On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
Labour campaigning hard in Mid Beds can only hand the seat to the Tories since the LDs are likely to be the main challengers.
Labour are second and won Selby and Ainsty on a smaller swing than this requires.
If Labour can win Selby, why should Labour not go full gas for Mid Beds?
This is going to be fascinating.
1. Labour victory: confirms they are on course, and can win in the semi-rural Home Counties 2. Lib Dem victory: yet more evidence they will destroy the Tories in the blue wall 3. Tory hold: signs of trouble ahead for the tactical voting coalition, and another Uxbridge-style straw in the wind that things might not be all that bad for them after all 4. Tories third: lol
Not much chance of the Tories coming third. They should get at least 35%.
Why? A genuine question, because from any objective point of view they are in a terrible position for this by election
Andy keeps beating the tory drum but, as you say, I'm not sure this is evidence based. The only real 'evidence' is past performance, which is not a guide for the present.
That historic precedence shows that in 1997 they polled 30.7%, well below Andy's 'at least 35%'. For all the talk that Starmer is no Blair, 2024 is also no 1997 in terms of the background and conditions. Most commentators would argue that the situation now is far worse than in 1997, when this country was in fact in pretty good economic health.
In 2001 the Conservatives still only polled 31.7%
And in 2005 32.6%
They didn't get back over the 35% mark until 2010, and even then only by just over 1%.
Based on that, and the current polling, I see no firm basis at the present time for Andy's optimism.
Eh, he is talking about Mid Beds not the general election.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
To be fair, the kiss story is utterly bonkers. Quite what the Spanish FA were thinking, I don't know.
The BBC is pro-monarchy for a reason. If the monarchy goes, so do they.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
The BBC News website has long since been that way. Especially of a weekend. Trawl social media for stuff that can be recycled and presented as news. Most of the MSM do it now. All for clicks.
We also now have BBC Verify to, thankfully, cut through the mist and present the truth to us.
One thing Dorries was absolutely right on was the future of the license fee.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
I think it does do some really good reporting as well in other areas, but it is like the editors go to sleep on the wheel when it comes to culture war stuff. They just let the junior staff do what they want, oblivious to how damaging this is.
Nevermind Paul Flowers. What about Brandon? He’s on the BBC at Reading Festival and I’m looking out for my son who’s somewhere in the crowd and by all accounts (from a few scarce texts) is having the time of his life.
And there was talk of Mormons above too.
The Killers set makes me feel doubly inadequate. It reminds me I’m now too old for pop festivals (or rather, too old to go to a pop festival without standing out as above the recommended age limit); and it reminds me I will never be as irritatingly good looking as Brandon Flowers, who is admittedly a few years younger than me.
And on topic, I think is is probably one worth Labour and Lib Dems both going hell for leather on, even if the Tories sneak through as a result.
The only problem is that the result could be misinterpreted, as the Uxbridge one has been. A very small win in one by election shouldn't be treated as of earth shattering importance.
Labour campaigning hard in Mid Beds can only hand the seat to the Tories since the LDs are likely to be the main challengers.
Labour are second and won Selby and Ainsty on a smaller swing than this requires.
If Labour can win Selby, why should Labour not go full gas for Mid Beds?
This is going to be fascinating.
1. Labour victory: confirms they are on course, and can win in the semi-rural Home Counties 2. Lib Dem victory: yet more evidence they will destroy the Tories in the blue wall 3. Tory hold: signs of trouble ahead for the tactical voting coalition, and another Uxbridge-style straw in the wind that things might not be all that bad for them after all 4. Tories third: lol
Not much chance of the Tories coming third. They should get at least 35%.
Why? A genuine question, because from any objective point of view they are in a terrible position for this by election
Andy keeps beating the tory drum but, as you say, I'm not sure this is evidence based. The only real 'evidence' is past performance, which is not a guide for the present.
