This may be a bit out there, but... If you have a twin of the opposite sex don't you have a living example of what it would be to be trans? I mean. You literally shared a womb with it. And grew up with it. It's there every day.
Non-identical twins are no closer related than any full siblings.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
Quite right too! LOL. The right beloved by the mail have about 24hrs to sort themselves out or more might fail to give the members a candidate. That would be Dee lish usssss 🤤
Yes, it would be quite something to see them frozen out.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
Bit late for them to do that I'd have thought - I thought they'd gone for a 'lowest vote goes out, but we'll have multiple votes a day if needed' in order to trim the field
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I agree, but they always seem to make it up on the hoof.
Quite right too! LOL. The right beloved by the mail have about 24hrs to sort themselves out or more might fail to give the members a candidate. That would be Dee lish usssss 🤤
I guess the subliminal message is unite behind Leeds Liz now?
This may be a bit out there, but... If you have a twin of the opposite sex don't you have a living example of what it would be to be trans? I mean. You literally shared a womb with it. And grew up with it. It's there every day.
Non-identical twins are no closer related than any full siblings.
With respect that isn't the point at all.
I was simply pointing out that non-identical twins are quite different people, genetically. The way your non-identical twin sister/brother looks, thinks, and behaves is likely to be quite different to you.
Quite right too! LOL. The right beloved by the mail have about 24hrs to sort themselves out or more might fail to give the members a candidate. That would be Dee lish usssss 🤤
Yes, it would be quite something to see them frozen out.
I am not sure I get the idea that unable and Mordaunt are on the left of the Conservative party. Am I missing something?
She looks very “fresh” with her hair style makeover - shorter, lighter and more lob like, which gets my thumbs up - the extra slap on her face, and big beaming smile from her fine result.
She's the Catherine Deneuve of British politics.
Far. Too. Much. Makeup.
You know that's Deneuve not Mordaunt, right?
I actually realised after I posted! But that was actually my reaction last time I saw Mordaunt as well as my reaction to that picture, so I just let it be. In fact, I think it makes my point: I didn't see the woman, just the amount of gloop she had in her face. I find make-up vaguely icky, and too much make-up very icky. I get a physical feeling of slight revulsion, similar to what you might feel seeing a child with snot dribbling down to its top lip.
That predilection must have seriously limited your choice of women over the years.
A little. It's not ideal. But most (which makes it sound like there's been a high turnover, which there definitely hasn't) girlfriends have gone without makeup most of the time.
It’s been a great pleasure to help Tesla towards its goals over the last 5 years and a difficult decision to part ways. In that time, Autopilot graduated from lane keeping to city streets and I look forward to seeing the exceptionally strong Autopilot team continue that momentum.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
Bit late for them to do that I'd have thought - I thought they'd gone for a 'lowest vote goes out, but we'll have multiple votes a day if needed' in order to trim the field
Maybe they'll have a vote on Friday morning, which isn't the plan atm.
Iain Dale on Newsnight: good result for Mordaunt, Badenoch. Mediocre result: Sunak, Truss. Bad result: Hunt.
Grouped like that, kinda makes sense.
Sunak and Truss are too tied to Bozza to be really credible as replacements. Hunt is a mental return to summer 2019, and nobody wants that. Mordaunt and Badenoch are attempts to move on. They might not be good attempts to move on, but the principle is sound.
Watching Pesto. Team Sunak's cheerleader tonight is the airheaded Lucy Frazer. Come on Rishi shape up, she is useless.
I was at University with her (albeit she was a few years older than me), and I ran the ball when she was President of the Union.
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
We often criticise politicians for being dim, but most of them have impressive CVs (even Richard Burgon) and it seems unlikely that too many thickies would slip through the exacting entry requirements. Maybe politics is just very difficult.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I do find it bizarre that a political party can set the rules after the contest starts. Surely you use the rules in place when the previous leader steps down? Same with the Labour Party, allowing members to join after the leader resigns and still vote.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I agree, but they always seem to make it up on the hoof.
That allows for all sorts of exciting possibilities. Next round: the assault course. Then a yard of ale contest, then weeding the gardens of the 1922 Committee.
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
Totalitarian? To have a poster suggesting that men could do something about stopping sexist hate? It’s not exactly Kristallnacht.
I don't want to be hectored by a corporation on what I need to do as a man on my way to work and home again. It's sanctimonious and patronising.
The reason no-one says anything is they know the response would be: "if people don't want to buy a contract from an inclusive phone company then they are welcome to shop elsewhere".
So, people ignore it. And quietly simmer.
So, you’re saying because of your hurt feelings, we should do away with free speech?
We can always choose Kemi Badenoch as PM as she will ban Ben and Jerrys ice-cream on grounds of wokeness. Focusing on the priorities, clearly.
She didn't really say that, did she? Goodness me.
