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Even Piers Morgan is backing Garry Lineker – politicalbetting.com

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  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059
    If the BBC must be resolutely impartial can we have an enquiry as to why Andrew Neil was never told to shut up on Twitter?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    edited March 2023

    dixiedean said:

    DougSeal said:

    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.
    Doesn't have to be.
    Ditch the Wimbledon elite wankfest. See how the Daily Hate likes that.
    They aren't overly interested in tennis after all. Otherwise there'd be a bit of interest in other Majors.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,092
    MoTD to be presented without punditry, thank God
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,243
    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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.
    To me, seems like Starmer is more akin to Biden than Blair, in style and substance. Aside from seniority, both in politics & government AND in sheer longevity.

    Which all-in-all strikes me as more suitable than not at current juncture, for Labour and the UK.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 18,891

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    That's what worries me. If Starmer doesn't start showing some imagination and leadership the public might start to wonder why we need a change forgetting the complete awfulness of the last seven years..
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,590
    edited March 2023
    .

    Fine people for talking about football.

    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.

    Do you have concentration camps or just Soviet style gulags in mind for these Outer Hebridean lefty traitors?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 14,772
    dixiedean said:

    DougSeal said:

    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.
    Wimbledon is so important as a social event for the sorts of people that BBC bigwigs socialise with that giving up on Wimbledon would be unthinkable. Also, if my step-mother is any guide, Wimbledon is about the only sporting event that a significant chunk of the population is at all interested in watching.

    Losing Wimbledon is proper Ravens leaving the Tower territory for the BBC.

    Incidentally, I made it over to a castle - well, a ruined tower house - after work this evening, to find a pair of Ravens were perching on the battlements. Which was ace.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967
    Scott_xP said:

    @CountBinface

    Dear BBC, a gentle reminder that this is written on the side of your fucking headquarters. If I were you, I’d be sacking the chairman who withheld the truth, NOT the presenter who told it.


    Does that include telling Lineker what he doesn't want to hear ?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,154
    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm wondering how dogs would fare vs cyclists in a properly sampled poll of pavement and walk hazards. For me the cyclists are more dangerous.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    edited March 2023
    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,715
    edited March 2023
    @SuzyJourno
    EXCLUSIVE:
    @LucidTalk
    poll for
    @BelTel
    on how NI would vote in a referendum on the protocol deal:

    🔷 67% of people - Yes

    🔷 73% of DUP voters - No

    🔷 56% of UUP voters - Yes

    🔷98% of Alliance/Green voters, 97% of nationalists & 38% of unionists - Yes
    https://twitter.com/SuzyJourno/status/1634321027265175552?s=20
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,226
    Carnyx said:

    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm wondering how dogs would fare vs cyclists in a properly sampled poll of pavement and walk hazards. For me the cyclists are more dangerous.
    Yes cyclists. Them too into the fiery hell of Room 101. Bradley Wiggins has a lot to answer for.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think how much money they could save by extending that principle across most of their sporting and light entertainment output.

  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    I assume people have been helping themselves to a sherry or two on a Friday evening.

    Good night.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,284
    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm taking all this anti-dogism personally, just saying.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 14,772

    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 I lived in an urban area dogs were one of the things that activated my inner authoritarian - I'd be in favour of a compulsory DNA database and heavy fines, escalating to euthanasia for the dog, for any mess left behind. Any dog found not to be microchipped and on the database - give the army of newly-recruited dog wardens lethal injections to apply on the spot, Judge Dredd style.

    Not so sure now.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623

    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm taking all this anti-dogism personally, just saying.
    I sort of think we should train dogs to cycle just to be generally irritating.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    In more interesting news:

    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.

    "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.
    I apologise then. I do not have a subscription and most things are paywalled but that one wasn't.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    edited March 2023
    From Wikipedia, about the BBC director-general:

    "Davie stood as a councillor for the Conservative Party in Hammersmith in 1993 and 1994 and was deputy chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative party in the 1990s."

