Catherine Rampell @crampell · 3h Trump will not rule out placing restrictions on access to contraceptives. “We’re looking at that…It’s another issue that’s very interesting”
“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said when asked if he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception.
KDKA declined to confirm to POLITICO when the interview was recorded, but the Biden campaign released video of the exchange on Tuesday.
Trump added, “you will find it very smart. I think it’s a smart decision.”..
Of course he was adamant he'd testify in court, too.
Catherine Rampell @crampell · 3h Trump will not rule out placing restrictions on access to contraceptives. “We’re looking at that…It’s another issue that’s very interesting”
“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said when asked if he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception.
KDKA declined to confirm to POLITICO when the interview was recorded, but the Biden campaign released video of the exchange on Tuesday.
Trump added, “you will find it very smart. I think it’s a smart decision.”..
He's going to allow only condoms that have his face on them?
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
This water bill forecast for 2025 onwards must be another nail in the Tory coffin. Not inconceivable Labour is going to be the main rightwing option at least economically in a decade or so time.
Catherine Rampell @crampell · 3h Trump will not rule out placing restrictions on access to contraceptives. “We’re looking at that…It’s another issue that’s very interesting”
“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said when asked if he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception.
KDKA declined to confirm to POLITICO when the interview was recorded, but the Biden campaign released video of the exchange on Tuesday.
Trump added, “you will find it very smart. I think it’s a smart decision.”..
He's going to allow only condoms that have his face on them?
Well, it would work...
Once upon a time I worked with a Family Planning outreach team. I found some really bizarre condoms. One was in the shape of a (very small) Christmas tree.
NEW: Rishi Sunak has backed away from making any radical reforms to the graduate visa route, after a cabinet backlash and warnings that driving away foreign students could undermine Britain’s universities.
The prime minister is set to announce plans to stamp out abuse of the visa system but will confirm that the graduate route, which allows international students to stay for two years after completing their studies, should remain open.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
OTOH look at PB on Scotland. It's just the same, most of the commentators have zero vote in Scotland, but feel free to comment. Same with Wales. Mind, the Sunderland Tories seem to think Wales is still part of England so perhaps one should be sympathetic.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
Sorry about the 'too' - trying to have two conversations at once.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Still not used. Vide customs still a shambles.
This is like expecting a chef to knock up a fine pasta meal when they haven't got past learning how not to burn the tinned spaghetti alphabetti.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
You don't like people being rude about Trump?
Who the hell can we be rude about if we can't be rude about that arsehat?
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
It's more really surprising he didn't, because he *is* completely bonkers.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
Peter Foster @pmdfoster · 1h The quotes on this tweet instructive. Either relief or cold fury that Sunak buckled.
Q is why on earth Sunak was marched to the top of this particular hill. Hurts UK reputation and now alienates the Tory base. That’s a D-minus for political strategy.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
It's more really surprising he didn't, because he *is* completely bonkers.
I expect he was wary of what he said in front of a jury in heavily Democratic Manhattan to try and maximise his chances of acquittal. If he can't be convicted by a jury in one of the most anti Trump areas of the USA on at least 1 count of criminal charges I doubt who would be convicted by a jury anywhere
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
The scorn is for his relentless stream of bullshit. If you want to ignore it, fine, but don't tell others they have to.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
You don't like people being rude about Trump?
Who the hell can we be rude about if we can't be rude about that arsehat?
No, I don't mind people being rude about Trump, we should all be free to air our opinions as adults, to other adults. I think my objection is feeling like I'm being campaigned to on behalf of the PB morale party.
32% think a Labour majority government would be bad. That’s the Tory vote share plus the anti Labour elements of Reform and a handful of SNP voters. It sets an absolute cap on Tory vote share in the event of swingback.
17% think a Tory majority would be good. That’s the Conservative floor. Can’t fall below that unless there’s another major disaster.
63% think a Labour majority would be good or indifferent. That’s surely the ceiling for LLG.
Juries have already found against him, including 2 Jean Carroll judgements.
In civil not criminal cases, so the certainty of culpability required is lower.
