I think this all comes back to the 'Sunak is not good at politics' conclusion.
He might do okay working in a political think-tank. But being PM is simply way above his pay grade. For that you need a political instinct that he does not possess.
Only when looking at the recent serial string of disasters do you realise just how easy some people made it look
I think this all comes back to the 'Sunak is not good at politics' conclusion.
He might do okay working in a political think-tank. But being PM is simply way above his pay grade. For that you need a political instinct that he does not possess.
Theresa May was the last person who was actually capable of doing the job. I know she came under criticism for the way she did it and her presentational style, but she had the seriousness and the respect for the role.
The Tories have since sent us 3 people unqualified and incapable of performing the role. They have really dug their own political graves here.
WTF kind of excuse is “it was pre-arranged” anyway? Nobody cares if it was pre-arranged, it looks bad because you did it, not because of when it went into your diary.
I cannot believe that Rishi’s comms team like him, or that he is listening to them.
"It was pre-arranged to feck off early"
Whoever didn't block D-Day from his diary is not fit for purpose.
That he didn't spot it himself - ditto.
If we had gone from Boris to Penny Mordaunt, the Conservative Party - and the country - would have been in a better place. No way Penny would have shown such a lack of political acumen.
There are a bunch of MPs who voted for Truss who will have a long, long time to reflect on their stupidity. With that on their CV, hard to see how those ex-MPs who voted for her get another job any time soon.
I feel sorry for a core of Tory MPs who have been bloody good constituency MPs, but who have been undermined in getting re-elected by too many of their colleagues, from the top down.
Now we have Starmer drifting in to Downing Street, effectively unopposed. Which wouldn't be quite so bad if hadn't shown himself to be so utterly useless in that first debte. A lifelong barrister who can't make the case for voting for him? He could be on Trump's team of lawyers, being that bad.
Penny would have emerged from the waves in a WWII era dive suit holding a trident.
COPP style, diving in originally from a canoe paddled by, who? That would have been good.
No, apparently standing in the sea. Then revealed to be standing on the casing of an X-craft
My postie just arrived. Shaved head, tats everywhere you look, including one of those ones with a bulldog holding a union jack or maybe wearing one I didn't look to closely.
Came over, handed me my post, left.
Not. A. Word. about Normandy.
DYOR and bet accordingly.
He (or she) has clearly got your number.
I have never met a chatty postman, they seem in too much of a hurry.
You haven't been round long. We have one who posts on PB.
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
This could start a political arms race to recruit Australian soap stars.
Ok, the pipe major in the town I grew up in has just completely lost it a series of deeply abusive Facebook posts, all related to D-gate.
CUT THROUGH
"Garage door openers"
"The pipe major in my town"
I'm in an unfamiliar world here today.
That's why we come here. Provincial British exotica. I don't know why Leon's always travelling, we've got everything here.
War memorial Bus station Greggs Deserted Debenhams shop More Greggs Van selling burgers or kebabs Cashpoints Tramp outside cashpoint Drunks at prominent doorway begging/menacing Old fat people on mobility scooters, so fat the seat disappears in the bottom Nightclub that looks old and tacky in the daytime, with blanked-out windows Vape shops Charity shops British Heart Foundation Furniture and Electrical Waitrose/Sainsburys/Tescos/Co-op/Morrisons Buskers Tattoo shops Chain Coffee shop (Costa, Starbucks, whatevs) Local Coffee shop/cake shop where you can sit down with bacon roll and read book for a bit People sitting at tables drinking coffee like it was Paris or something Car parks Boarded-up shopping centre/road Pub advertising football Big Issue seller from Eastern Europe Opticians Nail bars Ice-cream shop
That's a beautiful list. You're missing roadworks, flytipping, newsagents with a board outside showing a really banal headline from a local newspaper, bored kids at a bus stop, a painfully loud ice cream van, and a boy doing a wheelie on the pavement.
"It's simply not reasonable to criticise me for making a mistake, we planned to make this mistake simply AGES ago. This wasn't merely some momentary cock-up, it was a meticulously-planned, carefully strategised act of total, underpants-on-head idiocy"
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
This could start a political arms race to recruit Australian soap stars.
Surely Reform are choosing on the basis of their, er, robust political views?
In which case I imagine they'll be drumming up Eric Clapton and Morrissey next.
Any last minute surprises/defections on the horizon I wonder? We’ve got under two hours to go. Tick, tick, tick….
I was wondering about news in re Mr Ross D., ex-MP, but Mr Sunak seems to have very nobly hogged the media and taken the Scottish heat off his subordinate.
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
I sympathise with the idea that we need to start planning for the inevitable. The 2030s will be all about getting the UK ready.
But the nature and scale of the damage escalates very quickly the hotter the world gets. Sure, it's some dodgy modelling and no one knows for sure, but it's as likely it could be even worse than expected than better.
There are some interesting and rather terrifying tipping points. It's like FPTP, but for the human race.
Yes, the implication that we can therefore abandon the transition to renewables is plain wrong. We actually need to be accelerating that transition and planning how to adapt to significant climate change.
Globally, the energy transition should be a net economic plus over time, which is fortunate.
It's one of the most underestimated demerits on Mr Sunak's recird that he not only failed to push it but backpedalled.
My postie just arrived. Shaved head, tats everywhere you look, including one of those ones with a bulldog holding a union jack or maybe wearing one I didn't look to closely.
Came over, handed me my post, left.
Not. A. Word. about Normandy.
DYOR and bet accordingly.
He (or she) has clearly got your number.
I have never met a chatty postman, they seem in too much of a hurry.
You haven't been round long. We have one who posts on PB.
OK but on the job or in his spare time?
Assuming he's not making stuff up (which seems implausible) on the job. Mind you, he's a fast walker.
Not enough people are aware of the extent of damage of Ukraine’s electricity production due to the relentless Russian strikes...
