The people who wail about cancel culture have got Lineker cancelled. I’m shocked SHOCKED that they are more worried about speech critical of the Tory Party than supportive. I mean, who could possibly forget their brave picketing of BBC TV Centre throughout the Nineties to protest the appearance of Thatcherite and Tory donor Jim Davidson on Big Break every Saturday night.
Twitter wasn't around then and I don’t think Jim Davidson ever said much about politics on Big Break
Lineker never says anything about politics on MOTD you twat. Davidson did appear at Tory conferences however.
He never called Blair's policies Nazi however, the most he did was mock his sweaty shirt post speech
He moved to Dubai saying that he’d rather be a racial minority there than, as a result of Blair’s policies, one in the U.K. Which is worse.
(I’m fact Davidson was moving to dodge a £700k tax bill but, to be fair, he’s a Conservative supporter. It’s what they do)
Why is it so surprising that Piers Morgan would be backing him? He's hardly one to be concerned with impartiality.
The problem appears to be that the BBC is trying to enforce something on all its staff that seems increasingly unworkable in the social media age. Who is going to want to work there if you are unable to say anything that might be seen as politically partial even when you aren't at work? Or is it just for newspeople/high profile figures only? The BBC could do with explaining exactly what the policy is. It may be available in a long-winded document somewhere but they should be defending it on their own news bulletins.
In the 80s and 90s we had news presenters like Michael Buerk, Moira Stuart, Sue Lawley, etc, and after watching them for about 20 years no-one had the slightest idea what their political opinions might be. Because no social media.
No-one ever had a problem with Des Lynham.
TBF, social media wasn't a thing when Lynham was in his prime.
The trouble is that the BBC know Lineker is making a coordinated political attack on the Government, with bedfellows like Alistair Campbell, and he knows it too - he has all but admitted he wants to be an MP.
He crossed a line by comparing them to Nazis, and well he knows it. He just think he has enough support out there to face the BBC down and call their bluff. He's goading them.
He will probably find that, just like Clarkson and Top Gear, he is not indispensable.
No-one is.
I head Campbell on the radio this evening and what he said was far worse than Lineker's intemperate tweet, God knows why the BBC gave Campbell the airtime as they surely know his form.
I heard him on Radio 5, he was throwing mud at everyone, and going far further than Lineker did. I'm honestly surprised that an editor thought it was a good idea to have him on.
But Mr Campbell is not employed by the BBC to comment on football.
Sure, but when the BBC is in a dispute with an employee over comments he made about a sensitive issue is Alistair Campbell really the first person you would think of to get a balanced view on the matter? I wouldn't have though so. It was more like handing an arsonist the matches.
Anyway, all this culture war smokescreen is simply because Rishi can't possibly allow Conservative MPs to find out that he is trying to run a competent government.
It’s also a cover for, effectively, an open door immigration policy in the desperate hope it can juice the gdp figures.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
The trouble is that the BBC know Lineker is making a coordinated political attack on the Government, with bedfellows like Alistair Campbell, and he knows it too - he has all but admitted he wants to be an MP.
He crossed a line by comparing them to Nazis, and well he knows it. He just think he has enough support out there to face the BBC down and call their bluff. He's goading them.
He will probably find that, just like Clarkson and Top Gear, he is not indispensable.
No-one is.
I head Campbell on the radio this evening and what he said was far worse than Lineker's intemperate tweet, God knows why the BBC gave Campbell the airtime as they surely know his form.
I heard him on Radio 5, he was throwing mud at everyone, and going far further than Lineker did. I'm honestly surprised that an editor thought it was a good idea to have him on.
But Mr Campbell is not employed by the BBC to comment on football.
Sure, but when the BBC is in a dispute with an employee over comments he made about a sensitive issue is Alistair Campbell really the first person you would think of to get a balanced view on the matter? I wouldn't have though so. It was more like handing an arsonist the matches.
The BBC is, nevertheless, positively supposed to get both sides of the view.
If, for instance, it can have Mr Farage on QT almost monthly, from the figures posted by one of us earlier ...?
It does seem rather an own goal. Gary Lineker is an engaging everyman, rather than the "lefty liberal elite".
He is lefty liberal elite.
Very much so. All over.
Probably. But is he seen that way by the everymen and everywomen who only know him as that football chap, and now he said something about being nice to refugees or something?
Your reminder that he is in a minority
Britain Elects
On banning migrants who come to the UK in small boats from ever re-entering the UK
Does being on the minority or majority side of an issue have any effect on the validity or justifiability of expressing your views? Slippery slope if so I'm sure you'll agree.
All sorts of whacko ideas can get majority support;
5/ In our weekly Brexit tracker, we asked how people would vote if there were another EU Referendum tomorrow. This is the latest state of play:
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM.