The Jean Carroll case was also in New York too
I would be somewhat surprised if the penalty he gets in this case - even if found guilty - would be higher than $83 million.
Yes, I know this theoretically could lead to jail but if Merchan hasn't jailed him for his multiple crimes against the court he won't do it merely for falsifying business records.
My eldest daughter turns 18 on July 20th and will be gutted if the election is on July 11th! She is hoping to vote in the US election later in the year though.
I missed 1992 by about a month
Which meant I missed voting for the Liberal Democrat candidate in Bedfordshire North, a certain Michael Smithson.
You wanted to waste your vote on a third party candidate? Blood is truly thicker than water.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
Juries have already found against him, including 2 Jean Carroll judgements.
In civil not criminal cases, so the certainty of culpability required is lower.
The Jean Carroll case was also in New York too
I would be somewhat surprised if the penalty he gets in this case - even if found guilty - would be higher than $83 million.
Yes, I know this theoretically could lead to jail but if Merchan hasn't jailed him for his multiple crimes against the court he won't do it merely for falsifying business records.
There is still a further contempt of court to be dealt with. I really don’t see how Merchan can do other than impose a jail sentence for that. It will probably be brief, maybe 7 days, but it is surely coming.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
To do what ?
I don't disagree, but what do you think the best policy for us ?
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
I haven't been a fan of Mercer since he recently insulted Peter Hitchens by saying he'd never heard of him.
Josh Rogin @joshrogin As the election nears, some Arab American donors and activists are considering not just sitting out the race, but working outright to elect Trump. And in a private meeting this week in Michigan, Trump’s surrogates are going to do their best to bring them into the fold.
On Tuesday, a group of Arab American donors and activists from around the country plan to convene in Oakland Hills, Mich., for a private dinner initiated by Trump’s former ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, several of the invitees told me…
“What has the Biden administration done for Muslim Americans on any level? The answer is zero.”
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
Peter Foster @pmdfoster · 1h The quotes on this tweet instructive. Either relief or cold fury that Sunak buckled.
Q is why on earth Sunak was marched to the top of this particular hill. Hurts UK reputation and now alienates the Tory base. That’s a D-minus for political strategy.
Rishi Sunak was meant to be 'the grown up in the room' after Truss crashed and burned. He was the cool-headed technocrat who knew who to deal with etc. Now it turns out he wasn't the grown up in the room, he was the office boy in the room, the grown-up was Cameron? I mean wtf. Is Cameron the actual grown-up or is it Osborne?
Josh Rogin @joshrogin As the election nears, some Arab American donors and activists are considering not just sitting out the race, but working outright to elect Trump. And in a private meeting this week in Michigan, Trump’s surrogates are going to do their best to bring them into the fold.
On Tuesday, a group of Arab American donors and activists from around the country plan to convene in Oakland Hills, Mich., for a private dinner initiated by Trump’s former ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, several of the invitees told me…
“What has the Biden administration done for Muslim Americans on any level? The answer is zero.”
Most underrated industrial policy success story: Morocco's auto industry - More car exports to Europe than China - Zero to $14 billion in auto exports in 15 years - Invested heavily in infrastructure: rail, highways, ports - Brought in foreign firms from France, China, Japan, Korea (Renault is Morocco's largest private employer) - Foreign firms enticed with not just subsidies but speed: factories can get approved and built in months - Hugely successful SEZs and industrial parks - Took advantage of FTAs with EU and US and geographical proximity to Europe - Now turning into an EV manufacturing hub - Surge of new plants from Chinese battery makers https://x.com/kyleichan/status/1793014555330699500
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
I haven't been a fan of Mercer since he recently insulted Peter Hitchens by saying he'd never heard of him.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
Sunak said it could end in a hung parliament... now labour's lead is expanding while ref and con drop. Tells you everything you need to know. There is NOTHING good to wait for. I saw that betting for a July ge went from 16 to 40%. Perhaps the penny has finally dropped for sunak: go now.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
I haven't been a fan of Mercer since he recently insulted Peter Hitchens by saying he'd never heard of him.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
It's not that split parties are unpopular, but that unpopular parties split. When things are going badly, every MP thinks their solution is better.
