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You get what you vote for – politicalbetting.com

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  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479

    TOPPING said:

    NEWS FROM THE CULTURAL FRONT LINE

    Am on the (overground) train. Ticket inspector (guard?) came through. Opposite me is a young (18-25 I'd say), IC3 male, sort of not quite an afro, smartly enough dressed, backpack on the seat next to him. He showed his ticket and then the guard asked him for his railcard.

    So far so good.

    Then he asked for my ticket, which I showed him (on my phone, @Anabobazina don't panic) and....HE DID NOT ASK ME FOR MY RAILCARD.

    (And without doxxing myself, and for reference, I am not a young IC3 male.)

    Do you even qualify for a railcard? :D

    P.S. I used to have a 'SOUTH EAST RAILCARD' – on my phone, praise be, so I never forgot it.
    You'll be reassured to hear that I have a "Two Together" railcard on my phone. I show this to the guard alongside the two paper tickets.
    Lugging around pointless landfill, odd behaviour for an environmentalist.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,256

    Leon said:

    Rumour is all over TwitterX now

    War it is

    You've all been pooh-poohing me since 4.56pm but I have been right all along

    WAR. It's not like we have any alternative now, anyway

    Hopefully a proper Full Fat Global Thermonuclear War.

    Not one of those Gay NATO Tactical Nuclear Wars.

    Incidentally, any idea why the Russia obsession with NATO being Gayish?
    Deflection from themselves
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,294
    malcolmg said:

    Leon said:

    Rumour is all over TwitterX now

    War it is

    You've all been pooh-poohing me since 4.56pm but I have been right all along

    WAR. It's not like we have any alternative now, anyway

    Hopefully a proper Full Fat Global Thermonuclear War.

    Not one of those Gay NATO Tactical Nuclear Wars.

    Incidentally, any idea why the Russia obsession with NATO being Gayish?
    Deflection from themselves
    Christopher Hitchens applies.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    Bit of a fuck off to the people of Rochdale, who exercised their democratic choice to elect Jalloway. I think they were wrong to, but I don't know that you should link GG being elected with concerns about violence and intimidation.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,441

    Radio London is currently playing Angels by Robbie Williams. What kind of bad news would that the the appropriate lead in for?

    Geri Halliwell is joining Take That and Robbie is joining Red Bull in a swap deal I guess.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871
    I love how his "our democracy is under threat" has some nutjob screaming abuse from the Downing Street gates.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,742
    malcolmg said:

    Has Galloway always been a nutter?

    No , many many moons ago he was a brilliant left wingish MP, fantastic orator but went totally off the rails and became an absolute nutter.
    I remember reading an account of a conversation between him and Donald Dewar.

    George: But Donald, why do people take such an instant dislike to me?!
    Donald: (sighing) George... it just saves time
  • pingping Posts: 3,805
    This speech was written by Cameron.
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,426
    FFS Rishi, stop with the hand-wringing and get to the point.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,878
    He's going on a bit isn't he?
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,526
    Galloway must be loving this.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,294
    I am not watching this.
    In fact I am in a meeting.

    I only know what’s going on from this thread.

    Has he “come out” yet?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    Also, why keep blaming pro-Palestine protests and Galloway on Islamism? If there are cynical ideologues behind these protests, they're far left, not Islamist.
  • AverageNinjaAverageNinja Posts: 1,169
    He's just a bit unlikeable isn't he?

    I agree with what he's saying - but I just idk
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,683
    boulay said:

    He’s banning the wearing of the Fedora in public. If you can’t stop George at the ballot box, stop him leaving the house.

    Logic fail. The thing is Araldited on.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    BBC summary

    Last night, the Tory party failed to win a byelection in Rochdale - the seat went to George Galloway who said his victory was "for Gaza"

    That is all accurate, but a bit of a weird way to put it BBC - 'failed to win' almost implies they had any kind of chance, and that's an attempt at balance that goes too far.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,905
    What is the point of this?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    Oh, gosh, he's now basically saying anyone with a "woke" view is equivalent to being an Islamist terrorist.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,011
    boulay said:

    He’s banning the wearing of the Fedora in public. If you can’t stop George at the ballot box, stop him leaving the house.

    That would appeal to people like me too. Clever politics.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979

    Oh, gosh, he's now basically saying anyone with a "woke" view is equivalent to being an Islamist terrorist.

    And yet even among a receptive audience that won't take on.
    Leon said:

    What is the point of this?

