The Mirror now becoming the leading backer of King Charles – politicalbetting.com

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The Mirror now becoming the leading backer of King Charles – politicalbetting.com

This looks very interesting from a media standpoint because the Mirror has never really been a big backer of the monarchy.

Read the full story here

algarkirk

First?

bigjohnowls

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Dialup

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

I don’t know you hugely well but why are you cheering on the Tories winning when you’re left wing?

eek

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Probably true - but I would still expect SKS to be PM in 2024 unless the Tories pull off a miracle and win a majority.

Theuniondivvie

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

TheValiant

eek said:

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Probably true - but I would still expect SKS to be PM in 2024 unless the Tories pull off a miracle and win a majority.

The most 'interesting' outcome would be where Labour is indeed second, but the Conservatives are the largest party by some way.
Conservatives lose 60 seats, and sit on 305. The DUP perhaps only get 7 (punished for the deadlock in Stormont) to mean the 'right' alliance sits on 312. Not enough.

Whilst it would mean the other parties make the majority, but it could be Lab+SNP+LD don't even make a majority and you need the Greens and Plaid (and the equivalent NI parties like the Alliance and SDLP) to get the anti-Tory majority home.

A six party coalition. That would make for a fun Parliament.......

Gardenwalker

Can we talk about Charles’s sausage hands.

Is this a hereditary feature? Or evidence of some kind of medical condition?

squareroot2

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

Not as enjoyable as what is to come from the SNP. The metaphorical bloodletting is going to be an enjoyable spectacle.

TheScreamingEagles

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

This too.

CarlottaVance

Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=20

TimS

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

This too.

At our local Lib Dem gathering last night the (increasingly elderly) members were delighted to see our kid Floella in a prominent role for the coronation. Britain’s most popular Lib Dem.

Leon

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

kle4

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

I'm fine with it if he goes full march on his knees repentance rather than just some mawkish cliches.

All hail Charles the Woke.

Theuniondivvie

Gardenwalker said:

Can we talk about Charles’s sausage hands.

Is this a hereditary feature? Or evidence of some kind of medical condition?

This is obviously an AI facsimile of what Charlie might look like. He actually died in a tampon related incident in the early 2000s.

Gallowgate

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

This matters even less than private school fees.

kle4

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

On the one hand who cares if its renamed for branding purposes? On the other hand did anyone care before, was it an Uluru situation?

Theuniondivvie

kle4 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

I'm fine with it if he goes full march on his knees repentance rather than just some mawkish cliches.

All hail Charles the Woke.

Perhaps a tableau of the black man literally having the whip hand. Entirely symbolic of course, no rending of the Royal flesh.

TimS

Gallowgate said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

This matters even less than private school fees.

Good PR though. It’s put the Brecon Beacons on the tourist map just in time for the summer.

I think it falls into the category of “owning the toffs”, the playground left equivalent of owning the libs. Policy for the sake of pissing off the other side is a growth industry.

Cookie

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

Interesting, though not particularly surprising it's been done explicitly to piss people off - that appears to be the normal reason for this sort of thing.

Sean_F

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

Cookie

TimS said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

This too.

At our local Lib Dem gathering last night the (increasingly elderly) members were delighted to see our kid Floella in a prominent role for the coronation. Britain’s most popular Lib Dem.

Yes, and hardly there as a token ethnic - she's in the HoL. That's the sort of person one would expect at a coronation.

Gardenwalker

Have the actual Brecon Beacons been renamed?

Or has the National Park renamed itself by adopting the already existing Welsh name for the Brecon Beacons?

I believe it’s the latter.

Sean_F

TimS said:

Gallowgate said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

This matters even less than private school fees.

Good PR though. It’s put the Brecon Beacons on the tourist map just in time for the summer.

I think it falls into the category of “owning the toffs”, the playground left equivalent of owning the libs. Policy for the sake of pissing off the other side is a growth industry.

So much policy-making in Western nations is about trolling people you don't like.

Cookie

Prince Charles, by the way - I just don't like his face. Never have. It irritates me to look at him. No wonder he got bullied at school.
That goes for his late ex-wife too.
That's the sort of crass comment that can only really be made under a veil of quasi-anonymity of an internet chat site. But still. I wanted to get it off my chest

Jonathan

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

If education is your priority, you could do a lot more with £20k than a mini hogwarts experience. Take them to the pyramids, the Smithsonion, Athens, Rome and still have money left over to coach them in whatever sport they fancy.

