Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

My guess: Sunak will wait until 2025 for the election – politicalbetting.com

13567

Comments

  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,685
    ydoethur said:

    A

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    It is alleged that his posts were "liked" by an account under the same name as the head of Ukrainian Intelligence.
    The truly astonishing thing about the Russian invasion is just how inept their security protocols have been.

    Even I am more careful about my data than that and nobody has any reason to assassinate me.
    Except the master, of course.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,167
    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Finally, a ratings smash for GB News!

  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    He was apparently working in ‘recuitment’ for the Russian military. Something that’s increasingly becoming non-voluntary, for any young men without the resources to make themselves invisible.

    Imagine being a valuable military target, also hated among many in your own community, running the same route every day at the same time, then posting it online for the world to see. Whether it was Russian locals or Ukranian spooks who got him first, I’d record it as a suicide.
    Once again, this stuff was talked about for years - online personal security. This is just one of the first wars where it has actually become an issue.

    At a guess, this guy is going to become a slide in the PowerPoint presentation "Why online personal security is important" that many organisations give.
    I used to do one of them for teenagers and their parents, about the dangers of over-sharing.

    While most of it was about kids sending bad pictures to each other, and posting their full name and address on public forums, I couldn’t help but to point out the correlation between people posting photos of their whole family on holiday, while they were on holiday, and targeted house burglaries discovered when they got home.

    There was a spate of such around international football matches, when the criminals knew exactly where the occupier was going to be, because they were live on the telly. They know where you are too, if you’re posting hourly updates from Majorca.

    I still think back to the days of cellphone triangulation and CCTV cameras, and I’m only 45. Today’s always-online kids have no idea about the tracking devices they keep in their pockets. Or they don’t care. These are tomorrow’s military officers, who are going to have get it drummed out of them at Sandhurst.
    Person of interest got there early, once again....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZfQymnABxQ&t=30s
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772

    ydoethur said:

    A

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    It is alleged that his posts were "liked" by an account under the same name as the head of Ukrainian Intelligence.
    The truly astonishing thing about the Russian invasion is just how inept their security protocols have been.

    Even I am more careful about my data than that and nobody has any reason to assassinate me.
    If the DfE had a hit team..
    As long as they were targeting me, I would be safe enough.

    I'd be worried about random sociology teachers in Canada if such a hit team ever sobered up enough to leave base, mind.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Finally, a ratings smash for GB News!

    But it's nice they are taking interest in minority community parades and celebrations, right?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772
    edited July 2023

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Thanks, Huyfd. I'll be sure to set the timer.
    The PSNI have just started trying to hack your accounts to see*what* timer you had in mind...

    Edit - DA beat me to it!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,167

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Thanks, Huyfd. I'll be sure to set the timer.
    17:30, aka16:90 on LOL time.
  • In practice some likely dates for the general election could be:

    21 March - (28 March is Maundy Thursday) going early on the assumption that things are going to get worse.

    2 May - with the locals

    13 June - to be called immediately after the locals - any later it clashes with the football Euros and then the olympics.

    Autumn - more flexibility around dates after the big sporting events. Could have end September/start October with effectively a long campaign period starting slowly in August although this might clash with the paralympics which ends on 8 September?

    A later November/early December election would be impacted by the US elections results - may bring an element of unpredictability which might change the ongoing narative?

    Parliament will automatically dissolve on Tuesday 17 December 2024 if not earlier. So a January election would mean Christmas and New Year campaigning.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772

    ydoethur said:

    A

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    It is alleged that his posts were "liked" by an account under the same name as the head of Ukrainian Intelligence.
    The truly astonishing thing about the Russian invasion is just how inept their security protocols have been.

    Even I am more careful about my data than that and nobody has any reason to assassinate me.
    Except the master, of course.
    But he's the Ainley one.
  • Dura_Ace said:

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Thanks, Huyfd. I'll be sure to set the timer.
    Never realised you were in the PIRA.
    That reminds me of the Gerry Adams Christmas light timer twitter post.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    Dura_Ace said:

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Thanks, Huyfd. I'll be sure to set the timer.
    Never realised you were in the PIRA.
    These days it's the Continuity IRA, the Real IRA, the Really Real IRA, The I Can't Believe It's The Real IRA or the Keeping' it Real IRA.

    All of the above are unlikely to be awake early in the morning - the number of sad, middle aged, alcoholic obsessives involved rivals PB.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,987

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Finally, a ratings smash for GB News!

    But it's nice they are taking interest in minority community parades and celebrations, right?
    They interviewed a group from Lewes in Sussex, hope of the torchlit Bonfire Night parades and huge bonfires who had gone over to support their Protestant brothers parade in Ulster.

  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,685
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    A

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    It is alleged that his posts were "liked" by an account under the same name as the head of Ukrainian Intelligence.
    The truly astonishing thing about the Russian invasion is just how inept their security protocols have been.

    Even I am more careful about my data than that and nobody has any reason to assassinate me.
    Except the master, of course.
    But he's the Ainley one.
    Roger that.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Finally, a ratings smash for GB News!

    But it's nice they are taking interest in minority community parades and celebrations, right?
    The Orange Order are the last people in the world to wear bowler hats?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Finally, a ratings smash for GB News!

    But it's nice they are taking interest in minority community parades and celebrations, right?
    The Orange Order are the last people in the world to wear bowler hats?
    Nope

    image
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    A

    BTW, you may remember the story the other day about a Russian submarine commander that got assassinated during his morning run.