That historic precedence shows that in 1997 they polled 30.7%, well below Andy's 'at least 35%'. For all the talk that Starmer is no Blair, 2024 is also no 1997 in terms of the background and conditions. Most commentators would argue that the situation now is far worse than in 1997, when this country was in fact in pretty good economic health.
In 2001 the Conservatives still only polled 31.7%
And in 2005 32.6%
They didn't get back over the 35% mark until 2010, and even then only by just over 1%.
Based on that, and the current polling, I see no firm basis at the present time for Andy's optimism.
Eh, he is talking about Mid Beds not the general election.
Where the Tories lowest ever vote, 37% in 1945, still won them the seat
They got 46% in 1997, and managed 61.6% in the close run thing that was 2017
I was reading this piece about Yousaf and saying the Sindy movement has never been strong, which whatever he has to say whether it is true or not so it's not worth assessing if it is, but I was interested in his comment about 'repopulating' rural areas.
He admitted there were divisions within SNP but insisted independence “is closer now than it ever has been” with nearly 75,000 SNP members.
Mr Yousaf added: “It’s so important first of all, that even in the face of let’s be frank, some of the most difficult weeks and months in our party’s history, support for independence remains rock solid.”
Now, I don't really know those areas, though my dad used to live in the Dumfries and Galloway region for a time, and I'm not going to say anything negative about them as a result, but when you have migrants how often do they go for the less populated, rural areas, which presumably have fewer current migrants?
It's happened in the USA I'd guess, with those big empty areas out west and German settlers and the like, but are there recent examples of being able to encourage migrants to settle into depopulated rural areas?
I doubt the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway would agree they're depopulated.
"Rachel Reeves has ruled out any version of a wealth tax if Labour forms the next government, declaring that additional taxation will not lead to prosperity.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the Shadow Chancellor launches a bold bid for support from businesses and wealthier households, saying she will not introduce a levy to target wealth or expensive properties, and will not increase capital gains tax or the top rate of income tax."
So appears as if the next GE will have no impact on the level of taxes. And indeed spending as nobody is going to risk additional borrowing.
We've got Sunak under attack from both Left and Right. But the Left isn't going to do anything different. And when the Right (ie Truss) tried to do something different it completely blew up in their faces.
Realistically there is no significant scope for doing anything different however much people might dislike it.
Political wiggle question:
Is the “top rate of tax” the same as the “additional rate”?
I'd expect the additional rate going up from 45p to 50p (and possibly higher) as one of the first things Labour would do.
It's much more akin to a suburban marginal than it is an ultra rural/affluent/fringe seat of the type the Liberal Democrats do so well in, and Labour are polling well there (twice as well as the LDs) and very well in all the surrounding areas like Bedford, Luton and MK.
I don't see any reason why they shouldn't go for it.
Labour campaigning hard in Mid Beds can only hand the seat to the Tories since the LDs are likely to be the main challengers.
Labour are second and won Selby and Ainsty on a smaller swing than this requires.
If Labour can win Selby, why should Labour not go full gas for Mid Beds?
This is going to be fascinating.
1. Labour victory: confirms they are on course, and can win in the semi-rural Home Counties 2. Lib Dem victory: yet more evidence they will destroy the Tories in the blue wall 3. Tory hold: signs of trouble ahead for the tactical voting coalition, and another Uxbridge-style straw in the wind that things might not be all that bad for them after all 4. Tories third: lol
Not much chance of the Tories coming third. They should get at least 35%.
Why? A genuine question, because from any objective point of view they are in a terrible position for this by election
Andy keeps beating the tory drum but, as you say, I'm not sure this is evidence based. The only real 'evidence' is past performance, which is not a guide for the present.
That historic precedence shows that in 1997 they polled 30.7%, well below Andy's 'at least 35%'. For all the talk that Starmer is no Blair, 2024 is also no 1997 in terms of the background and conditions. Most commentators would argue that the situation now is far worse than in 1997, when this country was in fact in pretty good economic health.
In 2001 the Conservatives still only polled 31.7%
And in 2005 32.6%
They didn't get back over the 35% mark until 2010, and even then only by just over 1%.