The people who wail about cancel culture have got Lineker cancelled. I’m shocked SHOCKED that they are more worried about speech critical of the Tory Party than supportive. I mean, who could possibly forget their brave picketing of BBC TV Centre throughout the Nineties to protest the appearance of Thatcherite and Tory donor Jim Davidson on Big Break every Saturday night.
Twitter wasn't around then and I don’t think Jim Davidson ever said much about politics on Big Break
Lineker never says anything about politics on MOTD you twat. Davidson did appear at Tory conferences however.
As indeed did Kenny Everett. Whilst continuing to have terminally unfunny primetime TV and radio shows.
Football's backlash against @BBC intensifies over its treatment of @GaryLineker. Many @premierleague players keen to show support for ex-pro pundits who step aside from @BBCMOTD. And @PFA will also fully support players who face fines for not completing required broadcast duties
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The dMjays of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Why is it so surprising that Piers Morgan would be backing him? He's hardly one to be concerned with impartiality.
The problem appears to be that the BBC is trying to enforce something on all its staff that seems increasingly unworkable in the social media age. Who is going to want to work there if you are unable to say anything that might be seen as politically partial even when you aren't at work? Or is it just for newspeople/high profile figures only? The BBC could do with explaining exactly what the policy is. It may be available in a long-winded document somewhere but they should be defending it on their own news bulletins.
In the 80s and 90s we had news presenters like Michael Buerk, Moira Stuart, Sue Lawley, etc, and after watching them for about 20 years no-one had the slightest idea what their political opinions might be. Because no social media.
No-one ever had a problem with Des Lynham.
TBF, social media wasn't a thing when Lynham was in his prime.
Des Lynam did sum up the day's Grandstand on the occasion of the greatest ever Challenge Cup Final in 1985, not by referring to any of the superb rugby, tries for the ages, or monstrous crowd. But by focusing on Henderson Gill's "watermelon smile". Different times they were for sure.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
Why is it so surprising that Piers Morgan would be backing him? He's hardly one to be concerned with impartiality.
The problem appears to be that the BBC is trying to enforce something on all its staff that seems increasingly unworkable in the social media age. Who is going to want to work there if you are unable to say anything that might be seen as politically partial even when you aren't at work? Or is it just for newspeople/high profile figures only? The BBC could do with explaining exactly what the policy is. It may be available in a long-winded document somewhere but they should be defending it on their own news bulletins.
In the 80s and 90s we had news presenters like Michael Buerk, Moira Stuart, Sue Lawley, etc, and after watching them for about 20 years no-one had the slightest idea what their political opinions might be. Because no social media.
No-one ever had a problem with Des Lynham.
TBF, social media wasn't a thing when Lynham was in his prime.
That's the real problem here.
No, the real problem is typical right wing hypocrisy when someone says something that hurts their poor delicate feelings.
A similar phenomenon can be seen in America where Fox employ former QB and Republican Troy Aikman to call games but tell basketball players critical of Trump to “shut up and dribble”.
Right wing stars are salt of the Earth, those who show a left wing opinion are “leftie liberal elitists”.
Football's backlash against @BBC intensifies over its treatment of @GaryLineker. Many @premierleague players keen to show support for ex-pro pundits who step aside from @BBCMOTD. And @PFA will also fully support players who face fines for not completing required broadcast duties
Am wondering if this may spread to commentators/technical staff?
This all feels *very* contrived now. Like a choreographed media event designed to turn the football watching masses against the Tory's supposed small boat crackdown.
A CIA backed “colour revolution” perhaps.
I suppose we'll see whether Lineker ends up paying his tax bill or not.
This all feels *very* contrived now. Like a choreographed media event designed to turn the football watching masses against the Tory's supposed small boat crackdown.
A CIA backed “colour revolution” perhaps.
I suppose we'll see whether Lineker ends up paying his rax bill or not.
I think he’ll pay his tax bill before his tax bill
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
With a fair few saying "How much is he paid ???"
It would be ironic if the BBC change the format and make their pundits redundant
More seriously though the chair of the BBC should be non political but while they tax everyone for it then it will be a political football !!!!!!!!!!!!
Early series of Match of The Day covered one match, it was possible to watch a 0-0 draw played on a very muddy pitch by mid table teams. It has evolved, and changed as the broadcast rights were traded.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
@YouGov · 7h Is it ever appropriate to compare government policies to actions by the Nazis?
This all feels *very* contrived now. Like a choreographed media event designed to turn the football watching masses against the Tory's supposed small boat crackdown.
A CIA backed “colour revolution” perhaps.
I suppose we'll see whether Lineker ends up paying his rax bill or not.
I think he’ll pay his tax bill before his tax bill
Football's backlash against @BBC intensifies over its treatment of @GaryLineker. Many @premierleague players keen to show support for ex-pro pundits who step aside from @BBCMOTD. And @PFA will also fully support players who face fines for not completing required broadcast duties
Am wondering if this may spread to commentators/technical staff?
