Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
Labour will have to be careful how they respond . Certainly they need to try and get through to people that only 4% of estates qualify . Much more of the public think they’re going to be effected than the reality . They should stress the country can’t afford this with crumbling public services . A lot of people when polled dislike IHT even though they are likely to never have enough assets to leave to the children to be effected .
My plan's better. (Tbf I think Barty suggested it a while back.)
You’d think Reeves and Starmer would have gamed this scenario. I’ll be interested to see what they come up with .
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I don't think I laughed once.
I was looking for it, but you can also tell just how chopped down that film is. It's not often I feel I can see where parts of the script and story are missing. One of the ones I can remember like that is, funnily enough, Ridley Scott's Prometheus.
On length generally it feels like editors no longer exist in Hollywood for many films. I like a long film just fine, but many don't need to be that long.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
If so, it's pretty silly they've failed to keep it under wraps rather than risk 3-4 days of left-wing attacks to change the narrative and dilute the political impact of the announcement on the day.
Other possibility is that Boris doesn't have a clue what's going on. But he wants IHT to be cut, and is trying to force the Chancellor's hand by writing in the papers that it's a done deal. Boris's journalism has always been more about what he wants to happen / what he wants to say is happening than what actually is happening.
But even if tax cuts are a good idea, and even if the Conservative right wants them... Cutting IHT while income tax is still rising by stealth is insane, isn't it?
I don't have any problem with a cut in IHT, a tax I don't like.
I suspect Hunt is simply finding a way to maximise political benefit of tax cuts without stoking inflation- which, whilst down, still isn't tamed.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
Labour will have to be careful how they respond . Certainly they need to try and get through to people that only 4% of estates qualify . Much more of the public think they’re going to be effected than the reality . They should stress the country can’t afford this with crumbling public services . A lot of people when polled dislike IHT even though they are likely to never have enough assets to leave to the children to be effected .
My plan's better. (Tbf I think Barty suggested it a while back.)
You’d think Reeves and Starmer would have gamed this scenario. I’ll be interested to see what they come up with .
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
Labour will have to be careful how they respond . Certainly they need to try and get through to people that only 4% of estates qualify . Much more of the public think they’re going to be effected than the reality . They should stress the country can’t afford this with crumbling public services . A lot of people when polled dislike IHT even though they are likely to never have enough assets to leave to the children to be effected .
My plan's better. (Tbf I think Barty suggested it a while back.)
Don't forget a lot of pensioners and old folk will find themselves hit disproportionately for income tax this year - or so it will seem compared to last year. Stealth tax, and the increase in savings - anyone who has 25K cash should be seeing it overflow the 1K allowance ikf they have been sensible.
It's the hassle of income tax returns and the fear of getting it wrong in the technoera that is part of it, too.
Not a Boris Johnson fan myself, but the Tories would probably be on 30% if he was leader.
How could he be leader still? Had he not resigned over Pincher, he would have been suspended by the result of Privileges Committee investigation, subject to a recall and lost his seat in the consequent by-election.
For Johnson to be leader he would have to have not made reckless decisions regarding Pincher and not serially lied to the HoC. In other words for Johnson to still be leader he'd need to have not been Johnson.
Unless Boris had integrity and a work ethic (he doesn't and he never will) I don't think there was or is a path for the Tories to avoid their fate.
Covid and Ukraine accelerated it but Boris would have been found out by one thing or another. It was clear he was very lazy and lackadaisical even before Covid hit in early 2020 with his long and leisurely post election holiday.
Yes but the Conservatives removing Boris was like Labour pushing Blair out, it removed their most successful and charismatic general election winner for a generation.
Even now 16 years since Blair ceased being PM and Labour leader and after 4 consecutive Labour general election defeats, Starmer is not really an election winner in the Blair mould. He will probably win due to the Tory government's unpopularity rather than any great enthusiasm for him and the Tories will likely have a similar problem, it will take years and likely over a decade to find a similar charismatic leader like Boris
Boris's polling was already in the toilet before he was pushed out.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
Some things are just too divisive.
...Gray admitted that some people were now complaining that there shouldn’t be a full stop after the “St” in “St. Mary’s”. “I’m not getting involved in that - it’s too controversial.”..
I hope they took as much time as when Cornwall Cornwall debated for 90 minutes on whether Land's End should have an apostrophe.
Given they approved it unanimously I don't know how they discussed it for over an hour.
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I can’t forgive him for Alien : Covenant . Utter tripe . I just about coped with Prometheus.