    Allegedly, he was posting his runs publicly on Strava.

    ISTR our military has had issues with this; it must be a far more serious breach of personal security during wartime...

    It is alleged that his posts were "liked" by an account under the same name as the head of Ukrainian Intelligence.
    The truly astonishing thing about the Russian invasion is just how inept their security protocols have been.

    Even I am more careful about my data than that and nobody has any reason to assassinate me.
    Except the master, of course.
    But he's the Ainley one.
    Roger that.
    Trakken this contest will be Simmple.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,685

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509

    HYUFD said:

    Live coverage of the 12th July Orange Order parade through Belfast today on GB News hosted by Arlene Foster

    Thanks, Huyfd. I'll be sure to set the timer.
    Make it a big big bomb Peter
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 22,415
    edited July 2023

    Johnson reduced himself to a minority and sent Geoffrey wotzit out to rage from the dispatch box against his own government, demanding that it be thrown from office. Mental. And post 2019 they are more mental...

    That was entirely logical and sensible and resulted in the biggest Tory majority since 1987 and the highest share of the vote for any party in England in about half a century. Bigger even than Tony Blair ever achieved.

    Sunak timing things out to the last minute is not remotely comparable to Boris shaking up Parliament and going to the country to win a new majority.

    The stupidity in the 2017-19 Parliament was not Boris going to the polls to win a majority, it was Parliament refusing to find a majority for any form of Brexit then the Opposition being scared of an election and so pissing off the electorate that they ensured Boris won a massive majority for a far harder Brexit than May ever wanted.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,478
    edited July 2023
    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Given the government edicts that cake in the office is an attack on those dieting... how long before we have a full on War On Cake?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,417

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    I have to ask: is there such a thing as outdoor carpet? Is this a Scottish thing?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,081

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Often not even walking. Standing still dead. Leaning over dead.

    That said, I've not seen nearly as much of this of late. I wonder if the drug of choice has changed?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Legalise drugs so that

    1) The supply chain doesn't result in whole countries being taken over by criminal gangs. Unless you have a certain view of Hoffmann-La Roche...
    2) The drugs can be regulated in terms of purity and safety - Spice and other shit like this is a result of attempts to get round supply issues.
    3) We stop locking up lots of people
    4) The police have other things to do
    5) Tax it sensibly, so the legal stuff costs less than the illegal stuff - fund the NHS?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,417

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Yes. The RSS have a habit of holding conferences in Manchester, and the second time I went there I was struck by the number of visible (presumably) junkies. :(
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,478

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    Quite. Couldn't have put it better myself.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    viewcode said:

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Yes. The RSS have a habit of holding conferences in Manchester, and the second time I went there I was struck by the number of visible (presumably) junkies. :(
    RSS? Modi's Roderick Spode appreciation society?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    Much posher and pleasant for covering concrete.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,415
    viewcode said:

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Yes. The RSS have a habit of holding conferences in Manchester, and the second time I went there I was struck by the number of visible (presumably) junkies. :(
    Walking round Manchester is quite tiring so presumably people need plenty of breaks to relax on the benches.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509
    viewcode said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    I have to ask: is there such a thing as outdoor carpet? Is this a Scottish thing?
    If you do not have outdoor carpets you have never lived Viewcode. My wife picked up habit while we were in USA, have several here for the patio ( need to have a choice for different occasions ) but given the weather difference here they do spend a lot of time rolled up in the garage.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,417

    viewcode said:

    Scott_xP said:

    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    Can we open a book on whether you can make it the whole month?
    My last purchase was 11th of April.

    So over 3 months.
    How much do the meds cost to deal with the withdrawal issue?
    The methadone is free.
    I thought that stuff was more dangerous than smack?
    Nah that’s spice.
    Not cake?
    Spice has been a real issue in Manchester city centre.

    Turns users into The Walking Dead.
    Yes. The RSS have a habit of holding conferences in Manchester, and the second time I went there I was struck by the number of visible (presumably) junkies. :(
    RSS? Modi's Roderick Spode appreciation society?
    Royal Statistical Society.

    2021 Manchester: https://rss.org.uk/RSS/media/File-library/Conference/RSS-2021-Conference-directory.pdf
    2016 Manchester: https://rss.org.uk/RSS/media/File-library/Conference/RSS-Conf-Directory-2016.pdf
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,903

    Farooq said:

    He'll go October 31st 2024 or November 7th 2024 to really piss me and other political gamblers off.

    If you find yourself short of funds for betting, you could sell some of your shoes
    It’s more the mental bandwidth issues I worry about.

    A UK general election and US presidential election within days of each other will be a challenge.

    The results could drag on for days.

    I raised this issue back in January when I wrote a thread asking ‘Can you cope with two massive elections at the same time?’

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/01/01/can-you-cope-with-two-massive-elections-at-the-same-time/
    Has OGH booked his October/November 2024 holiday yet? Just asking.
    No but I have offered to pay for a 8
    week around the world cruise for OGH in Oct/Nov 2024.

    For the LOLs.
    We should start pricing such things in the TSE Shoe index.

    How many pairs of shoes would you need to sell to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise? Two?
    Should really be how many pairs of shoes would TSE stop himself from buying to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise: rough guess a dozen Louis Vuittons or Church’s.