Upthread, the tech union have already commented they are not happy...
The people who wail about cancel culture have got Lineker cancelled. I’m shocked SHOCKED that they are more worried about speech critical of the Tory Party than supportive. I mean, who could possibly forget their brave picketing of BBC TV Centre throughout the Nineties to protest the appearance of Thatcherite and Tory donor Jim Davidson on Big Break every Saturday night.
Twitter wasn't around then and I don’t think Jim Davidson ever said much about politics on Big Break
Lineker’s comments weren’t on air either.
Davidson was very free with his opinions in the press and elsewhere.
SO who is the NEXT popular British broadcasting personality that Tory government will hasten off the airwaves?
Nominations please!
Holly and Phil were looking a bit shaky in the autumn over queuegate. Still think they’re on borrowed time. At some point they’ll be exposed as having exhumed the Queen Mother as a prop for a reboot of Most Haunted.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
*And* they do it on Friday, just in time for tomorrow's Match of the Day.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
If they want to really alienate as many people as possible they should say they support building on the Green Belt.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
@YouGov · 7h Is it ever appropriate to compare government policies to actions by the Nazis?
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
Good to hear you say potentially positive news story which it is and Sunak must be very angry that this story has been blown out of proportion and dominates the media
However today's accord will outlast this and is a marker for a new friendly and cooperative relationship with France and Europe going forward
Macron's EPC is very important to the future of the UK and trade with the EU
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
That reminds me that most cats in Australia have been put under a night-time curfew.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
@YouGov · 7h Is it ever appropriate to compare government policies to actions by the Nazis?
Sorry. But falling back on polling is a shocking last refuge for denying freedom of speech. After all. You'd be cancelled on all polling for advocating a re-election of this shower of sh**e.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
If they want to really alienate as many people as possible they should say they support building on the Green Belt.
Like they have already? (Edit: not quite sure where we are with that in England, though, given the Trussterbourach.)
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
Good to hear you say potentially positive news story which it is and Sunak must be very angry that this story has been blown out of proportion and dominates the media
However today's accord will outlast this and is a marker for a new friendly and cooperative relationship with France and Europe going forward
Macron's EPC is very important to the future of the UK and trade with the EU
Now that we have concluded the important business of censuring footballers for upsetting the governing party, can we perhaps focus some critical attention on the immoral, unworkable and (by the government’s own boastful admission) probably unlawful Illegal Migration Bill?
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
Wrong. Dead wrong.
I’m with several (female) members of my family who have no interest in football whatsoever.
All talking about it.
And since it's topping the news bulletins and websites, and plastered across all bar one front page it will be talked about extensively up and down the country.
In other news, I see two red lines on a test strip for the first time. No longer part of the 1%.
Been a hermit for 3 years due to caring duties but we decided to meet some old friends at the weekend, some of whom we haven't seen for over 20 years. Had a great time but the inevitable has happened.
It turns out that the care company no longer has capacity to fill in and brother-in-law (useless sod that he is) is happier arguing for 30 minutes on the phone as to why he can't help instead of popping round for 5 minutes.
Ho hum.
Knife edge decision to make. Not good. Own fault (ish).
Are 3 masks with a 30 second dwell time good enough to stop Omicron? Patient is on the ECV list.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
There's always a risk when non political people become involved in politics. They can just end up looking like idiots and cranks, getting a high from a little bit of positive buzz from some online partisan group.
Or the government/opposition can look weak and unpopular by picking a fight with someone who, even if they said a political thing, just isn't seen as a political figure. The government (as in this case) end up looking petty and foolish, as opinion swells behind the public figure.
Sunak might well end up being a decent PM, but I suspect we won't really be able to tell until he's been out of office a few years, since there's so much noise covering things up.
Congratulations to the Tory lapdogs at the BBC ! You’ve turned this into an even bigger story which has politicized MOTD and clearly they couldn’t find anyone willing to be seen as a Judas !
Our decent insitutions are falling like flies. The BBC have been at the very top. Respected worldwide. This rancid Tory government are leaving nothing worthwhile intact.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
"Curb your cur, muzzle your mutt . . . or Jacob Rees-Moog will be by . . . to shoot your puppy!"
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
They haven’t so much “surrendered” it as can’t afford it. They only have the FA Cup. MOTD, while a highlights package, is massive. They have the rights for a few more years and are basically guaranteed the World Cup as a “crown jewel”.
In other news, I see two red lines on a test strip for the first time. No longer part of the 1%.
Been a hermit for 3 years due to caring duties but we decided to meet some old friends at the weekend, some of whom we haven't seen for over 20 years. Had a great time but the inevitable has happened.
It turns out that the care company no longer has capacity to fill in and brother-in-law (useless sod that he is) is happier arguing for 30 minutes on the phone as to why he can't help instead of popping round for 5 minutes.
Ho hum.