Before the full-scale invasion Ukraine had about 55 gigawatts (GW) of electricity production. The FT recently wrote that about 20 GW are left. Just last Saturday alone, RU destroyed 1.2 GW of production.
Several 🇺🇦 experts believe this number is more 6-10 GW, which means Ukraine lacks the means to cover electricity demands of private and industrial consumers. For peak summer but especially this winter, we will face hours long outages. Some quotes from the FT article that highlight the severity of the situation:
“Asked what the damage would mean for the months ahead, one of the officials put it bluntly: “We should prepare for life in the cold and the dark.” “This is our new normal,” the second official said, gesturing outside a window to the darkness that had descended on Kyiv during a recent emergency power shutdown…
If no measures are taken, according to our modelling, then probably the population will have only two to four hours of electricity [per day] in January,” said Borys Dodonov, head of energy and climate studies at the Kyiv School of Economics.” https://x.com/mattia_n/status/1799023310816076197
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
Presumably cos the ARO has a normal job with a completely different title. If I'm Head of Sanitation for Barchester City Council I don't want to have to resign and reapply every time a Tory PM screws up. Also, legally there is no permanent position, so the same applies, in reverse. We don't want to have to pay them redundo after 24 hours, she isn't a Tory PM.
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
Presumably cos the ARO has a normal job with a completely different title. If I'm Head of Sanitation for Barchester City Council I don't want to have to resign and reapply every time a Tory PM screws up. Also, legally there is no permanent position, so the same applies, in reverse. We don't want to have to pay them redundo after 24 hours, she isn't a Tory PM.
According to wiki:
In England and Wales the post of returning officer for general elections is an honorary one, held by the high sheriff of the county for a county constituency or the mayor or chairman of the local council for a borough constituency. If a constituency overlaps district and county borders, the returning officer is designated by the Secretary of State for Justice.
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
I asked Claude. This is (part of) his answer: In the United Kingdom, the term "Acting Returning Officer" is used during elections because the role is temporary and specific to the election period. The Returning Officer is the person responsible for conducting elections in a particular constituency or local authority area. However, this is not a permanent, full-time position. Instead, the role is taken on by an existing official, typically the head of the local council or a senior civil servant, in addition to their regular duties.
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
I'm starting to think that SKS has got a genie who forget to limit the number of wishes to 3...
Because the other argument is that most of the campaigning team hate Rishi but even that couldn't explain the sheer number of coincidences like the one above.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 12m Rishi Sunak says the issue shouldn’t be politicised and we should focus on the veterans. There was supposed to be a campaign pause for D-Day. He broke it, left the veterans, and came home for a political interview.
Um, he filmed an interview that wasn’t to be aired during D-day events and so clearly didn’t do any campaigning.
The only reason people are aware he did an interview for the campaign is because of people wetting their pants about him missing part of the D-day commemorations. So he respected the campaigning pause - it was others who turned it into part of the campaign.
That’s not how people will see it. He didn’t have time in his diary for veterans of D Day but could find the time to do a campaign interview. And his excuse that he did the British events but not the non-British one is just staggering. The liberation of Nazi occupied Europe was a joint endeavour, the commemoration of it should be too. Any PM who doesn’t get that instinctively deserves everything he gets.
He didn’t have time for veterans except the one he pushed along in his wheelchair, the ones he met, addressed and quoted and praised at the ceremony he attended.
Now I know I’m one of probably three people on this site who didn’t stop everything yesterday and devote the day to watching D-day, and I apologise for that, but I’m guessing the veterans cared more about the king being there, about actually being there themselves and getting the thanks from the ordinary people.
I can’t imagine any of them knew who was actually attending the main ceremony. So let’s get someone to ask them - after all, it’s about them and their comrades. If they really are offended then Sunak needs to step down, if they say they don’t care, it’s not about politicians then we move on. Fair enough?
I am particularly busy at the moment but I regret to say that I did not see a single minute of the anniversary commemorations either. No doubt the fault is mine.
I get more than a little tired of those expressing outrage on someone else's behalf, someone they haven't even had the courtesy to ask. It is wearing.
OTOH I find it very difficult to see what Sunak could possibly do that could make him look more Prime Ministerial or like a leader of substance than being there and playing a prominent part. It is politically stupid and inept, as so many of his decisions are. Morally? Bah!
That’s the bit I just don’t understand. Flip this around. If you were running an election campaign and were offered free prime time tv time that didn’t “score” for electoral balance reasons, photo ops with world leaders, including Zelensky, and universally loved D-Day veterans; you’d jump at the chance.
Him turning it down shows incompetence and idiocy. It’s the exact opposite of taking the politically motivated choice some are accusing him of. It’s just stupid.
It goes beyond stupid. It's stark raving bonkers. And to leave the LOTO to hold the field and representing the UK, I mean why doesn't he accept that he is for all practical purposes, no longer our PM and the chalice has already passed?
Sunak had almost nothing going for him in the campaign. The one "almost" was incumbency and he has thrown the advantages that brings away. It's right up there with Jeremy Thorpe thinking, see that Norman Scott, he's a bit of a nuisance, maybe I should murder him.
No: it was killing the *dog*. Utterly unforgivable in British culture.
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
But the reality is we're already doing that.
We've already set our course to do our bit. We've stopped burning coal, we've eliminated a significant chunk of our emissions and we're on course for more of the same.
We should tackle our emissions. We are doing. Nothing needs to change on that, we just need to "keep calm and carry on".
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
It’s the equivalent of heading at 70mph into a brick wall and realising it’s now too late to avoid crashing into it. So you don’t bother braking. In fact why not press the accelerator.
I see Alloa and Grangemouth now available on Bet365. The odds probably match the current Scotland polling, but a post D-Day SCon -> Labour unionist shift is possible. Factoring in the presence of well-known Independence candidates in Kenny MacAskill and the feisty Eva Comrie, and a bit of anti-woke backlash against the (semi) incumbent SNP John Nicolson has led me to to back Labour at 15/8. As ever DYOR.