No
"The right has lost its confidence and courage and ability to defend the free market as the fairest way of helping people prosper. It has been undermined by a willingness to embrace protectionism for special interests. It's been undermined by retreating in the face of the Ben and Jerry's tendency, those who say a business's main priority is social justice, not productivity and profits, and it's been undermined by the actions of crony capitalists, who collude with big bureaucracy to rig the system in favour of incumbents against entrepreneurs. "
What right does she have to tell how private companies conduct their affairs?
Given that said companies want to lecture me about how I conduct my affairs, I think you, I, and she have exactly that right.
Why do you care so much? I just do not get it
Because it’s unpleasant to be constantly hectored? Because being told you're a bad person is tiresome? Because living in the 2020s feels like being fed a constant tirade of identity politics? I suppose if you agree with the positions being put out you don't notice. If your initial reaction though is "well things are more complex than that" - it makes things exhausting. I come here for my dose of political debate. I don't want it everywhere. We used to be quite good at separating out the political from the non political.
It’s a digital display. I don’t see now that constitutes hectoring. How do you make it through any urban public space?
It doesn’t seem to me to be telling me (a man) that I’m a bad person. It’s encouraging me to do more to stop sexist hate, not saying I am committing sexist hate.
Addressing something to a male audience isn’t exactly radical identity politics. Adverts for decades, centuries even, have aimed themselves at one sex or the other. Yorkie bars for men, remember that?
You characterise it as being political. I don’t think trying to reduce misogyny in football is political.
Quite right too! LOL. The right beloved by the mail have about 24hrs to sort themselves out or more might fail to give the members a candidate. That would be Dee lish usssss 🤤
Yes, it would be quite something to see them frozen out.
My mum would hate that 🤭
And they might already have blown it, those 72 votes for Braverman and Badenoch having given Penny the Big Mo, crucial in such election, just 21 of them to Truss would be different headlines tonight!
If Dorries , JRM and Truss are all against Mordaunt then that’s a good sign and hopefully if she wins they’ll be nowhere near the cabinet .
I’m surprised Sunak does so badly against her in head to head polls of Tory members .
I wonder how much is a subconscious desire to reinstate Thatcher? How many Tory members instinctively want a powerful woman at the wheel for that reason?
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I do find it bizarre that a political party can set the rules after the contest starts. Surely you use the rules in place when the previous leader steps down? Same with the Labour Party, allowing members to join after the leader resigns and still vote.
Any contest at all, really, should have its rules set out before it starts. My 7 year old daughter likes to change the rules of a game midstream and it rarely ends well.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I agree, but they always seem to make it up on the hoof.
That allows for all sorts of exciting possibilities. Next round: the assault course. Then a yard of ale contest, then weeding the gardens of the 1922 Committee.
If they are doing the Krypton Factor then I reckon Kemi will land the plane.
Watching Pesto. Team Sunak's cheerleader tonight is the airheaded Lucy Frazer. Come on Rishi shape up, she is useless.
I was at University with her (albeit she was a few years older than me), and I ran the ball when she was President of the Union.
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
We often criticise politicians for being dim, but most of them have impressive CVs (even Richard Burgon) and it seems unlikely that too many thickies would slip through the exacting entry requirements. Maybe politics is just very difficult.
There is something in that, many MPs are quite impressive face to face. There is something in the way our governance and particularly how our politics works which seems to really shear off much of their outward personality, and they fall into a lot of lazy cliches and uninformed commentary, along with (officially at least) a rigidity of thought that can look pretty stupid.
However, this does not explain all of them, even if they appeared intelligent in some other career.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Robert Peston @Peston · 36m Who next week will emerge top of the contest to be Tories’ new leader and UK PM (or more accurately who will be the two who go to a run-off for Tory members’ votes)? Exclusive research for #Peston (see attached) shows Mordaunt ends up first, with Sunak 2nd! @patrickjfl
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I agree, but they always seem to make it up on the hoof.
That allows for all sorts of exciting possibilities. Next round: the assault course. Then a yard of ale contest, then weeding the gardens of the 1922 Committee.
If they are doing the Krypton Factor then I reckon Kemi will land the plane.
Don't forget the Burma rope-bridge and the zip-wire!
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
Watching Pesto. Team Sunak's cheerleader tonight is the airheaded Lucy Frazer. Come on Rishi shape up, she is useless.
I was at University with her (albeit she was a few years older than me), and I ran the ball when she was President of the Union.
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
We often criticise politicians for being dim, but most of them have impressive CVs (even Richard Burgon) and it seems unlikely that too many thickies would slip through the exacting entry requirements. Maybe politics is just very difficult.
There is something in that, many MPs are quite impressive face to face. There is something in the way our governance and particularly how our politics works which seems to really shear off much of their outward personality, and they fall into a lot of lazy cliches and uninformed commentary, along with (officially at least) a rigidity of thougth that can looks pretty stupid.
However, this does not explain all of them, even if they appeared intelligent in some other career.
It is why I always felt sorry for Dianne Abbott.
If you listen to her speak about 10 years ago+, she's actually very good. Competent, sensible, sane.