Knife edge decision to make. Not good. Own fault (ish).
Are 3 masks with a 30 second dwell time good enough to stop Omicron? Patient is on the ECV list.
SO who is the NEXT popular British broadcasting personality that Tory government will hasten off the airwaves?
Nominations please!
Holly and Phil were looking a bit shaky in the autumn over queuegate. Still think they’re on borrowed time. At some point they’ll be exposed as having exhumed the Queen Mother as a prop for a reboot of Most Haunted.
Wouldn't Sunak & Co GAIN voter support by contriving THEIR sackings?
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Still adding stuff after posting, without making your editing clear.
4 to 1 polls support me, I win there
There is htis concept called MoE. I recommend you study it.
If you look at the graph on wikipedia, it would seem that RefUK consistently outpolled the Greens by a margin of nearly 1pp, for a couple of months. If it was simply margin of error random variations you wold expect those to cancel out in a large enough average.
The latest figures suggest that the Greens have narrowed the difference - perhaps eliminated it to draw level - but the LOESS average used is uncertain towards the end, so you can't conclude that with certainty yet.
It hadn't really permeated my consciousness that RefUK had pulled ahead of the Greens during the post-Truss era. Feels unlikely that they will get the 10% between them that the polls currently have them exceeding.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
They can just end up looking like idiots and cranks, getting a high from a little bit of positive buzz from some online partisan group.
Or the government/opposition can look weak and unpopular by picking a fight with someone who, even if they said a political thing, just isn't seen as a political figure. The government (as in this case) end up looking petty and foolish, as opinion swells behind the public figure.
Sunak might well end up being a decent PM, but I suspect we won't really be able to tell until he's been out of office a few years, since there's so much noise covering things up.
“…non political people become involved in politics…” - aka democracy.
In other news, I see two red lines on a test strip for the first time. No longer part of the 1%.
Been a hermit for 3 years due to caring duties but we decided to meet some old friends at the weekend, some of whom we haven't seen for over 20 years. Had a great time but the inevitable has happened.
It turns out that the care company no longer has capacity to fill in and brother-in-law (useless sod that he is) is happier arguing for 30 minutes on the phone as to why he can't help instead of popping round for 5 minutes.
Ho hum.
Knife edge decision to make. Not good. Own fault (ish).
Are 3 masks with a 30 second dwell time good enough to stop Omicron? Patient is on the ECV list.
Eesh sorry - can't be an easy decision to make. Hope you can find some other options.
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Still adding stuff after posting, without making your editing clear.
4 to 1 polls support me, I win there
There is htis concept called MoE. I recommend you study it.
If you look a the graph on wikipedia, it woudl seem that RefUK consistently outpolled the Greens by a margin of nearly 1pp, for a couple of months. If it was simply margin of error random variations you wold expect those to cancel out in a large enough average.
The latest figures suggest that the Greens have narrowed the difference - perhaps eliminated it to draw level - but the LOESS average used is uncertain towards the end, so you can't conclude that with certainty yet.
HYUFD did say "currently polling" so we are dealing with the end. I entirely agree it's all uncertain, and pointed out earlier that we don't know either way.
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
They haven’t so much “surrendered” it as can’t afford it. They only have the FA Cup. MOTD, while a highlights package, is massive. They have the rights for a few more years and are basically guaranteed the World Cup as a “crown jewel”.
To be radical. They could stop spending a huge proportion of their sports budget on 2 weeks of Wimbledon. And buy up shed loads of cheaper, popular sports year round. But that might affect the pearl clutching elite snowflakes who might have to put a sky dish on their house to hear grunting and squealing.
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
They haven’t so much “surrendered” it as can’t afford it. They only have the FA Cup. MOTD, while a highlights package, is massive. They have the rights for a few more years and are basically guaranteed the World Cup as a “crown jewel”.
The FA Cup is shared with ITV as far as I am aware but they are nowhere near the coverage Sky and BT give to football
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
Plenty of dog owners piss me off. There are far too many dogs around and they're all off the lead.
"Oh, don't worry, he won't bite!", "He only eats one child a day!"
Impossible to go for a country walk anywhere now without getting jumped on and salivated by someone's dirty hound. And, yes, sometimes they do bite.
When a 'National Treasure' posts a tweet criticising you new flagship policy, do you:
a) Shrug your shoulders, ignore the tweet and press on.
b) Reject the criticism with a 'Celebs should stick to entertainment, not politics' line.
c) Attack the 'National Treasure' and demand they be sacked, thus making them the victim and ensuring the news cycle is dominated by your attacks on free speech rather than your flagship policy.
Answers: a) Good; b) Poor but recoverable; c) So f*cking inept only this Tory government could possibly pursue it.
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
It’s been done to death by Leon. Anything Leon touches turns to yawn. Elvis could descend from Heaven with the Heavenly Choir on backing vocals, Jesus on bass, Hendrix on guitar and Bonham on drums, and he’d make it sound boring.