Richi Sunak must be Britain’s most high-ranking World War II casualty.
He has been bloody funny of late. He announced recently that he was going to boycott Latitude, Glasto, etc as a mark of protest. It would of course be churlish to ask whether he had been invited to perform...
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
It’s the equivalent of heading at 70mph into a brick wall and realising it’s now too late to avoid crashing into it. So you don’t bother braking. In fact why not press the accelerator.
I'm not sure that analogy will work for everyone given previous debates on 20mph limits
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
AFAIK the leading civic dignitary is the Returning Officer and the Council apparatchik who actively runs the election is acting on their behalf. This is why on election night you sometimes see the mayor all togged up announcing the result as the Returning Officer.
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
This could start a political arms race to recruit Australian soap stars.
Surely Reform are choosing on the basis of their, er, robust political views?
In which case I imagine they'll be drumming up Eric Clapton and Morrissey next.
Aussie soaps much more suitable.
Paul Robinson clearly a blue wall Tory. Stand him somewhere in Surrey.
Harold Bishop an old school Tory Wet. Probably also vulnerable to the Lib Dems.
Mrs Mangle standing as Tory for Maidenhead.
Helen Robinson gets a cross bench peerage in the Lords.
Scott standing for Labour in a London seat.
Charlene Labour up in Manchester.
Henry standing for the Lib Dems somewhere in the West Country.
Over in Home and Away Alf Stewart standing for Reform in Thanet.
IIRC the previous version of the PB server used to have problems if comments reached more than about a thousand, but the new one can obviously cope with it.
Good greif, did you see the 2:21 story about the resignation? OK, so it's only Mr Gove's adviser, but the tone makes Mr Duguid look like an example from the Sermon on the Mount.
'Ian Acheson, who has advised the Communities Secretary on extremism, said the Prime Minister’s decision was a “colossal act of disrespect” to war veterans on what could be the last commemoration that they could attend.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
“Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. Country before party. Always.”'
Any last minute surprises/defections on the horizon I wonder? We’ve got under two hours to go. Tick, tick, tick….
I was wondering about news in re Mr Ross D., ex-MP, but Mr Sunak seems to have very nobly hogged the media and taken the Scottish heat off his subordinate.
Did he hospitalise Duguid to ensure he could pick that seat
With all the speculation about whether the Tories will field a full slate of candidates (of course they will) a fun fact. The last time the Tories didn't stand a candidate in a GE (except for Speaker/Northern Ireland) was in 1970 - Greenock. They stood down in favour of a Liberal or Independent Conservative a handful of times in the 1950s (counting National Liberals as Conservatives for this purpose).
Labour of course stood aside for Martin Bell in Tatton in 1997 but prior to that I think the previous time they failed to put a full slate up was in 1945.
I see Alloa and Grangemouth now available on Bet365. The odds probably match the current Scotland polling, but a post D-Day SCon -> Labour unionist shift is possible. Factoring in the presence of well-known Independence candidates in Kenny MacAskill and the feisty Eva Comrie, and a bit of anti-woke backlash against the (semi) incumbent SNP John Nicolson has led me to to back Labour at 15/8. As ever DYOR.
As long as Nicholson gets a good drubbing. Eva would be the best person for the area for sure.
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
That's funny, I was just about to ask the same question. What's a non-acting returning officer? Also, you sometimes have the "deputy acting returning officer" announcing the result.
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
But the reality is we're already doing that.
We've already set our course to do our bit. We've stopped burning coal, we've eliminated a significant chunk of our emissions and we're on course for more of the same.
We should tackle our emissions. We are doing. Nothing needs to change on that, we just need to "keep calm and carry on".
while India and China pile the coal into the boilers for full speed ahead.
I think this all comes back to the 'Sunak is not good at politics' conclusion.
He might do okay working in a political think-tank. But being PM is simply way above his pay grade. For that you need a political instinct that he does not possess.
Theresa May was the last person who was actually capable of doing the job. I know she came under criticism for the way she did it and her presentational style, but she had the seriousness and the respect for the role.
Nah. She had no political judgement or governmental expertise at all. She was poor as Home Sec and totally out of her depth as PM.
I'm no fan of Cameron, who was pretty mediocre, but was at least moderately competent in governmental matters and didn't keep shooting himself in the foot.
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
I despise Reform but I'll make a special exception for them up against Ric!
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 12m Rishi Sunak says the issue shouldn’t be politicised and we should focus on the veterans. There was supposed to be a campaign pause for D-Day. He broke it, left the veterans, and came home for a political interview.
Um, he filmed an interview that wasn’t to be aired during D-day events and so clearly didn’t do any campaigning.
The only reason people are aware he did an interview for the campaign is because of people wetting their pants about him missing part of the D-day commemorations. So he respected the campaigning pause - it was others who turned it into part of the campaign.
That’s not how people will see it. He didn’t have time in his diary for veterans of D Day but could find the time to do a campaign interview. And his excuse that he did the British events but not the non-British one is just staggering. The liberation of Nazi occupied Europe was a joint endeavour, the commemoration of it should be too. Any PM who doesn’t get that instinctively deserves everything he gets.
He didn’t have time for veterans except the one he pushed along in his wheelchair, the ones he met, addressed and quoted and praised at the ceremony he attended.
Now I know I’m one of probably three people on this site who didn’t stop everything yesterday and devote the day to watching D-day, and I apologise for that, but I’m guessing the veterans cared more about the king being there, about actually being there themselves and getting the thanks from the ordinary people.
I can’t imagine any of them knew who was actually attending the main ceremony. So let’s get someone to ask them - after all, it’s about them and their comrades. If they really are offended then Sunak needs to step down, if they say they don’t care, it’s not about politicians then we move on. Fair enough?
I am particularly busy at the moment but I regret to say that I did not see a single minute of the anniversary commemorations either. No doubt the fault is mine.