  • StaffordKnotStaffordKnot Posts: 99
    This is terrible from Sunak. He is stoking fear of a problem that does not exist. Shocking that a PM should try to make a problem worse as opposed to better.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,422
    edited March 1
    Leon said:

    What is the point of this?

    He's made a mistake on the timing of this imo. It could have waited a few days. Doing it so soon after the Rochdale by-election result looks a bit desperate, and makes Galloway seem more important than he is.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,441
    Carnyx said:

    boulay said:

    He’s banning the wearing of the Fedora in public. If you can’t stop George at the ballot box, stop him leaving the house.

    Logic fail. The thing is Araldited on.
    Exactly, he can’t remove it so he either can’t leave his house or gets arrested the moment he steps out in public. There’s many ways to skin a pretend cat.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,878
    Leon said:

    What is the point of this?

    Patience. He's getting to the war declaration bit
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,575
    Where's the beef?
  • AverageNinjaAverageNinja Posts: 1,169
    Okay he started well and now he's gone off the rails.

    Bringing the country together? As long as it's against the Labour Party then do whatever is best for the Tories.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 17,152
    Leon said:

    What is the point of this?

    He has a podium and very little time left to use it?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,217

    Radio London is currently playing Angels by Robbie Williams. What kind of bad news would that the the appropriate lead in for?

    If they have it on a loop then it's a sure sign of a coup.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,400
    Sermon from the Mini Fount
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,742
    Leaving the European Convention on the cards now?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    More blaming universities.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    Sunak says the Rochdale by-election victory by George Galloway demands a response.

    Not this kind of response!

    It's one seat and an MP who is a serial crank who would wear himself out through niche whinges. As Andy_JS says, it could wait.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,575
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    What is the point of this?

    He's made a mistake on the timing of this imo. It could have waited a few days. Doing it so soon after the Rochdale by-election result looks a bit desperate, and makes Galloway seem more important than he is.
    Also mentions BNP endorsed Galloway, so biggest publicity BNP have had since Griffin was on QT
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,436
    ping said:

    This speech was written by Cameron.

    The patrician tone doesn't really work coming from Sunak.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,441
    Barnesian said:

    Where's the beef?

    No beef, he’s Hindu.
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,426
    The big announcement is that "this government will be announcing a robust policy to deal with this issue"?

    This whole stunt is dedicated to announcing that an announcement will be made?!
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,831
    Well that's shored up the Golders Green and Finchley vote.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,878
    Barnesian said:

    Where's the beef?

    Hindu isn't he?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,905
    Er, what?
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,831
    And for those of you aged 18-25...
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,376
    ???
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,575
    Is that it!!!
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,054
    Well that was ten minutes of my life wasted
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,437
    So when's the war happening
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    AlsoLei said:

    The big announcement is that "this government will be announcing a robust policy to deal with this issue"?

    This whole stunt is dedicated to announcing that an announcement will be made?!

    It's not merely a policy, it's a framework.
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,426
    That's it?! What a twit!
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871
    There it is folks. No election in May. Can't have an election. He has to introduce a new law to tackle "Islamists".

  • Big_IanBig_Ian Posts: 67
    Party Political Broadcast
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    Technically a Nothing has Changed announcement dressed up as something is changing statement.

    Who told him this was a good idea?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,294
    As predicted. Totally pathetic.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,575

    So when's the war happening

    War on Galloway and the BNP is about as far as he went, even Rishi might win that one!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979

    AlsoLei said:

    The big announcement is that "this government will be announcing a robust policy to deal with this issue"?

    This whole stunt is dedicated to announcing that an announcement will be made?!

    It's not merely a policy, it's a framework.
    Why not go for a policy framework?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    What a pointless intervention from Sunny.

    Thought he was going to call an election.

    Weak! Weak! Weak!
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,683
    Wasn't expecting a Whig Theory of Historiography straight out of 1066 and all that.
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,426
    The BBC have dumped their live stream already in favour of doing a weather forecast instead. No analysis, no nothing.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,831
    I think the country's PM coming into our lives to make a plea for unity and tolerance (unless you are a violent jihadist) is A Good Thing.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,575

    There it is folks. No election in May. Can't have an election. He has to introduce a new law to tackle "Islamists".

    There are local elections in May, Tory councillors will lay down their seats to make space for his new tough law
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    CatMan said:

    Well that was ten minutes of my life wasted

    Be honest, were you making good use of those ten minutes anyway?

    I was going to get on the treadmill, so welcomed the 10 minutes delay.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,526
    kle4 said:

    AlsoLei said:

    The big announcement is that "this government will be announcing a robust policy to deal with this issue"?

