I was thinking about the issue of 15 minute cities yesterday. The problem is that outside of big cities it is not that useful as a concept. Most housing is just laid out based on car use. Most services are accessed this way. It is just how things are. I've lived in several highly accessible places outside of London (ie within technical walking distance of a decent range of services) but even then most people default back to the car. It isn't a particularly nice 30 minute roundtrip walk down the main road to my local cornershop, much quicker to hop in the car to tesco express. If you want to then try and retrofit these environments to make them '15 minute cities' you have a massive task to develop new uses and infrastructure on private land and I am just not convinced people will buy in to it and really reduce how much they use their cars. It will be a massive amount of effort, there will be scarce money to fund it, it will be poorly received as a contrived initiative and it will fail like unfortunately the vast majority of grandiose town planning efforts do. In reality it is probably of most practical use as a tool in justifying high density new development, ie taller buildings, and for planning out new suburbs etc. But for the existing built environment it is better to look at decarbonising car use, look at ways of expanding lightweight electric vehicle use, and making small continuous steps to find ways to encourage walking and cycling.
Am I missing something here? Why would anybody think Keir Starmer might be a Mason?
And in this day and age would anyone care if he was?
Masons are old hat, I don't remember the last time some crank complained about the Masons running things, not even conspiracists would get that worked up now I reckon.
"lovely story going around Mid Beds" = Lib Dem unattributable smears, I suggest.
Why is a voter asking Starmer a stupid question a "smear"?
Come on, engage your brain. It's easy to imagine this story being put about to try to get people thinking that there's something off or secretive about another politician. Try to get a sense of him having split loyalties or being a bit weird or culty.
I've no idea who's put this story about but it you came to me with definitive proof it was a Lib Dem or a Conservative activist doing it, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised.
EDIT: hell, it could even be a disaffected Labour activist
At some stage we'll need to have the 2023 version of New Labour New Danger and the devil eyes. The donkey sanctuary didn't quite cut it, nor did the Savile Smear, so there will be a concerted effort to find something of the night about SKS.
I got tired in work so left early (OK, on time, but same diff). I'm in digs and to my surprise the Noughties "Merlin" is on Sky. It's a bit flatly lit but it's aged well.
Everyone appears agreed that Sunak's Government is hopeless / a disaster and must be got rid of ASAP.
Yet Starmer is going to come in and follow all the same policies.
The reality seems to be that there aren't any credible options for doing anything much very differently - and both Sunak and Starmer realise this.
The result is going to be an angry public who have no sense of the practicalities of the situation the country is actually in. They want a majic wand to be waved / money to be plucked out of thin air and it isn't going to happen.
It's a bit more nuanced than the spin the Telegraph and Big G are putting on it.
During interviews with local TV programmes, he said the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 contracts and release land intended for the project meant he could not promise to build the second leg of the project.
“Now can I stand here and commit to reversing the decision on HS2? No, I can’t. Not least because the Government’s already releasing land between Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.
Asked if he could commit to high speed rail in full, he said: “No, I can’t make that commitment. That’s what we wanted. That’s what was promised under this Government. But they’ve just blown a massive hole through it and are about to start canceling the contracts, releasing the land, reconfiguring Euston. So I can’t stand here and commit to reversing that decision.
I think the land was acquired by way of an act of Parliament and then compulsory purchased, so it could presumably be reacquired in some way.... ?
Just had a Lib Dem knock on the door on behalf of our (newly elected in May) Councillor asking if we had any concerns we wanted to raise.
Quite impressed, considering that there is no election on, and it is absolutely torrential rain right now.
Sly bugger probably just wanted an excuse to shelter from the rain in your porch. I hope you gave them short shrift.
It’s part of Lib Dem local government training: once you get a seat, keep in touch with your constituents and don’t just wait until elections. To be fair our local green was good like that too, before Lewisham council became 100% Labour.
Everyone appears agreed that Sunak's Government is hopeless / a disaster and must be got rid of ASAP.
Yet Starmer is going to come in and follow all the same policies.
The reality seems to be that there aren't any credible options for doing anything much very differently - and both Sunak and Starmer realise this.
The result is going to be an angry public who have no sense of the practicalities of the situation the country is actually in. They want a majic wand to be waved / money to be plucked out of thin air and it isn't going to happen.
It's a bit more nuanced than the spin the Telegraph and Big G are putting on it.
During interviews with local TV programmes, he said the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 contracts and release land intended for the project meant he could not promise to build the second leg of the project.
“Now can I stand here and commit to reversing the decision on HS2? No, I can’t. Not least because the Government’s already releasing land between Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.
Asked if he could commit to high speed rail in full, he said: “No, I can’t make that commitment. That’s what we wanted. That’s what was promised under this Government. But they’ve just blown a massive hole through it and are about to start canceling the contracts, releasing the land, reconfiguring Euston. So I can’t stand here and commit to reversing that decision.