She has gone rapidly downhill since then. She is clearly not stupid, she went to Cambridge. Something has gone wrong with either her health or otherwise.
If Dorries , JRM and Truss are all against Mordaunt then that’s a good sign and hopefully if she wins they’ll be nowhere near the cabinet .
I’m surprised Sunak does so badly against her in head to head polls of Tory members .
I wonder how much is a subconscious desire to reinstate Thatcher? How many Tory members instinctively want a powerful woman at the wheel for that reason?
Not sure Thatcher revisited would go down well in the Red Wall.
Regardless my hope is that we can at least have a PM who isn’t a pathological liar .
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I do find it bizarre that a political party can set the rules after the contest starts. Surely you use the rules in place when the previous leader steps down? Same with the Labour Party, allowing members to join after the leader resigns and still vote.
Any contest at all, really, should have its rules set out before it starts. My 7 year old daughter likes to change the rules of a game midstream and it rarely ends well.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Rishi is an absolute lightweight and disaster. This has been evident for over a year now, the man is a muppet.
Robert Peston @Peston · 36m Who next week will emerge top of the contest to be Tories’ new leader and UK PM (or more accurately who will be the two who go to a run-off for Tory members’ votes)? Exclusive research for #Peston (see attached) shows Mordaunt ends up first, with Sunak 2nd! @patrickjfl
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I don't know, she was looking it up on her phone, so I'm not sure the source or the context. Whatever she was reading (and I can't imagine she'd be sourcing it from anywhere too overtly partisan) noted that religion was a key part of her hinterland - but I've learned more from you just now than I previously knew. I mention it only as a "this is the impression people seem to be getting" anecdatum.
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
Totalitarian? To have a poster suggesting that men could do something about stopping sexist hate? It’s not exactly Kristallnacht.
I don't want to be hectored by a corporation on what I need to do as a man on my way to work and home again. It's sanctimonious and patronising.
The reason no-one says anything is they know the response would be: "if people don't want to buy a contract from an inclusive phone company then they are welcome to shop elsewhere".
So, people ignore it. And quietly simmer.
So, you’re saying because of your hurt feelings, we should do away with free speech?
It's not "free speech". This isn't about denying an individual the ability to freely express their views without fear or censure: this is about a megacorporation exploiting its financial muscle to buy up a massive public space and scream it in your face every day, day in day out.
We've all agreed Steve Bray is a dickhead, and what he does can't just be defended with "free speech".
This is the corporate Steve Bray.
So your objection isn’t too free speech, it’s too capitalism?
If Dorries , JRM and Truss are all against Mordaunt then that’s a good sign and hopefully if she wins they’ll be nowhere near the cabinet .
I’m surprised Sunak does so badly against her in head to head polls of Tory members .
I wonder how much is a subconscious desire to reinstate Thatcher? How many Tory members instinctively want a powerful woman at the wheel for that reason?
Not sure Thatcher revisited would go down well in the Red Wall.
Regardless my hope is that we can at least have a PM who isn’t a pathological liar .
In the same way I think they should wear the logo of every company that has sponsored them (a brilliant OMLP idea which I think really is a good idea) why not some sort of badge for every time they have had to correct themselves in the House.
Charles Walker MP was saying earlier that the 1922 Committee might set another bar for the next round, somewhere between 40 and 50 votes. Does anyone know whether this has been put in place?
'Might? Shouldn't they have sorted all this out before they started?
I do find it bizarre that a political party can set the rules after the contest starts. Surely you use the rules in place when the previous leader steps down? Same with the Labour Party, allowing members to join after the leader resigns and still vote.
Any contest at all, really, should have its rules set out before it starts. My 7 year old daughter likes to change the rules of a game midstream and it rarely ends well.
This may be a bit out there, but... If you have a twin of the opposite sex don't you have a living example of what it would be to be trans? I mean. You literally shared a womb with it. And grew up with it. It's there every day.
Non-identical twins are no closer related than any full siblings.
With respect that isn't the point at all.
With respect, your point is complete B******.
SIblings born roughly one year apart of different sex also "grow up with it. It's there every day", but no one is claiming that these siblings "know what it is like to be trans". OK fraternal twins shared a womb, but that is hardly going to make you think as a teenager/adult "I know what it is like to be trans, because for 9 months that I can't remember at all was spent sharing a womb with a girl/boy"
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Rishi is an absolute lightweight and disaster. This has been evident for over a year now, the man is a muppet.
Robert Peston @Peston · 36m Who next week will emerge top of the contest to be Tories’ new leader and UK PM (or more accurately who will be the two who go to a run-off for Tory members’ votes)? Exclusive research for #Peston (see attached) shows Mordaunt ends up first, with Sunak 2nd! @patrickjfl
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Rishi is an absolute lightweight and disaster. This has been evident for over a year now, the man is a muppet.
Nah, the muppets are good.
He's a moron then.
I am not in general good on the Tory Party but I called Sunak rubbish and a lightweight in the middle of 2021 and I was absolutely spot on.
He would be a dream candidate for Labour to face.