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
These lacunae exist for some reason, particularly with old BBC shows.
That there is no DVD for season 2 or 3 of Monkey Dust is a crime against humanity - that show hasn't aged a day compared to the other comedies of its time, and in some ways feels even more relevant now.
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
It's not that split parties are unpopular, but that unpopular parties split. When things are going badly, every MP thinks their solution is better.
It's worse than that. Unpopular parties panic and split, as you say. But then the public decide they don't like split parties, so the party becomes even more unpopular, and said party enters a doom loop.
In the last days of Major, the party stepped back (a bit) from the edge after the 'back me or sack me' leadership election. At least until the campaign started, then it all went wrong again.
It was bad, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't quite as bad as this.
Most underrated industrial policy success story: Morocco's auto industry - More car exports to Europe than China - Zero to $14 billion in auto exports in 15 years - Invested heavily in infrastructure: rail, highways, ports - Brought in foreign firms from France, China, Japan, Korea (Renault is Morocco's largest private employer) - Foreign firms enticed with not just subsidies but speed: factories can get approved and built in months - Hugely successful SEZs and industrial parks - Took advantage of FTAs with EU and US and geographical proximity to Europe - Now turning into an EV manufacturing hub - Surge of new plants from Chinese battery makers https://x.com/kyleichan/status/1793014555330699500
Prices increased by a quarter in the past three years. Even though household incomes have nearly kept up, it's the sticker shock people notice. Also people are saving more, which might be a good thing but has the effect of making them poorer in the meantime. Overall about 4% down in ability to spend.
Hard to believe everybody or even the majority have kept up with 25% pay rises over last 3 years.
Real wages down by an average of 2.3% according to the article. The reason why it wasn't more was that the minimum wage DID keep pace with inflation. There were big differences between different industries with professionals and public sector seeing bigger falls in real wages while service sectors have done relatively better.
The Scottish culture secretary has demanded an urgent meeting with Creative Scotland to discuss why an arts project involving real sex was given over £100,000 in funding.
Angus Robertson said he is "deeply concerned" about documents obtained by BBC Scotland News which show the original funding application made clear the project would involve real sex.
The Scottish culture secretary has demanded an urgent meeting with Creative Scotland to discuss why an arts project involving real sex was given over £100,000 in funding.
Angus Robertson said he is "deeply concerned" about documents obtained by BBC Scotland News which show the original funding application made clear the project would involve real sex.
Catherine Rampell @crampell · 3h Trump will not rule out placing restrictions on access to contraceptives. “We’re looking at that…It’s another issue that’s very interesting”
“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said when asked if he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception.
KDKA declined to confirm to POLITICO when the interview was recorded, but the Biden campaign released video of the exchange on Tuesday.
Trump added, “you will find it very smart. I think it’s a smart decision.”..
Of course he was adamant he'd testify in court, too.
Trump announcing that "there will be plan on [x]" is a big part of his schtick, and it's never actually followed by a plan.
Incidentally I see Trump was persuaded not to commit suicide by giving evidence.
Which is a terrible shame for popcorn merchants everywhere.
You mean he wanted to testify but was stopped by the deep state (is what his fans will think)
I think the operative word is 'frit'.
Everyone has said all along that Trump would be completely bonkers to testify. Now that he's decided not to, the confected scorn seems silly. Who are we campaigning too with these posts - there are very few people here with a vote in the US Presidential elections, and I don't see those with one being persuaded by comments here.
The scorn is about the lying; you know the way he repeatedly said he would testify.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
But.. solar is bad. It's like onshore wind, somehow. Which is bad. Or good? I've lost track of the Tory line.
The Scottish culture secretary has demanded an urgent meeting with Creative Scotland to discuss why an arts project involving real sex was given over £100,000 in funding.
Angus Robertson said he is "deeply concerned" about documents obtained by BBC Scotland News which show the original funding application made clear the project would involve real sex.