The land he could do something about. As Casino told us yesterday, though, cancellation of contracts would delay any resumption by perhaps half a decade.
Is it possible for an interested party to tie up the selling of the land through the courts for a year? Maybe a top lawyer could put together a plan so that when Labour win they can push ahead with HS2 as they want.
No, that's not what he said; he has said he cannot commit to reinstating the project.
Why do you insist on warping the truth like a tabloid editor?
Until quite recently, not making a promise you didn't know whether you would keep was seen as a good thing.
Until quite recently, salting the ground for your successors was seen as a bad thing.
That decent right wingers are prepared to chortle along to Sunak's sabotage just shows how far down the rabbit hole the whole conservative movement has been dragged.
Big_G is clearly part of the target audience for Sunak's mendacity. He seemed fairly impressed by the dire speech.
Nonetheless, triangulating with an economic sabateur is depressing stuff from Starmer.
At a minimum he should put on notice any purchasers of the HS2 land Sunak attempts to flog off, that they may see their property compulsorily repurchased at cost.
I haven't posted much since Sunak's speech but it is fair to say that living in North Wales electrification of the line to Holyhead is to be welcomed and I can see the benefit of redirecting the HS2 monies to other projects
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
Furthermore, in the cold light of day I would suggest the northern labour mps , whilst angry, recognise it is pragmatic to support billions for the Midlands and the North transport links
Brittany Ferries are also reportedly signed up as prospective customers.
I once watched someone try, and fail, to land a Kestrel 19 sailplane on the 1.1km long runway at Enstone.
He flew the whole length of the runway and ended up (unscathed) in the field at the far end. Ground effect, a slight tail wind, and the notoriously poor Kestrel airbrakes led to his, er, downfall.
Everyone appears agreed that Sunak's Government is hopeless / a disaster and must be got rid of ASAP.
Yet Starmer is going to come in and follow all the same policies.
The reality seems to be that there aren't any credible options for doing anything much very differently - and both Sunak and Starmer realise this.
The result is going to be an angry public who have no sense of the practicalities of the situation the country is actually in. They want a majic wand to be waved / money to be plucked out of thin air and it isn't going to happen.
It's a bit more nuanced than the spin the Telegraph and Big G are putting on it.
During interviews with local TV programmes, he said the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 contracts and release land intended for the project meant he could not promise to build the second leg of the project.
“Now can I stand here and commit to reversing the decision on HS2? No, I can’t. Not least because the Government’s already releasing land between Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.
Asked if he could commit to high speed rail in full, he said: “No, I can’t make that commitment. That’s what we wanted. That’s what was promised under this Government. But they’ve just blown a massive hole through it and are about to start canceling the contracts, releasing the land, reconfiguring Euston. So I can’t stand here and commit to reversing that decision.
I think the land was acquired by way of an act of Parliament and then compulsory purchased, so it could presumably be reacquired in some way.... ?
If it's true that the sale will require a further Act, someone may be tempted to put in such an amendment.
No, that's not what he said; he has said he cannot commit to reinstating the project.
Why do you insist on warping the truth like a tabloid editor?
Until quite recently, not making a promise you didn't know whether you would keep was seen as a good thing.
Until quite recently, salting the ground for your successors was seen as a bad thing.
That decent right wingers are prepared to chortle along to Sunak's sabotage just shows how far down the rabbit hole the whole conservative movement has been dragged.
Big_G is clearly part of the target audience for Sunak's mendacity. He seemed fairly impressed by the dire speech.
Nonetheless, triangulating with an economic sabateur is depressing stuff from Starmer.
At a minimum he should put on notice any purchasers of the HS2 land Sunak attempts to flog off, that they may see their property compulsorily repurchased at cost.
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
It seems the wilful inability to understand the economic purpose of HS2 is a cross-party skill.
No, that's not what he said; he has said he cannot commit to reinstating the project.
Why do you insist on warping the truth like a tabloid editor?
Until quite recently, not making a promise you didn't know whether you would keep was seen as a good thing.
Until quite recently, salting the ground for your successors was seen as a bad thing.
That decent right wingers are prepared to chortle along to Sunak's sabotage just shows how far down the rabbit hole the whole conservative movement has been dragged.
Big_G is clearly part of the target audience for Sunak's mendacity. He seemed fairly impressed by the dire speech.
Nonetheless, triangulating with an economic sabateur is depressing stuff from Starmer.
At a minimum he should put on notice any purchasers of the HS2 land Sunak attempts to flog off, that they may see their property compulsorily repurchased at cost.
I haven't posted much since Sunak's speech but it is fair to say that living in North Wales electrification of the line to Holyhead is to be welcomed and I can see the benefit of redirecting the HS2 monies to other projects
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
Furthermore, in the cold light of day I would suggest the northern labour mps , whilst angry, recognise it is pragmatic to support billions for the Midlands and the North transport links
He welcomed it yesterday but will be denouncing it today after Sunak's lies were exposed.
