French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
I have been commissioned by the Gazette to go find the best "undiscovered" Cambodian islands
By definition, this is quite hard. I've not even been to the Cambodian coast. All I have been told is that "Sihanoukville is a f*cking toilet" and "try the pepper in Kampot" - well, derrr. I love Kampot pepper
But I've no idea about the islands. Where what when. Any suggestions welcome
If we could advise, they wouldn't be 'undiscovered.'
Leon needs to prepare carefully.
"William hesitating between polo sticks and hockey sticks, chose six of each; they were removed to the workshop. Then Miss Barton led him through the departments of the enormous store. By the time she had finished with him, William had acquired a well-, perhaps rather over-, furnished tent, three months’ rations, a collapsible canoe, a jointed flagstaff and Union Jack, a hand-pump and sterilizing plant, an astrolabe, six suits of tropical linen and a sou’wester, a camp operating table and set of surgical instruments, a portable humidor, guaranteed to preserve cigars in condition in the Red Sea, and a Christmas hamper with Santa Claus costume and a tripod mistletoe stand, and a cane for whacking snakes. Only anxiety about time brought an end to his marketing. At the last moment he added a coil of rope and a sheet of tin; then he left under the baleful stare of General Cruttwell."
Scoop?
Yes, and a bonus gold star if you can say what the sticks were for.
My memory is dimmed. were they for signalling or semaphore or something of that sort?
Before either had spoken, the General sized William up; in any other department, he would have been recognised as a sucker; here, among the trappings of high adventure, he was, more gallantly, a greenhorn.
‘Your first visit to Ishmaelia, eh? Then perhaps I can be of some help to you. As no doubt you know, I was there in ’97 with poor “Sprat” Larkin…’.
‘I want some cleft sticks, please’, said William firmly.
The General’s manner changed abruptly. His leg had been pulled before, often. Only last week there had been an idiotic young fellow dressed up as a missionary…
‘What the devil for?’ he asked tartly.
‘Oh, just for my dispatches, you know.’
It was with exactly such an expression of simplicity that the joker had asked for a tiffin gun, a set of chota pegs and a chota mallet. ‘Miss Barton will see to you,’ he said, and turning on his heel began to inspect a newly-arrived consignment of rhinocerous hide whips in a menacing way.
Miss Barton was easier to deal with. ‘We can have some cloven for you,’ she said brightly. ‘If you will make your selection I will send them down to our cleaver.’
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
I'm not sure term limits on Macron make Le Pen MORE likely to win in 2027. He'll have been in office for a decade, making it quite likely to be a "change" election. Were he trying to eke out a third term, I actually think there would be more risk of Le Pen winning than if there was a new standard bearer. It's not like his approval ratings are brilliant.
That's not to say there is no chance of Le Pen winning. Just I don't think Macron is such a strong candidate that his absence from the 2027 contest makes it more likely.
Macron has charisma and high intelligence, none of the alternatives from his party have much evidence of both of those and nor do many amongst Les Republicains.
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
While the government cannot be blamed for the building materials used in some schools the timing of these school closures just before schools return next week seems a spectacular own goal
I started a Journalism Degree in 1995. I remember going out to a Sheffield primary school to write a story about the crumbling building. This was so decrepit that an endoskeleton had been installed - steel beams to hold up the roof. The school itself was still open despite signs that the steelwork was also in poor condition. A complete lack of money for new facilities.
So for all that PFI has its faults, it isn't as if public money was being spent. The Tory attitude being don't do PFI (unless we do it and make sure the Right People get to cash in), and don't spend public money either. The education of kids? Who cares?
And here we are again. Crumbling schools which needed replacing a decade ago still standing but literally falling down around the pupils.
There are lots of interesting points to be made about this, but that seems one of the more ill-judged and political ones.
Some questions: why was construction with this type of material stopped (apparently) in the 1990s? Was it that the problems with it were found and understood, or that a 'better' (i.e. cheaper) construction method was found? How do local authorities/the government keep track of the age and condition of their school (and hospital, and everything else...) buildings?