It does seem rather an own goal. Gary Lineker is an engaging everyman, rather than the "lefty liberal elite".
He is lefty liberal elite.
Very much so. All over.
Probably. But is he seen that way by the everymen and everywomen who only know him as that football chap, and now he said something about being nice to refugees or something?
Your reminder that he is in a minority
Britain Elects
On banning migrants who come to the UK in small boats from ever re-entering the UK
Does being on the minority or majority side of an issue have any effect on the validity or justifiability of expressing your views? Slippery slope if so I'm sure you'll agree.
All sorts of whacko ideas can get majority support;
5/ In our weekly Brexit tracker, we asked how people would vote if there were another EU Referendum tomorrow. This is the latest state of play:
Staying out of the EU is now as unpopular as the Tory government. Starmer is missing out badly by keeping silent. He's showing himself up to be a feeble follower when the public want a leader. He should take a leaf out of Blair's book. Be respected enough to get people to follow you.
When a 'National Treasure' posts a tweet criticising you new flagship policy, do you:
a) Shrug your shoulders, ignore the tweet and press on.
b) Reject the criticism with a 'Celebs should stick to entertainment, not politics' line.
c) Attack the 'National Treasure' and demand they be sacked, thus making them the victim and ensuring the news cycle is dominated by your attacks on free speech rather than your flagship policy.
Answers: a) Good; b) Poor but recoverable; c) So f*cking inept only this Tory government could possibly pursue it.
d) Wait 6 months and then sideline him for being a dinosaur, then use the money to reinstate the orchestras that are being cut.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
They can just end up looking like idiots and cranks, getting a high from a little bit of positive buzz from some online partisan group.
Or the government/opposition can look weak and unpopular by picking a fight with someone who, even if they said a political thing, just isn't seen as a political figure. The government (as in this case) end up looking petty and foolish, as opinion swells behind the public figure.
Sunak might well end up being a decent PM, but I suspect we won't really be able to tell until he's been out of office a few years, since there's so much noise covering things up.
“…non political people become involved in politics…” - aka democracy.
Yes, but I was speaking in terms of becoming embroiled within a high profile public political debate when that is not their usual field, thus opening themselves up to the sort of praise and criticism by senior politicians and commentators.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but when you enter that fight you might find yourself regarded along the same lines as the political class, which is probably bad for you, or the political class looks silly for treating you like one of them - see also histrionic reactions against Rashford's campaigns.
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
It’s been done to death by Leon. Anything Leon touches turns to yawn. Elvis could descend from Heaven with the Heavenly Choir on backing vocals, Jesus on bass, Hendrix on guitar and Bonham on drums, and he’d make it sound boring.
Although Leon is the PBer who has made millions from his writings.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
"Curb your cur, muzzle your mutt . . . or Jacob Rees-Moog will be by . . . to shoot your puppy!"
I would think JRM would be a dog fan - unlike people they usually obey their masters without complaint, or making fun of their ill fitting clothing and archaic affectations.
Nick Tyrone @NicholasTyrone · 2h I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
Plenty of dog owners piss me off. There are far too many dogs around and they're all off the lead.
"Oh, don't worry, he won't bite!", "He only eats one child a day!"
Impossible to go for a country walk anywhere now without getting jumped on and salivated by someone's dirty hound. And, yes, sometimes they do bite.
It does seem rather an own goal. Gary Lineker is an engaging everyman, rather than the "lefty liberal elite".
He is lefty liberal elite.
Very much so. All over.
Probably. But is he seen that way by the everymen and everywomen who only know him as that football chap, and now he said something about being nice to refugees or something?
Your reminder that he is in a minority
Britain Elects
On banning migrants who come to the UK in small boats from ever re-entering the UK
Does being on the minority or majority side of an issue have any effect on the validity or justifiability of expressing your views? Slippery slope if so I'm sure you'll agree.
All sorts of whacko ideas can get majority support;
5/ In our weekly Brexit tracker, we asked how people would vote if there were another EU Referendum tomorrow. This is the latest state of play:
Staying out of the EU is now as unpopular as the Tory government. Starmer is missing out badly by keeping silent. He's showing himself up to be a feeble follower when the public want a leader. He should take a leaf out of Blair's book. Be respected enough to get people to follow you.
I'm beginning to think BJO has a point.
There’s no point. The EU isn’t ready for us and any negotiation would reverse those figures. Starmer can’t deliver rejoin so why promise it? It only takes one of 27 states to veto us and an almighty row over the Euro will happen domestically. We’ll not back in the lifetime of anyone on this board sadly.
It does seem rather an own goal. Gary Lineker is an engaging everyman, rather than the "lefty liberal elite".
He is lefty liberal elite.
Very much so. All over.