I get more than a little tired of those expressing outrage on someone else's behalf, someone they haven't even had the courtesy to ask. It is wearing.
OTOH I find it very difficult to see what Sunak could possibly do that could make him look more Prime Ministerial or like a leader of substance than being there and playing a prominent part. It is politically stupid and inept, as so many of his decisions are. Morally? Bah!
That’s the bit I just don’t understand. Flip this around. If you were running an election campaign and were offered free prime time tv time that didn’t “score” for electoral balance reasons, photo ops with world leaders, including Zelensky, and universally loved D-Day veterans; you’d jump at the chance.
Him turning it down shows incompetence and idiocy. It’s the exact opposite of taking the politically motivated choice some are accusing him of. It’s just stupid.
It goes beyond stupid. It's stark raving bonkers. And to leave the LOTO to hold the field and representing the UK, I mean why doesn't he accept that he is for all practical purposes, no longer our PM and the chalice has already passed?
Sunak had almost nothing going for him in the campaign. The one "almost" was incumbency and he has thrown the advantages that brings away. It's right up there with Jeremy Thorpe thinking, see that Norman Scott, he's a bit of a nuisance, maybe I should murder him.
No: it was killing the *dog*. Utterly unforgivable in British culture.
Yes, i remember it well. He'd have been fine if he hadn't shot the dog.
IIRC the previous version of the PB server used to have problems if comments reached more than about a thousand, but the new one can obviously cope with it.
Suggest we crowdsource hundreds of sunny breakfast shots to put the mofo through its paces
Not enough people are aware of the extent of damage of Ukraine’s electricity production due to the relentless Russian strikes...
Before the full-scale invasion Ukraine had about 55 gigawatts (GW) of electricity production. The FT recently wrote that about 20 GW are left. Just last Saturday alone, RU destroyed 1.2 GW of production.
Several 🇺🇦 experts believe this number is more 6-10 GW, which means Ukraine lacks the means to cover electricity demands of private and industrial consumers. For peak summer but especially this winter, we will face hours long outages. Some quotes from the FT article that highlight the severity of the situation:
“Asked what the damage would mean for the months ahead, one of the officials put it bluntly: “We should prepare for life in the cold and the dark.” “This is our new normal,” the second official said, gesturing outside a window to the darkness that had descended on Kyiv during a recent emergency power shutdown…
If no measures are taken, according to our modelling, then probably the population will have only two to four hours of electricity [per day] in January,” said Borys Dodonov, head of energy and climate studies at the Kyiv School of Economics.” https://x.com/mattia_n/status/1799023310816076197
Trust me. I’ve noticed
This is what the portable generators sound like all over Odessa. Add in diesel fumes for extra annoyance
It is maddening. And this is across Ukraine now I think. Even in Lviv
Good greif, did you see the 2:21 story about the resignation? OK, so it's only Mr Gove's adviser, but the tone makes Mr Duguid look like an example from the Sermon on the Mount.
'Ian Acheson, who has advised the Communities Secretary on extremism, said the Prime Minister’s decision was a “colossal act of disrespect” to war veterans on what could be the last commemoration that they could attend.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
“Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. Country before party. Always.”'
Even Andrew Lloyd Weber is piling in.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has accused Rishi Sunak of an “astonishing and terrible lack of political judgment” after leaving D-Day commemorations early.
Lord Lloyd Webber, a lifelong Conservative supporter, composed a new piece of music, Lovingly Remembered, to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings.
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
But the reality is we're already doing that.
We've already set our course to do our bit. We've stopped burning coal, we've eliminated a significant chunk of our emissions and we're on course for more of the same.
We should tackle our emissions. We are doing. Nothing needs to change on that, we just need to "keep calm and carry on".
while India and China pile the coal into the boilers for full speed ahead.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation. “Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. “Country before party. Always.”
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
Is Holly Valance choosing between standing in Basildon for RefUK, or taking over from the Prime Minister who seemed close to chucking it all in during the pool interview. She has till 4pm.
Seems there’s some last minute shenanigans in Hemel Hempstead as the recently selected Tory candidate resigns/is dumped at the last minute. When the story is written of this election it might not fit in one volume.
Seems there’s some last minute shenanigans in Hemel Hempstead as the recently selected Tory candidate resigns/is dumped at the last minute. When the story is written of this election it might not fit in one volume.
Right…no buzz about Reform defections? Are they truly going to come right at the last minute? Or maybe not happening?
I find it incredible we won’t get at least one defection given D-Day gate alone
It is of course possible that some people have asked to defect and Farage has said no…
He’s got to be a bit careful, because he doesn’t want it to look like all the incompetent and unlikeable Tories are moving over to his vehicle. Ones that aren’t household names are easier sells, perhaps.
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
AFAIK the leading civic dignitary is the Returning Officer and the Council apparatchik who actively runs the election is acting on their behalf. This is why on election night you sometimes see the mayor all togged up announcing the result as the Returning Officer.
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
This could start a political arms race to recruit Australian soap stars.
Surely Reform are choosing on the basis of their, er, robust political views?
In which case I imagine they'll be drumming up Eric Clapton and Morrissey next.
Aussie soaps much more suitable.
Paul Robinson clearly a blue wall Tory. Stand him somewhere in Surrey.
Harold Bishop an old school Tory Wet. Probably also vulnerable to the Lib Dems.
Mrs Mangle standing as Tory for Maidenhead.
Helen Robinson gets a cross bench peerage in the Lords.
Scott standing for Labour in a London seat.
Charlene Labour up in Manchester.
Henry standing for the Lib Dems somewhere in the West Country.
Over in Home and Away Alf Stewart standing for Reform in Thanet.
Like a lot of other people, I spent a inordinate amount of time watching this show. Looking back it's difficult to see what was so engrossing about the likes of Harold Bishop, Mrs Mangel, etc. 😊
Not enough people are aware of the extent of damage of Ukraine’s electricity production due to the relentless Russian strikes...