    High end footwear is one of these areas where brands take the piss. Another thing to blame on Russian oligarchs and crims I’d suggest.
    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    I have 24 (twenty-four) wearable pairs of footwear.
    Based on photos you've shared previously I would question your use of the word "wearable" in this context.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,417
    malcolmg said:

    viewcode said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    I have to ask: is there such a thing as outdoor carpet? Is this a Scottish thing?
    If you do not have outdoor carpets you have never lived Viewcode. My wife picked up habit while we were in USA, have several here for the patio ( need to have a choice for different occasions ) but given the weather difference here they do spend a lot of time rolled up in the garage.
    This is a whole new world of experience. Thank you.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,081
    malcolmg said:

    viewcode said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    I have to ask: is there such a thing as outdoor carpet? Is this a Scottish thing?
    If you do not have outdoor carpets you have never lived Viewcode. My wife picked up habit while we were in USA, have several here for the patio ( need to have a choice for different occasions ) but given the weather difference here they do spend a lot of time rolled up in the garage.
    The things you learn on pb.com. Yesterday specialist shoes for playing the organ in, and today this. The world gets richer every day.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263
    edited July 2023
    .

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    I think they perhaps got confused by the well known dictum "every PM needs a Willie" ?

    Alternatively, they're just utterly degraded.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976
    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46
  • malcolmg said:

    HYUFD said:

    ydoethur said:

    ...

    I agree with Mike. Sunak will hold on until the law compels him to go to the people. Unless he can find a way to change the law.

    Is there provision for a Royal Prerogative extension anymore? We are at proxy war with Russia.

    Another two years might be handy.
    There never was one, was there?

    In WWI and WWII a series of Acts extending Parliament were passed.
    'Never' is too strong a word. Until 1668 (I suppose technically 1641) parliaments were called and dismissed at the pleasure of the monarch so elections were irregular. The Triennial Act 1641 stated that there must be elections every three years in England. Ironically, the first parliament elected under it sat for nineteen years. In 1688 one of the clauses under which William of Orange was made King by Parliament was that he would honour the triennial acts.

    In 1715 that was changed to every seven years for the whole of Great Britain.

    In 1911 it was changed to every five years.

    So I suppose you could say the monarch *did* have that power until the Civil War, in law, and until the Orange Revolution, in practice.

    Wiser monarchs than Charles I of course tended to exercise that power with restraint.
    The King can still force a general election and dissolve Parliament if a PM has refused to hold one after the 5 year term of his government has elapsed
    Try learning our constitution.

    One happens automatically by law, the King doesn't choose.
    Where do you go to learn that unwritten constitution
    You could try educating yourself in school, university, library, websites etc

    Our constitution may not be written in a single document but we absolutely do have constitutional arrangements and much of it, like the statute that determines the latest an election will be, is written down.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153

    Farooq said:

    He'll go October 31st 2024 or November 7th 2024 to really piss me and other political gamblers off.

    If you find yourself short of funds for betting, you could sell some of your shoes
    It’s more the mental bandwidth issues I worry about.

    A UK general election and US presidential election within days of each other will be a challenge.

    The results could drag on for days.

    I raised this issue back in January when I wrote a thread asking ‘Can you cope with two massive elections at the same time?’

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/01/01/can-you-cope-with-two-massive-elections-at-the-same-time/
    Has OGH booked his October/November 2024 holiday yet? Just asking.
    No but I have offered to pay for a 8
    week around the world cruise for OGH in Oct/Nov 2024.

    For the LOLs.
    We should start pricing such things in the TSE Shoe index.

    How many pairs of shoes would you need to sell to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise? Two?
    Should really be how many pairs of shoes would TSE stop himself from buying to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise: rough guess a dozen Louis Vuittons or Church’s.

    High end footwear is one of these areas where brands take the piss. Another thing to blame on Russian oligarchs and crims I’d suggest.
    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    I have 24 (twenty-four) wearable pairs of footwear.
    Based on photos you've shared previously I would question your use of the word "wearable" in this context.
    Don't cast shade on the cultural practises of an oppressed minority - in this case, expensive lawyers in finance.

    That's the kind of behaviour that gets you sent to ConHome.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263

    malcolmg said:

    HYUFD said:

    ydoethur said:

    ...

    I agree with Mike. Sunak will hold on until the law compels him to go to the people. Unless he can find a way to change the law.

    Is there provision for a Royal Prerogative extension anymore? We are at proxy war with Russia.

    Another two years might be handy.
    There never was one, was there?

    In WWI and WWII a series of Acts extending Parliament were passed.
    'Never' is too strong a word. Until 1668 (I suppose technically 1641) parliaments were called and dismissed at the pleasure of the monarch so elections were irregular. The Triennial Act 1641 stated that there must be elections every three years in England. Ironically, the first parliament elected under it sat for nineteen years. In 1688 one of the clauses under which William of Orange was made King by Parliament was that he would honour the triennial acts.

    In 1715 that was changed to every seven years for the whole of Great Britain.

    In 1911 it was changed to every five years.

    So I suppose you could say the monarch *did* have that power until the Civil War, in law, and until the Orange Revolution, in practice.

    Wiser monarchs than Charles I of course tended to exercise that power with restraint.
    The King can still force a general election and dissolve Parliament if a PM has refused to hold one after the 5 year term of his government has elapsed
    Try learning our constitution.

