One day someone will explain to me why Andy Burnham remains favourite for next Labour leader. There’s no sign of a vacancy, unlikely to be one in the medium term and if there is one suddenly he’s ineligible to stand. You can back him now on Betfair at 6.8 but should’t he be 50?
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Burnham's time was in 2015 but that has passed. He was second to Corbyn then but had Labour picked Burnham instead of Corbyn Labour might even have got most seats in the next general election ahead of May's Tories and formed a Labour led government, not merely a hung parliament as Corbyn did but with the Tories still in power
People call Starmer unprincipled, there is not a single position Andy has not held.
For privatisation
Against privatisation
For privatisation
Against privatisation
For Iraq
Against Iraq
For Iraq
Against Iraq
Against Corbyn
For Corbyn
Against Corbyn
For Corbyn
For Starmer
Against Starmer
Really against Starmer
For Starmer
The man is utterly pointless.
I'd put my money on Bridget Phillipson
After 3yrs of thinking I’d developed worsening hay fever, I’ve finally solved the mystery: air pollution. I live in one of UK’s worst polluted areas - Kensington/Chelsea - and when air quality’s v bad, like last week, I feel rough. When it’s OK, like now, I’m fine. Anyone else?
Piers has gone all woke
Laying Burnham would be great value, except that the contest might not take place until the 2030s and inflation is 10%.
I'd be surprised if there was much liquidity in this market, and so the odds reflect those of a previous time when inflation was lower and Starmer was expected to stand down after failing to win the next election - with the King in the North presumably taking up a Commons seat at that election.
Yes, Johnson... but in general there has been little sign of new talent emerging through this route.
My opinion is that Burnham didn't do especially well in national politics, but found his forte as Mayor.
What a petit morceau de merde he is.
I'm shocked etc....
Burnham as leader would switch this generally Tory voter from Labour to LD. (Nothing would get me to vote Tory until they have sorted themselves out morally and ideologically, which clearly isn't soon).
Amid the smoke of war, power in Europe is shifting decisively to the east
Jonathan Eyal (RUSI)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/29/amid-the-smoke-of-war-power-in-europe-is-shifting-decisively-to-the-east
Ministers serve at the PM's arbitrary pleasure. Rishi doesn't have to give a reason at all.
(I wonder if the problem is the one that you risk in meritocracy, namely that the winners think that all their success is down to their brilliance, forgetting all the random bits of good fortune that also came their way.)
The point is that the difference between EVs and ICEs is very large on current technology. Arguing over details is entertaining, but it doesn't really shift the calculus.
(Though I do understand that there's a lot of upfront CO2 emissions from building the wind farm, battery, car etc.)
Another reason to do such calculations is pin point the areas where big improvements in the fuel cycle are possible/required.
Mr Sunak has also seen his lead as the “most capable PM” evaporate, with the Labour leader now ahead.
Hence the current hoohah about the ULEZ in places like Romford. Some of it is genuine concern about costs (though often based on fearing the scheme will be more restrictive than it is), some is political mischief making. But there's also a genuine, incorrect impression that the air isn't that dirty round these parts. It's never actual smog, is it?
But a large chunk of the public still do not know what the two main party leaders stand for despite their numerous TV appearances, speeches and clashes at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Forty-four per cent say they do not know what Sir Keir stands for, down five points from July, and 40 per cent say the same about Mr Sunak, unchanged from the summer.
The poll also found:
Labour remains a startling 25 points ahead of the Conservatives. The Tories are on 26 per cent (+3 points from December), Labour 51 per cent (+2), and the Liberal Democrats nine (-4).
Two thirds say it is time for a change of Government at the next General Election, expected in the autumn of 2024.
Among 2019 Conservative voters, 40 per cent think it is time for change. But 53 per cent disagree, including 29 per cent who believe the Government has done a poor job but the next election is not the time for change.
The idea is that by including everything from start to finish, a more honest calculation of CO2 g/km can be created.
I have a range of exotic lung complaints. But I definitely feel worse when in London.
In the Lakes on the other hand my lungs are fine and I don't get the chronic bronchitis and asthma that used to afflict me in the spring (I'm allergic to tree pollen).
Right now the Tories are looking at a worse result than 1997. They really could be destroyed for many years.
Instead, there’s genuine indignation at being sacked for incompetence or corruption.
I'm convinced it's pollution that's causing the harm.
Which is why, even if you don't believe in global warming / climate change, you should be in favour of getting cleaner air. Which many of the 'fixes' for AGW also give...
And it isn't just "millionaires" or "business people". It's what I call the New Upper 10,000 - they believe that they are ruling class, by right. So whatever they do is Blessed. And any annoying little incidents where little people get broken are not their fault, because they Followed Best Practise. And Lessons Will Be Learned. In their new job, which pays more than the one they fucked up.
The local council instituted cycle lanes - shut down bus lanes to do it. They have now been repeatedly digging up the roads to rework them for about 18 months or so. So, because the cyclists have now got nowhere to actually cycle, they are at greater risk from vehicles on the shrunken roads. Strangely, this has resulted in a number of accidents.
The expert on cycle lanes, working for the Council, furrowed his brow at a meeting (online), in the style of Sir Ian Blair and declared it was all very hard for him. But its OK, because he is off to another council, out of London, to a bigger job....