I think they roll the dice but Penny has the best chance of a 1992 repeat. They should go for her.
Robert Peston @Peston · 36m Who next week will emerge top of the contest to be Tories’ new leader and UK PM (or more accurately who will be the two who go to a run-off for Tory members’ votes)? Exclusive research for #Peston (see attached) shows Mordaunt ends up first, with Sunak 2nd! @patrickjfl
He's a natural outsider. His instincts probably naturally lean toward those unlikely to win such a contest, and, in fairness to him, not seek to kowtow even to those he backs who do win such a contest.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Rishi is an absolute lightweight and disaster. This has been evident for over a year now, the man is a muppet.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
Cultural Christian usually means “likes churches, Christmas, Easter, nativity plays and some of the moral philosophy but doesn’t actually believe in Sky Faries”
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
How old was he? I must admit, I probably didn't have any working class friends until the age of about 19 - and even then the very specific sort of working class who despite a working class childhood were now sort of between classes at university and would soon be joining the middle classes. I grew up in a massive middle class ghetto and there were about 10,000 privately owned suburban houses closer to me than the nearest council house. I don't expect Rishi's childhood was much edgier.
He's a natural outsider. His instincts probably naturally lean toward those unlikely to win such a contest, and, in fairness to him, not seek to kowtow even to those he backs who do win such a contest.
Baker is one of the very few Brexiteers and Tories left who I respect, I agree with him on basically nothing but he is sincere. In a way a bit like David Davis who worked passionately with Jeremy Corbyn of all people, I also respect him for fighting for civil liberties.
But Baker has got this one wrong, really very wrong.
Watching Pesto. Team Sunak's cheerleader tonight is the airheaded Lucy Frazer. Come on Rishi shape up, she is useless.
I was at University with her (albeit she was a few years older than me), and I ran the ball when she was President of the Union.
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
We often criticise politicians for being dim, but most of them have impressive CVs (even Richard Burgon) and it seems unlikely that too many thickies would slip through the exacting entry requirements. Maybe politics is just very difficult.
There is something in that, many MPs are quite impressive face to face. There is something in the way our governance and particularly how our politics works which seems to really shear off much of their outward personality, and they fall into a lot of lazy cliches and uninform ed commentary, along with (officially at least) a rigidity of thougth that can looks pretty stupid.
However, this does not explain all of them, even if they appeared intelligent in some other career.
It is why I always felt sorry for Dianne Abbott.
If you listen to her speak about 10 years ago+, she's actually very good. Competent, sensible, sane.
She has gone rapidly downhill since then. She is clearly not stupid, she went to Cambridge. Something has gone wrong with either her health or otherwise.
Abbott was always a dimbo, going to Cantab proves nowt
Watching Pesto. Team Sunak's cheerleader tonight is the airheaded Lucy Frazer. Come on Rishi shape up, she is useless.
I was at University with her (albeit she was a few years older than me), and I ran the ball when she was President of the Union.
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
We often criticise politicians for being dim, but most of them have impressive CVs (even Richard Burgon) and it seems unlikely that too many thickies would slip through the exacting entry requirements. Maybe politics is just very difficult.
There is something in that, many MPs are quite impressive face to face. There is something in the way our governance and particularly how our politics works which seems to really shear off much of their outward personality, and they fall into a lot of lazy cliches and uninform ed commentary, along with (officially at least) a rigidity of thougth that can looks pretty stupid.
However, this does not explain all of them, even if they appeared intelligent in some other career.
It is why I always felt sorry for Dianne Abbott.
If you listen to her speak about 10 years ago+, she's actually very good. Competent, sensible, sane.
She has gone rapidly downhill since then. She is clearly not stupid, she went to Cambridge. Something has gone wrong with either her health or otherwise.
Abbott was always a dimbo, going to Cantab proves nowt
No she wasn't, she has become very bad in the last decade but prior to that she was very articulate. I stand by that.
Interesting. Do I detect a bit of race bias in the Conservative members polled? Who'da thunk it, eh?
You mean because the white men are the least popular?
No, I mean in those 17 match ups shown the white candidate beats the BAME candidate with the Conservative members polled in 7 instances whilst the BAME candidate beats the white candidate in only 2 instances.
Clear bias from the Conservative members polled.
As well you know.
Or maybe they just think Mordaunt is the best candidate?
Just a quick look at the Sunak column will tell you there's more to it than that.
My hypothesis: Quite a few Conservative members are racist and won't vote for a BAME candidate. The YouGov poll supports that hypothesis. If I am right it has betting implications.
Just putting it out there.
Why is Badenoch coming second in most membership polls then when all candidates are put?
Liz and Rishi now yesterday's Cabinet players.....
And as such, their offers of patronage are worthless.
I appreciate your excitement Mark, with how it’s going for your gal you backed long time back.
Pulling you back to earth for a moment, what would be Penny’s platform and pitch to the country, if she leads into a general election? Rooted in Conservative values? Personality driven, like Boris success? Or leaning on the success of her policies and performance from now to General Election?