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Davie
  • jamesdoylejamesdoyle Posts: 633

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    HYUFD said:

    TimS said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Andy_JS said:

    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 Greens are currently polling worse than RefUK
    Westminster voting intention:

    LAB: 42% (-3)
    CON: 23% (-1)
    GRN: 10% (+2)
    LDEM: 8% (-1)
    REF: 7% (-)

    via
    @PeoplePolling
    08 Mar
    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.
    Omnisis today has RefUK on 6% and the Greens on 5%
    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
    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.

    It's a theory, anyway.
    SOME Greens will vote Lab or LibDem, and SOME RefUK will vote Con, but there will also be some of each that will end up (revert to) not voting. And experience tells me that in the former case the NV will be a minority, and I. The latter case the NV will be a majority. Because that's how each side thinks.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,004
    edited March 2023
    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey not only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macron and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    edited March 2023
    Should I apply for a full time job at a Special Intervention Unit at a Special School? The job I've been doing since September?
    My job has been advertised at £20k pro rata. 38
    weeks a year, 37 hours a week. £300 a week after tax.
    Priorities. Ha ha
    I'm great at it and love it but I can't.
    Liberal elite, me.
    Maybe I could present MOTD instead?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    HYUFD said:

    @SuzyJourno
    EXCLUSIVE:
    @LucidTalk
    poll for
    @BelTel
    on how NI would vote in a referendum on the protocol deal:

    🔷 67% of people - Yes

    🔷 73% of DUP voters - No

    🔷 56% of UUP voters - Yes

    🔷98% of Alliance/Green voters, 97% of nationalists & 38% of unionists - Yes
    https://twitter.com/SuzyJourno/status/1634321027265175552?s=20

    Part of the problem I think is that it feels like the Republicans have got what they wanted but the Unionists haven't. However Northern Ireland might be in the single market for goods but it isn't for services. That is a reasonable gripe republicans could make. Ultimately it is a compromise position.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,154
    moonshine said:

    Carnyx said:

    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm wondering how dogs would fare vs cyclists in a properly sampled poll of pavement and walk hazards. For me the cyclists are more dangerous.
    Yes cyclists. Them too into the fiery hell of Room 101. Bradley Wiggins has a lot to answer for.
    In that case scratch the cyclists from the Tory list. But add cats to get the right spread. Puppy and kitten pies would be a suitably disastrous idea after footie and Sir David A. And they're already doing nurses.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967
    HYUFD said:

    @SuzyJourno
    EXCLUSIVE:
    @LucidTalk
    poll for
    @BelTel
    on how NI would vote in a referendum on the protocol deal:

    🔷 67% of people - Yes

    🔷 73% of DUP voters - No

    🔷 56% of UUP voters - Yes

    🔷98% of Alliance/Green voters, 97% of nationalists & 38% of unionists - Yes
    https://twitter.com/SuzyJourno/status/1634321027265175552?s=20

    Did Baby Doc Paisley and pals find anything substantive wrong with Rishi's deal ?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    Players have contacted the Union to express solidarity.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 2,397
    edited March 2023
    Nat Hentoff said it about right in the title of this book: "Free Speech for Me—But Not for Thee: How the American Left and Right Relentlessly Censor Each Other".

    There are exceptions, and I honor them. And have begun to think I should give a regular contribution to one of his organizations, FIRE: https://www.thefire.org/

    (By the way, if you aren't familiar with Hentoff, you should be. He had an unusual combination of beliefs, one or more of which is bound to annoy almost eveyone here.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Hentoff )
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,884

    DougSeal said:

    In more interesting news:

    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.

    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.
    Unlikely. Thousands certainly, but not millions. Very few writers make millions.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408

    HYUFD said:

    @SuzyJourno
    EXCLUSIVE:
    @LucidTalk
    poll for
    @BelTel
    on how NI would vote in a referendum on the protocol deal:

    🔷 67% of people - Yes

    🔷 73% of DUP voters - No

    🔷 56% of UUP voters - Yes

    🔷98% of Alliance/Green voters, 97% of nationalists & 38% of unionists - Yes
    https://twitter.com/SuzyJourno/status/1634321027265175552?s=20

    Part of the problem I think is that it feels like the Republicans have got what they wanted but the Unionists haven't. However Northern Ireland might be in the single market for goods but it isn't for services. That is a reasonable gripe republicans could make. Ultimately it is a compromise position.
    If that many DUP voters are against it then that's a no from them. Where's the upside from not doing so? They can even secretly welcome it as better than before, but act as though they were betrayed by Westminster.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,768
    geoffw said:

    MoTD to be presented without punditry, thank God

    Fecking losers.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 14,915

    I assume people have been helping themselves to a sherry or two on a Friday evening.