Based on that, and the current polling, I see no firm basis at the present time for Andy's optimism.
Eh, he is talking about Mid Beds not the general election.
Where the Tories lowest ever vote, 37% in 1945, still won them the seat
They got 46% in 1997, and managed 61.6% in the close run thing that was 2017
So when he says 35% for the by election, he may well be right. I guess a lot depends on how many Tories sit on their hands.
How can somewhere with 133 people qualify as a town? Describing it as a village is a bit of a push.
That is America. Everything is a town. Even regular small town America might have just the one high school, and unimaginably long commutes, by car of course.
"Rachel Reeves has ruled out any version of a wealth tax if Labour forms the next government, declaring that additional taxation will not lead to prosperity.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the Shadow Chancellor launches a bold bid for support from businesses and wealthier households, saying she will not introduce a levy to target wealth or expensive properties, and will not increase capital gains tax or the top rate of income tax."
So appears as if the next GE will have no impact on the level of taxes. And indeed spending as nobody is going to risk additional borrowing.
We've got Sunak under attack from both Left and Right. But the Left isn't going to do anything different. And when the Right (ie Truss) tried to do something different it completely blew up in their faces.
Realistically there is no significant scope for doing anything different however much people might dislike it.
Political wiggle question:
Is the “top rate of tax” the same as the “additional rate”?
I'd expect the additional rate going up from 45p to 50p (and possibly higher) as one of the first things Labour would do.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
The BBC News website has long since been that way. Especially of a weekend. Trawl social media for stuff that can be recycled and presented as news. Most of the MSM do it now. All for clicks.
We also now have BBC Verify to, thankfully, cut through the mist and present the truth to us.
One thing Dorries was absolutely right on was the future of the license fee.
Dorries thought licence fee money funds Channel 4, so not "absolutely right".
Her criticisms of Sunak might be worth taking more seriously were she not so obviously motivated by bitterness at not being given a bauble and by her support for Johnson, a man wholly unsuitable to be PM and who degraded British politics and British public life.
Her criticisms of Sunak are old news to anyone who has been vaguely conscious for the past 2 years. If you're still at the stage of not 'taking them seriously' then you should question your own seriousness as an observer of British politics. He's a dud. Crap. The sort of person who can find the only tailor on Savile Row (it would seem) who makes trousers so bad they're meme-able. Simply the most manifestly inadequate and damaging Prime Minister we've ever had. If they'll have him in California, someone put him on a plane for heaven's sake.
Simply the most manifestly inadequate and damaging Prime Minister we've ever had
Oh that's going a bit far.
He's not even the most manifestly inadequate and damaging PM we've had in the past decade.
I don’t think the LibDems are value in mid-Beds. There’s a case to be made for them, but also one for Labour and the Tories.
Looking at the politics of it longer term, the Tories sneaking home on the back of a split anti-Tory vote might concentrate tactical voting minds for the GE. Maybe Labour and the LibDems need to get a head-to-head fight out of their systems.
A great piece by Justine Greening on the government's scandalous (I would say close to traitorous - for what could run more counter to the country's long term interests than failing to develop the talent of its youth) failures on education and the widening north-south divide. I do think that many Tories' personal attachment to private education blinds them to their utter failure on this issue. Also, isn't it sad that the party doesn't attract sensible, moderate people like Greening any more.
Labour campaigning hard in Mid Beds can only hand the seat to the Tories since the LDs are likely to be the main challengers.
Labour are second and won Selby and Ainsty on a smaller swing than this requires.
If Labour can win Selby, why should Labour not go full gas for Mid Beds?
This is going to be fascinating.
1. Labour victory: confirms they are on course, and can win in the semi-rural Home Counties 2. Lib Dem victory: yet more evidence they will destroy the Tories in the blue wall 3. Tory hold: signs of trouble ahead for the tactical voting coalition, and another Uxbridge-style straw in the wind that things might not be all that bad for them after all 4. Tories third: lol
Not much chance of the Tories coming third. They should get at least 35%.