Personally, I would abolish inheritance tax, and instead make gifts taxable. (You would have a lifetime gift allowance of - say - £1m, and above that they are taxed at 20%.) Obviously gifts between husband and wife are expempt.
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
Not a Boris Johnson fan myself, but the Tories would probably be on 30% if he was leader.
How could he be leader still? Had he not resigned over Pincher, he would have been suspended by the result of Privileges Committee investigation, subject to a recall and lost his seat in the consequent by-election.
For Johnson to be leader he would have to have not made reckless decisions regarding Pincher and not serially lied to the HoC. In other words for Johnson to still be leader he'd need to have not been Johnson.
Unless Boris had integrity and a work ethic (he doesn't and he never will) I don't think there was or is a path for the Tories to avoid their fate.
Covid and Ukraine accelerated it but Boris would have been found out by one thing or another. It was clear he was very lazy and lackadaisical even before Covid hit in early 2020 with his long and leisurely post election holiday.
Yes but the Conservatives removing Boris was like Labour pushing Blair out, it removed their most successful and charismatic general election winner for a generation.
Even now 16 years since Blair ceased being PM and Labour leader and after 4 consecutive Labour general election defeats, Starmer is not really an election winner in the Blair mould. He will probably win due to the Tory government's unpopularity rather than any great enthusiasm for him and the Tories will likely have a similar problem, it will take years and likely over a decade to find a similar charismatic leader like Boris
Boris's polling was already in the toilet before he was pushed out.
He's most to blame for the current predicament.
Electing Johnson was the political equivalent of fighting off a hangover with another massive crate of booze. It worked for the Conservatives in the sort term, but just created a bigger problem down the line.
Now it can be argued that, in 2019, that was necessary, because the alternative was Comrade Jez. Personally, I'm not entirely convinced (and Johnson played a significant role in May's downfall and the failure of her Brexit plan). But it doesn't matter- eventually, democracy demands a change at the top.
And, whatever his charisma, Johnson was too lazy and dishonest to be a good Prime Minister.
Even now 16 years since Blair ceased being PM and Labour leader and after 4 consecutive Labour general election defeats, Starmer is not really an election winner in the Blair mould. He will probably win due to the Tory government's unpopularity rather than any great enthusiasm for him and the Tories will likely have a similar problem, it will take years and likely over a decade to find a similar charismatic leader like Boris
Nobody has been an election winner in the Blair mould in either party in those 16 years, able not only to persuade the public enough to get a convincing win but also able to execute well enough when in office to get a second and a third. Boris had the win but not the competence in office to be able to even make it to a second attempt, let alone a second win; Cameron took two tries to get to a majority and screwed himself over when he got it. The less said about the rest the better.
(I think we'd probably be better off as a nation if charisma counted for less in elections, but that's human nature for you.)
The Tory line in the EMA chart is not showing any sign of life. Reform is perking up.
Reform will surely not poll half that. Will they have the candidates? I’d be pretty down on them vs Green if it were an Even money match bet. The only snag could be if Farage came back as leader , esp if he does well in the jungle.
One of the things that makes me wonder is if the result of the general election looks like a foregone conclusion, then what is the point in voting tactically to stop Labour, if Labour can't be stopped?
The squeeze might not work and more voters might decide to vote Reform to send a message to the Tories about what they think they did wrong.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
Labour will have to be careful how they respond . Certainly they need to try and get through to people that only 4% of estates qualify . Much more of the public think they’re going to be effected than the reality . They should stress the country can’t afford this with crumbling public services . A lot of people when polled dislike IHT even though they are likely to never have enough assets to leave to the children to be effected .
My plan's better. (Tbf I think Barty suggested it a while back.)
Don't forget a lot of pensioners and old folk will find themselves hit disproportionately for income tax this year - or so it will seem compared to last year. Stealth tax, and the increase in savings - anyone who has 25K cash should be seeing it overflow the 1K allowance ikf they have been sensible.
It's the hassle of income tax returns and the fear of getting it wrong in the technoera that is part of it, too.
I know, I've already had to help out one baffled and anxious man in his 80s who had a Simple Tax Assessment last year and couldn't understand why, as he only has a (quite good) State Pension. Going to happen more and more.
God alone knows why DWP can't do what every single employer does and deduct ICT when due.
Personally, I would abolish inheritance tax, and instead make gifts taxable. (You would have a lifetime gift allowance of - say - £1m, and above that they are taxed at 20%.) Obviously gifts between husband and wife are expempt.
Good idea.
£1m lifetime allowance seems too high though. I know it won't seem like a lot to you ;-) but it's a lifetime's earnings for a lot of people.