Brittany Ferries are also reportedly signed up as prospective customers.
The Soviets experimented extensively with this idea during the cold war, and build some very impressive looking ground effect aircraft before abandoning the concept. It looks good on paper, but the vehicles don't function well in anything but calm seas and navigation is also an issue.
Anything moving at 180mph only 10ft from the surface has very little warning of an object in its path, generally not enough to successfully take avoiding action.
Brittany Ferries are also reportedly signed up as prospective customers.
I once watched someone try, and fail, to land a Kestrel 19 sailplane on the 1.1km long runway at Enstone.
He flew the whole length of the runway and ended up (unscathed) in the field at the far end. Ground effect, a slight tail wind, and the notoriously poor Kestrel airbrakes led to his, er, downfall.
50ft above the water at 180mph. Not for me. I'll leave it to the tax accountants and fund managers.
Anyhoo, lest we forget Sunak's speech was so bad, even before the HS2 lies, that the police are investigating Sunak.
How much investigation is required? It’s on tape, him making the joke. The only investigating is surely whether an offence has been committed by this and whether the CPS think it’s worth pursuing.
Frankly if they do, then we might as well give up all comedy.
No, that's not what he said; he has said he cannot commit to reinstating the project.
Why do you insist on warping the truth like a tabloid editor?
Until quite recently, not making a promise you didn't know whether you would keep was seen as a good thing.
Until quite recently, salting the ground for your successors was seen as a bad thing.
That decent right wingers are prepared to chortle along to Sunak's sabotage just shows how far down the rabbit hole the whole conservative movement has been dragged.
Big_G is clearly part of the target audience for Sunak's mendacity. He seemed fairly impressed by the dire speech.
Nonetheless, triangulating with an economic sabateur is depressing stuff from Starmer.
At a minimum he should put on notice any purchasers of the HS2 land Sunak attempts to flog off, that they may see their property compulsorily repurchased at cost.
I haven't posted much since Sunak's speech but it is fair to say that living in North Wales electrification of the line to Holyhead is to be welcomed and I can see the benefit of redirecting the HS2 monies to other projects
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
Furthermore, in the cold light of day I would suggest the northern labour mps , whilst angry, recognise it is pragmatic to support billions for the Midlands and the North transport links
No wonder. Hard to spin for government when the government doesn't have a fking clue what it's doing.
"lovely story going around Mid Beds" = Lib Dem unattributable smears, I suggest.
Why is a voter asking Starmer a stupid question a "smear"?
Come on, engage your brain. It's easy to imagine this story being put about to try to get people thinking that there's something off or secretive about another politician. Try to get a sense of him having split loyalties or being a bit weird or culty.
I've no idea who's put this story about but it you came to me with definitive proof it was a Lib Dem or a Conservative activist doing it, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised.
EDIT: hell, it could even be a disaffected Labour activist
Starmer better get used to it. The Tory client media will be relentless in their attacks.
It's quite nostalgic hearing about the sinister Freemasons. It's been the World Economic Forum making all the running in the evil stakes lately, the Masons must feel quite put out.
I've got an invite to the WEF in Davos next year, I'll take you, and you can see what it really is all about.
If it doesn't involve a wizened man in a Dalek wheelchair I shall be vexed.
What about the Lizards?
Well, I saw Penny Mordaunt's effort yesterday and after the "what a mess Labour Governments made of our fine nation through the 1980s" claim she went full on shape shifting lizard* and started repeating something like "you gotta fight, for the right etc" over and over again (repetition not dissimilar in fact to a Dalek from the earlier post). It was very bizarre, and this from the quality candidate?
If you don't believe me take a look.
*If I was in charge of shape shifting lizards, what better identify for a world leader lizard than a middle aged Catherine Deneuve lookalike?
Just had a Lib Dem knock on the door on behalf of our (newly elected in May) Councillor asking if we had any concerns we wanted to raise.
Quite impressed, considering that there is no election on, and it is absolutely torrential rain right now.
Sly bugger probably just wanted an excuse to shelter from the rain in your porch. I hope you gave them short shrift.
It’s part of Lib Dem local government training: once you get a seat, keep in touch with your constituents and don’t just wait until elections. To be fair our local green was good like that too, before Lewisham council became 100% Labour.
Our local Indies are like that too; every two or three days there’s something on the local Facebook page at least. Same with the Green County Councillor. And people come onto the page to report contact with all of them.
Never heard anything from their Tory predecessors.
Brittany Ferries are also reportedly signed up as prospective customers.
The Soviets experimented extensively with this idea during the cold war, and build some very impressive looking ground effect aircraft before abandoning the concept. It looks good on paper, but the vehicles don't function well in anything but calm seas and navigation is also an issue.