Why? A genuine question, because from any objective point of view they are in a terrible position for this by election
Andy keeps beating the tory drum but, as you say, I'm not sure this is evidence based. The only real 'evidence' is past performance, which is not a guide for the present.
That historic precedence shows that in 1997 they polled 30.7%, well below Andy's 'at least 35%'. For all the talk that Starmer is no Blair, 2024 is also no 1997 in terms of the background and conditions. Most commentators would argue that the situation now is far worse than in 1997, when this country was in fact in pretty good economic health.
In 2001 the Conservatives still only polled 31.7%
And in 2005 32.6%
They didn't get back over the 35% mark until 2010, and even then only by just over 1%.
Based on that, and the current polling, I see no firm basis at the present time for Andy's optimism.
Eh, he is talking about Mid Beds not the general election.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
I think it does do some really good reporting as well in other areas, but it is like the editors go to sleep on the wheel when it comes to culture war stuff. They just let the junior staff do what they want, oblivious to how damaging this is.
This may be a weekend effect. In the past this has usually manifested itself as leading on American domestic stories.
Labour campaigning hard in Mid Beds can only hand the seat to the Tories since the LDs are likely to be the main challengers.
Labour are second and won Selby and Ainsty on a smaller swing than this requires.
If Labour can win Selby, why should Labour not go full gas for Mid Beds?
This is going to be fascinating.
1. Labour victory: confirms they are on course, and can win in the semi-rural Home Counties 2. Lib Dem victory: yet more evidence they will destroy the Tories in the blue wall 3. Tory hold: signs of trouble ahead for the tactical voting coalition, and another Uxbridge-style straw in the wind that things might not be all that bad for them after all 4. Tories third: lol
Not much chance of the Tories coming third. They should get at least 35%.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
The whole Rubiales story is absolutely hilarious, and it shows the attitude that many have towards harassment and misbehaviour in the workplace.
It'd be interesting to know what the defence of Rubiales' actions are, let alone the consequent words of him and the organisation he runs.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
"There may be another side of the story..."
As the BBC indeed reported yesterday, and darkage apparently failed to notice:
I see some people are basing their punting on a near two month old opinion poll. Doesn't sound very scientific and more in the column of betting based on sentiment and we all know how that turns out (ask anyone who routinely bets on England sporting teams).
We also know some constituency polls aren't wholly relaible - look at Uxbridge where an early poll gave Labour the lead but I'll cheerfully concede Selby & Ainsty polling was much better.
In essence, the by-election campaign has been going on through the summer and we need new evidence to ascertain changes in local mood - has the Independent been able to carry on campaigning at the intensity of the main parties for example? Have the Conservatives done or been able to do anything?
The next big question is the "when" - I imagine the Conservatives will want to avoid any boost from their Conference being drowned out by a heavy by-election defeat so I think they'll avoid October 5th - perhaps the following week or even the 19th.
The only "hope" for the Conservatives is the Labour, LD and Independent candidates all go fishing in the same pond of voters and the Conservatives come through the middle. At Somerton & Frome, the Conservatives lost more than half their vote share from 2019, the fall in Selby & Ainsty not quite half (down from 60 to 34). Given the circumstances and the presence of the Independent, we could easily see the Conservative vote share in the high 20s.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
The BBC news website reads like the Guardian or Joe.
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
The BBC News website has long since been that way. Especially of a weekend. Trawl social media for stuff that can be recycled and presented as news. Most of the MSM do it now. All for clicks.
We also now have BBC Verify to, thankfully, cut through the mist and present the truth to us.
One thing Dorries was absolutely right on was the future of the license fee.
Dorries thought licence fee money funds Channel 4, so not "absolutely right".