Probably. But is he seen that way by the everymen and everywomen who only know him as that football chap, and now he said something about being nice to refugees or something?
Your reminder that he is in a minority
Britain Elects
On banning migrants who come to the UK in small boats from ever re-entering the UK
Does being on the minority or majority side of an issue have any effect on the validity or justifiability of expressing your views? Slippery slope if so I'm sure you'll agree.
All sorts of whacko ideas can get majority support;
5/ In our weekly Brexit tracker, we asked how people would vote if there were another EU Referendum tomorrow. This is the latest state of play:
Staying out of the EU is now as unpopular as the Tory government. Starmer is missing out badly by keeping silent. He's showing himself up to be a feeble follower when the public want a leader. He should take a leaf out of Blair's book. Be respected enough to get people to follow you.
I'm beginning to think BJO has a point.
Never mind, Sunak and Macron are on course to take the UK into much closer cooperation and Macron's EPC which is as close to rejoining as we are likely to get and improves all aspects of our relationship including trade
Starmer is still pro Brexit so maybe you need to see Sunak in a more pro Europe light than before
Ban anyone from keeping a dog without training and a licence, and always on a lead.
Generally, ship Lefties to the Outer Hebrides to read Guardians and eat kale in cold windswept silence.
Interesting that you feel free to sneer about transportation without any reference to the locals. But that has a rather long tradition in Tory circles.
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
It’s been done to death by Leon. Anything Leon touches turns to yawn. Elvis could descend from Heaven with the Heavenly Choir on backing vocals, Jesus on bass, Hendrix on guitar and Bonham on drums, and he’d make it sound boring.
Although Leon is the PBer who has made millions from his writings.
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
They haven’t so much “surrendered” it as can’t afford it. They only have the FA Cup. MOTD, while a highlights package, is massive. They have the rights for a few more years and are basically guaranteed the World Cup as a “crown jewel”.
To be radical. They could stop spending a huge proportion of their sports budget on 2 weeks of Wimbledon. And buy up shed loads of cheaper, popular sports year round. But that might affect the pearl clutching elite snowflakes who might have to put a sky dish on their house to hear grunting and squealing.
ITV4 is very good for sports fans who like the 'cheap and cheerful' variety.
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
"may be"
"could"
DT ... Now ifx it were Nature, I would be more interested.
What on earth are you wittering on about? The DT is reporting the news that the Senate and House of Representatives in the US have voted unanimously to request that intelligence on the Wuhan lab is declassified - that is a piece of news, it's not relevant where it's appearing, and why would it be published in 'Nature'?
The 60% who aren't interested in football are going "What's all the fuss about?" at the moment.
The problem for the Tories is, a lot of the people who are interested in football, are ( some of ) their new core vote. The days of green wellies in the Tory shires being their only, or even fully functioning, redoubts are not ours.
They are again actually, Rishi's core vote is West London and Home counties. Most of the redwall football fanatics are back voting Labour now or have gone to RefUK
Indeed, which means very bad news at the elections for the Tories. A number of shire former strongholds will go Lib Dem, I think, thanks to tactical voting among younger voters.
The opposite. Rishi will hold Tory Shire seats from the LDs and may even gain a few seats from the Liberals and Independents. However he will lose seats to Labour in Essex, Kent, the North and Midlands.
Few young voters vote in local elections
Recent council by-elections are consistently showing the Lib Dems outperforming polls (and Labour underperforming), as well as the Greens taking huge shares from Con across the whole SE.
One increasingly important factor is the environment, by which I mean raw sewage being pumped into watercourses. The government ignores this at its peril.
LDs always do better in by elections as they throw every activist and their wife within a hundred miles at it. When national elections are held however they can't do that.
Yes, that poll gives a swing of 3% from LD to Conservative since the 2019 local elections and 2% from LD to Conservative since the local elections last year when Boris was PM
"The Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK" is what you said. Nothing about swings.
Still adding stuff after posting, without making your editing clear.
4 to 1 polls support me, I win there
There is htis concept called MoE. I recommend you study it.
If you look at the graph on wikipedia, it would seem that RefUK consistently outpolled the Greens by a margin of nearly 1pp, for a couple of months. If it was simply margin of error random variations you wold expect those to cancel out in a large enough average.
The latest figures suggest that the Greens have narrowed the difference - perhaps eliminated it to draw level - but the LOESS average used is uncertain towards the end, so you can't conclude that with certainty yet.
It hadn't really permeated my consciousness that RefUK had pulled ahead of the Greens during the post-Truss era. Feels unlikely that they will get the 10% between them that the polls currently have them exceeding.
Makes sense to me, your reasoning above.
HOWEVER, think there is (perhaps) this key difference: that large share of Green support consists of tactical votes-in-waiting for Labour and Lib Dems (and SNP), compared with share of current Reform supporters who will end up voting Conservative when the time comes.
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
"may be"
"could"
DT ... Now ifx it were Nature, I would be more interested.