Before that, she needs a Cabinet delivering so that she can argue it is no time to change. Lots of new blood, not people Boris owed a Brexit favour to. I expect a very different looking Cabinet. Some will not be great at their jobs, so expect a ruthless streak for those who don't shape up.
Just looking capable at helping the country through the CoL issues this winter will be what voters are judging her on.
Netflix has secured a deal with Microsoft to introduce advertising breaks for its streaming service as it scrambles to offset a fall in subscribers by offering a cheaper service for customers.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
Cultural Christian usually means “likes churches, Christmas, Easter, nativity plays and some of the moral philosophy but doesn’t actually believe in Sky Faries”
It might also mean that someone thinks much of the culture of this country is indelibly linked to its christian history, so that even if they are a radical atheist they concede their philosophical/moral frameworks will have been influenced by it, for better and worse.
(I recall when reading Dominion by Tom Holland that he rather pushed that idea a bit hard for me to buy it as much as he seemed to suggest)
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
BIG BROTHER IS JUDGING YOU
Everywhere. I loathe it
If I move out of the UK, and that looks increasingly possible, Woke will be a major reason
Don’t you agree with me, the Premiership footballer charged with rape last week, but denies he did it, should still currently be suspended by his club? Because he isn’t.
He's a natural outsider. His instincts probably naturally lean toward those unlikely to win such a contest, and, in fairness to him, not seek to kowtow even to those he backs who do win such a contest.
Baker is one of the very few Brexiteers and Tories left who I respect, I agree with him on basically nothing but he is sincere. In a way a bit like David Davis who worked passionately with Jeremy Corbyn of all people, I also respect him for fighting for civil liberties.
But Baker has got this one wrong, really very wrong.
The only way I can see it makes sense is she is the hardest and most firm Brexiteer in the race and nothing else matters to him.
GB News positioning on COVID is just weird, anti-lockdown, often anti-vax. Their demographic is oldies, right leaning, Brexit types.....oldies couldn't wait to get their jabs fast enough because quite rightly they were scared shitless of COVID.
Its not like the US where substantial right wing people were anti-vax / anti-lockdown / anti-mask etc....here, yes there is a fringe on both left and right, but it just isn't the same, it was more a battle of just how much economic support their should be and quite when freedoms should return, not anti-vaxxing.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
Rishi is an absolute lightweight and disaster. This has been evident for over a year now, the man is a muppet.
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
BIG BROTHER IS JUDGING YOU
Everywhere. I loathe it
If I move out of the UK, and that looks increasingly possible, Woke will be a major reason
Don’t you agree with me, the Premiership footballer charged with rape last week, but denies he did it, should still currently be suspended by his club? Because he isn’t.
Is it “too woke” to expect that?
Rape has always been illegal. Nothing to do with woke. I don't know why he isn't suspended.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I don't know, she was looking it up on her phone, so I'm not sure the source or the context. Whatever she was reading (and I can't imagine she'd be sourcing it from anywhere too overtly partisan) noted that religion was a key part of her hinterland - but I've learned more from you just now than I previously knew. I mention it only as a "this is the impression people seem to be getting" anecdatum.
Thank-you.
For a collection of Tories, it is surprising to me how little CofE there is that we have seen.
I don't see anyone like - eg - Theresa May, who is an habitual church attender. I can quite see her as a Churchwarden or Lay Minister at some stage.
Badenoch is married to a Roman Catholic, so may well have adopted that denomination, either as a member of the 'community' (eg Easter / Christmas), or more committed.
It's quite a cross-section of faiths across the piece, and everyone comes across as pragmatic. There may be some soft-pedalling going on, though.
The possible exceptions I have noted are Steve Baker (particularly) and perhaps Jeremy Hunt.
I'm not really able to evaluate depth of commitment for other religions without some more background reading.
GB News positioning on COVID is just weird, anti-lockdown, often anti-vax. Their demographic is oldies, right leaning, Brexit types.....oldies couldn't wait to get their jabs fast enough because quite rightly they were scared shitless of COVID.
Its not like the US where substantial right wing people were anti-vax / anti-lockdown / anti-mask etc....here, yes there is a fringe on both left and right, but it just isn't the same.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
If your wife is that anti Christian, Labour are welcome to her
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
BIG BROTHER IS JUDGING YOU
Everywhere. I loathe it
If I move out of the UK, and that looks increasingly possible, Woke will be a major reason
Don’t you agree with me, the Premiership footballer charged with rape last week, but denies he did it, should still currently be suspended by his club? Because he isn’t.
Is it “too woke” to expect that?
Rape has always been illegal. Nothing to do with woke. I don't know why he isn't suspended.
Its an interesting decision by their club given another player was omitted from their side for the whole of last season for similar reasons.