Anything moving at 180mph only 10ft from the surface has very little warning of an object in its path, generally not enough to successfully take avoiding action.
Yes it’s one of those concepts that looks great on paper, or even as a prototype to be tested on calm days on a freshwater lake, but less so when trying to make a viable commercial operation out of them. I wouldn’t be volunteering to be the pilot, that’s for sure.
I have no idea how we got to the point where the flagship policy of the government is cancelling a high speed railway line it has just spent the last 13 years planning, and a significant part of the replacement transport strategy includes a fund to fix potholes. It is as if they are in government to keep throwing vast amounts of money on expensive civil servants and consultants that they then stop from ever getting anything done.
They have got lots done. Those consultants have bought themselves big houses, sent their children to the best schools, and rarely turned right when entering an aircraft. The civil servants have served their time, and now get to become the next lot of consultants.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
No, that's not what he said; he has said he cannot commit to reinstating the project.
Why do you insist on warping the truth like a tabloid editor?
Until quite recently, not making a promise you didn't know whether you would keep was seen as a good thing.
Until quite recently, salting the ground for your successors was seen as a bad thing.
That decent right wingers are prepared to chortle along to Sunak's sabotage just shows how far down the rabbit hole the whole conservative movement has been dragged.
Big_G is clearly part of the target audience for Sunak's mendacity. He seemed fairly impressed by the dire speech.
Nonetheless, triangulating with an economic sabateur is depressing stuff from Starmer.
At a minimum he should put on notice any purchasers of the HS2 land Sunak attempts to flog off, that they may see their property compulsorily repurchased at cost.
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
It seems the wilful inability to understand the economic purpose of HS2 is a cross-party skill.
Driscoll is no longer a Labour Mayor, having thrown a strop and resigned from the party after he was overlooked for the North East mayoral post that replaces it. There's almost certainly an element of "my enemy's enemy" in a Corbynista slagging off a project beloved of politicians from the centrist wing of his former party.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
Er, "controversial" doesn't mean "logical" or "rational". It just means "stuff a reasonable number of people disagree with". And this definition most certainly includes the worst load of spin-doctor's sharny mince given a spin in the Electrolux dryer.
Also, as pointed out many, many times on here: SKS's criticisms of HS2 pertained to it running through his constituency, with some merit. It doesn't mean he can think differently about it as a Prime Minister. Indeed, I hope he really gets the bulldozers out this time and builds a proper union station linking to [edit] Hs1 and to hell with the insistence on Euston.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
None of which makes it right, does it?
And a PM taking a decision with zero public debate, lying about the details and seemingly doing his level best to stop anyone reversing it in the future...
...do you think that is a good way to do things?
Oh, and if you think this will release a penny of extra investment on the basis of the government's list, I have a bridge to sell you.
Except I don't, because the bridges are blatantly not going to happen.
And yet people, including Labour mayors, are fucking falling for the bullshit.
Learned helplessness. Nobody is going up to Sunak and verbally kicking him in the face. If nobody calls him out on his bullshit, he'll just do some more bullshit. I am tired of being ruled by mendacious elites who lie like bastards and never lose. Starmer should be tearing his balls off with his teeth and holding his still-beating heart before his eyes before throwing him into the volcano and beating his chest. Instead he's being a whiny brat. "Oh, it's just too difficult". Well thank you, Mavis Riley.
Prosecutors have opened the door to legalising “mercy killings” of the terminally ill by introducing new guidance on when those assisting death should avoid charges.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
Prosecutors have opened the door to legalising “mercy killings” of the terminally ill by introducing new guidance on when those assisting death should avoid charges.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
The Tories will do anything to get donations. They're IHT free, and if you leav e the party enough, you get a discount on the remaining inheritance tax.
Everyone appears agreed that Sunak's Government is hopeless / a disaster and must be got rid of ASAP.
Yet Starmer is going to come in and follow all the same policies.
The reality seems to be that there aren't any credible options for doing anything much very differently - and both Sunak and Starmer realise this.
The result is going to be an angry public who have no sense of the practicalities of the situation the country is actually in. They want a majic wand to be waved / money to be plucked out of thin air and it isn't going to happen.
It's a bit more nuanced than the spin the Telegraph and Big G are putting on it.
During interviews with local TV programmes, he said the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 contracts and release land intended for the project meant he could not promise to build the second leg of the project.
“Now can I stand here and commit to reversing the decision on HS2? No, I can’t. Not least because the Government’s already releasing land between Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.
Asked if he could commit to high speed rail in full, he said: “No, I can’t make that commitment. That’s what we wanted. That’s what was promised under this Government. But they’ve just blown a massive hole through it and are about to start canceling the contracts, releasing the land, reconfiguring Euston. So I can’t stand here and commit to reversing that decision.
The land he could do something about. As Casino told us yesterday, though, cancellation of contracts would delay any resumption by perhaps half a decade.