TimS

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Leon

Cookie said:

Prince Charles, by the way - I just don't like his face. Never have. It irritates me to look at him. No wonder he got bullied at school.
That goes for his late ex-wife too.
That's the sort of crass comment that can only really be made under a veil of quasi-anonymity of an internet chat site. But still. I wanted to get it off my chest

I always want to punch Gareth Southgate whenever I see him. And it’s not just coz he’s a Woke loser. It’s literally something about his face, his demeanor, his entire Southgateness

TimS

Sean_F said:

TimS said:

Gallowgate said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

This matters even less than private school fees.

Good PR though. It’s put the Brecon Beacons on the tourist map just in time for the summer.

I think it falls into the category of “owning the toffs”, the playground left equivalent of owning the libs. Policy for the sake of pissing off the other side is a growth industry.

So much policy-making in Western nations is about trolling people you don't like.

Not just in the West. See Russia, Brazil under both recent presidents, South Africa, and for the supreme example India under Modi.

TimS

Leon said:

Cookie said:

Prince Charles, by the way - I just don't like his face. Never have. It irritates me to look at him. No wonder he got bullied at school.
That goes for his late ex-wife too.
That's the sort of crass comment that can only really be made under a veil of quasi-anonymity of an internet chat site. But still. I wanted to get it off my chest

I always want to punch Gareth Southgate whenever I see him. And it’s not just coz he’s a Woke loser. It’s literally something about his face, his demeanor, his entire Southgateness

I don’t generally get that reaction to anyone, but then I’m a centrist melt. However, Sergei Lavrov when he’s in full flow is utterly infuriating.

Dialup

The Mail is going to be horrified by woke King Charles.

malcolmg

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

The pulsing veins induced by King Chic making public atonement for the Royal Family’s involvement in slavery is going to be fantastic.

This too.

Total bollocks , they can ramit , bunch of parasites

Dialup

Private organisation decides to rename something, outrage.

Freedom of speech only when it suits

Cookie

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

The choice, such as it is around here, appears to be indictriation into far left politics at a state school or indoctrinatiom into far left politics at a private school.

TimS

Surprised nobody in Britain has coined the term “woke or bloke”.

Woke: quinoa salad with roasted squash
Bloke: burned bbq sausages with brown sauce

Etc

Jonathan

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

Leon

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

Dialup

Another month of Wandsworth Labour council being Labour run, still the Communists have not taken over as the Tory election leaflet told me. Surely any day now?

Jonathan

My state school politics teacher was a Tory, had once been John Majors agent.

TimS

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

Yep.

I doubt many parents will take their children out of existing schools, because that’s disruptive and feels like a betrayal. And they won’t leave a first child in private school but put tte second in state school because that’s favouritism. So it’ll take a while for the VAT change to filter through.

Jonathan

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

Defrosting first? You’re going soft in your old age.

Gallowgate

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I suggest you use venison.

TheScreamingEagles

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

Leon

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

malcolmg

Gallowgate said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I suggest you use venison.

Cheaper with a half brick and probably do less damage than the chicken

Luckyguy1983

kle4 said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

On the one hand who cares if its renamed for branding purposes? On the other hand did anyone care before, was it an Uluru situation?

The people who would care would presumably be those depending on visitors to the area. If this name is going to be featured in promotional activity, all the effort is wasted on convincing people of the new name, none of it on why they should actually visit.

TheScreamingEagles

On topic, he needs to sell some Royal palace.

Given the housing crisis he needs to make rooms/land available.

Cookie

Dialup said:

Private organisation decides to rename something, outrage.

Freedom of speech only when it suits

A National Park isn't really a private organisation.

Leon

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

Gardenwalker

Keir is very dull and adenoidal, but Sunak is the most embarrassing man in Britain.

https://twitter.com/mendelpol/status/1652248935510028290?s=46&t=L9g_woCIqbo1MTuBFCK0xg

Please make it stop.

Gallowgate

TheScreamingEagles said:

On topic, he needs to sell some Royal palace.

Given the housing crisis he needs to make rooms/land available.

He could do worse than replicating Nansledan elsewhere.

Jonathan

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

The local comp delivered straight A*s , a love of Rugby, a musical instrument and friends for life. With money saved, we did all sorts of trips.

Job done.

Dialup

Gardenwalker said:

Keir is very dull and adenoidal, but Sunak is the most embarrassing man in Britain.

https://twitter.com/mendelpol/status/1652248935510028290?s=46&t=L9g_woCIqbo1MTuBFCK0xg

Please make it stop.

The Tony Blair tribute act is really very poor.

