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Sir Keir Starmer: The Corbyn slayer? – politicalbetting.com

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  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,139

    More evidence that Keir Starmer should not attempt thinking on his feet.
    I think Keir Starmer comes across as a quite nasty piece of work over this. Not a good look for him at all.
    Imo both Starmer and Moon Rabbit have it wrong and the more embarrassing story is not the bet but the one Topping posted at the start of this thread about donations.
    Yes hence handing back the 100 grand like it had piss on it
    This story does smell, but it can be spiked by two words "Frank Hester".
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,352

    Ilford North poster update. This afternoon I returned to that constituency and spotted a very large Leanne Mohamad poster on a flat's balcony, and an MPV with her name on top that might belong to a supporter or be serving as her battlebus. Still no posters seen for Labour or Conservative so presumably they think Wes Streeting has it in the bag.

    Is it the same balcony I saw in Barkingside High Street today? Saw a fixed wooden poster in someone's garden on Horns Road, south of Barkingside.

    The only Labour poster I saw was just further up Horns Road, closer to Barkingside.
    No, mine was Gants Hill.
    Fairlop. Mornington Crescent.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,441
    .
    AlsoLei said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    For me, it's fine to use information that other people could find out even if they had to put in some amount of (legal) effort to get it. So betting based on a personal conversation with a coach or a trainer, or overheard on a pub or on a train - none of that sounds like a problem.

    On the other hand, betting on something you can potentially influence seems clearly wrong. So the Campaign Director, or the C-level person in charge of data are both going to have a huge input into the timing of the election, and so shouldn't have been betting on it.
    That is indeed what the current state of the law says.
    Beyond that clarity it gets a bit more hazy.

    The Labour candidate is arrogant and/or a fool who’s laid himself open to just that sort of suspicion.

    Starmer rightly dumped him without hesitation.

    It seems to have got @MoonRabbit quite excited. She’s probably in the minority there.

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,441

    Only two days to wait until tomorrow.

    NINE DAYS TO SAVE THE TORY PARTY!!!!
    Don’t bother.
  • Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    Although I agree the Gambling Commission is a bit crap, it's actually funded by licence fees paid by businesses in the industry rather than the taxpayer (indeed, you could say that's why they've been rather, er, over-zealous).
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,273
    edited June 25

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,548

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    From what I recall the GC spent the first half of its existence sorting out generous pensions and the second half sending borderline 18-year-olds into shops to tackle the scourge of underage betting, which is minimal and self-limiting because mostly schoolkids are skint. It has fined bookies millions of pounds for infringements but mainly that has just led to more intrusive checks on punters, an area where the GC has again been neither use nor ornament.
  • Chris said:

    Thoughts and prayers for Moon Rabbit.


    A Conservative cabinet minister claimed that he won more than £2,000 betting on a July general election.

    Shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC he had made £2,100 after betting on June and July election dates. He claimed one of the bets was placed at odds of 25/1.

    Last week, Mr Jack told the BBC the comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.

    Today, the Scottish Secretary said in a statement he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May”.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkk0d19kgdo

    Well, today's statement, by including the qualification "during May", seems a reasonably clear indication that he did place a bet on the date of the election at some time.

    So where does that leave his claim last week that he had been joking when he told the BBC earlier about his winnings?

    The web is a bit tangled. It looks as though he placed bets, but not immediately before the date of the election was announced. If so, I wonder if he denied it on his own initiative,
    The labour candidate has done nothing illegal, however he has brought his party into disrepute by his actions, so they have suspended him, as is their right.

    The press have done their job and exposed him.

    If anyone does anything illegal that is for the police and courts.

    The state and its quangos need to butt out (other than wholesale abolition of unelected quangos).
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728
    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    I don't think it's accepted, so much as commentariat gossips in the media want it to be true. And even if it is accepted, it shouldn't be. So there is no line to be drawn.
    Do you mean that you don't think cheating is illegal, or that you don't think it's cheating to bet on an outcome that you have privileged knowledge about?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,180
    "Four arrested at PM's constituency home"

    "Youth Demand describes itself as a campaign calling for an arms embargo on Israel, as well as for the government to revoke new oil and gas licences granted since 2021."

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrrlep3l0ro
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,441

    On topic, none of this is good news.

    Everyone bets, politicians kneejerk, and it will lead to a clampdown and reckoning with betting more broadly.