Are there financial penalties payable by the government for cancelling contracts? Or other sums payable?
And, if so, how much? And to whom?
Starmer - or whoever the Shadow Transport Secretary is - should be asking these questions.
A bit of diplomatic friction has apparently cropped up between the South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and the Royal household regarding his visit in November. About karaoke.
When President Yoon paid a visit to the White House earlier this year, he sang American Pie at a state dinner and it was rapturously received. It sounds as though he is trying to recreate a bit of that same magic for his UK visit too – as he's requested to do Bohemian Rhapsody for his audience with King Charles.
The request was politely turned down. But he's insisting.
Prosecutors have opened the door to legalising “mercy killings” of the terminally ill by introducing new guidance on when those assisting death should avoid charges.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
Prosecutors have opened the door to legalising “mercy killings” of the terminally ill by introducing new guidance on when those assisting death should avoid charges.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
Not arguing for that, just that don't expect anything different from Starmer.
Do you think Starmer would have pulled a stunt like this?
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
A bit of diplomatic friction has apparently cropped up between the South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and the Royal household regarding his visit in November. About karaoke.
When President Yoon paid a visit to the White House earlier this year, he sang American Pie at a state dinner and it was rapturously received. It sounds as though he is trying to recreate a bit of that same magic for his UK visit too – as he's requested to do Bohemian Rhapsody for his audience with King Charles.
The request was politely turned down. But he's insisting.
A Yoon singing "will you let me go?"
Now I've heard it all.
They've sung it on and off to the EU, in fact they seem quite confused about it.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
Of course he's pleased. He's taken a difficult political decision he might well have taken himself but can now pin all the blame on Sunak. It's disingenuous but that's politics for you.
When was the last time Starmer led the agenda on anything?
He's a tedious tactical triangulator, and isn't going to magically become a different person once in office.
I had a big play on Rutherglen before (+£500 profit on SNP) but have cut it right back now so I don't lose too much stake on something that looks very unlikely.
Of course I might have a box of eggs on my face in the morning if the SNP actually do win.
Prosecutors have opened the door to legalising “mercy killings” of the terminally ill by introducing new guidance on when those assisting death should avoid charges.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
Not arguing for that, just that don't expect anything different from Starmer.
Do you think Starmer would have pulled a stunt like this?
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
Yes, I do. And I'd say: be prepared to be disappointed in Starmer too.
He'll be Prime Minister and that means making difficult choices in an environment where there is very little money.
Not arguing for that, just that don't expect anything different from Starmer.
Do you think Starmer would have pulled a stunt like this?
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
I'm sure Leon predicted that Sunak would surprise on the downside.
It's quite nostalgic hearing about the sinister Freemasons. It's been the World Economic Forum making all the running in the evil stakes lately, the Masons must feel quite put out.
I've got an invite to the WEF in Davos next year, I'll take you, and you can see what it really is all about.
I saw a clip of Lawrence Fox wittering on about what the “WEF” wants to do to us all the other day, and it took me a while to work out what he meant. Has it really become the latest bogie man for people?
Yup, it's like the conspiracies about the Rothschilds on acid.
No it isn't, at all. The World Economic Forum is a think tank and public pressure group that openly espouses many extremely Orwellian ideas. Being against them is like being against the IEA. Sadly, because the WEF is associated with many powerful politicians, civil servants, and business people, its opponents tend to be parodied as conspiracy theorists.
And just like the IEA, it has no real power.
One can oppose it, for it tends to have a vaguely "globalist" views, just as you can oppose the Adam Smith Institute for being quite free market, or Demos for being a bit public sector focused.
But pretending it has any meaningful influence on public policy positions is, candidly, laughable, and betrays an extraordinary ignorance about how the world works.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
Of course he's pleased. He's taken a difficult political decision he might well have taken himself but can now pin all the blame on Sunak. It's disingenuous but that's politics for you.
When was the last time Starmer led the agenda on anything?
He's a tedious tactical triangulator, and isn't going to magically become a different person once in office.
Sunak has attempted to create a 'wedge' issue with Lab over HS2. That was one of the prime reasons to fuck the North over like this.
Starmer has wisely avoided the trap by blaming Sunak for the scorched earth policy of starting to immediately flog off HS2 Manchester land so it can't be built no matter what Starmer says.
If Sunak and Cummings think they were being oh so clever with this wheeze they shouldn't have halted the prep work for the Manch HS2 bit. Starmer has a good reason now why he can't commit whereas without the selling of land etc he wouldn't.
Not arguing for that, just that don't expect anything different from Starmer.
Do you think Starmer would have pulled a stunt like this?
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
Yes, I do. And I'd say: be prepared to be disappointed in Starmer too.
He'll be Prime Minister and that means making difficult choices in an environment where there is very little money.