    One happens automatically by law, the King doesn't choose.
    Where do you go to learn that unwritten constitution
    You could try educating yourself in school, university, library, websites etc

    Our constitution may not be written in a single document but we absolutely do have constitutional arrangements and much of it, like the statute that determines the latest an election will be, is written down.
    Uncodified, not unwritten.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772

    malcolmg said:

    HYUFD said:

    ydoethur said:

    ...

    I agree with Mike. Sunak will hold on until the law compels him to go to the people. Unless he can find a way to change the law.

    Is there provision for a Royal Prerogative extension anymore? We are at proxy war with Russia.

    Another two years might be handy.
    There never was one, was there?

    In WWI and WWII a series of Acts extending Parliament were passed.
    'Never' is too strong a word. Until 1668 (I suppose technically 1641) parliaments were called and dismissed at the pleasure of the monarch so elections were irregular. The Triennial Act 1641 stated that there must be elections every three years in England. Ironically, the first parliament elected under it sat for nineteen years. In 1688 one of the clauses under which William of Orange was made King by Parliament was that he would honour the triennial acts.

    In 1715 that was changed to every seven years for the whole of Great Britain.

    In 1911 it was changed to every five years.

    So I suppose you could say the monarch *did* have that power until the Civil War, in law, and until the Orange Revolution, in practice.

    Wiser monarchs than Charles I of course tended to exercise that power with restraint.
    The King can still force a general election and dissolve Parliament if a PM has refused to hold one after the 5 year term of his government has elapsed
    Try learning our constitution.

    One happens automatically by law, the King doesn't choose.
    Where do you go to learn that unwritten constitution
    You could try educating yourself in school, university, library, websites etc

    Our constitution may not be written in a single document but we absolutely do have constitutional arrangements and much of it, like the statute that determines the latest an election will be, is written down.
    I have taught entire lessons on how our constitution is 'uncodified' not 'unwritten.'
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,417

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Oddly enough, I might read it.
  • 148grss148grss Posts: 4,155

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976
    edited July 2023

    Farooq said:

    He'll go October 31st 2024 or November 7th 2024 to really piss me and other political gamblers off.

    If you find yourself short of funds for betting, you could sell some of your shoes
    It’s more the mental bandwidth issues I worry about.

    A UK general election and US presidential election within days of each other will be a challenge.

    The results could drag on for days.

    I raised this issue back in January when I wrote a thread asking ‘Can you cope with two massive elections at the same time?’

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/01/01/can-you-cope-with-two-massive-elections-at-the-same-time/
    Has OGH booked his October/November 2024 holiday yet? Just asking.
    No but I have offered to pay for a 8
    week around the world cruise for OGH in Oct/Nov 2024.

    For the LOLs.
    We should start pricing such things in the TSE Shoe index.

    How many pairs of shoes would you need to sell to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise? Two?
    Should really be how many pairs of shoes would TSE stop himself from buying to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise: rough guess a dozen Louis Vuittons or Church’s.

    High end footwear is one of these areas where brands take the piss. Another thing to blame on Russian oligarchs and crims I’d suggest.
    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    I have 24 (twenty-four) wearable pairs of footwear.
    Based on photos you've shared previously I would question your use of the word "wearable" in this context.
    Current footwear.

    Love these, they glow in the dark/under the right lights.



  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    edited July 2023

    Farooq said:

    He'll go October 31st 2024 or November 7th 2024 to really piss me and other political gamblers off.

    If you find yourself short of funds for betting, you could sell some of your shoes
    It’s more the mental bandwidth issues I worry about.

    A UK general election and US presidential election within days of each other will be a challenge.

    The results could drag on for days.

    I raised this issue back in January when I wrote a thread asking ‘Can you cope with two massive elections at the same time?’

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/01/01/can-you-cope-with-two-massive-elections-at-the-same-time/
    Has OGH booked his October/November 2024 holiday yet? Just asking.
    No but I have offered to pay for a 8
    week around the world cruise for OGH in Oct/Nov 2024.

    For the LOLs.
    We should start pricing such things in the TSE Shoe index.

    How many pairs of shoes would you need to sell to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise? Two?
    Should really be how many pairs of shoes would TSE stop himself from buying to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise: rough guess a dozen Louis Vuittons or Church’s.

    High end footwear is one of these areas where brands take the piss. Another thing to blame on Russian oligarchs and crims I’d suggest.
    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    I have 24 (twenty-four) wearable pairs of footwear.
    Based on photos you've shared previously I would question your use of the word "wearable" in this context.
    Current footwear.

    Love these, they glow in the dark/under the right lights.



    All the beige......

    Edit: what about - https://www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/noosa-tri-14/p/1011B368-700.html?size=9.5&width=Standard&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnrmlBhDHARIsADJ5b_nb308Q_WjrK_l5Z0o7l7LjecdHhF7NInMNgjHSqYuy0iYSoiyDas0aAi39EALw_wcB
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    edited July 2023
    Two points in this video

    1. Steve Bray is boring. Go away

    2. What on earth is Lisa Nandy wearing? This is not a “necklace” moment but that skirt and shoe combo suggests cosplay, and implies sub/kitten

    https://twitter.com/snb19692/status/1679016055656574976?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,976
    viewcode said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Oddly enough, I might read it.
    This post requires an intervention.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772
    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    She was pretty cut up by it.
  • 148grss148grss Posts: 4,155

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    Are we surprised? I mean, the Tories have never exactly been mask on when it comes to their political calculus. And they can always go "we don't mean this in the cynical race baity way it totally sounds like, we mean this in the way that shows that Starmer actually was bad at his job as the states number one cop enthusiast". The big problem for CCHQ is that, alas, Starmer is so much of a cop enthusiast they will unlikely find such an example - SKS went out of his way to punitively criminalise as many individuals as possible in the London riots and so on, so I think it is unlikely they will find an example of him being lax on individual people who committed a crime who then went on to do more crimes.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263

    Farooq said:

    He'll go October 31st 2024 or November 7th 2024 to really piss me and other political gamblers off.