    Good night.

    Not me! I'm enjoying a herbal tea in my Harry and Meghan mug.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,768
    dixiedean said:

    Should I apply for a full time job at a Special Intervention Unit at a Special School? The job I've been doing since September.
    My job has been advertised at £20k pro rata. 38
    weeks a year, 37 hours a week. £300 a week before tax.
    Priorities. Ha ha
    I'm great at it and love it but I can't.
    Maybe I could present MOTD?

    Idiots.

    Offer to cut out the middleman and do it for £200 a day and they'll actually bite your hands off.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059

    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey no only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macro and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    No they’re not. Look, you’re a Conservative Party supporter, and want to put a positive spin on todays rather underwhelming news, but bunging £500m to France and getting a nice word from VDL a new relationship does not make.

    The Conservative Party can’t be trusted with these things. Sunak supported a policy that destroyed our relationship with Europe. The idea he can fix it is for the birds.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,154

    moonshine said:

    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.

    I would put dogs and dog owners in Room 101 ahead of anything else I think. Popular policy that would be. Two thirds of households don’t own a dog.
    I'm taking all this anti-dogism personally, just saying.
    Quite right. In my experience the local hounds are much more amiable and relaxed than the cyclists and runners.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,092
    ydoethur said:

    geoffw said:

    MoTD to be presented without punditry, thank God

    Fecking losers.
    Ha!

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,854

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think how much money they could save by extending that principle across most of their sporting and light entertainment output.
    Just won't work. Can anybody imagine Strictly without Brucie?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,768
    kinabalu said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think how much money they could save by extending that principle across most of their sporting and light entertainment output.
    Just won't work. Can anybody imagine Strictly without Brucie?
    Yes, with a little Forsyth.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967

    DougSeal said:

    In more interesting news:

    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.

    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.
    Unlikely. Thousands certainly, but not millions. Very few writers make millions.
    Didn't he say he got offered millions in film rights ?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,590

    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey not only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macron and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    Have you been borrowing HYUFD's rose tinted specs again?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    And schools without teachers.
    Hospitals without medical staff.
    Etc
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    kinabalu said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think how much money they could save by extending that principle across most of their sporting and light entertainment output.
    Just won't work. Can anybody imagine Strictly without Brucie?
    Yes but on the flipside imagine how much more intelligent The One Show will seem.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,243
    edited March 2023
    Would it assuage No. 10 and Tory HQ, to have Lineker replaced by . . . wait for it . . . Gordon Ramsey?

    Or is he too pro-French?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,715
    edited March 2023
    DougSeal said:

    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey no only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macro and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    No they’re not. Look, you’re a Conservative Party supporter, and want to put a positive spin on todays rather underwhelming news, but bunging £500m to France and getting a nice word from VDL a new relationship does not make.

    The Conservative Party can’t be trusted with these things. Sunak supported a policy that destroyed our relationship with Europe. The idea he can fix it is for the birds.
    Yes but can you really imagine Macron would give the same embrace and warm welcome to dull, stodgy old Starmer as he did to slick, charismatic and handsome Rishi? For Macron Sir Keir would still be better than Boris and Liz but he seems to be building a close relationship with Rishi
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,768
    dixiedean said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    And schools without teachers.
    Hospitals without medical staff.
    Etc
    TBF, it's easy to imagine MOTD without presenters.

    Not that I care, I never watch it anyway.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047
    HYUFD said:

    DougSeal said:

    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey no only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macro and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    No they’re not. Look, you’re a Conservative Party supporter, and want to put a positive spin on todays rather underwhelming news, but bunging £500m to France and getting a nice word from VDL a new relationship does not make.