    Not impossible.
    Starmer does have a slightly puritanical vibe about him.
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728

    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    I don't think it's accepted, so much as commentariat gossips in the media want it to be true. And even if it is accepted, it shouldn't be. So there is no line to be drawn.
    I said the other day a lot of (political) journalists do not understand gambling.

    I've pointed out that is possible to have made a profit on a May election and you didn't need to even bet a single penny on a May election, you could for example lay an October/November election.
    Do you think that if you knew the date of the election, it would be cheating to back a May election, but not cheating to lay an October election?

    Surely not?
  • spudgfshspudgfsh Posts: 1,490

    I've got a recording of a 7 party debate which I might put on instead of this 👍

    I've decided to a friend a favour and put together a set of questions about the USA for his quiz thursday next week....
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,192
    edited June 25
    There should be no problem for MPs betting on themselves to win a seat . Betting against yourself is an issue though.



  • Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    Although I agree the Gambling Commission is a bit crap, it's actually funded by licence fees paid by businesses in the industry rather than the taxpayer (indeed, you could say that's why they've been rather, er, over-zealous).
    So its worse than a Quango. Its a SEFRA (Self Financing Regulatory Agency)?
  • Nigelb said:

    On topic, none of this is good news.

    Everyone bets, politicians kneejerk, and it will lead to a clampdown and reckoning with betting more broadly.

    Not impossible.
    Starmer does have a slightly puritanical vibe about him.
    Maybe he'll ban chicken korma? I've always said it's a gateway curry on the road to vice.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,278
    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,139
    ..
    Nigelb said:

    On topic, none of this is good news.

    Everyone bets, politicians kneejerk, and it will lead to a clampdown and reckoning with betting more broadly.

    Not impossible.
    Starmer does have a slightly puritanical vibe about him.
    Too much tax revenue for that.
  • GrandcanyonGrandcanyon Posts: 105

    "Four arrested at PM's constituency home"

    "Youth Demand describes itself as a campaign calling for an arms embargo on Israel, as well as for the government to revoke new oil and gas licences granted since 2021."

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrrlep3l0ro

    A car was driven into Sunaks gates too.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,352

    Only two days to wait until tomorrow.

    That actually made me laugh out loud. PB discussions curdle the brain.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,278
    nico679 said:

    There should be no problem for MPs betting on themselves to win a seat . Betting against yourself is an issue though.

    It's qualitatively different to betting against yourself in sports though. You can't throw an election in the same way that you can throw a match, even though it might seem like Sunak is trying to prove otherwise.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,147

    Only two days to wait until tomorrow.

    NINE DAYS TO SAVE THE TORY PARTY!!!!
    MAKE THE TORY PARTY GREAT AGAIN!!!!
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,843

    Nigelb said:

    On topic, none of this is good news.

    Everyone bets, politicians kneejerk, and it will lead to a clampdown and reckoning with betting more broadly.

    Not impossible.
    Starmer does have a slightly puritanical vibe about him.
    Maybe he'll ban chicken korma? I've always said it's a gateway curry on the road to vice.
    On the road to rice?
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    Nigelb said:

    .

    AlsoLei said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    For me, it's fine to use information that other people could find out even if they had to put in some amount of (legal) effort to get it. So betting based on a personal conversation with a coach or a trainer, or overheard on a pub or on a train - none of that sounds like a problem.

    On the other hand, betting on something you can potentially influence seems clearly wrong. So the Campaign Director, or the C-level person in charge of data are both going to have a huge input into the timing of the election, and so shouldn't have been betting on it.
    That is indeed what the current state of the law says.
    Beyond that clarity it gets a bit more hazy.

    The Labour candidate is arrogant and/or a fool who’s laid himself open to just that sort of suspicion.

    Starmer rightly dumped him without hesitation.

    It seems to have got @MoonRabbit quite excited. She’s probably in the minority there.

    It's the sort of thing that might never have been detected if the GC hadn't been digging into the Tory timing bets story. Wonder how much of that sort of thing goes on anyway (Bets on themselves losing as a "disappointment insurance" sort of thing)?

    Either way, Starmer dropped him quickly, which was what he said he'd do a few days ago. Not a good look and I suspect there was an apocalyptically angry phone call from LHQ to our dozy candidate, but it could have been worse. And of course, Alastair Jack turned up in time to make it about the Tories again.