    If you find yourself short of funds for betting, you could sell some of your shoes
    It’s more the mental bandwidth issues I worry about.

    A UK general election and US presidential election within days of each other will be a challenge.

    The results could drag on for days.

    I raised this issue back in January when I wrote a thread asking ‘Can you cope with two massive elections at the same time?’

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2023/01/01/can-you-cope-with-two-massive-elections-at-the-same-time/
    Has OGH booked his October/November 2024 holiday yet? Just asking.
    No but I have offered to pay for a 8
    week around the world cruise for OGH in Oct/Nov 2024.

    For the LOLs.
    We should start pricing such things in the TSE Shoe index.

    How many pairs of shoes would you need to sell to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise? Two?
    Should really be how many pairs of shoes would TSE stop himself from buying to pay for an 8 week round the world cruise: rough guess a dozen Louis Vuittons or Church’s.

    High end footwear is one of these areas where brands take the piss. Another thing to blame on Russian oligarchs and crims I’d suggest.
    I’m currently on a moratorium on buying footwear.

    I have 24 (twenty-four) wearable pairs of footwear.
    Based on photos you've shared previously I would question your use of the word "wearable" in this context.
    Current footwear.

    Love these, they glow in the dark/under the right lights.



    Remarkably sober choice from you.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,945
    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    Do you think it'll be in Fiction or Non Fiction?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,468
    Nigelb said:

    .

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    I think they perhaps got confused by the well known dictum "every PM needs a Willie" ?

    Alternatively, they're just utterly degraded.
    William Atkinson is ConservativeHome's Assistant Editor. He graduated from Oxford, where he studied History, in 2021. He then worked as a teacher in North London before joining ConservativeHome in March 2022.

    What is it about right wing teachers? Especially the ones who only do it as a sort of gap year?

    In terms of the substance, all political parties in a hole are tempted to go personal and negative, because it's all that's left to them. I suspect that the ones that ignore the temptation (see the Faust advert that wasn't shown in 1997) don't do any worse in the end and are probably wiser.

    Could the US-style savaging work without their system of paid-for TV ads, anyway? Perhaps with social media.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772
    edited July 2023

    Nigelb said:

    .

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    I think they perhaps got confused by the well known dictum "every PM needs a Willie" ?

    Alternatively, they're just utterly degraded.
    William Atkinson is ConservativeHome's Assistant Editor. He graduated from Oxford, where he studied History, in 2021. He then worked as a teacher in North London before joining ConservativeHome in March 2022.

    What is it about right wing teachers? Especially the ones who only do it as a sort of gap year?

    In terms of the substance, all political parties in a hole are tempted to go personal and negative, because it's all that's left to them. I suspect that the ones that ignore the temptation (see the Faust advert that wasn't shown in 1997) don't do any worse in the end and are probably wiser.

    Could the US-style savaging work without their system of paid-for TV ads, anyway? Perhaps with social media.
    I would say, rather, what is it about Oxford history graduates?

    Edit - incidentally, difficult to imagine he worked as a teacher for just six months. That isn't time to qualify. So either he was in a private school, or he was on some joke programme like TeachFirst, or he was a TA.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263

    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    Do you think it'll be in Fiction or Non Fiction?
    The remainder bin.
    Which, for a Brexiteer, will sting.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263
    Leon said:

    Two points in this video

    1. Steve Bray is boring. Go away

    2. What on earth is Lisa Nandy wearing? This is not a “necklace” moment but that skirt and shoe combo suggests cosplay, and implies sub/kitten

    https://twitter.com/snb19692/status/1679016055656574976?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw

    3. Who it what is the twat in the hat ?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,263
    Jury rules document found in Aretha Franklin's couch is valid will
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66170679
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Two points in this video

    1. Steve Bray is boring. Go away

    2. What on earth is Lisa Nandy wearing? This is not a “necklace” moment but that skirt and shoe combo suggests cosplay, and implies sub/kitten

    https://twitter.com/snb19692/status/1679016055656574976?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw

    3. Who it what is the twat in the hat ?
    Steve “Brexit” Bray. Still. Someone tell him to give it up
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,653

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    CCHQ must leverage its leader's complete lack of exploitable life experience.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,415
    Amendment to Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

    Section 4.
    4.Automatic dissolution of Parliament after five years

    If it has not been dissolved earlier, a Parliament dissolves at the beginning of the day that is the fifth anniversary of the day on which it first met.

    Replace replace "five" with "thousand", replace "fifth" with "thousandth"

    AYES to the right
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,714

    Nigelb said:

    .

    If anybody's doubting how desperate some Tories are getting, and how low they could sink, here's a preview from ConHome today:
    CCHQ must find Starmer’s Willie Horton
    https://conservativehome.com/2023/07/12/cchq-must-find-starmers-willie-horton/

    A repulsive article.