Before the full-scale invasion Ukraine had about 55 gigawatts (GW) of electricity production. The FT recently wrote that about 20 GW are left. Just last Saturday alone, RU destroyed 1.2 GW of production.
Several 🇺🇦 experts believe this number is more 6-10 GW, which means Ukraine lacks the means to cover electricity demands of private and industrial consumers. For peak summer but especially this winter, we will face hours long outages. Some quotes from the FT article that highlight the severity of the situation:
“Asked what the damage would mean for the months ahead, one of the officials put it bluntly: “We should prepare for life in the cold and the dark.” “This is our new normal,” the second official said, gesturing outside a window to the darkness that had descended on Kyiv during a recent emergency power shutdown…
If no measures are taken, according to our modelling, then probably the population will have only two to four hours of electricity [per day] in January,” said Borys Dodonov, head of energy and climate studies at the Kyiv School of Economics.” https://x.com/mattia_n/status/1799023310816076197
Trust me. I’ve noticed
This is what the portable generators sound like all over Odessa. Add in diesel fumes for extra annoyance
It is maddening. And this is across Ukraine now I think. Even in Lviv
I can't quite get over how perfectly the Conservatives have managed a form of negative triangulation: no matter who you are, they've got a vote-losing policy laser-targeted at pissing you off.
One nation liberals are mad about Rwanda, mad about the rhetoric on immigration, and mad about the clashes with international law. Immigration restrictionists are furious that net migration has reached record highs fuelled by low skilled workers flooding.
Hardcore Remainers are upset about about Brexit. Hardcore Brexiteers are upset about Brexit, because the party signed a deal that they think gives the EU too much ability to meddle in our affairs.
Small state conservatives are mad that taxes have been driven to post-war highs. Advocates for state spending are mad that public services are falling apart.
Young people are furious because Rishi Sunak is pitching them in for national service and the housing market is a dysfunctional mess. Old people are furious because he flaked on the D-Day commemorations (in addition to everything else!)
Cultural conservatives are furious that they've dragged their heels on combating Islamism, pushing back on critical race theory or removing trans ideology from schools, instead preferring to talk a great deal and do nothing. Cultural liberals are furious that they've described pro-Palestine protests as "hate marches" or ramped up rhetoric about these at all.
They've managed to brand themselves as the low tax, culture wars, hostile to immigration party while actually behaving like a party to the Left of New Labour.
And all of this, all of it, might just have been forgiveable if they'd shown some basic competence in doing so, if living standards had improved or state services had at least stayed stable. But instead they've floundered, flailed, and wasted 14 years in office. They've let problems they inherited get worse, watched new ones develop, and the distinct sense is that far too many of them did nothing with their time in office but throw Downing Street parties, whether or not the rest of the nation was in lockdown.
Whatever's left of the party after the vote – if there's a party left after the vote! – needs to work out what it's actually for. "Not being Labour" won't cut it anymore.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation. “Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. “Country before party. Always.”
In the debate tonight, Rayner is going to complain that this election was their chance to get themselves across, and explain to the voters the detail and minutia of all their plans for government, but Sunak is deliberately drowning this out and hogging the narrative, with constant stories of his own ineptitude.
Senior Labour sources are upset the voters will go into election day still unclear what Labours actual plans are. They believed the focus of the campaign would be on them and their policies, and suspect Sunak deliberately pulled his Dunkirk Moment stunt to continue to lock Labour out from its deserved special moment in the spotlight.
Popstar Holly Valance holds crunch last minute talks with Reform UK to stand against Tory chairman Richard Holden in election. She must decide by 4pm today.
This could start a political arms race to recruit Australian soap stars.
Surely Reform are choosing on the basis of their, er, robust political views?
In which case I imagine they'll be drumming up Eric Clapton and Morrissey next.
Aussie soaps much more suitable.
Paul Robinson clearly a blue wall Tory. Stand him somewhere in Surrey.
Harold Bishop an old school Tory Wet. Probably also vulnerable to the Lib Dems.
Mrs Mangle standing as Tory for Maidenhead.
Helen Robinson gets a cross bench peerage in the Lords.
Scott standing for Labour in a London seat.
Charlene Labour up in Manchester.
Henry standing for the Lib Dems somewhere in the West Country.
Over in Home and Away Alf Stewart standing for Reform in Thanet.
Like a lot of other people, I spent a inordinate amount of time watching this show. Looking back it's difficult to see what was so engrossing about the likes of Harold Bishop, Mrs Mangel, etc. 😊
Ha ha, me too ––– and fair point!
In any case, I think it's shocking that @TimS has failed to find a winnable seat for the iconic Madge Bishop (nee Ramsay)
Seems there’s some last minute shenanigans in Hemel Hempstead as the recently selected Tory candidate resigns/is dumped at the last minute. When the story is written of this election it might not fit in one volume.
Well I think all sorts of spellings get tried out these days. I don’t care how his parents decided to spell his name, I’m intrigued as to why he’s suddenly been dropped an hour before the deadline though.
Good greif, did you see the 2:21 story about the resignation? OK, so it's only Mr Gove's adviser, but the tone makes Mr Duguid look like an example from the Sermon on the Mount.
'Ian Acheson, who has advised the Communities Secretary on extremism, said the Prime Minister’s decision was a “colossal act of disrespect” to war veterans on what could be the last commemoration that they could attend.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
“Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. Country before party. Always.”'
Even Andrew Lloyd Weber is piling in.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has accused Rishi Sunak of an “astonishing and terrible lack of political judgment” after leaving D-Day commemorations early.
Lord Lloyd Webber, a lifelong Conservative supporter, composed a new piece of music, Lovingly Remembered, to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings.
I'm starting to think that Sunak may be an even worse PM than Truss. At least she didn't embarrass herself when the Queen died and she left promptly when she knew it was over.