What on earth are you wittering on about? The DT is reporting the news that the Senate and House of Representatives in the US have voted unanimously to request that intelligence on the Wuhan lab is declassified - that is a piece of news, it's not relevant where it's appearing, and why would it be published in 'Nature'?
Paywalled for me, so I was simply reacting to the usual DT rubbish headline. Very different impression from what you say, ta.
Nature are rather more reliable on anything scientific.
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
Good to hear you say potentially positive news story which it is and Sunak must be very angry that this story has been blown out of proportion and dominates the media
However today's accord will outlast this and is a marker for a new friendly and cooperative relationship with France and Europe going forward
Macron's EPC is very important to the future of the UK and trade with the EU
Any cooperation with Europe, and specifically France, on this has to be a good thing. Tbh, I cannot see it making much difference but I hope I am wrong.
As I have said many times before the way to stop this is remove the draw that the black economy modern slavery system provides.
Ideas to support that: citizenship route for grassing on illegal employers, ID cards for all, random checks on at risk businesses such as car washes, nail bars etc., proper resources for processing and keeping tabs on asylum-seekers, allow those awaiting processing to work to pay for their keep...
Re the BBC they have just surrendered golf coverage and are hardly showing any football live which is dominated by Sky and BT, will they pull their coverage of football as well?
They haven’t so much “surrendered” it as can’t afford it. They only have the FA Cup. MOTD, while a highlights package, is massive. They have the rights for a few more years and are basically guaranteed the World Cup as a “crown jewel”.
To be radical. They could stop spending a huge proportion of their sports budget on 2 weeks of Wimbledon. And buy up shed loads of cheaper, popular sports year round. But that might affect the pearl clutching elite snowflakes who might have to put a sky dish on their house to hear grunting and squealing.
ITV4 is very good for sports fans who like the 'cheap and cheerful' variety.
Their cycling coverage is excellent (as long as you can fast forward the adverts).
Well, Sunak must be delighted. His potentially positive news story from meeting Macron has been completely drowned out by 'Lineker's Last Stand' triggered by stupid, anti free speech Tory attacks.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
@YouGov · 7h Is it ever appropriate to compare government policies to actions by the Nazis?
Comments
(I’m fact Davidson was moving to dodge a £700k tax bill but, to be fair, he’s a Conservative supporter. It’s what they do)
They’re playing the far right like a violin.
LAB: 42% (-3)
CON: 23% (-1)
GRN: 10% (+2)
LDEM: 8% (-1)
REF: 7% (-)
via
@PeoplePolling
08 Mar
https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/june/yesterdays-men/
If, for instance, it can have Mr Farage on QT almost monthly, from the figures posted by one of us earlier ...?
5/ In our weekly Brexit tracker, we asked how people would vote if there were another EU Referendum tomorrow. This is the latest state of play:
* All *
❎ Stay Out: 30% (-2)
☑️ Re-join: 52% (+5)
* Exc DKs*
❎ Stay Out: 37% (-3)
☑️ Re-join: 63% (+3)
https://twitter.com/Omnisis/status/1634202492828352513
Omnisis today has RefUK on 6% and the Greens on 5%
https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1634207516182691841?s=20
Football's backlash against @BBC intensifies over its treatment of @GaryLineker. Many @premierleague players keen to show support for ex-pro pundits who step aside from @BBCMOTD. And @PFA will also fully support players who face fines for not completing required broadcast duties
https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1634207516182691841?s=20
The latest Yougov also has RefUK on 6% to 5% for the Greens
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/03/08/voting-intention-con-25-labour-47
Opinium has RefUK on 8% and the Greens on 7%
https://twitter.com/OpiniumResearch/status/1632108652596436992?s=20
Survation has RefUK on 4% and the Greens on 3%
https://twitter.com/Survation/status/1634237053004070917?s=20
But by focusing on Henderson Gill's "watermelon smile".
Different times they were for sure.
Every time you think the Tories have reached peak incompetence they find a way to exceed themselves. Brilliant.
A similar phenomenon can be seen in America where Fox employ former QB and Republican Troy Aikman to call games but tell basketball players critical of Trump to “shut up and dribble”.
Right wing stars are salt of the Earth, those who show a left wing opinion are “leftie liberal elitists”.
Nominations please!
I’m with several (female) members of my family who have no interest in football whatsoever.
All talking about it.
@NicholasTyrone
·
2h
I was thinking of things the Tories could come out against next, after football. What about dogs? Just be really, really anti-dog. I mean, if the goal is to alienate as many people in Britain as possible, it feels like the next natural move.
·
7h
Is it ever appropriate to compare government policies to actions by the Nazis?