    What the actual fucking fuck?
    I think they perhaps got confused by the well known dictum "every PM needs a Willie" ?

    Alternatively, they're just utterly degraded.
    William Atkinson is ConservativeHome's Assistant Editor. He graduated from Oxford, where he studied History, in 2021. He then worked as a teacher in North London before joining ConservativeHome in March 2022.

    What is it about right wing teachers? Especially the ones who only do it as a sort of gap year?

    In terms of the substance, all political parties in a hole are tempted to go personal and negative, because it's all that's left to them. I suspect that the ones that ignore the temptation (see the Faust advert that wasn't shown in 1997) don't do any worse in the end and are probably wiser.

    Could the US-style savaging work without their system of paid-for TV ads, anyway? Perhaps with social media.
    It's a shame Major never ran with the Faust ad.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcxzBr-Wihg

    It doubt it would have done him much good, but it would have been a classic of the genre. Given what subsequently learnt about New Labour, it seems quite poignant in retrospect.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 8,955
    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮
  • 148grss148grss Posts: 4,155

    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    Do you think it'll be in Fiction or Non Fiction?
    They're a non fiction publisher... She may as well just call it "Boris' Struggle" and be done with it
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,772
    148grss said:

    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    Do you think it'll be in Fiction or Non Fiction?
    They're a non fiction publisher... She may as well just call it "Boris' Struggle" and be done with it
    Harper Collins published my copy of The Lord of the Rings.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,395
    No mention of Mr Gove on a quick word search? This is very much on topic, as it can't do much for Mr Sunak's hopes. Getting bad news out of the way early?

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/12/gove-department-hands-back-19bn-meant-tackle-england-housing-crisis

    "Michael Gove’s department is handing back £1.9bn to the Treasury originally meant to tackle England’s housing crisis after struggling to find projects to spend it on.

    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has surrendered hundreds of millions of pounds budgeted for 2022-23, including £255m meant to fund new affordable housing and £245m meant to improve building safety.

    Officials said the department was unable to spend the money, which accounts for about a third of its entire housing budget, thanks to rising interest rates and uncertainty in the housing market after the Covid-19 pandemic."
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,175
    Two noew Spanish polls today with healthy 8-9 point leads for PP suggesting they're on course to win a week on Sunday and to be able to rule with the support of Vox.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2023_Spanish_general_election
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    Just heard an interesting... statement

    That the planned Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine is already being scoped to produce the KF51
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    edited July 2023
    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
  • Carnyx said:

    No mention of Mr Gove on a quick word search? This is very much on topic, as it can't do much for Mr Sunak's hopes. Getting bad news out of the way early?

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/12/gove-department-hands-back-19bn-meant-tackle-england-housing-crisis

    "Michael Gove’s department is handing back £1.9bn to the Treasury originally meant to tackle England’s housing crisis after struggling to find projects to spend it on.

    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has surrendered hundreds of millions of pounds budgeted for 2022-23, including £255m meant to fund new affordable housing and £245m meant to improve building safety.

    Officials said the department was unable to spend the money, which accounts for about a third of its entire housing budget, thanks to rising interest rates and uncertainty in the housing market after the Covid-19 pandemic."

    I think that HMT was looking for £2bn to fund the pay awards this year? This should help.
  • 148grss148grss Posts: 4,155
    ydoethur said:

    148grss said:

    148grss said:

    Nadine Dorries has written a book called THE PLOT: THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF BORIS JOHNSON



    https://twitter.com/mattchorley/status/1679040136003170304?s=46

    Do we think the cover will involve a literal depiction of a knife in the back?
    Do you think it'll be in Fiction or Non Fiction?
    They're a non fiction publisher... She may as well just call it "Boris' Struggle" and be done with it
    Harper Collins published my copy of The Lord of the Rings.
    The letter says it was negotiated by their NonFiction publisher
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,903
    Leon said:

    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting

    Have a cold shower.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 55,035
    Could have been worse, people might have mistaken him for a Max Verstappen fan…

  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,395

    Leon said:

    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting

    Have a cold shower.
    The point of Nipponese cosplay is that you can find a costume to match just about everything, from the eldritch lords of the depths to merchant bankers. So, pure coincidence.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,395

    Carnyx said:

    No mention of Mr Gove on a quick word search? This is very much on topic, as it can't do much for Mr Sunak's hopes. Getting bad news out of the way early?

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/12/gove-department-hands-back-19bn-meant-tackle-england-housing-crisis

    "Michael Gove’s department is handing back £1.9bn to the Treasury originally meant to tackle England’s housing crisis after struggling to find projects to spend it on.

    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has surrendered hundreds of millions of pounds budgeted for 2022-23, including £255m meant to fund new affordable housing and £245m meant to improve building safety.

    Officials said the department was unable to spend the money, which accounts for about a third of its entire housing budget, thanks to rising interest rates and uncertainty in the housing market after the Covid-19 pandemic."