Netflix has secured a deal with Microsoft to introduce advertising breaks for its streaming service as it scrambles to offset a fall in subscribers by offering a cheaper service for customers.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
Another massive hole in Nadine Dorries argument that BBC could be a subscription service like Netflix.
a) Netflix basic subs model under assault post-pandemic
b) Ads on BBC. Really? Pretty sure the Antiques roadshow loving tory members of Home Counties don't want any interruptions to sell them Equity Release.
Woke isn't a thing. It's all made up. Massively exaggerated etc.
Tonight's hectoring at Waterloo station - taken on my phone.
It is strangely totalitarian.
You find yourself starting to criticise it (ie: is 'sexist hate' really only a male phenomenon?), but then you realise that the act of criticism is defined as an act of denial or oppression, so whatever you try and do, you can't win.
The only viable solution is actually just to shrug your shoulders and ignore it.
BIG BROTHER IS JUDGING YOU
Everywhere. I loathe it
If I move out of the UK, and that looks increasingly possible, Woke will be a major reason
Don’t you agree with me, the Premiership footballer charged with rape last week, but denies he did it, should still currently be suspended by his club? Because he isn’t.
Is it “too woke” to expect that?
What happens to most people when they are charged with a serious crime but not held on remand? Genuine question as I’ve never thought about it. Innocent until proven guilty but are they often suspended? If so, presumably on full pay so as not to be hammered at an employment tribunal if they are acquitted.
GB News positioning on COVID is just weird, anti-lockdown, often anti-vax. Their demographic is oldies, right leaning, Brexit types.....oldies couldn't wait to get their jabs fast enough because quite rightly they were scared shitless of COVID.
Its not like the US where substantial right wing people were anti-vax / anti-lockdown / anti-mask etc....here, yes there is a fringe on both left and right, but it just isn't the same.
In that clip the guy seemed to blame the Queen.
Good fecking luck with that one GMB.
Closed by end of year.
I have never understood the economic case for GB News....I haven't really watched it, but it seems a proper weird channel in so many respects.
Big billboard says "BUY THIS SHIT YOU DON'T NEED". Warm fuzzy feelings. Big billboard says "MIBBE DON'T BE A C*NT". Anger erupts.
I don't understand some of you people.
I think I’d event easier than that. A person paying market rates has a right to have a billboard say whatever they like, unless it’s unlawful. I therefore find it hard to care what’s on them.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
If your wife is that anti Christian, Labour are welcome to her
Netflix has secured a deal with Microsoft to introduce advertising breaks for its streaming service as it scrambles to offset a fall in subscribers by offering a cheaper service for customers.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
Another massive hole in Nadine Dorries argument that BBC could be a subscription service like Netflix.
a) Netflix basic subs model under assault post-pandemic
b) Ads on BBC. Really? Pretty sure the Antiques roadshow loving tory members of Home Counties don't want any interruptions to sell them Equity Release.
Netflix problem is that the big bad mouse has appeared on the scene to eat their lunch (along with Amazon, Apple, Discovery and Paramount), while also spaffing too much money up the walls on very poor programmes, but the biggest problem is most crucially lost the old classic "sticky" content e.g. Friends and the Office.
There will be a couple of winners of the streaming wars, but Netflix now has a serious problem to be one of them.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
If your wife is that anti Christian, Labour are welcome to her
Ah, yes, another person not allowed to vote Tory. Honestly HYUFD, you'll have no voters left if this is the line you take. FWIW I'm also uncomfortable with a political leader with strong religious beliefs (like Blair). Indeed, religion is so far outside my experience I find any profession of religious belief at all somewhat strange (in years sense of discomfitingly unfamiliar). I think her inference was perhaps that "cultural Christian" meant "a bit Bible belty " - and I think I'd be uncomfortable with that. But as has been pointed out, 'cultural' in this case was a weakened, rather than a strengthener, of the adjective 'Christian '.
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
If your wife is that anti Christian, Labour are welcome to her
Another winning electoral strategy from you.
I would rather lose than win on an anti Christian agenda. Though in any case Christian, socially conservative Black voters are a better prospect for the Tories than secular anti Christian liberals anyway
Wife (political bellweather) mentioned Badenoch. Said she hadn't liked what she'd heard but couldn't remember what it was she didn't like. She dug into her a bit and views were more mixed - but concerns about the idea of a party leader for whom religion is quite such a part of her hinterland.
Where does that come from, please?
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I think Mrs Cookie has got this one wrong.
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
That's interesting. Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
In my experience, "cultural Christian" is usually code for 'that is a significant part of the base for my value system, but I am not a core member of a church or have my political beliefs defined only by religion'. Other terms are also used.
For a public figure it is a useful difficult-to-nail-down phrase.
But usage of the phrase may well be different for someone from an African culture.
The Rishi video showing him as a young person saying "I have friends who are aristocrats, I have friends who are upper-class, I have friends who are working-class... well, not working-class" is not exactly helpful as far as his campaign is concerned.
How old was he? I must admit, I probably didn't have any working class friends until the age of about 19 - and even then the very specific sort of working class who despite a working class childhood were now sort of between classes at university and would soon be joining the middle classes. I grew up in a massive middle class ghetto and there were about 10,000 privately owned suburban houses closer to me than the nearest council house. I don't expect Rishi's childhood was much edgier.