I started primary school in a building that was constructed in the early 1900s
In the 1970s a 'new' school was constructed to cater for a growing population, although the old school was retained.
Since then the 'new' school has been completely demolished and rebuilt.
The old school is still standing...
My eldest's primary school dates from that time. The caretaker showed me the roof structure - I mentioned I was interested, when he said that he reckoned that the beams were old oak from ship breaking.
That roof will be there when I am dead and buried for a 100 years, unless someone one fucks with it.
The rest of it are built from that brick the Victorians liked for public buildings. Walls a yard thick.
How long should a new public building be designed to last? 20 years? 30 years? 50 years? 100 years? 500 years?
The longer you want to 'guarantee' it to last, the more expensive it is - sometimes dramatically so. Has the extended life of your old Victorian school not undergone Trigger-syndrome, and did the people who built it really expect/want it to last that long? Were the walls a yard thick justified for the purpose they designed it for?
The key is understanding that all buildings require maintenance, and when they get near the end of their 'lives', that life can be extended, but at a larger cost. Often that cost is less than replacement, sometimes it is more. Often, sadly, the fact it needs replacing is ignored.
Well said.
The irony is that homes and buildings in this country "designed to last" can be magnitudes more expensive than wooden buildings thrown up quickly overseas.
And the wooden buildings thrown up quickly overseas can tend to be far better insulted than British housing too. Homes 'designed to last' to last centuries standards can have atrocious energy efficiency because that wasn't a priority when they were built. Replacing buildings every 30-50 years may seem less efficient but if the buildings while they're up are cheaper, easier to maintain, easily replaced and ratcheting higher standards as built to ever more modern standards - then why not do it?
Ultimately some things are cultural. From a financial perspective, British people do not view property as a depreciating asset that needs money spent on it to maintain its value, but as a store of (and source of future) wealth.
Because CHB is a fanatic, unwilling to listen to reason, who thinks he should be able to impose his views on everyone else no matter what hardship it causes.
Now of course if he had said that this was 'interesting' that would be different but to celebrate actually causing huge problems and hardship for millions of his fellow countrymen just because he has a bee in his bonnet about people still using cash is very sad.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
How will we be able to see them over your immense fash-curious tumescence?
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
I'm not sure term limits on Macron make Le Pen MORE likely to win in 2027. He'll have been in office for a decade, making it quite likely to be a "change" election. Were he trying to eke out a third term, I actually think there would be more risk of Le Pen winning than if there was a new standard bearer. It's not like his approval ratings are brilliant.
That's not to say there is no chance of Le Pen winning. Just I don't think Macron is such a strong candidate that his absence from the 2027 contest makes it more likely.
Macron has charisma and high intelligence, none of the alternatives from his party have much evidence of both of those and nor do many amongst Les Republicains.
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
Macron has done an excellent job in France, and I wish he had been PM in the UK for the last decade
France is more prosperous and influential than it was. They have cleverly exploited Brexit and the relative decline of Germany. Macron benefited from earlier French decisions (esp: go nuclear) but he has deftly exploited them. France is therefore a better country for his governance. He has also skilfully steered between a fairly populist-right electorate and a horribly left elitist ruling class, doing his best to please both, as much as anyone can
France has suffered serious long term strategic defeats, especially the ejection from Africa, and the humiliation of AUKUS, but they were probably secular trends which Macron could not control, and would have happened anyway
To me he looks like the most impressive European leader of the last 15 years - better than Merkel
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, tax the rich, massive pay for all, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
(In the UK, it seems to me, that currently there is slightly more populist drivel from Tory MPs than from Labour ones.)
Ban North Sea Oil & Gas
Tax Private Schools we don't like (but not nurseries or tutors or universities we do like)
"Safe and legal routes"
Women do don't have penises.
Populist drivel. With much more to come of course.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
How will we be able to see them over your immense fash-curious tumescence?
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Best comment made by @AndyJS - I find it irritating when businesses are cash only or card only.
I'll decide how I want to pay, thank you very much.