    The Conservative Party can’t be trusted with these things. Sunak supported a policy that destroyed our relationship with Europe. The idea he can fix it is for the birds.
    slick, charismatic and handsome Rishi?
    :|
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    Should I apply for a full time job at a Special Intervention Unit at a Special School? The job I've been doing since September.
    My job has been advertised at £20k pro rata. 38
    weeks a year, 37 hours a week. £300 a week before tax.
    Priorities. Ha ha
    I'm great at it and love it but I can't.
    Maybe I could present MOTD?

    Idiots.

    Offer to cut out the middleman and do it for £200 a day and they'll actually bite your hands off.
    Am somewhat less than gruntled.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    edited March 2023

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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.
    To me, seems like Starmer is more akin to Biden than Blair, in style and substance. Aside from seniority, both in politics & government AND in sheer longevity.

    Which all-in-all strikes me as more suitable than not at current juncture, for Labour and the UK.
    Sure it's enough. This Brexit government has been one of the worst ever and is basically loathed. But inertia is also a difficult habit to break.A government who have just appointed Boris Johnson's fixer as Chairman should be facing more trouble than anything they've seen in the last six years and all we hear from starmer is that Lineker's language was unwise. What a jerk!
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,284
    dixiedean said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    And schools without teachers.
    Hospitals without medical staff.
    Etc
    Sadly, I think the current government is already pursuing those policies.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,004
    edited March 2023
    DougSeal said:

    DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey no only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macro and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    No they’re not. Look, you’re a Conservative Party supporter, and want to put a positive spin on todays rather underwhelming news, but bunging £500m to France and getting a nice word from VDL a new relationship does not make.

    The Conservative Party can’t be trusted with these things. Sunak supported a policy that destroyed our relationship with Europe. The idea he can fix it is for the birds.
    Bunging £500 million to France over 3 years in a joint funded operation to address the boat crisis including people smugglers across Europe and a new detention centre in Dunkirk, 500 additional French police officers on the beaches, more drones anda joint operational centre seems a sensible deal

    Plus Macron confirmed the UK and EU are entering talks over the migration crisis across Europe to seek further cooperation and return migrants across Europe

    And Starmer is now the Brexiteer not Sunak
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623

    Would it assuage No. 10 and Tory HQ, to have Lineker replaced by . . . wait for it . . . Gordon Ramsey?

    Or is he too pro-French?

    I said before that the Tory Government should make it clear to the nation that the punishment for Lineker's comments is that MOTD is cancelled and the only football highlights to be shown are the Scottish ones.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059
    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

  • DougSeal said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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
    Oh, FFS, Sunak is pro-Brexit too. Let’s wait and see about this “closer cooperation” shall we? It’s all smoke a mirrors. A nice photo opp a new relationship does not make. People used to say Macron and Trump had a thing going. This will end as it always does, Tory squabbling resulting in a “hard line” with Europe to keep the swivel eyed on side. The Conservative Party is a disease.
    Sunak is taking his party on a very different journey not only with the WF but today's announcements in Paris all of which were spoken publicly by Macron and Sunak in today's news conference

    And don't forget even UVDL addressed Sunak as dear Rishi

    These are changing days in our relationship with Europe and it should be welcomed by anyone who cares for the UK and EU
    Have you been borrowing HYUFD's rose tinted specs again?
    It seems today's developments are causing concern in case they succeed
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Are the rumours true that the new impartial presenter of MOTD is Jacob Rees Mogg?
  • WillGWillG Posts: 2,003
    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    Yeah but Sunak isn't mentally unstable.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047
    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    I thought Macron's last bromance was his awkward attempt to cuddle the French football team in their hour of distress.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?
  • DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    If today's conference had been between Starmer and Macron you and many others would be praising him to the hilt
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,715
    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    That wasn't a genuine relationship of mutual adoration like Emmanuel has with Justin and Rishi.

    That was just Emmanuel knowing he had to try and be amicable with the fat ageing loudmouth as he was the most powerful man in the world at the time
  • Roger said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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.
    To me, seems like Starmer is more akin to Biden than Blair, in style and substance. Aside from seniority, both in politics & government AND in sheer longevity.