The Scottish culture secretary has demanded an urgent meeting with Creative Scotland to discuss why an arts project involving real sex was given over £100,000 in funding.
Angus Robertson said he is "deeply concerned" about documents obtained by BBC Scotland News which show the original funding application made clear the project would involve real sex.
Quite the story in Times below that a minister wrote a memo suggesting Number 10 refused repeated efforts to allow veterans ID for voting because it would “open floodgates” to students using their ID to vote as well…
Just listened to the podcast. The Fink didn’t sound hugely convinced about July, just said there had been some murmurings and a feeling that things will likely get worse, not better. I think it will be the autumn. Sunak might have grabbed the initiative by going in May but a summer election on the brink of the school holidays seems a bit silly.
Most underrated industrial policy success story: Morocco's auto industry - More car exports to Europe than China - Zero to $14 billion in auto exports in 15 years - Invested heavily in infrastructure: rail, highways, ports - Brought in foreign firms from France, China, Japan, Korea (Renault is Morocco's largest private employer) - Foreign firms enticed with not just subsidies but speed: factories can get approved and built in months - Hugely successful SEZs and industrial parks - Took advantage of FTAs with EU and US and geographical proximity to Europe - Now turning into an EV manufacturing hub - Surge of new plants from Chinese battery makers https://x.com/kyleichan/status/1793014555330699500
When did they join the single market?
They didn't, but they're trying to sell Europe cheap labour, not high-value services.
Quite the story in Times below that a minister wrote a memo suggesting Number 10 refused repeated efforts to allow veterans ID for voting because it would “open floodgates” to students using their ID to vote as well…
The gerrymandering, chiselling, cheating shitshow with voter ID is the epitome of a pathetic, weak, wankerish government frothing at the dying of the light.
Just listened to the podcast. The Fink didn’t sound hugely convinced about July, just said there had been some murmurings and a feeling that things will likely get worse, not better. I think it will be the autumn. Sunak might have grabbed the initiative by going in May but a summer election on the brink of the school holidays seems a bit silly.
Police are being told to make fewer arrests because of the lack of space in prisons:
If a Conservative Party after 14 years in power cannot adequately run the prison service then something has gone badly wrong.
Not really. They can't adequately run anything else. So why make this exception? CYPS referral waiting times over two years now. Which means a Year 9 refusing school doesn't get seen, let alone devised a plan, before school is over.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
And we can only take advantage of the opportunity thanks to Brexit. Let the US and EU have their trade war with China.
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
If you can't find it legitimately I can get S2 and 3 if you want them. Pop me a DM.
(I hate the way this works - there used to be a wonderful UK focussed radio archive of old BBC radio drama's based on people's old tape recordings of original broadcasts. BBC lawyers threatened the owner and it was then shut down. BBC still refuses to make the recordings available despite offers of £££. So piracy thrives...)
In other news, I see Russian state TV has started airing Tucker Carlson's show.
I've just listened to Jonathan Dimbleby on Times Radio. He's written a book about how Stalin won the war. Amazingly he quotes the figure of 27 million Russian deaths. I've looked online and can only find this number as relating to the Soviet Union as a whole. I've seen a figure of 1.5m Ukrainian military deaths fighting the Nazis. More than Britain suffered in both world wars combined. Has anyone EVER mentioned this? I doubt Dimbleby ever has.
He comes across as yet another romantic Russian sentimentalist. He wants us to understand why ordinary Russians 'feel' the way they do towards the west. Well they've been indoctrinated by generations of leaders. The fact they go on about their own personal sacrifice yet seem blissfully unaware of that of their neighbours, sometimes as a result of their own brutality coming from Moskva.
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
If you can't find it legitimately I can get S2 and 3 if you want them. Pop me a DM.
(I hate the way this works - there used to be a wonderful UK focussed radio archive of old BBC radio drama's based on people's old tape recordings of original broadcasts. BBC lawyers threatened the owner and it was then shut down. BBC still refuses to make the recordings available despite offers of £££. So piracy thrives...)
I suppose it is the difference between private circulation and broad re-publishing without permission.