TheKitchenCabinet

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

Dialup

Gardenwalker said:

Keir is very dull and adenoidal, but Sunak is the most embarrassing man in Britain.

https://twitter.com/mendelpol/status/1652248935510028290?s=46&t=L9g_woCIqbo1MTuBFCK0xg

Please make it stop.

The thing is, Keir Starmer isn't trying to be interesting. People are saying he's not interesting but he never claimed to be a fun loving man. His MO is being a bit dull and watching the football on a Saturday.

Rishi Sunak is actually a bit strange, a bit of an oddball but he could lean into that. The problem is that he does this weird Tony Blair "I'm actually really one of the lads and normal my good sir" thing and it comes off very strange.

squareroot2

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

Scargill for me.

Leon

Jonathan said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

The local comp delivered straight A*s , a love of Rugby, a musical instrument and friends for life. With money saved, we did all sorts of trips.

Job done.

Agreed

I also think it’s spiritually and morally better to go to a state school, if you can. You will understand your own country and your compatriots so much better

Public school kids are always faintly and embarrassingly clueless about fundamental aspects of Britain

BlancheLivermore

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

noneoftheabove

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

tldr: you know its deplorable but you prefer to be amused by it and of course find the whataboutery angle.

malcolmg

stunning picture

algarkirk

Cookie said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

The choice, such as it is around here, appears to be indictriation into far left politics at a state school or indoctrinatiom into far left politics at a private school.

After decades of, it is alleged, left wing indoctrination for the 93% who attend state schools the Tories could still possibly be the largest party after the next election following several years of dishonest, dishonourable and massively incompetent governing.

Leon

malcolmg said:

stunning picture

Is Sturgeon burning the bank statements in her back garden?!

Dialup

algarkirk said:

Cookie said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

The choice, such as it is around here, appears to be indictriation into far left politics at a state school or indoctrinatiom into far left politics at a private school.

After decades of, it is alleged, left wing indoctrination for the 93% who attend state schools the Tories could still possibly be the largest party after the next election following several years of dishonest, dishonourable and massively incompetent governing.

This is the thing, apparently all the kids are being brainwashed but yet most of them don't bother to vote and we've had a Tory Government for 13 years.

This is very much a somebody to blame kind of angle.

Leon

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

It is a vast site

BlancheLivermore

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

I’ve seen quite a few more old stones in my first six and a half miles today..

StillWaters

TheValiant said:

eek said:

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Probably true - but I would still expect SKS to be PM in 2024 unless the Tories pull off a miracle and win a majority.

The most 'interesting' outcome would be where Labour is indeed second, but the Conservatives are the largest party by some way.
Conservatives lose 60 seats, and sit on 305. The DUP perhaps only get 7 (punished for the deadlock in Stormont) to mean the 'right' alliance sits on 312. Not enough.

Whilst it would mean the other parties make the majority, but it could be Lab+SNP+LD don't even make a majority and you need the Greens and Plaid (and the equivalent NI parties like the Alliance and SDLP) to get the anti-Tory majority home.

A six party coalition. That would make for a fun Parliament.......

It would also mean a sizeable Conservative majority in England but a left wing government propped up by a rag tag bag of regional parties

Cookie

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

I confess we'd send our youngest private if we could afford it and we were close to one and the obvious private school wasn't so tediously woke and all the parents we know who send their kids private, while they purport to be pleased with their decision, don't give off the vibes of having enviable lives and/or children.
The oldest two are fine and will do ok in the state sector. But the youngest has a few SEN issues which the private sector would probably manage rather better. But even if we could afford it, I'd want what rather more by way of upsides for the expenditure than appear to be on offer.

Taz

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

But the taking away of the children from the Kippers was okay because they had the wrong views

Cookie

BlancheLivermore said:

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

I’ve seen quite a few more old stones in my first six and a half miles today..

Nice. I like a good stone circle but that looks huge.

Theuniondivvie

Leon said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

You’ve admitted to being a bit of a wanker, do you pop one before stroking one out?
That would be quite sad.

CarlottaVance

Russians destroying the nordstream pipeline was always the most likely reality. They had the strategic need and the capabilities. No one else did. What was interesting to me was watching those desperate for it not to be the Russians, grasping at any other explanation

https://twitter.com/phillipspobrien/status/1652225290955902977

Cookie

squareroot2 said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

Scargill for me.

Charles's punchability for me doesn't stem from his politics. There are plenty of people (like Southgate and Scargill) whise politics irritate me but who I can at least look at without irritation. Indeed, there are some aspects of Charles I approve of. He just has such a dislikeabke face. Always has had. A strange mixture of entitlement and victim.

kle4

StillWaters said:

TheValiant said:

eek said:

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Probably true - but I would still expect SKS to be PM in 2024 unless the Tories pull off a miracle and win a majority.