    Which all-in-all strikes me as more suitable than not at current juncture, for Labour and the UK.
    Sure it's enough. This Brexit government has been one of the worst ever and is basically loathed. But inertia is also a difficult habit to break.A government who have just appointed Boris Johnson's fixer as Chairman should be facing more trouble than anything they've seen in the last six years and all we hear from starmer is that Lineker's language was unwise. What a jerk!
    Emily Thornberry said it was not appropriate
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,265
    More impressed by Mike's comments (and former job) than old Piers...
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 15,243
    Jonathan said:

    Are the rumours true that the new impartial presenter of MOTD is Jacob Rees Mogg?

    Would be perfect, in the switch of format from covering Association Football to Eton Wall Game.

    On theory that the name of the game alone will appeal to Red Wall voters?
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 8,480
    edited March 2023
    Either Ron Atkinson or Richard Littlejohn could be ideal replacements for Gary Lineker, for the hard right.

    How about Teddy Sheringham, as a more middle-of-the-road , but somehow more Middle England-friendly candidate ? Graham Le Saux being much too Guardian-friendly from this older crop of footballers.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 5,996
    Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    Have you considered that it would be cheaper to run the programme without them, if it were just as popular, and that the market dictates the presence of pundits on sports shows around the world?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,840
    HYUFD said:

    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    That wasn't a genuine relationship of mutual adoration like Emmanuel has with Justin and Rishi.

    That was just Emmanuel knowing he had to try and be amicable with the fat ageing loudmouth as he was the most powerful man in the world at the time
    Boris was most powerful?
    Who knew?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,625

    .

    Fine people for talking about football.

    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.

    Do you have concentration camps or just Soviet style gulags in mind for these Outer Hebridean lefty traitors?
    Isn’t that part of the plot in a Bulldog Drummond novel? An unofficial gulag for left revolutionaries on a Scottish island?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,715
    Jonathan said:

    Are the rumours true that the new impartial presenter of MOTD is Jacob Rees Mogg?

    The only ball game Jacob has ever tried to play was the Eton Wall Game!
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059
    HYUFD said:

    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    That wasn't a genuine relationship of mutual adoration like Emmanuel has with Justin and Rishi.

    That was just Emmanuel knowing he had to try and be amicable with the fat ageing loudmouth as he was the most powerful man in the world at the time
    “genuine relationship of mutual adoration”?!?!!??!??

    (weeps gently)
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,590

    Roger said:

    Roger said:

    dixiedean said:

    kle4 said:

    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

    Support: 50%
    Oppose: 36%

    via
    @YouGov
    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:

    * 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
    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.
    To me, seems like Starmer is more akin to Biden than Blair, in style and substance. Aside from seniority, both in politics & government AND in sheer longevity.

    Which all-in-all strikes me as more suitable than not at current juncture, for Labour and the UK.
    Sure it's enough. This Brexit government has been one of the worst ever and is basically loathed. But inertia is also a difficult habit to break.A government who have just appointed Boris Johnson's fixer as Chairman should be facing more trouble than anything they've seen in the last six years and all we hear from starmer is that Lineker's language was unwise. What a jerk!
    Emily Thornberry said it was not appropriate
    Did you also agree with her assessment of White van drivers?
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059

    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    If today's conference had been between Starmer and Macron you and many others would be praising him to the hilt
    No. I wouldn’t. Because nothing of any substance, save for us sending £500m to Paris, was achieved. Nothing at all. Yes, I admit, I like Starmer, I think he’ll make a decent PM, but you’re making this sound like some bright new dawn in U.K.- E.U. relations when all it was was some a bribe to support Sunak’s migrant policy and some nice platitudes that (on this side of the Channel) drowned out some very strong words from Macron about your party’s signature policy for the last 8 years.

    Nothing to fix the catastrofuck that this government has inflicted on U.K. - E.U. trade or relations. Nothing of substance at all.

    VDL called Rishi “dear”. So what?
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967

    Jonathan said:

    Are the rumours true that the new impartial presenter of MOTD is Jacob Rees Mogg?

    Would be perfect, in the switch of format from covering Association Football to Eton Wall Game.