The Tory line in the EMA chart is not showing any sign of life. Reform is perking up.
Reform will surely not poll half that. Will they have the candidates? I’d be pretty down on them vs Green if it were an Even money match bet. The only snag could be if Farage came back as leader , esp if he does well in the jungle.
One of the things that makes me wonder is if the result of the general election looks like a foregone conclusion, then what is the point in voting tactically to stop Labour, if Labour can't be stopped?
The squeeze might not work and more voters might decide to vote Reform to send a message to the Tories about what they think they did wrong.
On the other side, I'm going to have a real struggle deciding how to vote because on the one hand, under FPTP and in an ultra-safe Tory seat, my vote is ultimately pointless but on the other hand, I only get one vote and I don't want to waste it.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
The Marvels has been very well reviewed.
The Crown series 6 has been very well reviewed. Unfortunately all those reviews decided it's an unmitigated disaster.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's almost as if they're waiting for it to do a Notre Dame so they can rebuild it afterwards
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
In fairness I suppose sometimes people on twitter get something right (this re the recent Bin Laden TikTok worry). Though that might be just me being fooled into thinking that.
Deeply gullible people convincing themselves that the worst symptoms of being gullible - eg falling for outlandish and extremist falsehoods - are actually evidence that they possess unique insight and open-mindedness is one of the modern world’s biggest ongoing problems
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I can’t forgive him for Alien : Covenant . Utter tripe . I just about coped with Prometheus.
Just wait for the next Bladerunner/Alien film which is supposed to join the two 'universes'.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
The Tory line in the EMA chart is not showing any sign of life. Reform is perking up.
Reform will surely not poll half that. Will they have the candidates? I’d be pretty down on them vs Green if it were an Even money match bet. The only snag could be if Farage came back as leader , esp if he does well in the jungle.
One of the things that makes me wonder is if the result of the general election looks like a foregone conclusion, then what is the point in voting tactically to stop Labour, if Labour can't be stopped?
The squeeze might not work and more voters might decide to vote Reform to send a message to the Tories about what they think they did wrong.
The point I suppose would be if things look really bad, to ensure a Tory party is left afterwards. Part of Labour's massive lifts from dire previous polling in 2017 & 19 was people who were angry with the party but still had sympathy with its basic principles.
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I did, however, really enjoy "Raised By Wolves" which was splendidly crazy :
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
Some things are just too divisive.
...Gray admitted that some people were now complaining that there shouldn’t be a full stop after the “St” in “St. Mary’s”. “I’m not getting involved in that - it’s too controversial.”..
I hope they took as much time as when Cornwall Cornwall debated for 90 minutes on whether Land's End should have an apostrophe.
Given they approved it unanimously I don't know how they discussed it for over an hour.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
I'm very much in favour of restoring it and keeping its use as a legislature, but the way the parties are acting about it they might as well do that, as the way they are going it's going to cost way more, and go the way of Notre Dame to boot. And unlike the French won't even bother to try to restore it.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
"Why haven't you already completed this oh-so-simple task?!?!?!"
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
The Palace of Westminster is a grade 1 listed building, so certainly permission would not be given for it to be a theme park and even a hotel would have restrictions on what they could do with it.
It is also iconic globally as the home of British democracy and our parliament, in any case Portcullis house can be used more while renovations are undertaken and MPs could move into Westminster Hall while the chamber has work done
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I can’t forgive him for Alien : Covenant . Utter tripe . I just about coped with Prometheus.
Just wait for the next Bladerunner/Alien film which is supposed to join the two 'universes'.
That's both unnecessary and about 5 years too late if it were serious(I hope it is not and am not even a big fan of either). Shared universes were all the rage thanks to the success of the MCU, several abortive copies, but the trend is dying down.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
I'm very much in favour of restoring it and keeping its use as a legislature, but the way the parties are acting about it they might as well do that, as the way they are going it's going to cost way more, and go the way of Notre Dame to boot. And unlike the French won't even bother to try to restore it.
We're still not allowed to put the barrels full of gunpowder under it, right? Another Great British Tradition ruined by the wokerati blob!...
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
I can’t forgive him for Alien : Covenant . Utter tripe . I just about coped with Prometheus.
Just wait for the next Bladerunner/Alien film which is supposed to join the two 'universes'.
That's both unnecessary and about 5 years too late if it were serious(I hope it is not and am not even a big fan of either). Shared universes were all the rage thanks to the success of the MCU, several abortive copies, but the trend is dying down.
They'd try it if they could.