The most 'interesting' outcome would be where Labour is indeed second, but the Conservatives are the largest party by some way.
Conservatives lose 60 seats, and sit on 305. The DUP perhaps only get 7 (punished for the deadlock in Stormont) to mean the 'right' alliance sits on 312. Not enough.

Whilst it would mean the other parties make the majority, but it could be Lab+SNP+LD don't even make a majority and you need the Greens and Plaid (and the equivalent NI parties like the Alliance and SDLP) to get the anti-Tory majority home.

A six party coalition. That would make for a fun Parliament.......

It would also mean a sizeable Conservative majority in England but a left wing government propped up by a rag tag bag of regional parties

Such is FPTP and a union state.

CarlottaVance

Gallowgate said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

This matters even less than private school fees.

Not to the hundreds of small local businesses who have to rebrand. No wonder they didn’t put it out to consultation - more “top down” dictats. Ask Nicola how that turns out.

geoffw

There was a lot of scepticism about Charles III when Elizabeth II died - what an act to follow! He wouldn't live up to it. Well, he doesn't need to emulate her. He just needs to keep it ticking over. The defanged constitutional monarchy that we have stumbled into is a prize worth preserving. Whether he is lucky or unlucky to have been born to be king (imo the latter), the whole nation is the beneficiary. As are other nations with similar constitutional arrangements, though as has been said earlier, ours also has the undeniable advantages of long historical tradition and ludicrous but enjoyable pageantry. If KCIII does away with the flummery and trims the extravagence then so much the better.

Leon

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

You’ve admitted to being a bit of a wanker, do you pop one before stroking one out?
That would be quite sad.

Of course not

Tho, interestingly, I have friends who claim they can wank themselves to a Kundalini orgasm if they take a pill beforehand

I’ve had two Kundalini orgasms in my entire life. They are astonishing

Casino_Royale

The cost of the Coronation itself being 100 million or 800 million wouldn't make a smidgen of difference to public opinion IMHO - the cost to the economy of the bank holiday far exceeds it, and strictly speaking isn't really necessary- it's the mood music about whether it's overly extravagant and indulgent that would affect things. Unless he laid on an extravagant 8-course banquet for him and only a few cherished aristocratic guests, or something like that, most people won't mind.

Charles won't appease any anti-monarchists or Republicans with this, whilst he may disappoint monarchists.

Leon

BlancheLivermore said:

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

I’ve seen quite a few more old stones in my first six and a half miles today..

What’s the 3rd pic, some kind of sacred well? Looks fascinating

DougSeal

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

You need help. I’m not kidding. This obsession is literally insane. If you post using a physical keyboard the letters “S” and “K” must be being close to worn out by now. Do you have his face on a dartboard? Put pins in voodoo dolls that have a slightly adenoidal voice if you pull a string? It’s relentless and getting worrying, particularly if you go back in the archives and see what you used to post by comparison.

TheKitchenCabinet

DougSeal said:

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

You need help. I’m not kidding. This obsession is literally insane. If you post using a physical keyboard the letters “S” and “K” must be being close to worn out by now. Do you have his face on a dartboard? Put pins in voodoo dolls that have a slightly adenoidal voice if you pull a string? It’s relentless and getting worrying, particularly if you go back in the archives and see what you used to post by comparison.

You could almost say the same thing about a number of posters on here when it comes to Trump...

boulay

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

The local comp delivered straight A*s , a love of Rugby, a musical instrument and friends for life. With money saved, we did all sorts of trips.

Job done.

Agreed

I also think it’s spiritually and morally better to go to a state school, if you can. You will understand your own country and your compatriots so much better

Public school kids are always faintly and embarrassingly clueless about fundamental aspects of Britain

What is this “Britain” you mention?

But seriously there’s a weird reverse snobbery about public school kids I find a bit odd. It’s usually along the lines of them being so isolated and in a bubble they have no idea about “real life”.

It shows a lack of knowledge that people at public schools have a wider exposure to people from different countries and cultures than anyone who isn’t in some cosmopolitan inner city state school. My housemates were literally from all around the world; Thai, Russian, Malaysian, HK, China, India, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Scotland.

That same group consisted of Catholic, CofE, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and atheist.

Their backgrounds were wide ranging from children of overseas politicians, nobles, diplomats, sons of small business owners whose grandparents were helping with the fees and assisted places kids. And the British kids were from all parts of the country from all furthest points of the compass.