Also I see Rishi has been in Stroud today. WTF? It only had a majority of about 2k in 2019 and the Yougov MRP predicts 51% Lab, 25% Con. Even with a bit of swingback, it's not a seat the Cons can realistically hold. Is it just machismo to pretend that the Cons can hold on to some sort of majority?
They’ve done this because a small group of Woke trustafarian idiots have campaigned for it bEcAuSe IsRaeL
Never give in to these people. You give an inch and before you know it everything is cancelled / problematic.
The activists are basically objecting to BF being an investment company.
...“The assertion that we have significant amounts of money in the occupied Palestinian territories is offensively misleading. Baillie Gifford is a large investor in several multinational technology companies, including Amazon, Nvidia and Meta. Demanding divestment from these global companies, used by millions of people around the world, is unreasonable and serves no purpose. Much as it would be unreasonable to demand authors boycott Instagram or stop selling books on Amazon.”
Baillie Gifford was also not a “significant fossil fuel investor”, Thomas said. “Only 2% of our clients’ money is invested in companies with some business related to fossil fuels. We invest far more in companies helping drive the transition to clean energy.”..
This is my point. They are rarely if ever good faith actors, they despise the capitalist system, it must be torn down. I bet we all indirectly have 2% of our pension etc invested in these areas.
One of the XR founder was honest about it at the beginning, that climate change cause was just a vehicle to help them achieve this by tapping into wider public concerns about the environment.
This is what they are doing here, leveraging fossil fuels and Israel.
XR are a bunch of risibles. Anyone serious about action on climate change should share that opinion.
At some point, assuming that the science is broadly sound, then combining this with the actual current facts and only possible trajectory of CO2 emissions a particular thing has to change, and it will embarrass a lot of people. It is this:
There is no route whatsoever out of very substantial global warming as a result of actions past, present and immediate future. None of this is stoppable.
If the science is correct, the immediate issue is how to plan for and deal with the realities of this fact.
This has been true for some years, but people cling to the myth that 'we have five (insert similar number) years to save the world by abolishing oil and gas'.
The most important thing now is still to reduce the amount of global warming that we have to adjust to by reducing fossil fuel use, and other sources of GHGs, as quickly as possible.
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
But the reality is we're already doing that.
We've already set our course to do our bit. We've stopped burning coal, we've eliminated a significant chunk of our emissions and we're on course for more of the same.
We should tackle our emissions. We are doing. Nothing needs to change on that, we just need to "keep calm and carry on".
while India and China pile the coal into the boilers for full speed ahead.
I'm starting to think that Sunak may be an even worse PM than Truss. At least she didn't embarrass herself when the Queen died and she left promptly when she knew it was over.
Also I see Rishi has been in Stroud today. WTF? It only had a majority of about 2k in 2019 and the Yougov MRP predicts 51% Lab, 25% Con. Even with a bit of swingback, it's not a seat the Cons can realistically hold. Is it just machismo to pretend that the Cons can hold on to some sort of majority?
I think, given the events of recent days, imbuing any kind of logic or reasoning to Rishi and his campaign is futile…
With all the speculation about whether the Tories will field a full slate of candidates (of course they will) a fun fact. The last time the Tories didn't stand a candidate in a GE (except for Speaker/Northern Ireland) was in 1970 - Greenock. They stood down in favour of a Liberal or Independent Conservative a handful of times in the 1950s (counting National Liberals as Conservatives for this purpose).
Labour of course stood aside for Martin Bell in Tatton in 1997 but prior to that I think the previous time they failed to put a full slate up was in 1945.
There are also the post-nomination technicalities: cases where candidates are publicly disavowed, or even officially suspended, but the nomination on paper still stands, like Labour in Banff and Buchan in 2015.
🔵 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: local members told CCHQ had had "anonymous complaint against his prior conduct which requires investigating by the party. Having refuted the allegations and refused to resign his candidacy Jaymey has had his membership of the Party immediately suspended ..."
In the debate tonight, Rayner is going to complain that this election was their chance to get themselves across, and explain to the voters the detail and minutia of all their plans for government, but Sunak is deliberately drowning this out and hogging the narrative, with constant stories of his own ineptitude.
Senior Labour sources are upset the voters will go into election day still unclear what Labours actual plans are. They believed the focus of the campaign would be on them and their policies, and suspect Sunak deliberately pulled his Dunkirk Moment stunt to continue to lock Labour out from its deserved special moment in the spotlight.
What's your preview on the all-important Battle of the Big Hair?
Any inside track from the Beeb's hair and makeup team?
Red Angela for the win or Blue Penny to sail away with victory?
Why is the Returning Officer always called the Acting Returning Officer, both on my poll card and when sharing the limelight at 4am with Count Binface. What added value does the word Acting bring to the party?
The Returning Officer is officially some senior Council bod who has the statutory responsibilities. The Acting Returning Officer is the person who understands the detail.
I don't fancy Penny Mourdant job this evening. It bad enough having 6 others gang up on you in a debate over your record in government, now what does she do about Sunak decision?
In the debate tonight, Rayner is going to complain that this election was their chance to get themselves across, and explain to the voters the detail and minutia of all their plans for government, but Sunak is deliberately drowning this out and hogging the narrative, with constant stories of his own ineptitude.
Senior Labour sources are upset the voters will go into election day still unclear what Labours actual plans are. They believed the focus of the campaign would be on them and their policies, and suspect Sunak deliberately pulled his Dunkirk Moment stunt to continue to lock Labour out from its deserved special moment in the spotlight.
What's your preview on the all-important Battle of the Big Hair?
Any inside track from the Beeb's hair and makeup team?
Red Angela for the win or Blue Penny to sail away with victory?
So shallow and uninformed. It's obviously all about shoulder pads and shoes.
And if the Tory doldrums weren’t enough to put a broad grin on Sir Keir Starmer’s face, then this surely must... his net approval surged by 13 points to +14 this week – his highest ever.