Hell yes. As I explained to the policeman when he was called to the restaurant it’s up to me how I want to pay and the fact that the place does not accept Diners Club or Canadian Dollars is not my problem - it’s his.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
I'm not sure term limits on Macron make Le Pen MORE likely to win in 2027. He'll have been in office for a decade, making it quite likely to be a "change" election. Were he trying to eke out a third term, I actually think there would be more risk of Le Pen winning than if there was a new standard bearer. It's not like his approval ratings are brilliant.
That's not to say there is no chance of Le Pen winning. Just I don't think Macron is such a strong candidate that his absence from the 2027 contest makes it more likely.
Macron has charisma and high intelligence, none of the alternatives from his party have much evidence of both of those and nor do many amongst Les Republicains.
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
Macron has done an excellent job in France, and I wish he had been PM in the UK for the last decade
France is more prosperous and influential than it was. They have cleverly exploited Brexit and the relative decline of Germany. Macron benefited from earlier French decisions (esp: go nuclear) but he has deftly exploited them. France is therefore a better country for his governance. He has also skilfully steered between a fairly populist-right electorate and a horribly left elitist ruling class, doing his best to please both, as much as anyone can
France has suffered serious long term strategic defeats, especially the ejection from Africa, and the humiliation of AUKUS, but they were probably secular trends which Macron could not control, and would have happened anyway
To me he looks like the most impressive European leader of the last 15 years - better than Merkel
Merkel is someone who looks worse and worse with the passage of time.
She started off all Thatcher and ended up as a pound-shop Yvette Cooper.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
I'm not sure term limits on Macron make Le Pen MORE likely to win in 2027. He'll have been in office for a decade, making it quite likely to be a "change" election. Were he trying to eke out a third term, I actually think there would be more risk of Le Pen winning than if there was a new standard bearer. It's not like his approval ratings are brilliant.
That's not to say there is no chance of Le Pen winning. Just I don't think Macron is such a strong candidate that his absence from the 2027 contest makes it more likely.
Macron has charisma and high intelligence, none of the alternatives from his party have much evidence of both of those and nor do many amongst Les Republicains.
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
Macron has done an excellent job in France, and I wish he had been PM in the UK for the last decade
France is more prosperous and influential than it was. They have cleverly exploited Brexit and the relative decline of Germany. Macron benefited from earlier French decisions (esp: go nuclear) but he has deftly exploited them. France is therefore a better country for his governance. He has also skilfully steered between a fairly populist-right electorate and a horribly left elitist ruling class, doing his best to please both, as much as anyone can
France has suffered serious long term strategic defeats, especially the ejection from Africa, and the humiliation of AUKUS, but they were probably secular trends which Macron could not control, and would have happened anyway
To me he looks like the most impressive European leader of the last 15 years - better than Merkel
Because CHB is a fanatic, unwilling to listen to reason, who thinks he should be able to impose his views on everyone else no matter what hardship it causes.
Now of course if he had said that this was 'interesting' that would be different but to celebrate actually causing huge problems and hardship for millions of his fellow countrymen just because he has a bee in his bonnet about people still using cash is very sad.
I'd say CHB has a narcissistic personality disorder and is very needy and just wants attention - that's why everything is about him and this is designed to provoke to get it.
As soon as you understand that you see that every post is a cry for attention, either positive or negative, or a cry for help (and help is a form of attention).
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Sweden is rapidly changing its mind on the whole "immigration is great for social change!" thing
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
Because CHB is a fanatic, unwilling to listen to reason, who thinks he should be able to impose his views on everyone else no matter what hardship it causes.
Now of course if he had said that this was 'interesting' that would be different but to celebrate actually causing huge problems and hardship for millions of his fellow countrymen just because he has a bee in his bonnet about people still using cash is very sad.
I'd say CHB has a narcissistic personality disorder and is very needy and just wants attention - that's why everything is about him and this is designed to provoke to get it.
As soon as you understand that you see that every post is a cry for attention, either positive or negative, or a cry for help (and help is a form of attention).
'I'd say CHB has a narcissistic personality disorder and is very needy and just wants attention' sounds like an ideal candidate to be a senior politician then!