And funnily enough we also mixed socially with our peers in the state system out of school.

Your average state school kid will go through their time with a cohort from a pretty similar demographic because of catchment areas. A state school in a wealthy part of Cheshire might have as many wealthy kids but probably drawn from a pretty identikit background and a comp in inner city Southampton is going to generally have kids from similar backgrounds.

So no school system gives kids some total “real” insight into the makeup of the country and if you go to your state school in a very white middle class area then you can’t fling shit at public school kids re having their finger on the pulse of the nation as they will have had a narrower experience of people in their formative years.

NickPalmer

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

I don't know (and doubt if you know) whether SC expressed a view about the Doncaster case, but I do think that there should be reasonable limits to the extent to which public figures can be harassed by random strangers alleging made-up offences. A triage approach enabling the police to dismiss obviously unreasonable complaints immediately would be helpful.

When I was an MP, a far-right group made a nonsense allegation against me. I was told unofficially by the police that they could see it was rubbish and not to worry, they'd deal with it eventually with minimal priority. It took a year or so before they formally notified me that the complaint had been dismissed. That was a year of minor "what if..." worry that I'd have been glad to be spared..

This sort of thing discourages quite blameless people from going into politics, since every constituency may have a nutter willing to try on anything that might bother you and your family. Clearly serious allegations should be pursued, but random ones raised without evidence should be treated as wasting police time.

Theuniondivvie

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

You’ve admitted to being a bit of a wanker, do you pop one before stroking one out?
That would be quite sad.

Of course not

Tho, interestingly, I have friends who claim they can wank themselves to a Kundalini orgasm if they take a pill beforehand

I’ve had two Kundalini orgasms in my entire life. They are astonishing

How does one know if one is having one? Visions of Ganesh or similar?

StillWaters

kle4 said:

StillWaters said:

TheValiant said:

eek said:

bigjohnowls said:

2nd like SKS in GE2024

Probably true - but I would still expect SKS to be PM in 2024 unless the Tories pull off a miracle and win a majority.

The most 'interesting' outcome would be where Labour is indeed second, but the Conservatives are the largest party by some way.
Conservatives lose 60 seats, and sit on 305. The DUP perhaps only get 7 (punished for the deadlock in Stormont) to mean the 'right' alliance sits on 312. Not enough.

Whilst it would mean the other parties make the majority, but it could be Lab+SNP+LD don't even make a majority and you need the Greens and Plaid (and the equivalent NI parties like the Alliance and SDLP) to get the anti-Tory majority home.

A six party coalition. That would make for a fun Parliament.......

It would also mean a sizeable Conservative majority in England but a left wing government propped up by a rag tag bag of regional parties

Such is FPTP and a union state.

Sure, but the squeals of outrage would add to the general amusement value

TheKitchenCabinet

noneoftheabove said:

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

tldr: you know its deplorable but you prefer to be amused by it and of course find the whataboutery angle.

And of course, because it's someone from your own side, you can't see the hypocrisy of someone who is as vocal as Creasy complaining about her own treatment when she didn't defend others who faced the same predicament.

As for the 'whataboutery' the usual left response when hypocrisy is pointed out.

Leon

boulay said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

The local comp delivered straight A*s , a love of Rugby, a musical instrument and friends for life. With money saved, we did all sorts of trips.

Job done.

Agreed

I also think it’s spiritually and morally better to go to a state school, if you can. You will understand your own country and your compatriots so much better

Public school kids are always faintly and embarrassingly clueless about fundamental aspects of Britain

What is this “Britain” you mention?

But seriously there’s a weird reverse snobbery about public school kids I find a bit odd. It’s usually along the lines of them being so isolated and in a bubble they have no idea about “real life”.

It shows a lack of knowledge that people at public schools have a wider exposure to people from different countries and cultures than anyone who isn’t in some cosmopolitan inner city state school. My housemates were literally from all around the world; Thai, Russian, Malaysian, HK, China, India, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Scotland.

That same group consisted of Catholic, CofE, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and atheist.

Their backgrounds were wide ranging from children of overseas politicians, nobles, diplomats, sons of small business owners whose grandparents were helping with the fees and assisted places kids. And the British kids were from all parts of the country from all furthest points of the compass.

And funnily enough we also mixed socially with our peers in the state system out of school.

Your average state school kid will go through their time with a cohort from a pretty similar demographic because of catchment areas. A state school in a wealthy part of Cheshire might have as many wealthy kids but probably drawn from a pretty identikit background and a comp in inner city Southampton is going to generally have kids from similar backgrounds.