It was very much on the cards last time I checked. Sorry to say.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
Unlikely to be cheaper. The problem is the building itself which needs to be fixed for tourists as well as MPs. The cost of replacing green and red benches is minimal.
We should cherish our apostrophes. Especially when they give rise to ambiguities. E.g. in King's Cross is cross a noun, so an item of his possession, or an adverb, making it about his gouty disposition?
Starmer rules out Corbyn ever standing as a Labour candidate again .
This is after the interview Corbyn gave to Piers Morgan .
Corbyn should stand in Starmer's seat. That would be Portillo on steroids.
Jeremy Who?
Sadiq Khan would win a third term as Mayor of London even if Jeremy Corbyn stands as an independent, according to a new poll.
The survey of Londoners by Find Out Now put Mr Khan on 39 per cent, Tory Susan Hall 24 per cent, Mr Corbyn 14 per cent, Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie seven per cent, Green candidate Zoe Garbett six per cent and Howard Cox of Reform UK on five per cent.
When people who backed ex-Labour leader Corbyn were asked who they would choose if he did not stand, Mr Khan went up to 46 per cent, Ms Hall 26 per cent, Mr Blackie and Ms Garbett both nine per cent and Mr Cox six per cent.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
I'm very much in favour of restoring it and keeping its use as a legislature, but the way the parties are acting about it they might as well do that, as the way they are going it's going to cost way more, and go the way of Notre Dame to boot. And unlike the French won't even bother to try to restore it.
We're still not allowed to put the barrels full of gunpowder under it, right? Another Great British Tradition ruined by the wokerati blob!...
If this restoration planning farce goes on much longer a Single Dodgy Sparkler From The Newsagents Plot will suffice to send the place up.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
Labour should include in their manifesto moving to a new parliament building permanently. Convert the Palace of Westminster into a mega tourist attraction/hotel/whatever, preserving its fabric as far as possible.
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
The Palace of Westminster is a grade 1 listed building, so certainly permission would not be given for it to be a theme park and even a hotel would have restrictions on what they could do with it.
It is also iconic globally as the home of British democracy and our parliament, in any case Portcullis house can be used more while renovations are undertaken and MPs could move into Westminster Hall while the chamber has work done
Well maybe a hotel is going too far but it could be preserved as it is and open as a tourist attraction. If we can do that for the Tower of London, we can do it for the PoW.
I would not use Westminster Hall for the HoC - it's too rare and special a building for that. Move the lot to the ExCel Centre while they build a new parliament in Stratford. (Or Gospel Oak - going to have good train connections I hear.)
Starmer rules out Corbyn ever standing as a Labour candidate again .
This is after the interview Corbyn gave to Piers Morgan .
Corbyn should stand in Starmer's seat. That would be Portillo on steroids.
Jeremy Who?
Sadiq Khan would win a third term as Mayor of London even if Jeremy Corbyn stands as an independent, according to a new poll.
The survey of Londoners by Find Out Now put Mr Khan on 39 per cent, Tory Susan Hall 24 per cent, Mr Corbyn 14 per cent, Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie seven per cent, Green candidate Zoe Garbett six per cent and Howard Cox of Reform UK on five per cent.
When people who backed ex-Labour leader Corbyn were asked who they would choose if he did not stand, Mr Khan went up to 46 per cent, Ms Hall 26 per cent, Mr Blackie and Ms Garbett both nine per cent and Mr Cox six per cent.
Corbyn and Starmer are in neighbouring seats. What the outer London boroughs make of them is irrelevant. Anyway, it would be a Portillo moment whoever won.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
So the apostrophe might be our last defence against AI ...
One in four high earners on six-figure incomes are living “pay cheque to pay cheque”, a study has claimed.
More than a quarter (26pc) of employees earning salaries upwards of £100,000 said they had no money left at the end of the month, according to a survey carried out by wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.
Respondents primarily blamed cost of living increases (90pc), as well as rising mortgage payments (38pc) and debt repayments (29pc). In London, 28pc of the 1,700 high earners polled said they were struggling to live within their means.
Carla Morris, a financial planner at the wealth manager, said: “The findings of our survey underline just how much the cost-of-living crisis has affected every section of society in the UK.
“Even people who are among the highest earners in the country are living pay cheque to pay cheque, with almost all of them citing the rising cost of living as one of the main reasons for being in that position.”
Personally, I would abolish inheritance tax, and instead make gifts taxable. (You would have a lifetime gift allowance of - say - £1m, and above that they are taxed at 20%.) Obviously gifts between husband and wife are expempt.
Good idea.