Best comment made by @AndyJS - I find it irritating when businesses are cash only or card only.
I'll decide how I want to pay, thank you very much.
Hell yes. As I explained to the policeman when he was called to the restaurant it’s up to me how I want to pay and the fact that the place does not accept Diners Club or Canadian Dollars is not my problem - it’s his.
He's more likely to have been called because they were flabbergasted to be faced by a talking seal and were at a loss what to do.
I have been commissioned by the Gazette to go find the best "undiscovered" Cambodian islands
By definition, this is quite hard. I've not even been to the Cambodian coast. All I have been told is that "Sihanoukville is a f*cking toilet" and "try the pepper in Kampot" - well, derrr. I love Kampot pepper
But I've no idea about the islands. Where what when. Any suggestions welcome
If we could advise, they wouldn't be 'undiscovered.'
Leon needs to prepare carefully.
"William hesitating between polo sticks and hockey sticks, chose six of each; they were removed to the workshop. Then Miss Barton led him through the departments of the enormous store. By the time she had finished with him, William had acquired a well-, perhaps rather over-, furnished tent, three months’ rations, a collapsible canoe, a jointed flagstaff and Union Jack, a hand-pump and sterilizing plant, an astrolabe, six suits of tropical linen and a sou’wester, a camp operating table and set of surgical instruments, a portable humidor, guaranteed to preserve cigars in condition in the Red Sea, and a Christmas hamper with Santa Claus costume and a tripod mistletoe stand, and a cane for whacking snakes. Only anxiety about time brought an end to his marketing. At the last moment he added a coil of rope and a sheet of tin; then he left under the baleful stare of General Cruttwell."
Scoop?
Yes, and a bonus gold star if you can say what the sticks were for.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Sweden is rapidly changing its mind on the whole "immigration is great for social change!" thing
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
Because CHB is a fanatic, unwilling to listen to reason, who thinks he should be able to impose his views on everyone else no matter what hardship it causes.
Now of course if he had said that this was 'interesting' that would be different but to celebrate actually causing huge problems and hardship for millions of his fellow countrymen just because he has a bee in his bonnet about people still using cash is very sad.
I'd say CHB has a narcissistic personality disorder and is very needy and just wants attention - that's why everything is about him and this is designed to provoke to get it.
As soon as you understand that you see that every post is a cry for attention, either positive or negative, or a cry for help (and help is a form of attention).
A post best kept to yourself. You would be outraged if he or anyone else wrote that about you. Are you trying to get a reaction and a ban? Nice.
I have been commissioned by the Gazette to go find the best "undiscovered" Cambodian islands
By definition, this is quite hard. I've not even been to the Cambodian coast. All I have been told is that "Sihanoukville is a f*cking toilet" and "try the pepper in Kampot" - well, derrr. I love Kampot pepper
But I've no idea about the islands. Where what when. Any suggestions welcome
If we could advise, they wouldn't be 'undiscovered.'
I know, tell me! It's paradoxical
I think my editor wants me to somehow unearth a brilliant gem.... without even going there. Then go there
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Sweden is rapidly changing its mind on the whole "immigration is great for social change!" thing
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
Considering that both Sweden and UK have right wing governments, and have done for some time, is it that right wing governments are run by left wing ideologues? or is it that they are so incompetent that they couldn't run a bunfight in a bakery?
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
I'm not sure term limits on Macron make Le Pen MORE likely to win in 2027. He'll have been in office for a decade, making it quite likely to be a "change" election. Were he trying to eke out a third term, I actually think there would be more risk of Le Pen winning than if there was a new standard bearer. It's not like his approval ratings are brilliant.
That's not to say there is no chance of Le Pen winning. Just I don't think Macron is such a strong candidate that his absence from the 2027 contest makes it more likely.
Macron has charisma and high intelligence, none of the alternatives from his party have much evidence of both of those and nor do many amongst Les Republicains.