    I'm much more concerned that this sort of sleaze helps Reform than it hurting Labour. It feeds anti-politics sentiment if both parties are seen to be "at it", even if it's only one idiot candidate on the Lab side and the Reform crew are all bent as a corkscrew.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,811
    Oh lol the Suffolk candidate bet against himself, thought he'd have backed himself given the MRPs if it was odds against tbh
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728

    Chris said:

    Thoughts and prayers for Moon Rabbit.


    A Conservative cabinet minister claimed that he won more than £2,000 betting on a July general election.

    Shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC he had made £2,100 after betting on June and July election dates. He claimed one of the bets was placed at odds of 25/1.

    Last week, Mr Jack told the BBC the comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.

    Today, the Scottish Secretary said in a statement he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May”.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkk0d19kgdo

    Well, today's statement, by including the qualification "during May", seems a reasonably clear indication that he did place a bet on the date of the election at some time.

    So where does that leave his claim last week that he had been joking when he told the BBC earlier about his winnings?

    The web is a bit tangled. It looks as though he placed bets, but not immediately before the date of the election was announced. If so, I wonder if he denied it on his own initiative,
    The labour candidate has done nothing illegal, however he has brought his party into disrepute by his actions, so they have suspended him, as is their right.

    The press have done their job and exposed him.

    If anyone does anything illegal that is for the police and courts.

    The state and its quangos need to butt out (other than wholesale abolition of unelected quangos).
    I know it's confusing, but my post was about the Tory minister, not the Labour candidate.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,147
    Notice Kemi's upset lefty David Tennant... A good omen for the Tories if she becomes LOTO after the election... :D
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728
    edited June 25
    Nigelb said:

    .

    AlsoLei said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    For me, it's fine to use information that other people could find out even if they had to put in some amount of (legal) effort to get it. So betting based on a personal conversation with a coach or a trainer, or overheard on a pub or on a train - none of that sounds like a problem.

    On the other hand, betting on something you can potentially influence seems clearly wrong. So the Campaign Director, or the C-level person in charge of data are both going to have a huge input into the timing of the election, and so shouldn't have been betting on it.
    That is indeed what the current state of the law says.

    I think it's what a lot of people thought the law said, but in fact the law prohibits "cheating" and emphasises that deception and influence are only examples of cheating, and not exhaustive.
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    Chris said:

    Chris said:

    Thoughts and prayers for Moon Rabbit.


    A Conservative cabinet minister claimed that he won more than £2,000 betting on a July general election.

    Shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC he had made £2,100 after betting on June and July election dates. He claimed one of the bets was placed at odds of 25/1.

    Last week, Mr Jack told the BBC the comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.

    Today, the Scottish Secretary said in a statement he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May”.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkk0d19kgdo

    Well, today's statement, by including the qualification "during May", seems a reasonably clear indication that he did place a bet on the date of the election at some time.

    So where does that leave his claim last week that he had been joking when he told the BBC earlier about his winnings?

    The web is a bit tangled. It looks as though he placed bets, but not immediately before the date of the election was announced. If so, I wonder if he denied it on his own initiative,
    The labour candidate has done nothing illegal, however he has brought his party into disrepute by his actions, so they have suspended him, as is their right.

    The press have done their job and exposed him.

    If anyone does anything illegal that is for the police and courts.

    The state and its quangos need to butt out (other than wholesale abolition of unelected quangos).
    I know it's confusing, but my post was about the Tory minister, not the Labour candidate.
    I see why Armando Iannucci retired from writing contemporary satire.
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,192

    nico679 said:

    There should be no problem for MPs betting on themselves to win a seat . Betting against yourself is an issue though.

    It's qualitatively different to betting against yourself in sports though. You can't throw an election in the same way that you can throw a match, even though it might seem like Sunak is trying to prove otherwise.
    I agree the sports aspect is different but I think a candidate betting against themself optics wise isn’t s good look and could lead to questions .
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 854

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    Maybe they should go the whole hog and dispense with the goals altogether?
  • Pulpstar said:

    Oh lol the Suffolk candidate bet against himself, thought he'd have backed himself given the MRPs if it was odds against tbh

    Eh? Surely his canvassing returns are better information than a statistical model. It's the difference between the two that create the value.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,147
    Farooq said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Notice Kemi's upset lefty David Tennant... A good omen for the Tories if she becomes LOTO after the election... :D

    Frankly neither of them have done themselves any favours. No need to take sides here, they both said stupid stuff.
    Tennant started it though by basically saying Kemi should just shut up and go away.