£1m lifetime allowance seems too high though. I know it won't seem like a lot to you ;-) but it's a lifetime's earnings for a lot of people.
How about we leave it at £1m, but include private school fees as gifts?
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Yup. And this is the sort of data that so-called AI is going to be trained on, and credulous people will believe that the artificial "intelligence" can't be wrong.
"Chief technology officer Mira Murati appointed interim CEO to lead OpenAI; Sam Altman departs the company.
Search process underway to identify permanent successor."
Wow.
“Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.”
Personally, I would abolish inheritance tax, and instead make gifts taxable. (You would have a lifetime gift allowance of - say - £1m, and above that they are taxed at 20%.) Obviously gifts between husband and wife are expempt.
Good idea.
£1m lifetime allowance seems too high though. I know it won't seem like a lot to you ;-) but it's a lifetime's earnings for a lot of people.
How about we leave it at £1m, but include private school fees as gifts?
Haha, surely anything purchased for you or your dependents has to be included as a gift? A bit like benefits in kind for employment.
Broaching the topic of inheritance with parents might be daunting because even the most diplomatic approach could appear to be self-interested.
Take it up with the dick who wrote the headline then! Not exactly the most diplomatic approach.
If you're making plans on the assumption your parents will give you something then you are probably in a very bad position for the future.
With the age people are living now once you do finally get your hands on the money your own kids are probably going to be grasping for it from you, the little devils.
"Chief technology officer Mira Murati appointed interim CEO to lead OpenAI; Sam Altman departs the company.
Search process underway to identify permanent successor."
Wow.
“Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities. The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.”
Another dickhead CEO I guess.
Are we getting more of them now, especially in tech and finance, or is that a false impression?
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Yup. And this is the sort of data that so-called AI is going to be trained on, and credulous people will believe that the artificial "intelligence" can't be wrong.
If this credulousness continues we'll end up with someone like Liz Truss as PM. Mark my words.
Broaching the topic of inheritance with parents might be daunting because even the most diplomatic approach could appear to be self-interested.
Take it up with the dick who wrote the headline then! Not exactly the most diplomatic approach.
If you're making plans on the assumption your parents will give you something then you are probably in a very bad position for the future.
With the age people are living now once you do finally get your hands on the money your own kids are probably going to be grasping for it from you, the little devils.
Yes. There did not seem to be an actual case there, just the headline.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
Some things are just too divisive.
...Gray admitted that some people were now complaining that there shouldn’t be a full stop after the “St” in “St. Mary’s”. “I’m not getting involved in that - it’s too controversial.”..
I hope they took as much time as when Cornwall Cornwall debated for 90 minutes on whether Land's End should have an apostrophe.
Given they approved it unanimously I don't know how they discussed it for over an hour.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
So the apostrophe might be our last defence against AI ...
Greengrocers will be the first to go when they rebel.
One in four high earners on six-figure incomes are living “pay cheque to pay cheque”, a study has claimed.
More than a quarter (26pc) of employees earning salaries upwards of £100,000 said they had no money left at the end of the month, according to a survey carried out by wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.
Respondents primarily blamed cost of living increases (90pc), as well as rising mortgage payments (38pc) and debt repayments (29pc). In London, 28pc of the 1,700 high earners polled said they were struggling to live within their means.
Carla Morris, a financial planner at the wealth manager, said: “The findings of our survey underline just how much the cost-of-living crisis has affected every section of society in the UK.
“Even people who are among the highest earners in the country are living pay cheque to pay cheque, with almost all of them citing the rising cost of living as one of the main reasons for being in that position.”
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In part this is because the Mar-a-Lago judge is pretending she will be going to trial in May, but considering how complex the Georgia case is apparently going to be, this seems way too late.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
Difference between then and now is that GF couldn't light the fuse whereas now a light will blow the fuse
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Yup. And this is the sort of data that so-called AI is going to be trained on, and credulous people will believe that the artificial "intelligence" can't be wrong.
If this credulousness continues we'll end up with someone like Liz Truss as PM. Mark my words.
Hahaha, that's a good one. You'll be suggesting Donald Trump will become President next.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In 2017 it was the Tories under May offering the 'selfless' dementia tax, the voters decided otherwise.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
No it isn't, proper Tories believe in building up the family assets and estate to pass to the next generation
Your response appears to be the first instance of someone reading the article not the headline rather than the other way around.
Having read the article now it has little connection to the headline, more about how to maximise inheritance passed on
Now I'm even more confused! I assumed you had already read the article, which is indeed about what you said it was (and does not have much connection to the headline, which is what was objected to).