Just listened to the podcast. The Fink didn’t sound hugely convinced about July, just said there had been some murmurings and a feeling that things will likely get worse, not better. I think it will be the autumn. Sunak might have grabbed the initiative by going in May but a summer election on the brink of the school holidays seems a bit silly.
October is probably his best bet.
It's October.
You heard it here first.
Unless it isn't 😈
A November election announced on Wednesday 2nd October - the last day of the Tory conference for 14th November.
Incidentally there is an annular solar eclipse on 2nd October. An omen?
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Huge question.
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
If you can't find it legitimately I can get S2 and 3 if you want them. Pop me a DM.
(I hate the way this works - there used to be a wonderful UK focussed radio archive of old BBC radio drama's based on people's old tape recordings of original broadcasts. BBC lawyers threatened the owner and it was then shut down. BBC still refuses to make the recordings available despite offers of £££. So piracy thrives...)
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Huge question.
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
I don't think you can catch up without the industrial foundations. If we saturate our market with cheap imports this has to be done on the understanding that we're never going to be competing with the Chinese on mass market green technologies.
Just listened to the podcast. The Fink didn’t sound hugely convinced about July, just said there had been some murmurings and a feeling that things will likely get worse, not better. I think it will be the autumn. Sunak might have grabbed the initiative by going in May but a summer election on the brink of the school holidays seems a bit silly.
October is probably his best bet.
It's October.
You heard it here first.
Unless it isn't 😈
A November election announced on Wednesday 2nd October - the last day of the Tory conference for 14th November.
Incidentally there is an annular solar eclipse on 2nd October. An omen?
No one will want the euro footy triumph ruined by a load of campaigning/GE bollocks in late June/early July.
The Scottish culture secretary has demanded an urgent meeting with Creative Scotland to discuss why an arts project involving real sex was given over £100,000 in funding.
Angus Robertson said he is "deeply concerned" about documents obtained by BBC Scotland News which show the original funding application made clear the project would involve real sex.
Why are people so prudish? Why shouldn't real sex be a proper subject for art?
I don't think the objection is to it being a subject for art (at least, that's not my objection). The objection is that it doesn't seem a terribly good use of public money.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Well Chinese solar panels seems safer than Chinese nuclear power. Becoming reliant on Chinese technology when they are so politically confrontational would be grand folly.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Huge question.
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
I don't think you can catch up without the industrial foundations. If we saturate our market with cheap imports this has to be done on the understanding that we're never going to be competing with the Chinese on mass market green technologies.
It makes more sense for us to flood our market with cheap, green technologies from China than it did to flood our market with overpriced, polluting diesels from Germany.
In other news, I see Russian state TV has started airing Tucker Carlson's show.
I've just listened to Jonathan Dimbleby on Times Radio. He's written a book about how Stalin won the war. Amazingly he quotes the figure of 27 million Russian deaths. I've looked online and can only find this number as relating to the Soviet Union as a whole. I've seen a figure of 1.5m Ukrainian military deaths fighting the Nazis. More than Britain suffered in both world wars combined. Has anyone EVER mentioned this? I doubt Dimbleby ever has.
He comes across as yet another romantic Russian sentimentalist. He wants us to understand why ordinary Russians 'feel' the way they do towards the west. Well they've been indoctrinated by generations of leaders. The fact they go on about their own personal sacrifice yet seem blissfully unaware of that of their neighbours, sometimes as a result of their own brutality coming from Moskva.
It is entirely possible to hold both awed admiration for the Soviet Union's heroism, suffering and resilience in WW2 and revulsion for their crimes and those of the more recent Russia. It's not that difficult.
In other news, I see Russian state TV has started airing Tucker Carlson's show.
I've just listened to Jonathan Dimbleby on Times Radio. He's written a book about how Stalin won the war. Amazingly he quotes the figure of 27 million Russian deaths. I've looked online and can only find this number as relating to the Soviet Union as a whole. I've seen a figure of 1.5m Ukrainian military deaths fighting the Nazis. More than Britain suffered in both world wars combined. Has anyone EVER mentioned this? I doubt Dimbleby ever has.