    A view a lot of lefty's seem to have when it comes to women and maybe explains why Labour still hasn't had a woman leading it?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,693
    This is as bad as watching Scotland.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,139
    ...

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    It does appear to be something New Labour would absolutely love, but this Government has made many quangos self funding. Take the HSE, back in the day if they found a non conformance they would give you some handy free advice. If they find a non conformance now you are on the clock at several hundred pounds and hour, including their own follow-up visit to ensure you did what you were told.
  • Chris said:

    Chris said:

    Thoughts and prayers for Moon Rabbit.


    A Conservative cabinet minister claimed that he won more than £2,000 betting on a July general election.

    Shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC he had made £2,100 after betting on June and July election dates. He claimed one of the bets was placed at odds of 25/1.

    Last week, Mr Jack told the BBC the comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.

    Today, the Scottish Secretary said in a statement he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May”.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkk0d19kgdo

    Well, today's statement, by including the qualification "during May", seems a reasonably clear indication that he did place a bet on the date of the election at some time.

    So where does that leave his claim last week that he had been joking when he told the BBC earlier about his winnings?

    The web is a bit tangled. It looks as though he placed bets, but not immediately before the date of the election was announced. If so, I wonder if he denied it on his own initiative,
    The labour candidate has done nothing illegal, however he has brought his party into disrepute by his actions, so they have suspended him, as is their right.

    The press have done their job and exposed him.

    If anyone does anything illegal that is for the police and courts.

    The state and its quangos need to butt out (other than wholesale abolition of unelected quangos).
    I know it's confusing, but my post was about the Tory minister, not the Labour candidate.
    I'm not sure the Tory minister has done anything illegal either (given Sunak apparently didn't think it necessary to consult the cabinet before going to the King)but he has been very silly.

    Q1. If you are a Tory MP. If I do this and the Daily Mirror find out, will it be embarrasing? If "yes" don't do it.

    Q2 Same question but swap Tory for Labour and Mirror for Mail.

    It is the crass stupidity that astonishes me.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,486

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    Maybe they should go the whole hog and dispense with the goals altogether?
    Ring shaped pitch, and we measure it by laps clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,150
    So far so poor
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,813
    OnboardG1 said:

    I see why Armando Iannucci retired from writing contemporary satire.

    Did he?

    Or is he in Downing Street right now pretending to be a Tory campaign strategist?
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,084
    edited June 25
    Farooq said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Notice Kemi's upset lefty David Tennant... A good omen for the Tories if she becomes LOTO after the election... :D

    Frankly neither of them have done themselves any favours. No need to take sides here, they both said stupid stuff.
    Totally agree. Both comments were toxic.

    Taking the heat out will be good and then steering a way forward. Wes Streeting was vg last night on Peston.

    Anyway, not one for now.

    England are soooooo dull.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,901
    FFS England. I wasn’t going to drink tonight.
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    DavidL said:

    This is as bad as watching Scotland.

    Steady on.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,139

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    Maybe they should go the whole hog and dispense with the goals altogether?
    England's approach...
    MEGA- Make England Great Again.

    I hear Thierry Henri could replace Rob Page for Wales
  • Tim_in_RuislipTim_in_Ruislip Posts: 433
    DavidL said:

    This is as bad as watching Scotland.

    We're not THAT bad!?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,811

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh lol the Suffolk candidate bet against himself, thought he'd have backed himself given the MRPs if it was odds against tbh

    Eh? Surely his canvassing returns are better information than a statistical model. It's the difference between the two that create the value.
    Surely more to do with the fact if he wins the seat and loses the bet he has 4 years pulling on an extra 80 grand on top of his apparently GB News cash
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,352
    Farooq said:

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    First Past The Post is when I score 1 goal in the first half and you score 8 in the second half and it's a draw because we both won a half each.
    Which is fine if them's the rules. Tennis, which has the cleverest scoring system because it creates constant mini dramas, has that sort of system. In a 5 setter you win if you go 0-6, 0-6, 6-4,6-4,6-4. You have won 18 games, the other bloke has won 24.

    The USA president system is a bit like tennis. You can win by losing in the right configuration.
  • ...