“She said she could not envisage a world where households in 2028 were still paying a fee based on ownership of a television, but did not have any preference as to what funding model could replace the licence fee. Dorries repeatedly emphasised that she was unlikely to be in her current job when the decision was made: “We haven’t even begun the discussions yet … There are a number of ways I have been told already that we could fund the BBC going forward. It’s not for me to decide until we have all the information and all the evidence.”
A great piece by Justine Greening on the government's scandalous (I would say close to traitorous - for what could run more counter to the country's long term interests than failing to develop the talent of its youth) failures on education and the widening north-south divide. I do think that many Tories' personal attachment to private education blinds them to their utter failure on this issue. Also, isn't it sad that the party doesn't attract sensible, moderate people like Greening any more.
Absolutely agree.
I'd totally forgotten about Justine Greening. She was (is?) what the Conservative Party could be if it came to its senses.
But the fact that the right-wing crew on here still think it matters to complain about a media outlet focusing on "five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories" tells me that the Party is doomed for the time being.
Until they stop appealing to you ageing anti-woke rump (^^^) the Conservative Party will never win another General Election.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
When I go to countries like Spain I often get greeted by blokes kissing me on both cheeks, even though I don't particularly care for it, and just return a handshake with a back pat.
True, a kiss on the lips is more invasive - and Spain certainly has a macho/slightly misogynist culture - and my guess is that this is basically a lightning rod to achieve change over all that due to its very public profile.
It looks to me like Rubiales was simply delighted they won and got caught up in the moment, and didn't give it much thought.
Her criticisms of Sunak might be worth taking more seriously were she not so obviously motivated by bitterness at not being given a bauble and by her support for Johnson, a man wholly unsuitable to be PM and who degraded British politics and British public life.
Her criticisms of Sunak are old news to anyone who has been vaguely conscious for the past 2 years. If you're still at the stage of not 'taking them seriously' then you should question your own seriousness as an observer of British politics. He's a dud. Crap. The sort of person who can find the only tailor on Savile Row (it would seem) who makes trousers so bad they're meme-able. Simply the most manifestly inadequate and damaging Prime Minister we've ever had. If they'll have him in California, someone put him on a plane for heaven's sake.
That you dislike him so much is one of the strongest points in his favour. He must be doing something right!
Sorry, what is doing right? Do tell! You can make a case for his keeping Jeremy Hunt in post to settle market nerves, but what the hell else has he done or is planning to do?
It’s a zombie administration.
Even then I don't think you can give him much credit for that as Hunt was put in place by Truss not him.
Just inertia left him there. When you look at changes he's made that leaves you with choices like ... giving the sacked Suella Braverman her Home Secretary job back six days after Truss sacked her from it.
I see some people are basing their punting on a near two month old opinion poll. Doesn't sound very scientific and more in the column of betting based on sentiment and we all know how that turns out (ask anyone who routinely bets on England sporting teams).
We also know some constituency polls aren't wholly relaible - look at Uxbridge where an early poll gave Labour the lead but I'll cheerfully concede Selby & Ainsty polling was much better.
In essence, the by-election campaign has been going on through the summer and we need new evidence to ascertain changes in local mood - has the Independent been able to carry on campaigning at the intensity of the main parties for example? Have the Conservatives done or been able to do anything?
The next big question is the "when" - I imagine the Conservatives will want to avoid any boost from their Conference being drowned out by a heavy by-election defeat so I think they'll avoid October 5th - perhaps the following week or even the 19th.
The only "hope" for the Conservatives is the Labour, LD and Independent candidates all go fishing in the same pond of voters and the Conservatives come through the middle. At Somerton & Frome, the Conservatives lost more than half their vote share from 2019, the fall in Selby & Ainsty not quite half (down from 60 to 34). Given the circumstances and the presence of the Independent, we could easily see the Conservative vote share in the high 20s.
What’s also different to recent by-elections is the very long campaign. Will extra months of high intensity campaigning help the LDs and Labour (and maybe the independent candidate) or will they become overkill and put voters off?