Proper decent Tories - remember them? - must be utterly furious because it is now blindingly clear that people like Zahawi, Boris etc., care nothing for the party. They merely used it for their own advancement. Hence the sense of entitlement and snarling fury when thwarted. If these people had any care for the party they serve - let alone the voters - they would resign.
I do wonder why Helen Whately agrees to do the early morning interviews. Every single time I hear or see her she looks as if she's about to burst into tears. Understandably given the rubbish she has to spout. Don't they have any self-respect?
The Conservatives need something - probably several somethings- to avoid falling behind the Major trajectory.
And whilst 165 seats was recoverable, there comes a point where the remnant is just too small to be viable. They can't fall that low... Can they?
In many respects the position of the Tories is a lot weaker - the period of Liz Truss as PM is without comparison in British political history. Even historically very poor leaders, deep in English and Scottish history, took a lot longer to bring matters to a point of crisis - Edward II, John (Plantagenet), Mary Queen of Scots.
I suppose you could point to Lady Jane Grey's Nine Days as Queen, but in many respects that was part of the political leadership of the Duke of Northumberland, who had led the government for about three years - eons compared to Liz Truss.
We should not be surprised when unprecedented political events lead to unprecedented electoral consequences, and that is what I expect for the next general election.
That too is a moving target - and might move a bit faster if government ever get their act together.
For now its getting worse, as the uptake of EVs has outpaced that building of charging facilities, but that will change.
There are plenty of other environmental problems for new technology to fix.
I want something Focus sized that is good for at least 12 years so it has to be an EV. Needs a minimum range of 300 miles (nothing is there yet) and needs to fit down my driveway (nearly all models are too wide and also most of them are just too big for my taste). I'm also unconvinced the battery life is good enough yet either. So I'm inclined to sit it out for a couple of years.
I don't really like the idea of buying a second hand car. But I'm increasingly coming to the view that I will have to so maybe this is the time in my life when I could indulge in either an old MG or Land Rover and just hire a proper car whenever I need to do long trips. No road tax, no ULEZ and no depreciation in the meantime.
At midnight it’ll be 3 years since UK formally left EU
We’ll be li… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1619998850080722950
And even when they do, occasionally they are right, since it's the employer's responsibility to ensure adequate training.
The availability of public charging has significantly lagged the take-up of EVs.
Zahawi can whine all he likes
I finally got the Firebird to run yesterday. With its new 383 stroker/T56 6 speed and a 3.9 Positrac rear end the computer came up with these numbers.
Its 'only' got 450hp so I don't think it will pull to the 6,000rpm redline in 6th as it has the aerodynamics of a phone box. It also generates negative downforce at over 45mph so brave pills required at triple digits.
A short term scheme of significantly enhanced capital allowances would be a sensible idea, as the lack of public charging is likely to be a growing problem.
Why does it say stop the boats above his head
EDL infiltrators
https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-wse4000-multi-30-120a-4-in-1-multi-welder-230v/695xg
I think also that the model of fuel stations being specific places you drive to in order to fuel a vehicle will not survive. Eventually most dedicated parking places will have charge points because electricity is easier to handle than petrol/diesel. So every time you park your car will be an opportunity to charge it.
The transition will be a bit messy, but these are solvable problems.
So he has the money, and apparently the immunity from reality.
Never mind Tories and SKS and Reeves are on it
It's worse. He does not really understand in his bones why high ethical standards and being seen to try and achieve them (even if you might fail from time to time) matter. If he had he'd never have appointed Zahawi or Braverman etc or sacked the former the minute he became aware of the tax issue.
What the Tories need are (a) a moral compass and (b) a problem detector. They have neither so we will just have to enjoy watching them crash around the place blundering from scandal to scandal until the next GE.
Haven’t bought anything yet - still got a few months left on my current lease car - but the more YouTube I watch of L322 owners doing 12 month running and maintenance costs the colder my feet get.
What’s your view on a 10ish year old XC90? More reliable?
Like most lamp posts being wired for 20-32A. WTF did they plan on running from each lamp post? An oven?
Very handy though for EV charging points, since LED lights on the lamppost itself reduce the requirement for power to zilch.
Most petrol vehicles under 16 years old or diesel vehicles under 6 years old already meet the emissions standards.
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ways-to-meet-the-standard
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/01/205_344519.html
... 60.7 percent of the respondents said they believe their country is somewhat in need of developing its own nuclear weapons, while 15.9 percent said it is very much in need.
Only 3.1 percent said the country is in no need of such weapons, while 20.3 percent said the need is low.
The level of approval measured for nuclear weapons is higher than the numbers shown in other studies in recent years, including a survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (71 percent) and another one by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (70.2 percent).
The latest research by Gallup Korea conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 26, based on one-on-one interviews with 1,000 people, shows that there is widespread skepticism over the possibility of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
While 56.4 percent of respondents said they think the denuclearization of North Korea is impossible, 21.2 percent said it is nearly impossible. Only 1.9 percent said it is very likely...
SKS will not allow AB to become an MP
LABs right has such a grip on Selections even centre left Candidates are not welcome
I had a choice of six different supermarkets in the two different towns, and if only one of them had car charging points in all its car parking spaces then that would certainly be a competitive advantage.
Hope you're keeping well BJO