    On theory that the name of the game alone will appeal to Red Wall voters?
    There might well be a market for posho reality sports featuring the Eton Wall Game, polo, croquet and real tennis.
  • Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    My team is in the Championship but I record the highlights and forward through until my team is on. Expect I'm not the only one
  • DougSeal said:

    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    If today's conference had been between Starmer and Macron you and many others would be praising him to the hilt
    No. I wouldn’t. Because nothing of any substance, save for us sending £500m to Paris, was achieved. Nothing at all. Yes, I admit, I like Starmer, I think he’ll make a decent PM, but you’re making this sound like some bright new dawn in U.K.- E.U. relations when all it was was some a bribe to support Sunak’s migrant policy and some nice platitudes that (on this side of the Channel) drowned out some very strong words from Macron about your party’s signature policy for the last 8 years.

    Nothing to fix the catastrofuck that this government has inflicted on U.K. - E.U. trade or relations. Nothing of substance at all.

    VDL called Rishi “dear”. So what?
    You obviously did not watch the conference today as Macron most certainly did not have strong words about Brexit , he wants to fix it through EPC which Sunak supports
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think of how much the BBC would save by not broadcasting anything at all. Genius.
  • Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    My team is in the Championship but I record the highlights and forward through until my team is on. Expect I'm not the only one
    I never listen to pundits either before or after a game

    Though I haven't watched MOD for years
  • londonpubmanlondonpubman Posts: 3,153

    Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    My team is in the Championship but I record the highlights and forward through until my team is on. Expect I'm not the only one
    My team is Watford so there are never any highlights for me! 😈😡
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    The highlights are available free to all on the Sky Sports website on demand hours before.
  • Time to call it a day

    The question that will be fascinating over the next few days is whether this has damaged the BBC or whether it has highlighted the boat crisis and how the public react

    Good night folks
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 11,059

    DougSeal said:

    DougSeal said:

    @Big_G_NorthWales

    Here’s how Macron’s last “Bromance” started

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43840965.amp

    I don’t need to tell you how it ended.

    Don’t get your hopes up

    If today's conference had been between Starmer and Macron you and many others would be praising him to the hilt
    No. I wouldn’t. Because nothing of any substance, save for us sending £500m to Paris, was achieved. Nothing at all. Yes, I admit, I like Starmer, I think he’ll make a decent PM, but you’re making this sound like some bright new dawn in U.K.- E.U. relations when all it was was some a bribe to support Sunak’s migrant policy and some nice platitudes that (on this side of the Channel) drowned out some very strong words from Macron about your party’s signature policy for the last 8 years.

    Nothing to fix the catastrofuck that this government has inflicted on U.K. - E.U. trade or relations. Nothing of substance at all.

    VDL called Rishi “dear”. So what?
    You obviously did not watch the conference today as Macron most certainly did not have strong words about Brexit , he wants to fix it through EPC which Sunak supports
    Of course I watched it! This is the direct quote, this is exactly what he said-

    “On the short front what we have to do is to fix the consequences of Brexit.”

    “A lot of issues we have are a direct consequence of Brexit and probably some of these consequences were under-estimated, but we have to fix them.”

    In the realms of international diplomacy that is a pretty direct criticism of the signature policy of the Conservative Party. The French press are taking a very different view to your rosy impression. They know better than to trust a Tory. You should do the same. We’ll never join the EPC while the ERG are still in the ruling party. Sunak can’t deliver that.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,004
    edited March 2023

    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!

    I would just comment before I retire for the night I will have watched the MOD live long before it is on the BBC and if I wanted had pundits analysing the match immediately at the final whistle

    Why would I watch MOD which I don't
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286

    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!

    60% of the public aren't interested in football.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    dixiedean said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think of how much the BBC would save by not broadcasting anything at all. Genius.
    The recent strikes have convinced me of how smooth an education system we could run without children.
    There are major savings to be made on the railways. Simply stop running trains.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967

    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!

    Given that MotD gets about 3m viewers the crossover between almost any group and people who don't watch it will show a very good correlation.

    And I wonder how many of those 3m are people who only later on watch on BBCi to see how their team did.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    edited March 2023
    Andy_JS said:

    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!