    I think that HMT was looking for £2bn to fund the pay awards this year? This should help.
    Indeed. Actually, now you mention it that's a suspicious coincidence. Or am I being too cynical in my barrel on PB?
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,774
    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
    Seems a benign form of catastrophe to me

  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509
    For those wondering how they lit the bonfires in NI. Not pleasant job for one of them.
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1678899340654391296
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting

    Have a cold shower.
    The point of Nipponese cosplay is that you can find a costume to match just about everything, from the eldritch lords of the depths to merchant bankers. So, pure coincidence.
    Perhaps. Or it is just the infiltration of kink/fetish wear into everyday fashion

    But if Nandy was off to a sexy party in that outfit then she would absolutely be identifying as a sub-kitten in Lolita shoes

    Intriguingly, she even adopts the classic lolita stance. The two shoes pointing coquettishly together. All she needs is a finger placed vertically over her pouting, questioning “aren’t I cute” mouth
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,509
    viewcode said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    malcolmg said:

    Carnyx said:

    If you are in search of positive news, let me give you some. The country around Sidmouth is currently buzzing with bees and butterflies. I think the decision to keep the grass long and let wild flowers grow in so many meadows, combined with recent rain, has brought them out to play. Not having a clue about nature I could be totally wrong. But I do know they are there because I can see them! Maybe it's only round here, but I hope not.

    THere's been much more emphasis lately in leaving meadows alone for the early months to let the insects have a chance. Parallel movement in gardening, too: not being anal about one's lawn (let alone replace it with plastic etc). Mrs C has been of that philosophy for decades and our lawnless front garden has been a chaotic mass of flowers since the snowdrops and crocuses - full of bumblebees and hoverflies, and butterflies. In contrast to the sometimes sterile plastic grass and hard core parking spaces elswehere on the same street.

    Edit: even the RHS is in on it, much to its credit.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-meadows
    We're currently house hunting and it's been a real eye opener to see the number of places that have plastic grass. Way more than I'd have expected, and it really puts us off, as it'd have to be ripped up and proper lawn laid again. I
    Was a story in paper last year , some woman had got up in morning to find someone had rolled teh lawn up and nicked it. Anyone with plastic grass should get minimum 3 years with no remission.
    Oh, she had the value of her house increased? Difficult to see where the crime is then.
    Carnyx, the crime is having plastic grass. What kind of cretin do you need to be to want that in preference to the real thing.
    I am not a fan of plastic grass but my late mum had my brother lay some on a very untidy old concrete patio she had - it made it feel a nicer space to sit out in the sun for what turned out to be her last summer.

    So there we are, my mum was a cretin in Malc's book. She'd have laughed at that.
    Nice one, why not a nice outdoor carpet though.
    Which is really plastic grass you can move. Except it never gets moved.
    I have to ask: is there such a thing as outdoor carpet? Is this a Scottish thing?
    If you do not have outdoor carpets you have never lived Viewcode. I picked it up living in USA, have several here for the patio but given the weather dif

    malcolmg said:

    HYUFD said:

    ydoethur said:

    ...

    I agree with Mike. Sunak will hold on until the law compels him to go to the people. Unless he can find a way to change the law.

    Is there provision for a Royal Prerogative extension anymore? We are at proxy war with Russia.

    Another two years might be handy.
    There never was one, was there?

    In WWI and WWII a series of Acts extending Parliament were passed.
    'Never' is too strong a word. Until 1668 (I suppose technically 1641) parliaments were called and dismissed at the pleasure of the monarch so elections were irregular. The Triennial Act 1641 stated that there must be elections every three years in England. Ironically, the first parliament elected under it sat for nineteen years. In 1688 one of the clauses under which William of Orange was made King by Parliament was that he would honour the triennial acts.

    In 1715 that was changed to every seven years for the whole of Great Britain.

    In 1911 it was changed to every five years.

    So I suppose you could say the monarch *did* have that power until the Civil War, in law, and until the Orange Revolution, in practice.

    Wiser monarchs than Charles I of course tended to exercise that power with restraint.
    The King can still force a general election and dissolve Parliament if a PM has refused to hold one after the 5 year term of his government has elapsed
    Try learning our constitution.

    One happens automatically by law, the King doesn't choose.
    Where do you go to learn that unwritten constitution
    You could try educating yourself in school, university, library, websites etc

    Our constitution may not be written in a single document but we absolutely do have constitutional arrangements and much of it, like the statute that determines the latest an election will be, is written down.
    Claim of Rights is enough
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,468
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting

    Have a cold shower.
    The point of Nipponese cosplay is that you can find a costume to match just about everything, from the eldritch lords of the depths to merchant bankers. So, pure coincidence.
    Perhaps. Or it is just the infiltration of kink/fetish wear into everyday fashion

    But if Nandy was off to a sexy party in that outfit then she would absolutely be identifying as a sub-kitten in Lolita shoes

    Intriguingly, she even adopts the classic lolita stance. The two shoes pointing coquettishly together. All she needs is a finger placed vertically over her pouting, questioning “aren’t I cute” mouth
    Cold. Shower. Now.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,415
    edited July 2023
    malcolmg said:

    For those wondering how they lit the bonfires in NI. Not pleasant job for one of them.
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1678899340654391296

    Looks like they've failed to do a proper risk assessment.
  • 148grss148grss Posts: 4,155
    geoffw said:

    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
    Seems a benign form of catastrophe to me

    Fewer insects means fewer birds and fewer flowering plants, this will reduce numbers of flora including harvestable fruits. The depletion of a significant source of protein at the bottom of the food chain is a way to have significant cascading effects leading to destruction of whole ecologies.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,558
    Leon said:

    Compare and contrast


    Cosplay kitten/sub





    Lisa Nandy, Shadow Minister for Housing




    Not a Definite Necklace-type Gotcha, but she’s definitely referencing cosplay. Can’t believe it’s unwitting