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    It does appear to be something New Labour would absolutely love, but this Government has made many quangos self funding. Take the HSE, back in the day if they found a non conformance they would give you some handy free advice. If they find a non conformance now you are on the clock at several hundred pounds and hour, including their own follow-up visit to ensure you did what you were told.
    Quite soviet. And another example of why people are furious with the Tories and looking at "radical" alternatives.

    Only today I read that another such set of bureacrats has upped the cost of the licence gas fitters need to practice by 30%. Doubles all round for the bureaucrats.

    The one that annoys me most is that to do anything much in Engineering you need access to a slew of British Standards/European Norms. Which cost about £400 each, which massively favours big corporations that can lose it in the overheads,

    Why do our governments despise small/medium enterprises when the formation of small companies and their growth over time to large ones is the golden egg for the economy.
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    algarkirk said:

    Farooq said:

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    First Past The Post is when I score 1 goal in the first half and you score 8 in the second half and it's a draw because we both won a half each.
    Which is fine if them's the rules. Tennis, which has the cleverest scoring system because it creates constant mini dramas, has that sort of system. In a 5 setter you win if you go 0-6, 0-6, 6-4,6-4,6-4. You have won 18 games, the other bloke has won 24.

    The USA president system is a bit like tennis. You can win by losing in the right configuration.
    The UK's system is match play on a 650 hole course.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,901
    edited June 25
    An Englishman, an Irishman, and an Aussie walk into a tv studio. There are no jokes. It’s dull as hell….
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,293
    DavidL said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @PGMcNamara

    🚨AND ANOTHER…

    Tory member of the Welsh Parliament Russell George investigated by Gambling Commission regarding bets on the timing of the General Election…

    I am getting increasingly pissed off that Rishi did not tip me the wink with half of the rest of the country. It seems to be getting personal. Has my criticism on PB been taken to heart?
    I got told.

    By the King.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,135
    OnboardG1 said:

    algarkirk said:

    Farooq said:

    Deciding the winner by the number of goals is the first-past-the-post of football.

    Perhaps it could be modernised by using a fairer proportional system based on possession.

    First Past The Post is when I score 1 goal in the first half and you score 8 in the second half and it's a draw because we both won a half each.
    Which is fine if them's the rules. Tennis, which has the cleverest scoring system because it creates constant mini dramas, has that sort of system. In a 5 setter you win if you go 0-6, 0-6, 6-4,6-4,6-4. You have won 18 games, the other bloke has won 24.

    The USA president system is a bit like tennis. You can win by losing in the right configuration.
    The UK's system is match play on a 650 hole course.
    And that's just the number of holes Rishi has dug for himself.
  • Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
    In theory; in practice, they provide agreeable jobs for well paid bureacrats, increase their activites and costs over time and undermine the competitiveness of the industry so that in the end you get much better odds from a dodgy character offering bets out of a suitcase, which as there is little enforcement (no money for that once youve paid all the regulators), becomes as endemic as american candy shops.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,135
    biggles said:

    An Englishman, an Irishman, and an Aussie walk into a tv studio. There are no jokes. It’s dull as hell….

    I'm assuming somebody forgot the beer?

    Can't expect any of those three to tell decent jokes before the second pint.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,168

    DavidL said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @PGMcNamara

    🚨AND ANOTHER…

    Tory member of the Welsh Parliament Russell George investigated by Gambling Commission regarding bets on the timing of the General Election…

    I am getting increasingly pissed off that Rishi did not tip me the wink with half of the rest of the country. It seems to be getting personal. Has my criticism on PB been taken to heart?
    I got told.

    By the King.
    When exactly were the bets placed? Surely the rumours were all out on the Wednesday morning, and I indeed did place a bet. Are we talking wed morning or much earlier?
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728

    Chris said:

    Chris said:

    Thoughts and prayers for Moon Rabbit.


    A Conservative cabinet minister claimed that he won more than £2,000 betting on a July general election.

    Shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC he had made £2,100 after betting on June and July election dates. He claimed one of the bets was placed at odds of 25/1.

    Last week, Mr Jack told the BBC the comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.

    Today, the Scottish Secretary said in a statement he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May”.


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czkk0d19kgdo

    Well, today's statement, by including the qualification "during May", seems a reasonably clear indication that he did place a bet on the date of the election at some time.

    So where does that leave his claim last week that he had been joking when he told the BBC earlier about his winnings?