A great piece by Justine Greening on the government's scandalous (I would say close to traitorous - for what could run more counter to the country's long term interests than failing to develop the talent of its youth) failures on education and the widening north-south divide. I do think that many Tories' personal attachment to private education blinds them to their utter failure on this issue. Also, isn't it sad that the party doesn't attract sensible, moderate people like Greening any more.
Absolutely agree.
I'd totally forgotten about Justine Greening. She was (is?) what the Conservative Party could be if it came to its senses.
But the fact that the right-wing crew on here still think it matters to complain about a media outlet focusing on "five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories" tells me that the Party is doomed for the time being.
Until they stop appealing to you ageing anti-woke rump (^^^) the Conservative Party will never win another General Election.
You spew and fart out such sensationalist bollocks on this site.
You probably make the worst contributions of any poster at the moment, accentuated by the fact you do it top-thread first thing in the morning every day, so we all have to read them. Worse, you actually seem to rate yourself as having some insight - even into the betting.
You are a pointless dweeb who I expect to vanish as soon as the election is over.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
"There may be another side of the story..."
As the BBC indeed reported yesterday, and darkage apparently failed to notice:
Didn't last long. The federation reverse ferreted overnight.
Also, the I don't think the BBC has ever made too much effort with "both sides of the story" with foreign news, being quite critical of Orban, Trump, Putin etc. If this article is someone's evidence that the BBC is the equivalent of GB News it seems a bit desperate.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
When I go to countries like Spain I often get greeted by blokes kissing me on both cheeks, even though I don't particularly care for it, and just return a handshake with a back pat.
True, a kiss on the lips is more invasive - and Spain certainly has a macho/slightly misogynist culture - and my guess is that this is basically a lightning rod to achieve change over all that due to its very public profile.
It looks to me like Rubiales was simply delighted they won and got caught up in the moment, and didn't give it much thought.
Yep, so you then apologise when it turns out the player did not like it. What you don’t do is first make-up quotes from her saying she was fine with it all and put them out in a press release, then accuse her of lying, then threaten to sue her while saying you are the real feminist here.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
"There may be another side of the story..."
As the BBC indeed reported yesterday, and darkage apparently failed to notice:
Didn't last long. The federation reverse ferreted overnight.
Also, the I don't think the BBC has ever made too much effort with "both sides of the story" with foreign news, being quite critical of Orban, Trump, Putin etc. If this article is someone's evidence that the BBC is the equivalent of GB News it seems a bit desperate.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
When I go to countries like Spain I often get greeted by blokes kissing me on both cheeks, even though I don't particularly care for it, and just return a handshake with a back pat.
True, a kiss on the lips is more invasive - and Spain certainly has a macho/slightly misogynist culture - and my guess is that this is basically a lightning rod to achieve change over all that due to its very public profile.
It looks to me like Rubiales was simply delighted they won and got caught up in the moment, and didn't give it much thought.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
Sorry, but what "other side" is there to this story?
A woman was kissed who says she did not consent to it, that is sexual assault.
The person who did that said she consented, which the BBC reported.
The victim of the sexual assault says she did not consent, which was reported.
This could probably have all been a non story by just apologising and saying he got caught up in the euphoria and went too far. Wouldn't have made it right, but an apology goes a long way.
Instead the Spanish FA has responded to this by threatening to sue the victim.
What have I missed? What other side is there? There's no culture war angle here, unless there's a side who think women don't need to consent to sexual activity from men and should be sued if they object to it.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
When I go to countries like Spain I often get greeted by blokes kissing me on both cheeks, even though I don't particularly care for it, and just return a handshake with a back pat.
True, a kiss on the lips is more invasive - and Spain certainly has a macho/slightly misogynist culture - and my guess is that this is basically a lightning rod to achieve change over all that due to its very public profile.
It looks to me like Rubiales was simply delighted they won and got caught up in the moment, and didn't give it much thought.
Yep, so you then apologise when it turns out the player did not like it. What you don’t do is first make-up quotes from her saying she was fine with it all and put them out in a press release, then accuse her of lying, then threaten to sue her while saying you are the real feminist here.