    This whole stunt is dedicated to announcing that an announcement will be made?!

    It's not merely a policy, it's a framework.
    Why not go for a policy framework?
    Who are the stakeholders? Britain awaits, with bated breath.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,872
    AlsoLei said:

    The BBC have dumped their live stream already in favour of doing a weather forecast instead. No analysis, no nothing.

    There isn't anything to analyse...

    Like an empty test tube
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,878
    edited March 1
    The trouble Sunak has, and it's entirely his fault, is that everything he says or does just smacks of tactical political opportunism. It's almost impossible to listen to a speech like this, on a Friday evening, without imagining the CCHQ PR team brainstorming session on how best to milk the Galloway victory for electoral gain.

    And he's not very good at it. The SNP managed to act much more earnest and heartfelt as they attempted then failed to skewer Labour on the Gaza vote, enough to convince some people. Whereas Rishi just can't pull it off.

    This is the latest in a string of underwhelming PM podium speeches. They've rather devalued the whole thing.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871
    Question - if we are so warm and welcoming and cuddly, how does he explain his party's policies and MPs? If extremist divisive speeches are wrong is he now to boot out Braverman?
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,263
    So the spineless gimp whose peddled fear of immigrants is now playing the martyr and trying to use the recent events to make himself look good .

  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 62,873
    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979

    He does know that he has just lit the fire under the protests? "THEY WANT TO BAN US". With Tossface Galloway as the face of the protestors. And Nigel Farage the face of the "WHY WON'T THIS GOVERNMENT STOP THEM" rants.

    Tories will be passed by RefUK pretty quickly now.

    Galloway must be the happiest politician in Britain right now. Is this some 4D chess move attempt to make Galloway look really important, in an effort to destabilise Starmer?

    Because that's the kind of dumb-person's-attempt-to-be-clever move I'd expect from a student politician or overgrown spad.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,742
    kle4 said:

    He does know that he has just lit the fire under the protests? "THEY WANT TO BAN US". With Tossface Galloway as the face of the protestors. And Nigel Farage the face of the "WHY WON'T THIS GOVERNMENT STOP THEM" rants.

    Tories will be passed by RefUK pretty quickly now.

    Galloway must be the happiest politician in Britain right now. Is this some 4D chess move attempt to make Galloway look really important, in an effort to destabilise Starmer?

    Because that's the kind of dumb-person's-attempt-to-be-clever move I'd expect from a student politician or overgrown spad.
    I don't think anyone has ever accused Rishi over being 'overgrown'.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    Screaming hypocrisy? Its his government stoking much of the division and hate speech.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    Anyone can cobble together a speech to which no one could disagree with the fundamentals, for reasons of banality or obviousness.

    The questions remain what did he actually say, did that justify the drama, and does it actually mean anything?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,683
    TimS said:

    The trouble Sunak has, and it's entirely his fault, is that everything he says or does just smacks of tactical political opportunism. It's almost impossible to listen to a speech like this, on a Friday evening, without imagining the CCHQ PR team brainstorming session on how best to milk the Galloway victory for electoral gain.

    And he's not very good at it. The SNP managed to act much more earnest and heartfelt as they attempted then failed to skewer Labour on the Gaza vote, enough to convince some people. Whereas Rishi just can't pull it off.

    This is the latest in a string of underwhelming PM podium speeches. They've rather devalued the whole thing.

    Question is whether it's CCHQ or just No 10 which brainstormed it.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,905
    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,263

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    His party peddles hate and division and he’s got the cheek to stand there doing some speech pretending not to be part of the problem .
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,683
    Leon said:

    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?

    He's from Dundee.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    Leon said:

    I think it was pretty good, actually, but he should have done one more thing, about 80% of the way into the speech he should suddenly run over the street and punched a capering midget, several times, in a weird pointless display of random prime-ministerial violence, this would also have proved that he is not in fact the smallest person in central London

    An opportunity missed. But otherwise, impressive

    I'm afraid you've not been paying close enough attention, capering midgets were banned under the Really Important Stuff Act which was passed last year. Peter Bone tried to lead a rebellion against it but it fell flat, IIRC.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,376
    Empathy and compassion is what we need.
    Yes, he's absolutely right.
    That's why we want to vote him out asap.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 62,873
    Sunak seems to have got the reaction on Sky from Galloway that maybe he hoped for
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871
    Leon said:

    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?

    Rafah
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,437
    dixiedean said:

    Empathy and compassion is what we need.
    Yes, he's absolutely right.
    That's why we want to vote him out asap.