So no school system gives kids some total “real” insight into the makeup of the country and if you go to your state school in a very white middle class area then you can’t fling shit at public school kids re having their finger on the pulse of the nation as they will have had a narrower experience of people in their formative years.

I went to a state school. But half my friends are private school kids. The latter are genuinely and notably more clueless about normal daily life in the UK. It’s just a fact

On the other hand I have seen the big advantage you get from a really good private school - eg Westminster, Winchester, Eton - in terms of lifelong networks

Casino_Royale

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

Yep, I pointed this out on here at the time and was lampooned by the usual Herd.

BlancheLivermore

Leon said:

BlancheLivermore said:

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

I’ve seen quite a few more old stones in my first six and a half miles today..

What’s the 3rd pic, some kind of sacred well? Looks fascinating

I’m not sure.. just some place I found by the road when looking for somewhere to have my second cidre break! No signage at all..

Was here in the Ks -

bondegezou

Taz said:

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

But the taking away of the children from the Kippers was okay because they had the wrong views

You write as if there was a policy that led to large numbers of children being ripped away from their UKIP voting parents, on the scale of Russia’s abductions of Ukrainian children. This is, of course, complete nonsense.

I believe you are talking about this case: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/nov/24/ukip-foster-parents-children-removed-social-workers ? This was about the placement of foster children with two foster carers who were UKIP members. No-one’s actual children were removed. There were 3 EU migrant children who had been in the household for 8 weeks. The actions were widely condemned across the political spectrum.

CarlottaVance

NEW: @BloombergUK Saturday read

Rishi Sunak’s allies say he achieved Job 1 of his premiership in his first 6 months: stabilising the Tories and starting to close the polls

But they warn Job 2 in the next 6 months is far harder: avoiding getting stuck

Tory ministers, strategists and advisers fear Sunak risks losing momentum and hitting a ceiling in the polls, as policy problems and political dramas pile up again

They are worried his 5 pledges are looking harder than first hoped

Sunak has closed the poll gap from 27 points to around 15, winning back typical Tory voters, aides say

Polls likely to narrow further ahead of general, both sides say

But the next group is far harder, and without them Tories still looking at a big loss

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1652250394561503232?s=20

FrankBooth

Gardenwalker said:

Have the actual Brecon Beacons been renamed?

Or has the National Park renamed itself by adopting the already existing Welsh name for the Brecon Beacons?

I believe it’s the latter.

The point is that Wales is supposed to be a bilingual nation where the Welsh language would not be sidelined. However sidelining the English language, at least in some official capacity, is deemed okay. All in all this won't have much impact on anything.

TheKitchenCabinet

NickPalmer said:

TheKitchenCabinet said:

I saw Stella Creasy's comments in the Times about an online troll trying to get her children put into care for her 'anti-men' views.

While it is deplorable someone
should do this, I did laugh at her comment that it was horrendous someone would suggest her children should be taken away of her views. I don't think she had expressed any horror when (I think) Doncaster Social Services wanted to take away a child because the parents voted for UKIP.

I did also laugh at, because the Police said there wasn't a criminal offence, she now wants to introduce a new criminal offence dealing specifically with what happened to her.

As usual with Stella Creasy, it's usually all about Stella Creasy...

I don't know (and doubt if you know) whether SC expressed a view about the Doncaster case, but I do think that there should be reasonable limits to the extent to which public figures can be harassed by random strangers alleging made-up offences. A triage approach enabling the police to dismiss obviously unreasonable complaints immediately would be helpful.

When I was an MP, a far-right group made a nonsense allegation against me. I was told unofficially by the police that they could see it was rubbish and not to worry, they'd deal with it eventually with minimal priority. It took a year or so before they formally notified me that the complaint had been dismissed. That was a year of minor "what if..." worry that I'd have been glad to be spared..

This sort of thing discourages quite blameless people from going into politics, since every constituency may have a nutter willing to try on anything that might bother you and your family. Clearly serious allegations should be pursued, but random ones raised without evidence should be treated as wasting police time.

Sorry to hear that Nick and you are right making malicious false allegations merely for political point scoring is wrong.

My slight counterpoint to this was that you were a MP and therefore were able to call upon a level of contact others may not have. Ordinary people also get subjected to this sort of thing and don't have recourse to a page in The Times. SC has never shown any interest - as far as I know - in protecting people from this sort of action. The first time it seems to have sprung into her head is when she has been subjected to it.

Big_G_NorthWales

Dialup said:

Private organisation decides to rename something, outrage.