    The web is a bit tangled. It looks as though he placed bets, but not immediately before the date of the election was announced. If so, I wonder if he denied it on his own initiative,
    The labour candidate has done nothing illegal, however he has brought his party into disrepute by his actions, so they have suspended him, as is their right.

    The press have done their job and exposed him.

    If anyone does anything illegal that is for the police and courts.

    The state and its quangos need to butt out (other than wholesale abolition of unelected quangos).
    I know it's confusing, but my post was about the Tory minister, not the Labour candidate.
    I'm not sure the Tory minister has done anything illegal either (given Sunak apparently didn't think it necessary to consult the cabinet before going to the King)but he has been very silly.
    I know it's confusing, but my point was that he denied having placed a bet in May, in which case he presumably had no definite knowledge about the date of the election.

    The interesting thing is that he had earlier felt the need to deny having placed a bet at all. After earlier still having told people he had placed bets.
  • Tim_in_RuislipTim_in_Ruislip Posts: 433

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
    In theory; in practice, they provide agreeable jobs for well paid bureacrats, increase their activites and costs over time and undermine the competitiveness of the industry so that in the end you get much better odds from a dodgy character offering bets out of a suitcase, which as there is little enforcement (no money for that once youve paid all the regulators), becomes as endemic as american candy shops.
    You think Gambling should be unregulated?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,758
    Chris said:

    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    I don't think it's accepted, so much as commentariat gossips in the media want it to be true. And even if it is accepted, it shouldn't be. So there is no line to be drawn.
    Do you mean that you don't think cheating is illegal, or that you don't think it's cheating to bet on an outcome that you have privileged knowledge about?
    The latter
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,106
    Not a great half from England.
  • DumbosaurusDumbosaurus Posts: 773
    edited June 25

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
    In theory; in practice, they provide agreeable jobs for well paid bureacrats, increase their activites and costs over time and undermine the competitiveness of the industry so that in the end you get much better odds from a dodgy character offering bets out of a suitcase, which as there is little enforcement (no money for that once youve paid all the regulators), becomes as endemic as american candy shops.
    Of course. Which is why it's a fucking shame bookies went into FOBTs and slots etc so heavily. While in principle adults should be able to do what they want, there's clearly absolutely no rational reason to spunk away a years salary in an hour on something that's -EV. Apart from money laundering I guess.

    This naked exploitation of gambling addicts - and that's what it is - has ruined it for everyone else. I don't know if I hate the addicts or the bookies more for how much they've fucked it up for the rest of us, but fucked it up they have.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,331
    Cole Palmer spent the last season playing fantastically well in an otherwise mediocre side. Wouldn’t this be the card to play?
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,728
    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    I don't think it's accepted, so much as commentariat gossips in the media want it to be true. And even if it is accepted, it shouldn't be. So there is no line to be drawn.
    Do you mean that you don't think cheating is illegal, or that you don't think it's cheating to bet on an outcome that you have privileged knowledge about?
    The latter
    Thanks for clarifying.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,942
    I sense we're about to erupt.
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,415

    nico679 said:

    There should be no problem for MPs betting on themselves to win a seat . Betting against yourself is an issue though.

    It's qualitatively different to betting against yourself in sports though. You can't throw an election in the same way that you can throw a match, even though it might seem like Sunak is trying to prove otherwise.
    There are plenty of things you can do to put people off voting for you, though.

    Personally, I think betting against yourself isn't enough by itself to be unethical - I'd want to see other evidence that suggested an intention to throw the result.

    But Starmer's really not taking any chances, that's the real story here: the ming vase isn't going to be dropped.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,135
    kinabalu said:

    I sense we're about to erupt.

    Why? Is there a Scottish subsample in the offing?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,758
    GIN1138 said:

    Notice Kemi's upset lefty David Tennant... A good omen for the Tories if she becomes LOTO after the election... :D

    I see what you did there. :)
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,901
    Based on Kobbie Mainoo let’s just get the kids on.
  • MisterBedfordshireMisterBedfordshire Posts: 2,252
    edited June 25

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
    In theory; in practice, they provide agreeable jobs for well paid bureacrats, increase their activites and costs over time and undermine the competitiveness of the industry so that in the end you get much better odds from a dodgy character offering bets out of a suitcase, which as there is little enforcement (no money for that once youve paid all the regulators), becomes as endemic as american candy shops.
    Of course. Which is why it's a fucking shame bookies went into FOBTs and slots etc so heavily. While in principle adults should be able to do what they want, there's clearly absolutely no rational reason to spunk away a years salary in an hour on something that's -EV. Apart from money laundering I guess.