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The Millennium Bridge? The Gherkin?
No the first, yes to the second I'd say. The Eye perhaps, though it is pretty simple.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In 2017 it was the Tories under May offering the 'selfless' dementia tax, the voters decided otherwise.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
People vote mostly for what benefits them most
I'd suggest that normally if you are on benefits and in council housing, you don't vote ("they're all the same, what's the point"); at least that is my unscientific assessment from talking to people in that situation.
I can't find the evidence readily but isn't it the case that the traditional classes are switching their allegiance? A, B, and C1 trending to Labour and C2, D and E trending to Conservative?
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The film seems to have really annoyed the French, as it's too "pro-British", which swung it for me.
I intend to see it - Ridley Scott may be past his best but has done some great movies in his time, Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal actor, and Napoleon should be easy to make a fascinating movie out of. There's so much material in his life it should be impossible to make a boring biopic out of him, though no doubt someone could manage it, given most biopics are dull.
The IMDB description does make it seem a little weird though - important as it was, is through that prism the best way to see the entire rise and fall?
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Ridley Scott is one film away from brilliance and one film away from shit. He has a lovely eye, a very good sense of place and scene, and absolutely no ability to distinguish a crap film from genius. Whatever he does is interesting, if not good. Apparently he's domesticised the drama, turning it into Marriage Story with added war. The film is longer than your life. I'm going to ignore it until it comes out on Netflix, then ignore it some more. The Marvels , for all its faults, is funnier and is less than two hours long. Just saying. 😃
His problem is that he enjoys writing his own scrips or at least co writing them and he's a poor writer. Visually he's one of the best if not the best but too often poor dialogue and childish storylines get in the way of some beautiful photography and exquisite set pieces. I saw 'Anatomy of a Fall' today which was the Palme d'Or winner at Cannes which was the opposite. Really well written with terrific dialogue and a budget which would hardly have covered Ridley's cigars.
How has this huge political story not been covered here?
How the flip have we ended up with a computer system that can't handle apostrophes?
It's computer systems in general. An apostrophe in an input data string will break any simple operation that uses that string, unless extra effort is put in to deal with the errant character.
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Shoddily written code. SQL prepared statements have been around for years and stop the rogue apostrophe issue dead its tracks.
One of our standard test names was O'Reilly & Sons because it has both the apostrophe and an ampersand which can break URLs
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The Millennium Bridge? The Gherkin?
The Shard? Angel of the North? The Edinburgh Turd Hotel? (In a bad way...)
Regarding the subject of inheritence, in our case for various reasons we got it early, ie when we were in our late 30's. Consequently we have been able to buy our house and have financial security. It was cumulatively a life changing event, moved us from a precarious existence going month to month to being financially secure, whilst all the time doing basically the same job and leading the same lives.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In 2017 it was the Tories under May offering the 'selfless' dementia tax, the voters decided otherwise.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
People vote mostly for what benefits them most
If home owners vote Tory why haven’t the Tory governments built far more homes. Madness.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The Millennium Bridge? The Gherkin?
The Shard? Angel of the North? The Edinburgh Turd Hotel? (In a bad way...)
Yes to the first two. I am ruling out 'iconic in a bad way' - too many potential entrants.
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In 2017 it was the Tories under May offering the 'selfless' dementia tax, the voters decided otherwise.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
People vote mostly for what benefits them most
If home owners vote Tory why haven’t the Tory governments built far more homes. Madness.
Tory councils have often put more homes in local plans but then been thrown out in favour of NIMBY LDs and Independents and Greens. Though yes we do need more new homes targets set centrally
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The Millennium Bridge? The Gherkin?
The Main Stand at Anfield.
As I said, I am ruling out 'iconic in a bad way' - too many potential entrants.
Oh FFS Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year. How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate. If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
It's fucking ridiculous. Risks the whole Palace burning down and being destroyed, like last time.
At least lastime we got an awesome and iconic (if rather shoddy) replacement out of it. This time? Not a chance.
Ok PBers: Which, if any, UK buildings or structures of the last 50 years could be called iconic?
The Millennium Bridge? The Gherkin?
Angel of the North Wembley Stadium The Shard The Walkie-talkie
Johnson weighs in on IHT cut and says he is favour. It is the right time because Gen Z need all the help they can get from baby boomers who have had it cushy.
Interestingly, it reads like this is a done deal on IHT next week.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer rises next week to announce a long-awaited cut in inheritance tax, I can confidently predict that the Left will go more or less bananas.
I think it’s a red herring and the IHT cut will come just before the next general election .