Oh, in terms of choices and lack of money, absolutely.
But that's not what Sunak did. He said "there are better ways to spend this money", and showed us a list. It's a list that seems to be falling apart within 24 hours, but it was a list. He seems to have taken this decision in the Number Ten Bunker with zero reference to anyone outside. And worse of all, he appears to be actively making it difficult to build anything like HS2 in the future.
All of that stinks. And if we are going to continue to go through difficult times, a leader prepared to burn through trust like a Bullingdon club member burning a fifty pound note is exactly what we don't need.
It's quite nostalgic hearing about the sinister Freemasons. It's been the World Economic Forum making all the running in the evil stakes lately, the Masons must feel quite put out.
I've got an invite to the WEF in Davos next year, I'll take you, and you can see what it really is all about.
I saw a clip of Lawrence Fox wittering on about what the “WEF” wants to do to us all the other day, and it took me a while to work out what he meant. Has it really become the latest bogie man for people?
Yup, it's like the conspiracies about the Rothschilds on acid.
No it isn't, at all. The World Economic Forum is a think tank and public pressure group that openly espouses many extremely Orwellian ideas. Being against them is like being against the IEA. Sadly, because the WEF is associated with many powerful politicians, civil servants, and business people, its opponents tend to be parodied as conspiracy theorists.
And just like the IEA, it has no real power.
One can oppose it, for it tends to have a vaguely "globalist" views, just as you can oppose the Adam Smith Institute for being quite free market, or Demos for being a bit public sector focused.
But pretending it has any meaningful influence on public policy positions is, candidly, laughable, and betrays an extraordinary ignorance about how the world works.
So what did Klaus Schwab mean when he said "We penetrate the cabinets."
"lovely story going around Mid Beds" = Lib Dem unattributable smears, I suggest.
Yeah it's classic LibDem local politics. Where, as every fule knows, they can be utter sh*ts. I don't think anyone of an actual liberal persuasion can quite forget Bermondsey.
And yet people, including Labour mayors, are fucking falling for the bullshit.
Learned helplessness. Nobody is going up to Sunak and verbally kicking him in the face. If nobody calls him out on his bullshit, he'll just do some more bullshit. I am tired of being ruled by mendacious elites who lie like bastards and never lose. Starmer should be tearing his balls off with his teeth and holding his still-beating heart before his eyes before throwing him into the volcano and beating his chest. Instead he's being a whiny brat. "Oh, it's just too difficult". Well thank you, Mavis Riley.
Very creatively put ! I agree . But it does seem that the Tories are determined to sabotage any future for the project . Starmers problem is hes too polite and wish washy . He needs to just give Sunak both barrels , call the government a disgrace and stop this polite waffle .
And yet people, including Labour mayors, are fucking falling for the bullshit.
Learned helplessness. Nobody is going up to Sunak and verbally kicking him in the face. If nobody calls him out on his bullshit, he'll just do some more bullshit. I am tired of being ruled by mendacious elites who lie like bastards and never lose. Starmer should be tearing his balls off with his teeth and holding his still-beating heart before his eyes before throwing him into the volcano and beating his chest. Instead he's being a whiny brat. "Oh, it's just too difficult". Well thank you, Mavis Riley.
Love how the tories keep campaigning against themselves as if they are a brand new govt. And create problems and then rail against the problems they have created. And 25 to 30% will still vote for them after all that.
I am going to be controversial here but he was a vocal critic of HS2, and maybe he is quite pleased that Sunak has taken the decision and the flak, whilst he can direct this substantial investment into the red wall even though Sunak opened the door
Of course he's pleased. He's taken a difficult political decision he might well have taken himself but can now pin all the blame on Sunak. It's disingenuous but that's politics for you.
When was the last time Starmer led the agenda on anything?
He's a tedious tactical triangulator, and isn't going to magically become a different person once in office.
Sunak has attempted to create a 'wedge' issue with Lab over HS2. That was one of the prime reasons to fuck the North over like this.
Starmer has wisely avoided the trap by blaming Sunak for the scorched earth policy of starting to immediately flog off HS2 Manchester land so it can't be built no matter what Starmer says.
If Sunak and Cummings think they were being oh so clever with this wheeze they shouldn't have halted the prep work for the Manch HS2 bit. Starmer has a good reason now why he can't commit whereas without the selling of land etc he wouldn't.
What's wrong with fighting on the right wedge?
If you follow that to its natural conclusion Starmer would always agree with Sunak on everything on the basis it's a trap, and then there's no choice and it's pointless (which is more or less where it's going)
Starmer could have promised to restore HS2, plus the northern links on top, and courted the popularity that went with it.
Sure, Sunak would say Magic Money Tree etc. but Starmer could frame it all as long-term investment in the future delivered over a longer term horizon, when it was affordable, and, in any event, no-one's listening to Sunak anymore anyway.