    This naked exploitation of gambling addicts - and that's what it is - has ruined it for everyone else. I don't know if I hate the addicts or the bookies more for how much they've fucked it up for the rest of us, but fucked it up they have.
    Ain't technology wonderful.

    Sometimes I think we would all be better off if it turned out that the reason that no one used electricity before the late 19th century was because interference from space stopped it working and the solar system has been going through a quiet part of space, temporarily, and we will soon all be back to candles, horses, paper and steam engines.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,558
    biggles said:

    Based on Kobbie Mainoo let’s just get the kids on.

    Cheadle and Gatley FC's finest product.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,758
    edited June 25

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    To make sure there are no unlicensed gambling/lottery companies and to make sure they are solvent.

    To ensure the vulnerable aren't exploited.

    The Gambling Commission was founded in 2007 but it's predecessor was founded decades earlier
    In theory; in practice, they provide agreeable jobs for well paid bureacrats, increase their activites and costs over time and undermine the competitiveness of the industry so that in the end you get much better odds from a dodgy character offering bets out of a suitcase, which as there is little enforcement (no money for that once youve paid all the regulators), becomes as endemic as american candy shops.
    You think Gambling should be unregulated?
    Reductio ad absurdum, surely.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,617
    Kane is having a terrible tournament
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,813
    @MattSingh_
    Because I'm feeling generous I've created a Google Sheet with the PA declaration times, tabulated and matched to ONS codes. (AI was involved for this, so please let me know if you spot any errors)

    https://x.com/MattSingh_/status/1805656746305683753
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,813
    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    Hey, you don't need to convince us that Brexit was stupid. We already know
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,758
    edited June 25
    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    Whilst I am happy to accept your report, Oh Fine Publisher Of Articles, I do have to ask: when did you open a nail bar in France? 😀
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,558
    OnboardG1 said:

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
    He's got half England's goals hasn't he?
  • DumbosaurusDumbosaurus Posts: 773
    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    I'm not sure that's an entirely fair comparison. The Swiss and Singaporeans are so culturally autistic that if regulation didn't exist, they'd have to invent it. This cultural autism has many other advantages for building a high standard of living. So methinks you're getting cause and effect mixed up.

    Ruder things could be said about Albania the other way. Maybe Leon's about.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,293
    Hearfelt condolences to Croatia.

    Your dreams deserved a better receptacle than England.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,135
    edited June 25
    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    It's almost like the ability and integrity of the government matters more,

    Incidentally, how's this for disgusting:

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnee9e22klno

    Man suffers from massive, repeated and obviously entirely deliberate attempted fraud from an energy company.

    This is OFGEM's response:

    The energy regulator Ofgem said it expected suppliers to "act compassionately", adding it had toughened up rules for companies to follow when dealing with people who were struggling to pay bills.

    Fuck them. Shoot them, indeed. Neither use nor ornament. Clearly hopelessly corrupt or so stupid they should not be given the right to have sex.

    No wonder British Gas thinks it is above the law.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,333
    edited June 25
    ...
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,693
    edited June 25
    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    So, to be clear, you recommend a people trafficking business in France rather than California? Helpful.
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    Cookie said:

    OnboardG1 said:

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
    He's got half England's goals hasn't he?
    Poor attempt at a biblical joke. I've spend most of the day reading about people jumping out of planes and getting shot for democracy and then coming back to find a bunch of chancers making a mockery of it so I'm a little fried. Plus the people who viewed my house yesterday moaned about it being cluttered and disorganised so I'm cheering myself up with booze.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,636

    ...

    Who invented this gambling commission.

    Are not iffy bets a matter for the bookies concerned and, if they make a valid complaint, the police/courts trying fraud.

    Why does there have to be a well paid quango at taxpayers expense?

    It does appear to be something New Labour would absolutely love, but this Government has made many quangos self funding. Take the HSE, back in the day if they found a non conformance they would give you some handy free advice. If they find a non conformance now you are on the clock at several hundred pounds and hour, including their own follow-up visit to ensure you did what you were told.
    Quite soviet. And another example of why people are furious with the Tories and looking at "radical" alternatives.