He comes across as yet another romantic Russian sentimentalist. He wants us to understand why ordinary Russians 'feel' the way they do towards the west. Well they've been indoctrinated by generations of leaders. The fact they go on about their own personal sacrifice yet seem blissfully unaware of that of their neighbours, sometimes as a result of their own brutality coming from Moskva.
It is entirely possible to hold both awed admiration for the Soviet Union's heroism, suffering and resilience in WW2 and revulsion for their crimes and those of the more recent Russia. It's not that difficult.
You are completely missing the point. He was treating Russia/Soviet Union as one and the same thing. There is no evidence that 27 million Russians died in WW2.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Huge question.
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
I don't think you can catch up without the industrial foundations. If we saturate our market with cheap imports this has to be done on the understanding that we're never going to be competing with the Chinese on mass market green technologies.
I dunno, the technology on say batteries is so fluid (ha, ha) that anything could happen.
But, yeh, we would be better, as a country, playing to our strengths - one being software and hence AI rather than bolting bits of battery together.
Our other key strengths - creative industries and higher education - this lot seemed determine to batter.
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
Wait:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Huge question.
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
I don't think you can catch up without the industrial foundations. If we saturate our market with cheap imports this has to be done on the understanding that we're never going to be competing with the Chinese on mass market green technologies.
You certainly can in car production - just get the Chinese to build plants here. That worked with Nissan.
It's unlikely we'll ever be able to do so with solar panel manufacturing, though.
The Chinese car industry isn't so much about cheap labour anymore as much as superior technology.
Police are being told to make fewer arrests because of the lack of space in prisons:
If a Conservative Party after 14 years in power cannot adequately run the prison service then something has gone badly wrong.
Not really. They can't adequately run anything else. So why make this exception? CYPS referral waiting times over two years now. Which means a Year 9 refusing school doesn't get seen, let alone devised a plan, before school is over.
Prison issue is partly because they cut the court sitting days to "save money", increasing the time and therefore the numbers on remand. This also results in more prosecutions failing because they've taken so long to get to court that CPS have lost evidence, contact details for witnesses etc. They're also not adequately funding courses in prison which means prisoners not being paroled because they haven't done the required reoffending courses.
in 14 years the only aspect they've shown competence at is suspending procurement processes and awarding contracts to unqualified companies run by their cronies.
The government has managed a couple of weeks without a major scandal or really doing something to annoy the public. They’ve had a couple of defections but one didn’t really get clocked by the public and the other was a mixed blessing for Starmer at best. The locals results were bad but they managed expectations well.
So it’s been, on balance, a decent news month for the Tories. They must be overdue a PR disaster.
In other news, I see Russian state TV has started airing Tucker Carlson's show.
I've just listened to Jonathan Dimbleby on Times Radio. He's written a book about how Stalin won the war. Amazingly he quotes the figure of 27 million Russian deaths. I've looked online and can only find this number as relating to the Soviet Union as a whole. I've seen a figure of 1.5m Ukrainian military deaths fighting the Nazis. More than Britain suffered in both world wars combined. Has anyone EVER mentioned this? I doubt Dimbleby ever has.
He comes across as yet another romantic Russian sentimentalist. He wants us to understand why ordinary Russians 'feel' the way they do towards the west. Well they've been indoctrinated by generations of leaders. The fact they go on about their own personal sacrifice yet seem blissfully unaware of that of their neighbours, sometimes as a result of their own brutality coming from Moskva.
It is entirely possible to hold both awed admiration for the Soviet Union's heroism, suffering and resilience in WW2 and revulsion for their crimes and those of the more recent Russia. It's not that difficult.
You are completely missing the point. He was treating Russia/Soviet Union as one and the same thing. There is no evidence that 27 million Russians died in WW2.
To be fair it’s a mistake many people made until recent actions in Ukraine laid bare the lie.
Comments
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/21/trump-contraception-abortion-00159118
While he didn’t provide any details, he told KDKA political analyst Jon Delano that he plans to share a policy on contraception “very shortly.”