    60% of the public aren't interested in football.
    You say that like it shows that football is not that popular or something. How many social or cultural events or activities are even 10% of the public interested in I wonder?

    That's a genuine question, but I would not be surprised if it showed that football at 40% (I assume your figure is correct), is something the public are massively interested in by comparison to most things.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    Love every part of it

    Today is the anniversary of a very important and very strange day in British history.

    On 9 March 1970, the Isle of Dogs in London declared itself independent of the United Kingdom. But the island's residents were far from happy. A 🧵 on “Dexit” /


    https://twitter.com/ITNArchive/status/1633808191480791040?cxt=HHwWgICwxZr5uawtAAAA
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    dixiedean said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Think how much money the BBC could save by permanently broadcasting Match Of The Day without presenters.

    Think of how much the BBC would save by not broadcasting anything at all. Genius.
    The recent strikes have convinced me of how smooth an education system we could run without children.
    I'm amazed the government has not yet tried the Yes Minister approach of running hospitals brilliantly without doctors or patients.
  • MOTD latest is that the commentators are out, and players are increasingly calling the PFA to say they won't speak to the BBC...
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967
    kle4 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Venn Diagram crossover of PB Tories and People Who Don’t Watch Match of the Day shows an extraordinary correlation.

    Amazing!

    60% of the public aren't interested in football.
    You say that like it shows that football is not that popular or something. How many social or cultural events or activities are even 10% of the public interested in I wonder?

    That's a genuine question, but I would not be surprised if it showed that football at 40% (I assume your figure is correct), is something the public are massively interested in by comparison to most things.
    Like many things there will be much greater interest in the big events than in the everyday stuff.

    Which is why the world cup get many more viewers than the premiership.

    Of course you can have an interest in X without being bothered about the televising of X.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    EPG said:

    Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    Have you considered that it would be cheaper to run the programme without them, if it were just as popular, and that the market dictates the presence of pundits on sports shows around the world?
    Quite. Everyone who watches probably has pundits they aren't fans of, but even that would be part of the experience - 'Oh gods, Jenas is on talking nonsense again!'.

    To be sure not everyone, but if people wanted nothing but raw footage we'd have that more widely available as an option. On a similar basis why listen to commentators unless you are blind? I mean, we're there to watch the football and can already see what's going on, why waste that money?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    kle4 said:

    EPG said:

    Andy_JS said:

    I wonder whether MOTD pundits have considered that maybe most people tune in to watch the football rather than listen to them talking before and after the matches?

    Have you considered that it would be cheaper to run the programme without them, if it were just as popular, and that the market dictates the presence of pundits on sports shows around the world?
    Quite. Everyone who watches probably has pundits they aren't fans of, but even that would be part of the experience - 'Oh gods, Jenas is on talking nonsense again!'.

    To be sure not everyone, but if people wanted nothing but raw footage we'd have that more widely available as an option. On a similar basis why listen to commentators unless you are blind? I mean, we're there to watch the football and can already see what's going on, why waste that money?
    Indeed. Well put.

    The Continuity PB Tory (Loyalist Regiment) seem to be presenting a bizarre alternative reality whereby football pundits are paid to discuss an unpopular sport.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 47,789
    As an expert in comparisons to the 1930s, I'm surprised Ken Livingstone hasn't commented on the Lineker affair.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967

    Time to call it a day

    The question that will be fascinating over the next few days is whether this has damaged the BBC or whether it has highlighted the boat crisis and how the public react

    Good night folks

    Has it damaged the BBC? No I don't think so. Has it damaged some of those who run the BBC and who seem to have stepped of a cliff for a completely pointless 'principle'? Yes I think so.

    I disagree with Lineker's original comparison as I have already said. But I can't see any way he doesn't come out of this now with his reputation anything other than greatly enhanced.
    He simply gets replaced by someone who does the job better for 10% of the pay thereby showing that very few people are irreplaceable.

    Whether the BBC has the sense to do that I rather doubt.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,620
    excellent posts from Richard and Robert.

    Funnily enough, Jeremy Clarkson makes a similar (if somewhat dumbed down) argument in his Sun column.
This discussion has been closed.