Netflix has secured a deal with Microsoft to introduce advertising breaks for its streaming service as it scrambles to offset a fall in subscribers by offering a cheaper service for customers.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
Another massive hole in Nadine Dorries argument that BBC could be a subscription service like Netflix.
a) Netflix basic subs model under assault post-pandemic
b) Ads on BBC. Really? Pretty sure the Antiques roadshow loving tory members of Home Counties don't want any interruptions to sell them Equity Release.
Netflix problem is that the big bad mouse has appeared on the scene to eat their lunch (along with Amazon, Apple, Discovery and Paramount), while also spaffing too much money up the walls on very poor programmes, but the biggest problem is most crucially lost the old sticky content e.g. Friends and the Office
Content producers realising they can have they own streaming service is a game changer isn’t it? Now the film studios and networks are creating their own distribution, the value proposition of someone like Sky drops. If the FA, the ECB, the RFU and F1 clubbed together on a sports steaming platform, Sky would presumably die.
That being said it could go the other way, and there will need to be consolidation of streaming services and we go back to production departing from dissemination.
Big billboard says "BUY THIS SHIT YOU DON'T NEED". Warm fuzzy feelings. Big billboard says "MIBBE DON'T BE A C*NT". Anger erupts.
I don't understand some of you people.
I think I’d event easier than that. A person paying market rates has a right to have a billboard say whatever they like, unless it’s unlawful. I therefore find it hard to care what’s on them.
Well yes. But there's a spectrum, isn't there? I think if I were to pay for a hoarding which said "Biggles is a twat" (you aren't, of course), or "Biggles is responsible for bad things happening" (ditto), or "Biggles is responsible for bad goings happening to you" (ditto again), you might feel a bit aggrieved.
Big billboard says "BUY THIS SHIT YOU DON'T NEED". Warm fuzzy feelings. Big billboard says "MIBBE DON'T BE A C*NT". Anger erupts.
I don't understand some of you people.
I think I’d event easier than that. A person paying market rates has a right to have a billboard say whatever they like, unless it’s unlawful. I therefore find it hard to care what’s on them.
Well yes. But there's a spectrum, isn't there? I think if I were to pay for a hoarding which said "Biggles is a twat" (you aren't, of course), or "Biggles is responsible for bad things happening" (ditto), or "Biggles is responsible for bad goings happening to you" (ditto again), you might feel a bit aggrieved.
Fair point.
Though I suppose I could just buy a bigger one over the street….
Netflix has secured a deal with Microsoft to introduce advertising breaks for its streaming service as it scrambles to offset a fall in subscribers by offering a cheaper service for customers.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
Another massive hole in Nadine Dorries argument that BBC could be a subscription service like Netflix.
a) Netflix basic subs model under assault post-pandemic
b) Ads on BBC. Really? Pretty sure the Antiques roadshow loving tory members of Home Counties don't want any interruptions to sell them Equity Release.
Netflix problem is that the big bad mouse has appeared on the scene to eat their lunch (along with Amazon, Apple, Discovery and Paramount), while also spaffing too much money up the walls on very poor programmes, but the biggest problem is most crucially lost the old sticky content e.g. Friends and the Office
Content producers realising they can have they own streaming service is a game changer isn’t it? Now the film studios and networks are creating their own distribution, the value proposition of someone like Sky drops. If the FA, the ECB, the RFU and F1 clubbed together on a sports steaming platform, Sky would presumably die.
That being said it could go the other way, and there will need to be consolidation of streaming services and we go back to production departing from dissemination.
I would say old Rupert pulled a blinder flogging it for £30bn to Comcast.
Comments
She didn't seem like an airhead, and is a QC IIRC.
Sunak and Truss are too tied to Bozza to be really credible as replacements. Hunt is a mental return to summer 2019, and nobody wants that.
Mordaunt and Badenoch are attempts to move on. They might not be good attempts to move on, but the principle is sound.
Is he an expert or Penny cheerleader?
Maybe politics is just very difficult.
Badenoch had a grandpa who was a Methodist Minister, and calls herself a "cultural Christian".
The most unusual thing is that her other grandfather converted from Islam to Christianity, and I make that in Nigeria in a time of inter-community wars. So potentially an eye-opener.
Unless it is being underplayed, that is not very much.
Have I missed something? Is your wife nervous about the type of religion often practised amongst black communities, which tends to be a touch more passionate (!) than eg CofE?
I’m surprised Sunak does so badly against her in head to head polls of Tory members .
It doesn’t seem to me to be telling me (a man) that I’m a bad person. It’s encouraging me to do more to stop sexist hate, not saying I am committing sexist hate.
Addressing something to a male audience isn’t exactly radical identity politics. Adverts for decades, centuries even, have aimed themselves at one sex or the other. Yorkie bars for men, remember that?
You characterise it as being political. I don’t think trying to reduce misogyny in football is political.