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
It’s written by a Spain-based, Spanish football writer, not a BBC employee, and is a commentary piece that provides a fair reflection of how the issue is viewed in Spain. The conservative press there has condemned the actions of Rubiales, just as much as the liberal press. The leader of PP has also condemned them.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
The whole Rubiales story is absolutely hilarious, and it shows the attitude that many have towards harassment and misbehaviour in the workplace.
It'd be interesting to know what the defence of Rubiales' actions are, let alone the consequent words of him and the organisation he runs.
It does, and the kiss story could and should have been shut down on day one: apologise and move on (even better would be day zero: don't kiss her in the first place).
On the spanish kissing story, this article on the BBC website is really poor reporting. It purports to be an account of the situation but gives no sense that there may be an other side of the story, nor that there may be other countervailing social forces in Spain. It actually just reads a jubilant facebook post from one side on the culture war. Obviously a lot of people on here will like it and fair enough, but the BBC has to drop it's claim to be 'impartial'. You can just make your choice between it and GB News, the output is at the same level.
Sorry, but what "other side" is there to this story?
A woman was kissed who says she did not consent to it, that is sexual assault.
The person who did that said she consented, which the BBC reported.
The victim of the sexual assault says she did not consent, which was reported.
This could probably have all been a non story by just apologising and saying he got caught up in the euphoria and went too far. Wouldn't have made it right, but an apology goes a long way.
Instead the Spanish FA has responded to this by threatening to sue the victim.
What have I missed? What other side is there? There's no culture war angle here, unless there's a side who think women don't need to consent to sexual activity from men and should be sued if they object to it.
Unfortunately, it is tied up with the wider political mess in Spain. Our Culture Wars are nothing on theirs. And one of the common but unattractive aspects of Traditional Spanish Psyche is that "my side is right, even in the event that they're wrong". (That's true on the left as well as the jamon-y right, and underpins the amount of corruption they still have.)
Thread with some background here;
THREAD: Spanish women's football and Spanish society. One is only a reflection of the other: specifically, Spanish society and politics' rampant misogyny, which has divided the country practically down the middle.
What's happening right now isn't just about football at all.
Comments
It probably has four or five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories a day sourced from the Twitter feeds of its staff and given unusual prominence.
The only thing on the other side of the ledger is that it is ever so mildly monarchist.
The BBC is pro-monarchy for a reason. If the monarchy goes, so do they.
We also now have BBC Verify to, thankfully, cut through the mist and present the truth to us.
One thing Dorries was absolutely right on was the future of the license fee.
Recall, for example, the Tennessee state congressmen recently.
The only problem is that the result could be misinterpreted, as the Uxbridge one has been. A very small win in one by election shouldn't be treated as of earth shattering importance.
Ask Prigozhin..
They got 46% in 1997, and managed 61.6% in the close run thing that was 2017
Such comments will boost the Tories there.
It's much more akin to a suburban marginal than it is an ultra rural/affluent/fringe seat of the type the Liberal Democrats do so well in, and Labour are polling well there (twice as well as the LDs) and very well in all the surrounding areas like Bedford, Luton and MK.
I don't see any reason why they shouldn't go for it.
It is not a culture war story. It is a story about decency and giving women the respect of not moving into their personal space without permission and of not accusing them of lying when they say they did not give you permission.
Looking at the politics of it longer term, the Tories sneaking home on the back of a split anti-Tory vote might concentrate tactical voting minds for the GE. Maybe Labour and the LibDems need to get a head-to-head fight out of their systems.
A great piece by Justine Greening on the government's scandalous (I would say close to traitorous - for what could run more counter to the country's long term interests than failing to develop the talent of its youth) failures on education and the widening north-south divide. I do think that many Tories' personal attachment to private education blinds them to their utter failure on this issue. Also, isn't it sad that the party doesn't attract sensible, moderate people like Greening any more.