    Maybe it’s a subtle dig at painting over the Disney cartoon and she’s dressed like Minnie Mouse.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,959
    "Northstowe: The broken-promise new town built 'with no heart'"

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66156561
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,395
    148grss said:

    geoffw said:

    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
    Seems a benign form of catastrophe to me

    Fewer insects means fewer birds and fewer flowering plants, this will reduce numbers of flora including harvestable fruits. The depletion of a significant source of protein at the bottom of the food chain is a way to have significant cascading effects leading to destruction of whole ecologies.
    Hence the importance of such things as Mrs C's front garden. Some may laugh, or deplore the lack of a neat lawn/ootside rug, but the local honeybees sure like it. As well as the berries on the fruit trees, for the birds, come to think of it. We even get waxwings on occasion, eating the berries on the hedge just outside the bay window where I sit and read.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,774
    148grss said:

    geoffw said:

    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
    Seems a benign form of catastrophe to me

    Fewer insects means fewer birds and fewer flowering plants, this will reduce numbers of flora including harvestable fruits. The depletion of a significant source of protein at the bottom of the food chain is a way to have significant cascading effects leading to destruction of whole ecologies.
    Just fewer mosquitos would suit me, midges too for that matter. I leave the full doom-mongery to others

  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    I’ve done a Google search and I can’t find any images of Nandy wearing anything as suggestively kinky as that. So you can all put your Kleenex away. It’s not like Truss where there were hundreds of images of her in increasingly obvious BDSM-adjacent outfits/jewellery

    Perhaps she simply doesn’t realise how it looks or she is in the very early days of a new lifestyle
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    Pulpstar said:

    malcolmg said:

    For those wondering how they lit the bonfires in NI. Not pleasant job for one of them.
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1678899340654391296

    Looks like they've failed to do a proper risk assessment.
    hey, they replaced the car tires with pallet wood. Which is full of toxic chemicals, but you can't get to 100% in one go....
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,606
    geoffw said:

    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    On insects - I'd encourage those with cars to do the Bugs Matter reg plate survey (you count the number of insects you wipe out during a drive).

    The latest data shows a drop of 64% between 2004 and 2022. 😮

    It is a quiet catastrophe. Again I reference the number of times I’ve been bitten by mosquitoes. It has plunged in the last 10 years, and the decline seems to be speeding up

    And it’s not like I’ve stopped going to hot mosquitoey places. They critters aren’t out there any more
    Seems a benign form of catastrophe to me

    Not when all the birds, that eat mosquitoes, likewise die out. And we know birdlife is also in steep decline

    It looks fucking grim, frankly
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,081

    Just heard an interesting... statement

    That the planned Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine is already being scoped to produce the KF51

    Could you elaborate a bit please? I have a vague and possibly wrong notion that Rheinmetall is a German firm who were pressuring the German gov not to supply Ukraine with weapons...? What is the KF51?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,395

    Sandpit said:

    Could have been worse, people might have mistaken him for a Max Verstappen fan…

    Haha yeah it’s funny on one level. Lads, lads, lads, lager, lager, lager, and all that.

    On the other just pause and reflect for a second - this government has made it legal for people to be challenged and if necessary detained for a slogan on a t-shirt.

    If it’d been a Labour government doing this, getting people stopped for slogans on t-shirts - maybe something like ‘Bring back foxhunting’ - the right would be going batshit crazy.

    The right are sanguine because this is directed at an issue they disagree with, and they are happy to flirt with authoritarianism. If not some kind form of fascism. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration, or premature, to drop the f-bomb now.

    This government is intent on stripping us of rights. EU citizenship, the right to protest. What’s next?
    And, of course, our rightists cannot now complain if a different government indeed has Plod stop and arrest people for supporting animal cruelty on T-shirts. Upsets lots of folk, does fox hunting.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,533
    edited July 2023
    Getting very messy in BBC presenter story. Now have current BBC presenters saying they must reveal themselves and they are never coming back in the building (and bbc news making a huge deal of this) and ex-bbc presenters going into bat for unnamed presenter saying they spoke to them and they are angry, its all a sun stitch up.

    I am reminded of the spiderman meme, where all the spidermen are pointing at one another.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,153
    edited July 2023

    Sandpit said:

    Could have been worse, people might have mistaken him for a Max Verstappen fan…

    Haha yeah it’s funny on one level. Lads, lads, lads, lager, lager, lager, and all that.

    On the other just pause and reflect for a second - this government has made it legal for people to be challenged and if necessary detained for a slogan on a t-shirt.

    If it’d been a Labour government doing this, getting people stopped for slogans on t-shirts - maybe something like ‘Bring back foxhunting’ - the right would be going batshit crazy.

    The right are sanguine because this is directed at an issue they disagree with, and they are happy to flirt with authoritarianism. If not some kind form of fascism. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration, or premature, to drop the f-bomb now.

    This government is intent on stripping us of rights. EU citizenship, the right to protest. What’s next?
    https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/hunting/girl-arrested-over-bollocks-to-blair-shirt-68779

    There was a whole thing about this, even earlier - a comic got stopped by the police and forced to take his Bollocks To Blair T-shirt off outside Downing street.

    EDIT: early in the New Labour thing, the Chinese President visited. The government used some ancient laws that applied to Royal parks to have any kind of protest banned and protestors removed. This included standing quietly, holding a small sign saying "Remember Tibet".
This discussion has been closed.