All Britons
Sometimes: 34%
Never: 47%
Con voters
Sometimes: 13%
Never: 75%
Lab voters
Sometimes: 58%
Never: 27%
https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1634202314494935041?s=20
Would you support or oppose banning migrants who come to the UK in small boats from ever re‑entering the UK, being able to settle permanently in the UK, and receiving British citizenship? 50% in favour, just 36% against
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2023/03/06/9e23f/2
Davidson was very free with his opinions in the press and elsewhere.
I really like the careful attention to detail.
However today's accord will outlast this and is a marker for a new friendly and cooperative relationship with France and Europe going forward
Macron's EPC is very important to the future of the UK and trade with the EU
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cat-curfews-creep-in-as-australia-clamps-down-on-wildlife-killers-sbnxgbzjp
But falling back on polling is a shocking last refuge for denying freedom of speech.
After all. You'd be cancelled on all polling for advocating a re-election of this shower of sh**e.
Now that we have concluded the important business of censuring footballers for upsetting the governing party, can we perhaps focus some critical attention on the immoral, unworkable and (by the government’s own boastful admission) probably unlawful Illegal Migration Bill?
Been a hermit for 3 years due to caring duties but we decided to meet some old friends at the weekend, some of whom we haven't seen for over 20 years. Had a great time but the inevitable has happened.
It turns out that the care company no longer has capacity to fill in and brother-in-law (useless sod that he is) is happier arguing for 30 minutes on the phone as to why he can't help instead of popping round for 5 minutes.
Ho hum.
Knife edge decision to make. Not good. Own fault (ish).
Are 3 masks with a 30 second dwell time good enough to stop Omicron? Patient is on the ECV list.
Or the government/opposition can look weak and unpopular by picking a fight with someone who, even if they said a political thing, just isn't seen as a political figure. The government (as in this case) end up looking petty and foolish, as opinion swells behind the public figure.
Sunak might well end up being a decent PM, but I suspect we won't really be able to tell until he's been out of office a few years, since there's so much noise covering things up.
Geet funniest mental contortions on here for some time.
Sharp find oot, mind.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/03/10/joe-biden-forced-declassify-intelligence-covid-19-origins/
'Prof van der Merwe said there was “little justification for doing such experiments, except scientific curiosity and the desire for prestige”.
He argued that if it was shown that the pandemic started in the Wuhan lab, such research could be banned forever.'
I believe I suggested something similar earlier this week, to a deafening lack of interest.
BoZo and the BBC Chairman loan story.
Slow hand clap all round, guys...
The latest figures suggest that the Greens have narrowed the difference - perhaps eliminated it to draw level - but the LOESS average used is uncertain towards the end, so you can't conclude that with certainty yet.
It hadn't really permeated my consciousness that RefUK had pulled ahead of the Greens during the post-Truss era. Feels unlikely that they will get the 10% between them that the polls currently have them exceeding.
"could"
DT ... Now ifx it were Nature, I would be more interested.
https://twitter.com/TheFastShow1/status/1634317551135072257
They could stop spending a huge proportion of their sports budget on 2 weeks of Wimbledon.
And buy up shed loads of cheaper, popular sports year round.
But that might affect the pearl clutching elite snowflakes who might have to put a sky dish on their house to hear grunting and squealing.
and it pairs well with.... WINE
"Oh, don't worry, he won't bite!", "He only eats one child a day!"
Impossible to go for a country walk anywhere now without getting jumped on and salivated by someone's dirty hound. And, yes, sometimes they do bite.
a) Shrug your shoulders, ignore the tweet and press on.
b) Reject the criticism with a 'Celebs should stick to entertainment, not politics' line.
c) Attack the 'National Treasure' and demand they be sacked, thus making them the victim and ensuring the news cycle is dominated by your attacks on free speech rather than your flagship policy.
Answers: a) Good; b) Poor but recoverable; c) So f*cking inept only this Tory government could possibly pursue it.
I'm beginning to think BJO has a point.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but when you enter that fight you might find yourself regarded along the same lines as the political class, which is probably bad for you, or the political class looks silly for treating you like one of them - see also histrionic reactions against Rashford's campaigns.
Ban anyone from keeping a dog without training and a licence, and always on a lead.
Generally, ship Lefties to the Outer Hebrides to read Guardians and eat kale in cold windswept silence.
Starmer is still pro Brexit so maybe you need to see Sunak in a more pro Europe light than before
HOWEVER, think there is (perhaps) this key difference: that large share of Green support consists of tactical votes-in-waiting for Labour and Lib Dems (and SNP), compared with share of current Reform supporters who will end up voting Conservative when the time comes.
It's a theory, anyway.
Nature are rather more reliable on anything scientific.
As I have said many times before the way to stop this is remove the draw that the black economy modern slavery system provides.
Ideas to support that: citizenship route for grassing on illegal employers, ID cards for all, random checks on at risk businesses such as car washes, nail bars etc., proper resources for processing and keeping tabs on asylum-seekers, allow those awaiting processing to work to pay for their keep...