“We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said when asked if he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception.
KDKA declined to confirm to POLITICO when the interview was recorded, but the Biden campaign released video of the exchange on Tuesday.
Trump added, “you will find it very smart. I think it’s a smart decision.”..
Of course he was adamant he'd testify in court, too.
Well, it would work...
https://x.com/politlcsuk/status/1792997193198055886?s=61
I kid you not!
Glen O'Hara
@gsoh31
·
1h
Well I think after all that a celebratory pint is in order. Cheers! 🍺🍻
https://x.com/gsoh31/status/1792990088441323824
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/21/janet-yellen-eu-us-chinese-exports-tariffs-electric-vehicles
Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has urged the EU to intervene urgently to dampen the growing export levels of Chinese cut-price green technology including solar panels and wind turbines, pushing European leaders to move to a full-scale trade war.
This is like expecting a chef to knock up a fine pasta meal when they haven't got past learning how not to burn the tinned spaghetti alphabetti.
Who the hell can we be rude about if we can't be rude about that arsehat?
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/05/21/protests-prevent-international-protection-applicants-accessing-south-dublin-accommodation/
Exclusive from
@p_j_chappell
Cabinet minister said in private memo that No 10 needs to stop trying to 'placate' Rishi Sunak and instead give airtime to more popular colleagues
Johnny Mercer said No 10 is behaving as if Sunak is still as popular as he was when he entered office despite fact his poll ratings have plummeted
He said that No 10's comms strategy is 'haphazard, un-themed and loose' and 'average performers' like Mark Harper are being sent out to defend govt in 'important slots'
He said too many political advisers are 'overpromoted and under-skilled' & have 'poor political judgement'
He said No 10 is not listening to him and other Tory MPs
Mercer was photographed writing the memo by a passenger on a train from Exeter to London earlier this month
Peter Foster
@pmdfoster
·
1h
The quotes on this tweet instructive. Either relief or cold fury that Sunak buckled.
Q is why on earth Sunak was marched to the top of this particular hill. Hurts UK reputation and now alienates the Tory base. That’s a D-minus for political strategy.
https://x.com/pmdfoster/status/1792989473652785333
The Jean Carroll case was also in New York too
If you want to ignore it, fine, but don't tell others they have to.
https://x.com/keiranpedley/status/1792875101001486811?s=46
32% think a Labour majority government would be bad. That’s the Tory vote share plus the anti Labour elements of Reform and a handful of SNP voters. It sets an absolute cap on Tory vote share in the event of swingback.
17% think a Tory majority would be good. That’s the Conservative floor. Can’t fall below that unless there’s another major disaster.
63% think a Labour majority would be good or indifferent. That’s surely the ceiling for LLG.
Yes, I know this theoretically could lead to jail but if Merchan hasn't jailed him for his multiple crimes against the court he won't do it merely for falsifying business records.
I don't disagree, but what do you think the best policy for us ?
@joshrogin
As the election nears, some Arab American donors and activists are considering not just sitting out the race, but working outright to elect Trump. And in a private meeting this week in Michigan, Trump’s surrogates are going to do their best to bring them into the fold.
On Tuesday, a group of Arab American donors and activists from around the country plan to convene in Oakland Hills, Mich., for a private dinner initiated by Trump’s former ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, several of the invitees told me…
“What has the Biden administration done for Muslim Americans on any level? The answer is zero.”
https://x.com/joshrogin/status/1792544850337726691
===
Good luck to them under a Trump 2.0 administration. F*cking idiots.
Have these Arab Americans forgotten the Trump embassy move?
I recently re-watched the whole of Absolutely Fabulous on Amazon. It holds up very very well. I'd heard good things about another Jennifer Saunders project Jam and Jerusalem and managed to stream series 1 off dailymotion and it was really good. Big cast of characters but well observed and funny. However it is proving almost impossible to find series 2 other than buying the DVD. The reviews are generally excellent and I've heard people say it gets better as it goes along. I'm happy to pay. But I can't find it anywhere.