And they might already have blown it, those 72 votes for Braverman and Badenoch having given Penny the Big Mo, crucial in such election, just 21 of them to Truss would be different headlines tonight!
However, this does not explain all of them, even if they appeared intelligent in some other career.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11011441/Sunaks-deny-campaigns-cahoots-Dominic-Cummings-writes-ANDREW-PIERCE.html
Robert Peston
@Peston
·
36m
Who next week will emerge top of the contest to be Tories’ new leader and UK PM (or more accurately who will be the two who go to a run-off for Tory members’ votes)? Exclusive research for #Peston (see attached) shows Mordaunt ends up first, with Sunak 2nd!
@patrickjfl
@smarkets
Kemi is on record (easily googlable) as being agnostic. It’s her husband that is the catholic.
If you listen to her speak about 10 years ago+, she's actually very good. Competent, sensible, sane.
She has gone rapidly downhill since then. She is clearly not stupid, she went to Cambridge. Something has gone wrong with either her health or otherwise.
Regardless my hope is that we can at least have a PM who isn’t a pathological liar .
However, it does make me wonder whether she's in the right party.
She's just like Cummings, she identifies genuine problems but has no solutions.
SIblings born roughly one year apart of different sex also "grow up with it. It's there every day", but no one is claiming that these siblings "know what it is like to be trans". OK fraternal twins shared a womb, but that is hardly going to make you think as a teenager/adult "I know what it is like to be trans, because for 9 months that I can't remember at all was spent sharing a womb with a girl/boy"
Massively supporting Braverman.
Maybe it was just the 'cultural Christian' thing- maybe that was inferred as 'Christian, and takes it seriously, not like these going-through-the-motions Anglicans'.
I am not in general good on the Tory Party but I called Sunak rubbish and a lightweight in the middle of 2021 and I was absolutely spot on.
He would be a dream candidate for Labour to face.
I think they roll the dice but Penny has the best chance of a 1992 repeat. They should go for her.
Well, Jeremy Corbyn would probably agree given the current Labour leadership, though he would lament it.
But Baker has got this one wrong, really very wrong.
What on Earth is going on at GBNews
Just looking capable at helping the country through the CoL issues this winter will be what voters are judging her on.
The streaming giant has chosen Microsoft to be its global technology and sales partner and will provide ads through its platform, its chief operating officer Greg Peters said on Wednesday.
(I recall when reading Dominion by Tom Holland that he rather pushed that idea a bit hard for me to buy it as much as he seemed to suggest)
Is it “too woke” to expect that?
Its not like the US where substantial right wing people were anti-vax / anti-lockdown / anti-mask etc....here, yes there is a fringe on both left and right, but it just isn't the same, it was more a battle of just how much economic support their should be and quite when freedoms should return, not anti-vaxxing.
For a collection of Tories, it is surprising to me how little CofE there is that we have seen.
I don't see anyone like - eg - Theresa May, who is an habitual church attender. I can quite see her as a Churchwarden or Lay Minister at some stage.
Badenoch is married to a Roman Catholic, so may well have adopted that denomination, either as a member of the 'community' (eg Easter / Christmas), or more committed.
It's quite a cross-section of faiths across the piece, and everyone comes across as pragmatic. There may be some soft-pedalling going on, though.
The possible exceptions I have noted are Steve Baker (particularly) and perhaps Jeremy Hunt.
I'm not really able to evaluate depth of commitment for other religions without some more background reading.
Good fecking luck with that one GMB.
Closed by end of year.
Big billboard says "MIBBE DON'T BE A C*NT". Anger erupts.
I don't understand some of you people.
a) Netflix basic subs model under assault post-pandemic
b) Ads on BBC. Really? Pretty sure the Antiques roadshow loving tory members of Home Counties don't want any interruptions to sell them Equity Release.
GB News Fails, minutes of fun
There will be a couple of winners of the streaming wars, but Netflix now has a serious problem to be one of them.
Honestly HYUFD, you'll have no voters left if this is the line you take.
FWIW I'm also uncomfortable with a political leader with strong religious beliefs (like Blair). Indeed, religion is so far outside my experience I find any profession of religious belief at all somewhat strange (in years sense of discomfitingly unfamiliar).
I think her inference was perhaps that "cultural Christian" meant "a bit Bible belty " - and I think I'd be uncomfortable with that. But as has been pointed out, 'cultural' in this case was a weakened, rather than a strengthener, of the adjective 'Christian '.
For a public figure it is a useful difficult-to-nail-down phrase.
But usage of the phrase may well be different for someone from an African culture.
That being said it could go the other way, and there will need to be consolidation of streaming services and we go back to production departing from dissemination.
But there's a spectrum, isn't there? I think if I were to pay for a hoarding which said "Biggles is a twat" (you aren't, of course), or "Biggles is responsible for bad things happening" (ditto), or "Biggles is responsible for bad goings happening to you" (ditto again), you might feel a bit aggrieved.
Though I suppose I could just buy a bigger one over the street….