Freedom of speech only when it suits

Good morning

Wales requires bi lingual signs and names by law so it seems it has ignored this requirement and I understand a challenge is coming

As someone who lives in Wales, is half Welsh and all our children and grandchildren are Welsh, there is no problem using the Welsh name or indeed the English one

Only 29% of residents in Wales speak Welsh and in the case of the Beacons there is a huge holiday industry in and around them and they will no doubt continue to use Beacons

Furthermore support for Welsh Independence is at just 18%

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/growth-support-welsh-independence-hit-26344646

Leon

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

You’ve admitted to being a bit of a wanker, do you pop one before stroking one out?
That would be quite sad.

Of course not

Tho, interestingly, I have friends who claim they can wank themselves to a Kundalini orgasm if they take a pill beforehand

I’ve had two Kundalini orgasms in my entire life. They are astonishing

How does one know if one is having one? Visions of Ganesh or similar?

Omg you know

I used to believe it was all nonsense, tantrism, chakras, all that - woo woo silliness

And then I had one with my then wife. I won’t go into gory details - is it even noon in the UK?! - but it starts at the base of the spine and the energy of pleasure shoots to the rest of the body - but mainly it goes up into the heart and lungs and then it explodes out of your head. Making your head wobble like a comedy Hindu shopkeeper

It lasts about five times as long (at least) as a normal orgasm and is five times as intense. Amazing

I had my 2nd one in a ‘Tantric workshop’

Never since, sadly. But at least I have been there

algarkirk

CarlottaVance said:

NEW: @BloombergUK Saturday read

Rishi Sunak’s allies say he achieved Job 1 of his premiership in his first 6 months: stabilising the Tories and starting to close the polls

But they warn Job 2 in the next 6 months is far harder: avoiding getting stuck

Tory ministers, strategists and advisers fear Sunak risks losing momentum and hitting a ceiling in the polls, as policy problems and political dramas pile up again

They are worried his 5 pledges are looking harder than first hoped

Sunak has closed the poll gap from 27 points to around 15, winning back typical Tory voters, aides say

Polls likely to narrow further ahead of general, both sides say

But the next group is far harder, and without them Tories still looking at a big loss

https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1652250394561503232?s=20

This is quite obvious really. The actual problems we have don't have quick solutions of any sort. They can't when your problems include high tax, poor public services, high debt levels and high borrowing and you face an election next year not next century.

As to something called 5 pledges. Maybe I am getting forgetful, but I follow politics. I cannot name, not will anyone I know, off the cuff what any of these pledges are. There are no votes in this.

I think Keir Starmer has 5 pledges too. Ditto.

CarlottaVance

Casino_Royale said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

Yep, I pointed this out on here at the time and was lampooned by the usual Herd.

The remaining national park in Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast, said it wanted to "reflect all the communities of Pembrokeshire".

It added: "In view of the bilingual nature of these communities... we will continue to use both the official Welsh (Arfordir Penfro) and English versions of the national park's name."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65274952

Meanwhile, the Scottish government is plastering places in signs with Gaelic in areas it was never spoken.

WhisperingOracle

Leon said:

boulay said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

Leon said:

Jonathan said:

TimS said:

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

I’ve come to think that myself. Our son is at a private school. It’s bloody expensive, and yes he’s getting good teaching and pastoral support but he’d have done fine in the state school he had a place for too, and would be better placed for university applications. I wouldn’t describe his teachers as remotely far left though (or privileged for that matter).

Once you get sucked into the private system it’s a massive guilt trip. Because you’re shelling out cash it has to be better? No. You can be far better off elsewhere and if you think of the opportunity cost it’s a very bad deal.

I went through a few months of guilt tripping myself about not sending my older shyer daughter to a private school. But in the end she went to a jolly good comp and is now at an outstanding 6th form and is thriving, in her own way, and looking at top notch universities so I think hey, maybe I saved £200,000, nice one

My younger daughter is ebullient and would probably thrive anywhere so it didn’t matter

The local comp delivered straight A*s , a love of Rugby, a musical instrument and friends for life. With money saved, we did all sorts of trips.

Job done.

Agreed

I also think it’s spiritually and morally better to go to a state school, if you can. You will understand your own country and your compatriots so much better

Public school kids are always faintly and embarrassingly clueless about fundamental aspects of Britain

What is this “Britain” you mention?

But seriously there’s a weird reverse snobbery about public school kids I find a bit odd. It’s usually along the lines of them being so isolated and in a bubble they have no idea about “real life”.

It shows a lack of knowledge that people at public schools have a wider exposure to people from different countries and cultures than anyone who isn’t in some cosmopolitan inner city state school. My housemates were literally from all around the world; Thai, Russian, Malaysian, HK, China, India, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Scotland.

