefully before installing a man with with no policies ,ideas or principles to lead our country.

    ...but surely that is better than a disingenuous liar who is not fir for office?
    A disingenuous liar who is not fit for office and *also* has no policies, ideas or principles.

    And the best the Tories have to offer if Johnson departs, is someone else with no policies, ideas, or principles, tainted by having previously supported a disingenuous liar who is not fit for office.

    I think this proves TSE's point.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    You know a government is struggling when their attack on the opposition is that they haven’t fleshed out their policies 2 1/12 years from an election.
  • Options
    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 25,197
    edited April 2022
    TimS said:

    My optimistic prediction for today is that Le Pen will slightly underperform and it’ll be 57:43. I hope I’m right.

    My fear is Melanchon's Corbynista morons will stay at home or vote Le Pen because they hate Centrists more than they do Fascists. Meanwhile talking of Corbynista morons.

    Classy!


    There is something of a repellent double standard here, in that Rayner was pilloried for calling Conservatives "scum" (fair enough) yet it is acceptable for the Mail to allude to the misogynistic notion that she exposes her minge to Boris Johnson every Wednesday at noon.

    Anyway working girl Angie is wasting her time. Johnson prefers posh *****... like Jacob Rees Mogg.
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Jonathan said:

    You know a government is struggling when their attack on the opposition is that they haven’t fleshed out their policies 2 1/12 years from an election.

    Absolutely true. They are struggling, they have no clear and obvious policies to deal with issues that are out of their control and their attempt to do so in the Spring statement was a fiasco focusing on the wrong targets and depleting the limited amunition available to little or no benefit. But an alternative would be nice. Blair and Brown seemed to manage one.
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641
    DavidL said:

    Last year we had the fastest growing economy in the G7, this year we are expected to match the best. Unemployment is no more than frictional in most of the country, the government's deficit is coming in lower than expected (if still very high, reflecting high public spending), I must confess that I am at loss as to how so many think it would be better under Labour.

    Of course, there is the cost of living crisis brought about by inflation like we haven't seen in 20 years, led by politically sensitive rises in fuel and gas with food in danger of falling on behind. What people think Labour can do about these things I am really not sure. Most come from international pressures, not least because of sanctions on Russia and the disruption of food harvests in Ukraine itself.

    Labour's policies seem to me to be a windfall tax on north sea producers at a time that we want them to significantly increase investment and, ehm, I am not really sure. They seem to want to increase public spending in a variety of ways, notably health, further increasing demand in an economy running pretty near capacity giving an extra spin to inflation.

    What I think we are actually seeing is that people are pretty unhappy. Wages are rising strongly but are being significantly outpaced by prices and most are seeing a difficult squeeze in their budgets. Those on fixed incomes or benefits are doing even worse. So they blame the government and hope something different would be better. When you add general dissatisfaction that the PM is a lying b****** it is hardly surprising that they do not give the government the benefit of the doubt. But Labour's cupboard looks pretty bare to me.

    It isn't the national GDP figures that matter to people, it is the economic pressures on themselves and their communities that impacts on voting.

    Putting up NI on workers to allow the elderly to keep more of their assets is an example of this.
  • Options
    darkage said:

    I just voted Conservative in the Council elections. Its a marginal seat, the candidate is young and fresh, and the longstanding labour incumbent has nothing to say on his leaflets other than he is a socialist.

    Even though Starmer is impressive and would be a far better PM than Johnson, the Corbyn legacy runs very deep in the labour party, and puts people off, and this may still be a factor in the next general election.

    I think the tories will try and blame the cost of living crisis on Putin, and it may just work. The support for the war in Ukraine seems to be quite popular, I walked across a council estate on Friday, lots of Ukrainian flags everywhere.

    Surely there must have been other candidates. It doesn't matter if he is "young and fresh" he stands for lies and criminality and impropriety. And you voted for those things. I know you don't support that so why do it?
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Foxy said:

    DavidL said:

    Last year we had the fastest growing economy in the G7, this year we are expected to match the best. Unemployment is no more than frictional in most of the country, the government's deficit is coming in lower than expected (if still very high, reflecting high public spending), I must confess that I am at loss as to how so many think it would be better under Labour.

    Of course, there is the cost of living crisis brought about by inflation like we haven't seen in 20 years, led by politically sensitive rises in fuel and gas with food in danger of falling on behind. What people think Labour can do about these things I am really not sure. Most come from international pressures, not least because of sanctions on Russia and the disruption of food harvests in Ukraine itself.

    Labour's policies seem to me to be a windfall tax on north sea producers at a time that we want them to significantly increase investment and, ehm, I am not really sure. They seem to want to increase public spending in a variety of ways, notably health, further increasing demand in an economy running pretty near capacity giving an extra spin to inflation.

    What I think we are actually seeing is that people are pretty unhappy. Wages are rising strongly but are being significantly outpaced by prices and most are seeing a difficult squeeze in their budgets. Those on fixed incomes or benefits are doing even worse. So they blame the government and hope something different would be better. When you add general dissatisfaction that the PM is a lying b****** it is hardly surprising that they do not give the government the benefit of the doubt. But Labour's cupboard looks pretty bare to me.

    It isn't the national GDP figures that matter to people, it is the economic pressures on themselves and their communities that impacts on voting.

    Putting up NI on workers to allow the elderly to keep more of their assets is an example of this.
    That was a serious mistake. Yet more taxes on earned income as opposed to unearned income. Not only stupid but also, frankly, immoral when those in work are feeling the squeeze more than anyone.
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