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
Macron has done an excellent job in France, and I wish he had been PM in the UK for the last decade
France is more prosperous and influential than it was. They have cleverly exploited Brexit and the relative decline of Germany. Macron benefited from earlier French decisions (esp: go nuclear) but he has deftly exploited them. France is therefore a better country for his governance. He has also skilfully steered between a fairly populist-right electorate and a horribly left elitist ruling class, doing his best to please both, as much as anyone can
France has suffered serious long term strategic defeats, especially the ejection from Africa, and the humiliation of AUKUS, but they were probably secular trends which Macron could not control, and would have happened anyway
To me he looks like the most impressive European leader of the last 15 years - better than Merkel
Yes, agreed. Probably the best significant continental European leader since Aznar.
The best French President since De Gaulle certainly, he has basically pursued the policies of Nick Clegg, Blair and Cameron to France with more charisma than Clegg and more intelligence than Blair and Cameron.
However after him his party is filed with dullards and the risk is the far left in the shape of Melenchon and the far right in the shape of Le Pen will fight over the leftovers
Honestly not sure where Bill Barr found the line that could not be crossed, when 75% of other Republicans are happy to go along with everything, given everything else he's ever said or done. There were even some Democrats who when the first cases ramped up made similar arguments about charging people running for election.
Trump’s former AG Bill Barr utterly destroys Trump’s argument that prosecuting him for his crimes is “Election interference”:
“Just think of a mayor charged with massive embezzlement, and he says, Well, it's a year and a half to the election; let’s put that on hold, while I'm running for reelection. It's silly!...
Just paid our first tranche of protection money to Sadiq - two-days' worth of ULEZ charge (£25) to cover our journey from Ilford to my brother's place just the other side of Basildon. We left yesterday and got back an hour or so ago.
Honestly not sure where Bill Barr found the line that could not be crossed, when 75% of other Republicans are happy to go along with everything, given everything else he's ever said or done. There were even some Democrats who when the first cases ramped up made similar arguments about charging people running for election.
Trump’s former AG Bill Barr utterly destroys Trump’s argument that prosecuting him for his crimes is “Election interference”:
“Just think of a mayor charged with massive embezzlement, and he says, Well, it's a year and a half to the election; let’s put that on hold, while I'm running for reelection. It's silly!...
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Sweden is rapidly changing its mind on the whole "immigration is great for social change!" thing
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
The Nordic Biker Wars of the 80s & 90s had plenty of gang related violence, and ironically the only immigration involved was the introduction of US & UK biker culture.
French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Indeed, with Macron ineligible to be her opponent again Marine Le Pen has a real chance of winning the French Presidency in her third attempt at the run off stage
If Le Pen wins it will be hilarious to see the contortions of the Remoaners
Why . Le Pen has ditched her proposals for a referendum . The French aren’t leaving the EU no matter how desperate Leavers are to see some validation for their idiocy !
What more validation do they need?! Aren't the glories of the Truss premiership enough?
@Foxy actually makes a good point about Meloni, even if I replied sardonically
Meloni has been forced to retreat, quite significantly, now she has been elected
I wonder if Le Pen will do the same if she wins? Tack to the centre right, from the hard right? (she is no longer in any sense "far right" like her dad)
Quite possibly. Tho the difference is she has pressure from her right, as well as her left. Zemmour gets few votes but he is an influential figure
It's not only the left who get mugged by reality; the right does too. Within the various constraints of western Europe and the EU the area of what is possible in government is highly restricted by common moral sense, and by pre existing patterns of development.
Both left and right populism suffer from the defect that while each individual populist proposal (stop the boats, family values, whatever) may even have some merit and certainly support, governments have to run entire states including all the contradictions and over simplifications inherent in the totality of populist positions.
Indeed. But I point you to the success of Poland - almost zero immigration (absent Ukraine), specifically zero Muslim/black immigration (that is a blunt fact, even if we find it racist or offensive), and they have a relatively thriving economy, bustling cities, and one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
Immigration can deliver against demographic challenges but can also deliver social change.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
Sweden is rapidly changing its mind on the whole "immigration is great for social change!" thing
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
Comments
They really don't want to end up as fucked as Sweden
Polish crime rate:
"Poland has one of the lowest violent crime rates in Europe, with particularly low levels of vandalism and arson. Its homicide rate is also one of the lowest in the world"
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/country-focus-poland/
I can vouch for this feeling of safety. You can walk around a Polish city and you don't worry about having your phone stolen. Sadly, London is very different
‘Your first visit to Ishmaelia, eh? Then perhaps I can be of some help to you. As no doubt you know, I was there in ’97 with poor “Sprat” Larkin…’.