That same group consisted of Catholic, CofE, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and atheist.

Their backgrounds were wide ranging from children of overseas politicians, nobles, diplomats, sons of small business owners whose grandparents were helping with the fees and assisted places kids. And the British kids were from all parts of the country from all furthest points of the compass.

And funnily enough we also mixed socially with our peers in the state system out of school.

Your average state school kid will go through their time with a cohort from a pretty similar demographic because of catchment areas. A state school in a wealthy part of Cheshire might have as many wealthy kids but probably drawn from a pretty identikit background and a comp in inner city Southampton is going to generally have kids from similar backgrounds.

So no school system gives kids some total “real” insight into the makeup of the country and if you go to your state school in a very white middle class area then you can’t fling shit at public school kids re having their finger on the pulse of the nation as they will have had a narrower experience of people in their formative years.

I went to a state school. But half my friends are private school kids. The latter are genuinely and notably more clueless about normal daily life in the UK. It’s just a fact

On the other hand I have seen the big advantage you get from a really good private school - eg Westminster, Winchester, Eton - in terms of lifelong networks

Also, a small number of public schools - particularly places like Winchester and Westminster, I would say, are good at teaching at critical thinking. Two of the most intelligent people I've met were from those two schools, and not particuiarly socially networked. PBers will know that my views on Eton and a few other schools are less favourable.

Once Labour changes the rules on VAT and charitable status, the last of the non-ultra rich British-based kids now there will be forced to leave. The most famoust schools have a huge ready market and profile in Asia, which will step in instead, and fill the gap.

SirNorfolkPassmore

CarlottaVance said:

Casino_Royale said:

Leon said:

Quite a thread on the renaming of the Brecon Beacons


Who’s *really* behind the hugely contentious decision to rename the Brecon Beacons national park? Let’s take a look… 🧵

https://twitter.com/guyadams/status/1652217217428213763?s=61&t=GGp3Vs1t1kTWDiyA-odnZg

Yep, I pointed this out on here at the time and was lampooned by the usual Herd.

The remaining national park in Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast, said it wanted to "reflect all the communities of Pembrokeshire".

It added: "In view of the bilingual nature of these communities... we will continue to use both the official Welsh (Arfordir Penfro) and English versions of the national park's name."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65274952

Meanwhile, the Scottish government is plastering places in signs with Gaelic in areas it was never spoken.

But of course the signage isn't just for people who live there - it is intended to assist those passing through in motorhomes/battle buses.

StillWaters

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Leon said:

Ed Davey is another. Whenever I see or hear him I want to hit him on the face with a defrosted organic chicken

I’m guessing the viagra no longer works for you and you need to channel the rage?

I’ve moved on to Cialis and it works PERFECTLY

You’ve admitted to being a bit of a wanker, do you pop one before stroking one out?
That would be quite sad.

Of course not

Tho, interestingly, I have friends who claim they can wank themselves to a Kundalini orgasm if they take a pill beforehand

I’ve had two Kundalini orgasms in my entire life. They are astonishing

How does one know if one is having one? Visions of Ganesh or similar?

You flatter him!

Leon

BlancheLivermore said:

Leon said:

BlancheLivermore said:

BlancheLivermore said:

@Leon I saw the Ménec stones on my way into Carnac yesterday. They’re a little underwhelming because the stones themselves are tiny; they look like ancient gravestones. But.. the number of them and the area they cover is pretty epic

I’ve seen quite a few more old stones in my first six and a half miles today..

What’s the 3rd pic, some kind of sacred well? Looks fascinating

I’m not sure.. just some place I found by the road when looking for somewhere to have my second cidre break! No signage at all..

Was here in the Ks -

Oooh. A mystery. I’m tempted to Google

A great place for Neolithic stones, in France, is Lozere

It’s the emptiest department in France but full of weird mysterious history. Lost France. I love it

Casino_Royale

Sean_F said:

FPT, private education seems like a waste of money. Typically, one is spending £20,000 a year, per head, out of after-tax income, to have some privileged left wing head teacher trying to indoctrinate one's children into far left politics.

Far better just to move to a place where the State schools are good.

That's not the case in all schools, though.

Mine teaches children air rifle shooting from the age of 6, and is having a whole day dedicated to writing letters to the King congratulating him on his coronation next Friday. It also has its main school hall dedicated to British engineering feats, with a model spitfire and concorde the kids have helped to make hanging from the ceiling.

It is not left-wing. They focus hugely on outdoors education and the holistic individual development of the child.