Is it a post-debate bounce? Mr Starmer also strikes gold with another huge lead, this time in our ‘preferred Prime Minister’ tracker where he gains another two points to create a 22-point gap.
Con Hemel Hempstead candidate has quit (personal reasons). 35 minutes to find another candidate…
Majority of 14,000 and looks like they won’t be able to field a candidate.
Er... what?
Pretty much my reaction. Crick sounding like they may have someone else lined up but it’ll be tight. Wonder what those reasons were…
Is someone digging up dirt on Tory candidates and telling them right before the deadline?
It would seem so.
It'll be a rival who wants the gig - last minute knifing leaving them the only option
Possibly or someone he’s annoyed at some point, apparently the complaint was received with photos according to Crick. Messy. Not that the Tories had much chance of holding on.
And if the Tory doldrums weren’t enough to put a broad grin on Sir Keir Starmer’s face, then this surely must... his net approval surged by 13 points to +14 this week – his highest ever.
Is it a post-debate bounce? Mr Starmer also strikes gold with another huge lead, this time in our ‘preferred Prime Minister’ tracker where he gains another two points to create a 22-point gap.
Comments
The Tories have since sent us 3 people unqualified and incapable of performing the role. They have really dug their own political graves here.
OH. WOW.😯
Chris Philp's defence of Sunak to @sarahjolney1
: "Were YOU there yesterday, then?" 😬
A (quite rightly LIVID) Olney: "I'm not the PM. I'm not out there, in a foreign country, representing ALL of us."
This is turning into a bigger mess for Sunak, by the minute. ~AA
https://x.com/BestForBritain/status/1799069455538155834
"It's simply not reasonable to criticise me for making a mistake, we planned to make this mistake simply AGES ago. This wasn't merely some momentary cock-up, it was a meticulously-planned, carefully strategised act of total, underpants-on-head idiocy"
In which case I imagine they'll be drumming up Eric Clapton and Morrissey next.
Rishi Sunak went from his pool clip to visit a school. The school was located on...Veterans Way 😬
A genuinely incredible day of campaigning.
https://x.com/TomLarkinSky/status/1799071669711261991
Mind you, he's a fast walker.
Before the full-scale invasion Ukraine had about 55 gigawatts (GW) of electricity production. The FT recently wrote that about 20 GW are left. Just last Saturday alone, RU destroyed 1.2 GW of production.
Several 🇺🇦 experts believe this number is more 6-10 GW, which means Ukraine lacks the means to cover electricity demands of private and industrial consumers. For peak summer but especially this winter, we will face hours long outages. Some quotes from the FT article that highlight the severity of the situation:
“Asked what the damage would mean for the months ahead, one of the officials put it bluntly: “We should prepare for life in the cold and the dark.”
“This is our new normal,” the second official said, gesturing outside a window to the darkness that had descended on Kyiv during a recent emergency power shutdown…
If no measures are taken, according to our modelling, then probably the population will have only two to four hours of electricity [per day] in January,” said Borys Dodonov, head of energy and climate studies at the Kyiv School of Economics.”
https://x.com/mattia_n/status/1799023310816076197
In England and Wales the post of returning officer for general elections is an honorary one, held by the high sheriff of the county for a county constituency or the mayor or chairman of the local council for a borough constituency. If a constituency overlaps district and county borders, the returning officer is designated by the Secretary of State for Justice.
In the United Kingdom, the term "Acting Returning Officer" is used during elections because the role is temporary and specific to the election period.
The Returning Officer is the person responsible for conducting elections in a particular constituency or local authority area. However, this is not a permanent, full-time position. Instead, the role is taken on by an existing official, typically the head of the local council or a senior civil servant, in addition to their regular duties.
I find it incredible we won’t get at least one defection given D-Day gate alone
There's a big difference between 2C of warming and 4C.
Because the other argument is that most of the campaigning team hate Rishi but even that couldn't explain the sheer number of coincidences like the one above.
Richi Sunak must be Britain’s most high-ranking World War II casualty.
We've already set our course to do our bit. We've stopped burning coal, we've eliminated a significant chunk of our emissions and we're on course for more of the same.
We should tackle our emissions. We are doing. Nothing needs to change on that, we just need to "keep calm and carry on".
Paul Robinson clearly a blue wall Tory. Stand him somewhere in Surrey.
Harold Bishop an old school
Tory Wet. Probably also vulnerable to the Lib Dems.
Mrs Mangle standing as Tory for Maidenhead.
Helen Robinson gets a cross bench peerage in the Lords.
Scott standing for Labour in a London seat.
Charlene Labour up in Manchester.
Henry standing for the Lib Dems somewhere in the West Country.
Over in Home and Away Alf Stewart standing for Reform in Thanet.
Top story in the Mirror Guardian Indepedent Telegraph.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/07/general-election-latest-news-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer/
IIRC the previous version of the PB server used to have problems if comments reached more than about a thousand, but the new one can obviously cope with it.
'Ian Acheson, who has advised the Communities Secretary on extremism, said the Prime Minister’s decision was a “colossal act of disrespect” to war veterans on what could be the last commemoration that they could attend.
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
“Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns. Country before party. Always.”'
I have just sent you a piece for a header, if you are looking.
(Good afternoon everyone)
No one really cares what he says, tbf.
Labour of course stood aside for Martin Bell in Tatton in 1997 but prior to that I think the previous time they failed to put a full slate up was in 1945.
I'm no fan of Cameron, who was pretty mediocre, but was at least moderately competent in governmental matters and didn't keep shooting himself in the foot.
Not sure if this is because he helped to make the decision or because he's registering a protest about it.
This is what the portable generators sound like all over Odessa. Add in diesel fumes for extra annoyance
It is maddening. And this is across Ukraine now I think. Even in Lviv
https://imgur.com/gallery/PCrfSpo
Andrew Lloyd Webber has accused Rishi Sunak of an “astonishing and terrible lack of political judgment” after leaving D-Day commemorations early.