🤣
It'd be interesting to know what the defence of Rubiales' actions are, let alone the consequent words of him and the organisation he runs.
As the BBC indeed reported yesterday, and darkage apparently failed to notice:
Luis Rubiales: Spanish football federation will take legal action over Jennifer Hermoso 'lies'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66626410
Didn't last long. The federation reverse ferreted overnight.
I see some people are basing their punting on a near two month old opinion poll. Doesn't sound very scientific and more in the column of betting based on sentiment and we all know how that turns out (ask anyone who routinely bets on England sporting teams).
We also know some constituency polls aren't wholly relaible - look at Uxbridge where an early poll gave Labour the lead but I'll cheerfully concede Selby & Ainsty polling was much better.
In essence, the by-election campaign has been going on through the summer and we need new evidence to ascertain changes in local mood - has the Independent been able to carry on campaigning at the intensity of the main parties for example? Have the Conservatives done or been able to do anything?
The next big question is the "when" - I imagine the Conservatives will want to avoid any boost from their Conference being drowned out by a heavy by-election defeat so I think they'll avoid October 5th - perhaps the following week or even the 19th.
The only "hope" for the Conservatives is the Labour, LD and Independent candidates all go fishing in the same pond of voters and the Conservatives come through the middle. At Somerton & Frome, the Conservatives lost more than half their vote share from 2019, the fall in Selby & Ainsty not quite half (down from 60 to 34). Given the circumstances and the presence of the Independent, we could easily see the Conservative vote share in the high 20s.
👍
Absolutely agree.
I'd totally forgotten about Justine Greening. She was (is?) what the Conservative Party could be if it came to its senses.
But the fact that the right-wing crew on here still think it matters to complain about a media outlet focusing on "five identity politics (trans/gay/feminism/race/colonialism) stories" tells me that the Party is doomed for the time being.
Until they stop appealing to you ageing anti-woke rump (^^^) the Conservative Party will never win another General Election.
True, a kiss on the lips is more invasive - and Spain certainly has a macho/slightly misogynist culture - and my guess is that this is basically a lightning rod to achieve change over all that due to its very public profile.
It looks to me like Rubiales was simply delighted they won and got caught up in the moment, and didn't give it much thought.
Just inertia left him there. When you look at changes he's made that leaves you with choices like ... giving the sacked Suella Braverman her Home Secretary job back six days after Truss sacked her from it.
NEW THREAD
You probably make the worst contributions of any poster at the moment, accentuated by the fact you do it top-thread first thing in the morning every day, so we all have to read them. Worse, you actually seem to rate yourself as having some insight - even into the betting.
You are a pointless dweeb who I expect to vanish as soon as the election is over.
GOP talk of military action in Mexico sparks dire warnings
https://thehill.com/latino/4170236-gop-talk-of-military-action-in-mexico-sparks-dire-warnings/
A woman was kissed who says she did not consent to it, that is sexual assault.
The person who did that said she consented, which the BBC reported.
The victim of the sexual assault says she did not consent, which was reported.
This could probably have all been a non story by just apologising and saying he got caught up in the euphoria and went too far. Wouldn't have made it right, but an apology goes a long way.
Instead the Spanish FA has responded to this by threatening to sue the victim.
What have I missed? What other side is there? There's no culture war angle here, unless there's a side who think women don't need to consent to sexual activity from men and should be sued if they object to it.
But just to be naughty, here is a woman kissing a male jockey two days ago. No-one's been asked to resign.
https://twitter.com/itvracing/status/1695116548711596330
ETA damn: new threaded.
Thread with some background here;
THREAD: Spanish women's football and Spanish society. One is only a reflection of the other: specifically, Spanish society and politics' rampant misogyny, which has divided the country practically down the middle.
What's happening right now isn't just about football at all.
https://twitter.com/shaunjlawson/status/1695350187403653288
https://twitter.com/dom_lucre/status/1695141660471050744?t=3PTsDmLW85jhn1ef598s3Q&s=19