- More car exports to Europe than China
- Zero to $14 billion in auto exports in 15 years
- Invested heavily in infrastructure: rail, highways, ports
- Brought in foreign firms from France, China, Japan, Korea (Renault is Morocco's largest private employer)
- Foreign firms enticed with not just subsidies but speed: factories can get approved and built in months
- Hugely successful SEZs and industrial parks
- Took advantage of FTAs with EU and US and geographical proximity to Europe
- Now turning into an EV manufacturing hub
- Surge of new plants from Chinese battery makers
https://x.com/kyleichan/status/1793014555330699500
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/21/terror-suspect-explosives-cyanide-luton-shed-whittaker-lab/
Craig Mackinlay will return to parliament on Wednesday just six months after having four amputations.
https://news.sky.com/story/craig-mackinlay-tory-mp-reveals-feet-and-hands-were-amputated-after-contracting-sepsis-13141002
Poor guy.
That there is no DVD for season 2 or 3 of Monkey Dust is a crime against humanity - that show hasn't aged a day compared to the other comedies of its time, and in some ways feels even more relevant now.
In the last days of Major, the party stepped back (a bit) from the edge after the 'back me or sack me' leadership election. At least until the campaign started, then it all went wrong again.
It was bad, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't quite as bad as this.
Exclusive:
Police are being told to make fewer arrests because of the lack of space in prisons:
Why would we want to not import cut price solar panels that reduce our dependence on imported oil and gas?
If the Chinese want to sell us solar panels at less than cost, there is no way that is anything other than outstandingly good news for the UK.
Having read the list, it does seem rather depressing, tbh
Quite the story in Times below that a minister wrote a memo suggesting Number 10 refused repeated efforts to allow veterans ID for voting because it would “open floodgates” to students using their ID to vote as well…
October is probably his best bet.
Just off to burgle a few houses.
You heard it here first.
Unless it isn't 😈
They can't adequately run anything else.
So why make this exception?
CYPS referral waiting times over two years now.
Which means a Year 9 refusing school doesn't get seen, let alone devised a plan, before school is over.
https://x.com/MuellerSheWrote/status/1793027827463492035
(I hate the way this works - there used to be a wonderful UK focussed radio archive of old BBC radio drama's based on people's old tape recordings of original broadcasts. BBC lawyers threatened the owner and it was then shut down. BBC still refuses to make the recordings available despite offers of £££. So piracy thrives...)
He comes across as yet another romantic Russian sentimentalist. He wants us to understand why ordinary Russians 'feel' the way they do towards the west. Well they've been indoctrinated by generations of leaders. The fact they go on about their own personal sacrifice yet seem blissfully unaware of that of their neighbours, sometimes as a result of their own brutality coming from Moskva.
Incidentally there is an annular solar eclipse on 2nd October. An omen?
One Starmer will face very soon.
Is it Net Zero or protect "out dated" jobs and technologies?
Swing voters in, say, the Midlands know what they want.
And yet, maybe - grab these cheap net zero products and run with it. Certainly AEP at Telegraph thinks so iirc. We are in a massive inflection point and we have lost the first round of solar/EV. Can we catch up with some kind of next gen techology? New types of battery? Technology, markets, capitalism, Schumpeterian growth can be brutal.
But - maybe issues with how labour is used to produce such cheap products?
Who would be a politician in these changing times?
Not going to happen.
CURRYGATE.
It's not that difficult.
But, yeh, we would be better, as a country, playing to our strengths - one being software and hence AI rather than bolting bits of battery together.
Our other key strengths - creative industries and higher education - this lot seemed determine to batter.
That worked with Nissan.
It's unlikely we'll ever be able to do so with solar panel manufacturing, though.
The Chinese car industry isn't so much about cheap labour anymore as much as superior technology.
They're also not adequately funding courses in prison which means prisoners not being paroled because they haven't done the required reoffending courses.
in 14 years the only aspect they've shown competence at is suspending procurement processes and awarding contracts to unqualified companies run by their cronies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6sWzoewefk
So it’s been, on balance, a decent news month for the Tories. They must be overdue a PR disaster.