Keir can show clear water between LAB and CON by immediately committing to stop/reverse any IHT cut. But he probably won't.
He should abolish IHT, and make any gifts or legacies received >£10k in a year subject to income tax.
That would hit even more Labour voters than reversing an IHT cut would
Sure, it would hit me, and I may vote Labour (depending on tactical considerations). What seems to perplex you is that many people vote for what they think is best for the country, not necessarily for their own narrow self-interest.
I appreciate that will be difficult for you to comprehend.
A few, most vote largely out of self interest in the privacy of the polling booth
How do you know?
Election results
So, you think the Tories are there for the selfish, not for the country?
In 2017 it was the Tories under May offering the 'selfless' dementia tax, the voters decided otherwise.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
People vote mostly for what benefits them most
I'd suggest that normally if you are on benefits and in council housing, you don't vote ("they're all the same, what's the point"); at least that is my unscientific assessment from talking to people in that situation.
I can't find the evidence readily but isn't it the case that the traditional classes are switching their allegiance? A, B, and C1 trending to Labour and C2, D and E trending to Conservative?
Well those people on benefits and in council housing who do vote normally vote Labour, indeed Labour even won most council house dwelling voters in 2019 when they lost heavily nationally.
In 2019 the only group of working age ie 18 to 65 the Tories won clearly was those earning over £100k a year. So the change hasn't been that significant and of course public sector workers in group AB are more likely to vote Labour than private sector workers in group DE, again partly due to self interest
Comments
I was looking for it, but you can also tell just how chopped down that film is. It's not often I feel I can see where parts of the script and story are missing. One of the ones I can remember like that is, funnily enough, Ridley Scott's Prometheus.
On length generally it feels like editors no longer exist in Hollywood for many films. I like a long film just fine, but many don't need to be that long.
I suspect Hunt is simply finding a way to maximise political benefit of tax cuts without stoking inflation- which, whilst down, still isn't tamed.
It's the hassle of income tax returns and the fear of getting it wrong in the technoera that is part of it, too.
He's most to blame for the current predicament.
Now it can be argued that, in 2019, that was necessary, because the alternative was Comrade Jez. Personally, I'm not entirely convinced (and Johnson played a significant role in May's downfall and the failure of her Brexit plan). But it doesn't matter- eventually, democracy demands a change at the top.
And, whatever his charisma, Johnson was too lazy and dishonest to be a good Prime Minister.
(I think we'd probably be better off as a nation if charisma counted for less in elections, but that's human nature for you.)
The squeeze might not work and more voters might decide to vote Reform to send a message to the Tories about what they think they did wrong.
God alone knows why DWP can't do what every single employer does and deduct ICT when due.
£1m lifetime allowance seems too high though. I know it won't seem like a lot to you ;-) but it's a lifetime's earnings for a lot of people.
Suggestions?
Restoration of parliament faces downgrade to "enhanced maintenance" + debate on next steps postponed until next year.
How we got here (abbreviated version)...
This year has been spent working up two main options: a “full decant” of MPs into temporary accommodation while major works are carried out, versus some form of “continued presence” on the parliamentary estate.
If these sound familiar, it's because they've always been the main options on the table.
But they had to be scoped and presented again after the independent body set up to oversee restoration in 2018 was scrapped and its functions brought in-house...
Of course with rising costs and a looming election, restoration was looking less and less likely. But the journey here was tortuous, and it's hardly a great advertisement for our record on major infrastructure projects
https://nitter.net/estwebber/status/1725434647977275747#m
I get it, leaving it for a proper restoration is hated by MPs, and the billions it would cost will be very unpopular with the public, but a patch and mend doesn't fix the problems and it will only get more and more expensive.
This is after the interview Corbyn gave to Piers Morgan .
This is because the apostrophe is interpreted as a single-quote character, which would end the string prematurely, and then leave the rest of the characters in the street name to foul up the rest of your computer operation.
Now it should be that well-written code will check for these things, particularly as not doing so leaves you vulnerable to SQL injection attacks and the like (XKCD did a famous cartoon about this involving a child called little Johnny drop tables). But spending the time to do that, and test it properly, is expensive and slows down what people want to do. So, it doesn't happen. And people decide it's easier to get rid of the apostrophes from street names instead.
Deeply gullible people convincing themselves that the worst symptoms of being gullible - eg falling for outlandish and extremist falsehoods - are actually evidence that they possess unique insight and open-mindedness is one of the modern world’s biggest ongoing problems
https://nitter.net/wallaceme/status/1725152928187519325#m
Got to be cheaper, shirley?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_by_Wolves_(American_TV_series)
St Alban's Church (in Copenhagen)
St Alban's Church (in Holborn)
St Albans (Vermont, also West Virgina)
"Why haven't you already completed this oh-so-simple task?!?!?!"