    I'm not sure things will improve on this front under a Labour government to be honest
  • CleitophonCleitophon Posts: 473
    Wow the polls are looking abysmal for the tories now: techne: 21% lead, yougov 26% lead, we think 24% lead, delta 21% lead, R&W 20% lead.
    People did NOT like the tories antics in parliament over procedure... oh dear...
    This is going off the rails for the government now. I see galloway a bit like uxbridge ... an anomal. He is a byelection specialist. In don't see the workers party taking seats or even galloway surviving a GE. We could end up in a Canada 93 situation. Wow
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979
    edited March 1

    Wow the polls are looking abysmal for the tories now: techne: 21% lead, yougov 26% lead, we think 24% lead, delta 21% lead, R&W 20% lead.
    People did NOT like the tories antics in parliament over procedure... oh dear...
    This is going off the rails for the government now. I see galloway a bit like uxbridge ... an anomal. He is a byelection specialist. In don't see the workers party taking seats or even galloway surviving a GE. We could end up in a Canada 93 situation. Wow

    We really could - they are spiralling, no one has a grip on major problems, no gambit seems to be paying off, and even if Reform underwhelm it's that little bit extra that could turn a terrible night into an apocalyptic night.
  • AverageNinjaAverageNinja Posts: 1,169

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    If Keir Starmer made that speech I'd praise the first half and then call the second half lunacy.

    He apologised for making Ali the candidate, he should apologise for ever having him selected in the first place. Poor judgment.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,851
    Much of the speech was generic platitude, but there was a section where he started talking about people's views of history etc. that got very anti-woke. Is there a possibility that his new framework will get overly censorious?
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,400
    nico679 said:

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    His party peddles hate and division and he’s got the cheek to stand there doing some speech pretending not to be part of the problem .
    Back to basics.
  • CleitophonCleitophon Posts: 473
    To me the interesting result was the tories and reform only mustering 18% together.... that is total wipeout.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 95,979

    Much of the speech was generic platitude, but there was a section where he started talking about people's views of history etc. that got very anti-woke. Is there a possibility that his new framework will get overly censorious?

    Government loves to ban and control things. It's one area where MPs and Whitehall really get along.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,905
    Oh do shut the fuck up about Palestine. You are in Rochdale, sort out your toilet of a city
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,400
    Leon said:

    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?

    I’m sure he can do other accents, if you pay him enough.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871
    Oh FFS. A "Free Free Palestine" chant at the Galloway HQ in Rochdale.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 62,873

    I cannot imagine how anyone could disagree with his speech

    Indeed if Starmer had made the same speech he would be lauded

    I doubt it will move the dial political for him

    If Keir Starmer made that speech I'd praise the first half and then call the second half lunacy.

    He apologised for making Ali the candidate, he should apologise for ever having him selected in the first place. Poor judgment.
    I thought Starmer wanted Paul Waugh and was overruled by the local party
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,575

    Wow the polls are looking abysmal for the tories now: techne: 21% lead, yougov 26% lead, we think 24% lead, delta 21% lead, R&W 20% lead.
    People did NOT like the tories antics in parliament over procedure... oh dear...
    This is going off the rails for the government now. I see galloway a bit like uxbridge ... an anomal. He is a byelection specialist. In don't see the workers party taking seats or even galloway surviving a GE. We could end up in a Canada 93 situation. Wow

    Unless Reform clearly overtake the Tories we won't get a Canada 93 situation
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,833
    kle4 said:

    Sunak says the Rochdale by-election victory by George Galloway demands a response.

    Not this kind of response!

    A better response - call the GE and suddenly Galloway is out again.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,326

    Much of the speech was generic platitude, but there was a section where he started talking about people's views of history etc. that got very anti-woke. Is there a possibility that his new framework will get overly censorious?

    I disagree. Replace your first word with 'all' and I agree.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871

    Looks like Suella Braverman is going to be expelled from the Tory Party, then. She fits the bill for Sunak's definition of divisive extremism.

    Remember how they appointed Ester McVey as Minister for Common Sense?

    He's going to appoint Braverman as Minister for community cohesion...
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 28,871

    Leon said:

    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?

    I’m sure he can do other accents, if you pay him enough.
    And pussy cats!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,905
    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    I quite like Galloway's accent, where is it from in Scotland?

    He's from Dundee.
    It's got a rolling richness, he was once quite the orator, and that accent helped

    Bit too doddery now
This discussion has been closed.