Lord Lloyd Webber, a lifelong Conservative supporter, composed a new piece of music, Lovingly Remembered, to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings.
“Hearing consistently now that the D-Day error has absolutely cut through to voters and is already being brought up frequently on doorsteps”
Very funny.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianpalmer/2024/04/28/oil-going-down-while-chinas-energy-mix-and-emissions-doing-a-backflip/#
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-renewable-energy-supply-on-the-rise-report-101706122032208-amp.html
In his resignation letter, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Acheson, a former prison governor, said: “It was an act of either colossal stupidity or cynical calculation.
“Either way, it revealed to me that while I still embrace a conservative philosophy, I am no longer willing to have it outsourced to a bunch of mendacious, incompetent and disreputable clowns.
“Country before party. Always.”
https://archive.ph/bAx2k
https://x.com/tomorrowsmps/status/1799082221284028894?s=46
He’s got to be a bit careful, because he doesn’t want it to look like all the incompetent and unlikeable Tories are moving over to his vehicle. Ones that aren’t household names are easier sells, perhaps.
Has anyone noticed, so resilient is the service?
I can't quite get over how perfectly the Conservatives have managed a form of negative triangulation: no matter who you are, they've got a vote-losing policy laser-targeted at pissing you off.
One nation liberals are mad about Rwanda, mad about the rhetoric on immigration, and mad about the clashes with international law. Immigration restrictionists are furious that net migration has reached record highs fuelled by low skilled workers flooding.
Hardcore Remainers are upset about about Brexit. Hardcore Brexiteers are upset about Brexit, because the party signed a deal that they think gives the EU too much ability to meddle in our affairs.
Small state conservatives are mad that taxes have been driven to post-war highs. Advocates for state spending are mad that public services are falling apart.
Young people are furious because Rishi Sunak is pitching them in for national service and the housing market is a dysfunctional mess. Old people are furious because he flaked on the D-Day commemorations (in addition to everything else!)
Cultural conservatives are furious that they've dragged their heels on combating Islamism, pushing back on critical race theory or removing trans ideology from schools, instead preferring to talk a great deal and do nothing. Cultural liberals are furious that they've described pro-Palestine protests as "hate marches" or ramped up rhetoric about these at all.
They've managed to brand themselves as the low tax, culture wars, hostile to immigration party while actually behaving like a party to the Left of New Labour.
And all of this, all of it, might just have been forgiveable if they'd shown some basic competence in doing so, if living standards had improved or state services had at least stayed stable. But instead they've floundered, flailed, and wasted 14 years in office. They've let problems they inherited get worse, watched new ones develop, and the distinct sense is that far too many of them did nothing with their time in office but throw Downing Street parties, whether or not the rest of the nation was in lockdown.
Whatever's left of the party after the vote – if there's a party left after the vote! – needs to work out what it's actually for. "Not being Labour" won't cut it anymore.
Senior Labour sources are upset the voters will go into election day still unclear what Labours actual plans are. They believed the focus of the campaign would be on them and their policies, and suspect Sunak deliberately pulled his Dunkirk Moment stunt to continue to lock Labour out from its deserved special moment in the spotlight.
In any case, I think it's shocking that @TimS has failed to find a winnable seat for the iconic Madge Bishop (nee Ramsay)
Majority of 14,000 and looks like they won’t be able to field a candidate.
Also I see Rishi has been in Stroud today. WTF? It only had a majority of about 2k in 2019 and the Yougov MRP predicts 51% Lab, 25% Con. Even with a bit of swingback, it's not a seat the Cons can realistically hold. Is it just machismo to pretend that the Cons can hold on to some sort of majority?
The usual nonsense to make us all poorer.
2 leading German papers on the UK election today
"What have Brexit and Voldemort got in common ? People find them awful but their name must never be spoken"
Die Zeit↙️
"Brexit has become taboo, which, given the problems the country faces, is grotesque"
Handelsblatt (🇩🇪 FT) ↘️
https://x.com/tomorrowsmps/status/1799085755186458905?s=46
Seems someone did an LRM on the now previous Tory candidate
Any inside track from the Beeb's hair and makeup team?
Red Angela for the win or Blue Penny to sail away with victory?
Is someone digging up dirt on Tory candidates and telling them right before the deadline?
EDIT: can see now they have been suspended
LAB: 45% (-1)
CON: 20% (-1)
RFM: 15% (+2)
LDM: 10% (+2)
GRN: 5% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @wethinkpolling, 6-7 Jun.
Changes w/ 30-31 May.
Fury from within Tory Party about Sunak's early Normandy exit. A minister said they were “astonished” and ex-minister said it was "fucking nuts"
Big opportunity now for Labour to paint Starmer as a statesman on world stage — as I write in
@PoliticoEurope
https://x.com/Stefan_Boscia/status/1799083749080174881
She’ll emphasise that he has apologised.
Which works beautifully for her on every level.
CON 30
LAB 531
LIB 53
REF 0
GRN 1
SNP 13
PLC 4
Labour majority of 412.
👍 Approve: 23% (-1)
👎 Disapprove: 55% (NC)
😐 Neither: 22% (+1)
https://x.com/wethinkpolling/status/1799086543031726480
And if the Tory doldrums weren’t enough to put a broad grin on Sir Keir Starmer’s face, then this surely must... his net approval surged by 13 points to +14 this week – his highest ever.
👍 Approve: 42% (+7)
👎 Disapprove: 28% (-6)
😐 Neither: 31% (NC)
Is it a post-debate bounce? Mr Starmer also strikes gold with another huge lead, this time in our ‘preferred Prime Minister’ tracker where he gains another two points to create a 22-point gap.
🔴 Keir Starmer: 47% (+2)
🔵 Rishi Sunak: 25% (NC)
⚪ Don’t know: 28% (-3)
Kind of feels like SKS has won.