By the way, anyone can go to the World Economic Forum. Tickets are expensive, but this isn't like Bohemian Grove or the Bilderberg Group, which are closed invite only events.
I'm waiting for my invitation from the Mont Pelerin Society to their Bretton Woods conference later this month
Not arguing for that, just that don't expect anything different from Starmer.
Do you think Starmer would have pulled a stunt like this?
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
Yes, I do. And I'd say: be prepared to be disappointed in Starmer too.
He'll be Prime Minister and that means making difficult choices in an environment where there is very little money.
Oh, in terms of choices and lack of money, absolutely.
But that's not what Sunak did. He said "there are better ways to spend this money", and showed us a list. It's a list that seems to be falling apart within 24 hours, but it was a list.
I didn't take that list seriously for more than a minute.
This admittedly wild prediction is only based on the fact that 12,000 people signed the recall petition.
Otherwise I'd have gone way lower.
Just hedging here
OTOH, bear in mind that that recall was not aimed at a SNP MP, in a strict sense, and to some extent a real one (despite Slab). The SNP had got rid of her PDQ from the party. So that argument isn't as applicable as it is to other cases where the recalled MP was not defenestrated. Adds to the fun of estimation!
By the way, anyone can go to the World Economic Forum. Tickets are expensive, but this isn't like Bohemian Grove or the Bilderberg Group, which are closed invite only events.
I'm waiting for my invitation from the Mont Pelerin Society to their Bretton Woods conference later this month
I dont think anyone can go. The ticket prices likely make it inaccessible to all but the 1%.
Gobsmacked by some of the predictions below. On the betting markets Labour are 95% on to win.
If you get this wrong, as I suspect, I'm going to be even more insufferable over the next 12 months on my certainty of an outright Labour majority, probable landslide.
A bit of diplomatic friction has apparently cropped up between the South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and the Royal household regarding his visit in November. About karaoke.
When President Yoon paid a visit to the White House earlier this year, he sang American Pie at a state dinner and it was rapturously received. It sounds as though he is trying to recreate a bit of that same magic for his UK visit too – as he's requested to do Bohemian Rhapsody for his audience with King Charles.
The request was politely turned down. But he's insisting.
Comments
If you want to then try and retrofit these environments to make them '15 minute cities' you have a massive task to develop new uses and infrastructure on private land and I am just not convinced people will buy in to it and really reduce how much they use their cars. It will be a massive amount of effort, there will be scarce money to fund it, it will be poorly received as a contrived initiative and it will fail like unfortunately the vast majority of grandiose town planning efforts do.
In reality it is probably of most practical use as a tool in justifying high density new development, ie taller buildings, and for planning out new suburbs etc.
But for the existing built environment it is better to look at decarbonising car use, look at ways of expanding lightweight electric vehicle use, and making small continuous steps to find ways to encourage walking and cycling.
Masons are old hat, I don't remember the last time some crank complained about the Masons running things, not even conspiracists would get that worked up now I reckon.
Wing in ground effect electric seaplane.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/05/regent-aims-to-fly-its-electric-seagliders-over-the-waterways-of-japan.html
Brittany Ferries are also reportedly signed up as prospective customers.
too, before Lewisham council became 100% Labour.
The Labour Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, welcomed the investment in his area and said the idea residents would travel 140 miles to Manchester to board a high speed train to London was ridiculous
Furthermore, in the cold light of day I would suggest the northern labour mps , whilst angry, recognise it is pragmatic to support billions for the Midlands and the North transport links
He flew the whole length of the runway and ended up (unscathed) in the field at the far end. Ground effect, a slight tail wind, and the notoriously poor Kestrel airbrakes led to his, er, downfall.
Image 2: Today's effort which states 'this money could part-fund the reopening of the Leamside Line'
https://twitter.com/LouHaigh/status/1709982800860824030
BBC News - Labour can not promise HS2 to Manchester - Keir Starmer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67016873
Anything moving at 180mph only 10ft from the surface has very little warning of an object in its path, generally not enough to successfully take avoiding action.
50ft above the water at 180mph. Not for me. I'll leave it to the tax accountants and fund managers.
Frankly if they do, then we might as well give up all comedy.
Starmer better get used to it. The Tory client media will be relentless in their attacks. Well, I saw Penny Mordaunt's effort yesterday and after the "what a mess Labour Governments made of our fine nation through the 1980s" claim she went full on shape shifting lizard* and started repeating something like "you gotta fight, for the right etc" over and over again (repetition not dissimilar in fact to a Dalek from the earlier post). It was very bizarre, and this from the quality candidate?
If you don't believe me take a look.
*If I was in charge of shape shifting lizards, what better identify for a world leader lizard than a middle aged Catherine Deneuve lookalike?
Same with the Green County Councillor.
And people come onto the page to report contact with all of them.
Never heard anything from their Tory predecessors.
None of this should surprise anyone.