‘I want some cleft sticks, please’, said William firmly.
The General’s manner changed abruptly. His leg had been pulled before, often. Only last week there had been an idiotic young fellow dressed up as a missionary…
‘What the devil for?’ he asked tartly.
‘Oh, just for my dispatches, you know.’
It was with exactly such an expression of simplicity that the joker had asked for a tiffin gun, a set of chota pegs and a chota mallet. ‘Miss Barton will see to you,’ he said, and turning on his heel began to inspect a newly-arrived consignment of rhinocerous hide whips in a menacing way.
Miss Barton was easier to deal with. ‘We can have some cloven for you,’ she said brightly. ‘If you will make your selection I will send them down to our cleaver.’
It could end up even the nightmare of Le Pen v Melenchon in the runoff
That tends to be why they're still worth doing.
Now of course if he had said that this was 'interesting' that would be different but to celebrate actually causing huge problems and hardship for millions of his fellow countrymen just because he has a bee in his bonnet about people still using cash is very sad.
France is more prosperous and influential than it was. They have cleverly exploited Brexit and the relative decline of Germany. Macron benefited from earlier French decisions (esp: go nuclear) but he has deftly exploited them. France is therefore a better country for his governance. He has also skilfully steered between a fairly populist-right electorate and a horribly left elitist ruling class, doing his best to please both, as much as anyone can
France has suffered serious long term strategic defeats, especially the ejection from Africa, and the humiliation of AUKUS, but they were probably secular trends which Macron could not control, and would have happened anyway
To me he looks like the most impressive European leader of the last 15 years - better than Merkel
Tax Private Schools we don't like (but not nurseries or tutors or universities we do like)
"Safe and legal routes"
Women do don't have penises.
Populist drivel. With much more to come of course.
I'll decide how I want to pay, thank you very much.
Japan isn't bothered by either, Sweden (hitherto) really likes the latter, Canada likes both, and we essentially like just the former.
Poland thinks there's another way, and there is if you can home grow the skills and up your birth/ growth rate.
She started off all Thatcher and ended up as a pound-shop Yvette Cooper.
As soon as you understand that you see that every post is a cry for attention, either positive or negative, or a cry for help (and help is a form of attention).
"Sweden rocked by four blasts in one night. Swedish cities were rocked by 4 explosions in an hour, with the country struggling to rein in a surge of gang-related violence.
"Gang related violence" didn't exist in Sweden 30 years ago. Police are baffled."
https://twitter.com/UltraDane/status/1697332241943450065?s=20
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£8 per night, no hidden extras, free wifi and free parking. Eighteen hours from Camden Town, according to Google. What are you waiting for?
The best French President since De Gaulle certainly, he has basically pursued the policies of Nick Clegg, Blair and Cameron to France with more charisma than Clegg and more intelligence than Blair and Cameron.
However after him his party is filed with dullards and the risk is the far left in the shape of Melenchon and the far right in the shape of Le Pen will fight over the leftovers
Trump’s former AG Bill Barr utterly destroys Trump’s argument that prosecuting him for his crimes is “Election interference”:
“Just think of a mayor charged with massive embezzlement, and he says, Well, it's a year and a half to the election; let’s put that on hold, while I'm running for reelection. It's silly!...
The idea that this is interfering with the election is simply wrong."
https://nitter.net/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1697323691711815856#m
Male Republican politicians who have flagrantly violated the law? Then how dare they be held to account for their actions?
New Thread
Thirty years ago was the Nordic Biker War. Of course gang related violence existed. They were launching anti tank missiles at each other
"By God, this College is well-named!"
After being betrayed on the college grounds Judas College, Oxford