"Also, why have we been hacked?!?!?!"
It is also iconic globally as the home of British democracy and our parliament, in any case Portcullis house can be used more while renovations are undertaken and MPs could move into Westminster Hall while the chamber has work done
They'd try it if they could.
https://openai.com/blog/openai-announces-leadership-transition
"Chief technology officer Mira Murati appointed interim CEO to lead OpenAI; Sam Altman departs the company.
Search process underway to identify permanent successor."
Sadiq Khan would win a third term as Mayor of London even if Jeremy Corbyn stands as an independent, according to a new poll.
The survey of Londoners by Find Out Now put Mr Khan on 39 per cent, Tory Susan Hall 24 per cent, Mr Corbyn 14 per cent, Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie seven per cent, Green candidate Zoe Garbett six per cent and Howard Cox of Reform UK on five per cent.
When people who backed ex-Labour leader Corbyn were asked who they would choose if he did not stand, Mr Khan went up to 46 per cent, Ms Hall 26 per cent, Mr Blackie and Ms Garbett both nine per cent and Mr Cox six per cent.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/sadiq-khan-to-beat-susan-hall-even-if-jeremy-corbyn-stands-in-london-mayoral-race/ar-AA1k1mgv
I would not use Westminster Hall for the HoC - it's too rare and special a building for that. Move the lot to the ExCel Centre while they build a new parliament in Stratford. (Or Gospel Oak - going to have good train connections I hear.)
More than a quarter (26pc) of employees earning salaries upwards of £100,000 said they had no money left at the end of the month, according to a survey carried out by wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.
Respondents primarily blamed cost of living increases (90pc), as well as rising mortgage payments (38pc) and debt repayments (29pc). In London, 28pc of the 1,700 high earners polled said they were struggling to live within their means.
Carla Morris, a financial planner at the wealth manager, said: “The findings of our survey underline just how much the cost-of-living crisis has affected every section of society in the UK.
“Even people who are among the highest earners in the country are living pay cheque to pay cheque, with almost all of them citing the rising cost of living as one of the main reasons for being in that position.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/six-figure-earners-living-paycheque-to-paycheque/
What an entitled, selfish prick.
My parents are spending my inheritance – what can I do about it?
Passing money between generations can be a complex – and thorny – subject
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/wills/how-can-stop-parents-spending-my-inheritance/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-rhr
Broaching the topic of inheritance with parents might be daunting because even the most diplomatic approach could appear to be self-interested.
Take it up with the dick who wrote the headline then! Not exactly the most diplomatic approach.
If you're making plans on the assumption your parents will give you something then you are probably in a very bad position for the future.
With the age people are living now once you do finally get your hands on the money your own kids are probably going to be grasping for it from you, the little devils.
Are we getting more of them now, especially in tech and finance, or is that a false impression?
‘Thousands of pupils leave lessons for Gaza protests’
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/74f429b0-855b-11ee-ab78-b8f8e234f1ae?shareToken=595c0cef67c0ba7717d730ff7f6f6d8b
NEW: Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis asks Judge McAfee to set Trump’s trial date for Aug. 5, 2024.
https://nitter.net/AnnaBower/status/1725614392207618261#m
Then again, I think this one will be televised, so awesome I guess?
Ridiculous.
Normally if you are on benefits and in council housing or work in the public sector you vote Labour, if you are a high owner in the private sector who owns a property you vote Tory.
People vote mostly for what benefits them most
The Millennium Bridge?
The Gherkin?
I can't find the evidence readily but isn't it the case that the traditional classes are switching their allegiance? A, B, and C1 trending to Labour and C2, D and E trending to Conservative?
Wretched.
Against Malta.
Malta.
Thankfully they gifted us an own goal.
One of our standard test names was O'Reilly & Sons because it has both the apostrophe and an ampersand which can break URLs
Angel of the North?
The Edinburgh Turd Hotel? (In a bad way...)
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/17/apple-twitter-x-advertising-elon-musk-antisemitism-ads
Wembley Stadium
The Shard
The Walkie-talkie
In 2019 the only group of working age ie 18 to 65 the Tories won clearly was those earning over £100k a year. So the change hasn't been that significant and of course public sector workers in group AB are more likely to vote Labour than private sector workers in group DE, again partly due to self interest
So 'can you be less racist for a little while at least', then we turn the taps back on?