Expect absolutely nothing new from him in office.
Also, as pointed out many, many times on here: SKS's criticisms of HS2 pertained to it running through his constituency, with some merit. It doesn't mean he can think differently about it as a Prime Minister. Indeed, I hope he really gets the bulldozers out this time and builds a proper union station linking to [edit] Hs1 and to hell with the insistence on Euston.
And a PM taking a decision with zero public debate, lying about the details and seemingly doing his level best to stop anyone reversing it in the future...
...do you think that is a good way to do things?
Oh, and if you think this will release a penny of extra investment on the basis of the government's list, I have a bridge to sell you.
Except I don't, because the bridges are blatantly not going to happen.
Officials at the Crown Prosecution Service have unveiled updated guidance on so-called mercy killings and failed suicide pacts that set out the public interest factors in favour and against bringing cases to court.
Campaigners welcomed the move as an attempt by the CPS “to mitigate the cruelty caused by the blanket ban on assisted dying”. However, they called on ministers for wider legislative reform, arguing that “current laws are not fit for purpose”.
In its amended guidance on the public interest factors to be considered in prosecutions for homicide, the CPS listed two in favour and two against.
Prosecutions will be likely in cases where suspects are alleged to have influenced a victim not to seek medical treatment, palliative care or independent professional advice.
A second factor takes into consideration the status of the suspect — if they are medical or healthcare professionals and the victim was under their supervision, a prosecution is likely.
Under the amended guidance prosecution is unlikely in cases where “the victim had reached a voluntary, clear, settled and informed decision that they wished for their life to end”.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mercy-killers-should-not-be-charged-if-patient-wanted-to-die-says-cps-vqsxr53rv
And, if so, how much? And to whom?
Starmer - or whoever the Shadow Transport Secretary is - should be asking these questions.
King v Queen
Is this the real life?
A bit of diplomatic friction has apparently cropped up between the South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and the Royal household regarding his visit in November. About karaoke.
When President Yoon paid a visit to the White House earlier this year, he sang American Pie at a state dinner and it was rapturously received. It sounds as though he is trying to recreate a bit of that same magic for his UK visit too – as he's requested to do Bohemian Rhapsody for his audience with King Charles.
The request was politely turned down. But he's insisting.
*Unless a peer. But peers too debate such things.
If not, that's a necessary difference. Maybe not sufficient, but it's a start and beggars can't be choosers.
(As for me, I'm trying to work out why I'm so cross. I think it's that I knew Johnson was a liar and Truss was bonkers, so it wasn't a disappointment when they tuned out that way. Sunak, I though was a better person. And he isn't.)
When was the last time Starmer led the agenda on anything?
He's a tedious tactical triangulator, and isn't going to magically become a different person once in office.
Of course I might have a box of eggs on my face in the morning if the SNP actually do win.
That may well be my book talking.
SNP +25 after two recounts.
He'll be Prime Minister and that means making difficult choices in an environment where there is very little money.
I wish I could say I was shocked. I wish I voted Tory so I could simply say I’ll never vote for them again.
One can oppose it, for it tends to have a vaguely "globalist" views, just as you can oppose the Adam Smith Institute for being quite free market, or Demos for being a bit public sector focused.
But pretending it has any meaningful influence on public policy positions is, candidly, laughable, and betrays an extraordinary ignorance about how the world works.
Starmer has wisely avoided the trap by blaming Sunak for the scorched earth policy of starting to immediately flog off HS2 Manchester land so it can't be built no matter what Starmer says.
If Sunak and Cummings think they were being oh so clever with this wheeze they shouldn't have halted the prep work for the Manch HS2 bit. Starmer has a good reason now why he can't commit whereas without the selling of land etc he wouldn't.
But that's not what Sunak did. He said "there are better ways to spend this money", and showed us a list. It's a list that seems to be falling apart within 24 hours, but it was a list. He seems to have taken this decision in the Number Ten Bunker with zero reference to anyone outside. And worse of all, he appears to be actively making it difficult to build anything like HS2 in the future.
All of that stinks. And if we are going to continue to go through difficult times, a leader prepared to burn through trust like a Bullingdon club member burning a fifty pound note is exactly what we don't need.
Otherwise I'd have gone way lower.
Just hedging here
If you follow that to its natural conclusion Starmer would always agree with Sunak on everything on the basis it's a trap, and then there's no choice and it's pointless (which is more or less where it's going)
Starmer could have promised to restore HS2, plus the northern links on top, and courted the popularity that went with it.
Sure, Sunak would say Magic Money Tree etc. but Starmer could frame it all as long-term investment in the future delivered over a longer term horizon, when it was affordable, and, in any event, no-one's listening to Sunak anymore anyway.
If you get this wrong, as I suspect, I'm going to be even more insufferable over the next 12 months on my certainty of an outright Labour majority, probable landslide.