    Only today I read that another such set of bureacrats has upped the cost of the licence gas fitters need to practice by 30%. Doubles all round for the bureaucrats.

    The one that annoys me most is that to do anything much in Engineering you need access to a slew of British Standards/European Norms. Which cost about £400 each, which massively favours big corporations that can lose it in the overheads,

    Why do our governments despise small/medium enterprises when the formation of small companies and their growth over time to large ones is the golden egg for the economy.
    Just been looking at the current state of powers of attorney for an elderly relative.

    Interested to discover that the relevant agency made so much money from fees that were supposed only to cover their costs in the late 2010s that punters can now claim a fair chunk back. Or, logically enough, their attorneys.

    Presumably such fussiness is de trop nowadays.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,952
    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    The GDI must be really busting up his Brotherhood.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,106
    Scott_xP said:

    @MattSingh_
    Because I'm feeling generous I've created a Google Sheet with the PA declaration times, tabulated and matched to ONS codes. (AI was involved for this, so please let me know if you spot any errors)

    https://x.com/MattSingh_/status/1805656746305683753

    Thanks, I might be able to use this in conjunction with my predictions spreadsheet.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,693
    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    A captain leading from the front.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,558
    Scott_xP said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    Hey, you don't need to convince us that Brexit was stupid. We already know
    Farooq earlier humourously suggested that HYUFD's head can only hold 5 ideas (The 1997 General Election, Gordon Brown, the Russell Group, a cat, the monarchy). Look it up, it was very funny, if a little harsh.
    But honestly Scott, I sometimes think your brain only has one idea.
    Brexit has happened. Britain has done neither noticeably better nor noticeably worse than its counterparts in the EU. Relax and let it go.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,636
    OnboardG1 said:

    Cookie said:

    OnboardG1 said:

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
    He's got half England's goals hasn't he?
    Poor attempt at a biblical joke. I've spend most of the day reading about people jumping out of planes and getting shot for democracy and then coming back to find a bunch of chancers making a mockery of it so I'm a little fried. Plus the people who viewed my house yesterday moaned about it being cluttered and disorganised so I'm cheering myself up with booze.
    What's the problem? Presumably you and your impedimenta don't get included in the house sale?
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    The GDI must be really busting up his Brotherhood.
    Much better joke than mine. Kane Lives In Death.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,449
    Chris said:

    viewcode said:

    Chris said:

    There's an interesting question here for anyone who bets.

    When the story originally broke, some people here were saying quite confidently that betting based on "inside information" was not illegal, unlike insider share trading.

    Now it seems to be accepted that potentially it can be cheating, and therefore illegal. But does that mean that anyone who bets while taking account of information not in the public domain is cheating? And if not, where do you draw the line?

    I don't think it's accepted, so much as commentariat gossips in the media want it to be true. And even if it is accepted, it shouldn't be. So there is no line to be drawn.
    Do you mean that you don't think cheating is illegal, or that you don't think it's cheating to bet on an outcome that you have privileged knowledge about?
    I wonder if we will get the usual sudden shift in markets at poll closing time. Anyone with inside knowledge of the exit poll will get some scrutiny.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,106
    England going round in circles.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 854
    OnboardG1 said:

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
    Well apart from when he did score, obviously.
  • DumbosaurusDumbosaurus Posts: 773
    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    It's almost like the ability and integrity of the government matters more,

    Incidentally, how's this for disgusting:

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnee9e22klno

    Man suffers from massive, repeated and obviously entirely deliberate attempted fraud from an energy company.

    This is OFGEM's response:

    The energy regulator Ofgem said it expected suppliers to "act compassionately", adding it had toughened up rules for companies to follow when dealing with people who were struggling to pay bills.

    Fuck them. Shoot them, indeed. Neither use nor ornament. Clearly hopelessly corrupt or so stupid they should not be given the right to have sex.

    No wonder British Gas thinks it is above the law.
    It would probably be fun to hold a poll of Political Betters that have British Gas (that includes me because I am in debit by quite a bit and since it's not costing me any interest on principle am sticking with them) as to satisfaction. I've had £500 out of them in credits for various screw ups so far. They're still billing me by sending the bills to their head office (I think). And also partly to their head office (in the sense that the address on that bill is correct but the county is whatever the fuck county Cardiff is in) - kinda depends on their mood. Fine cause it's direct debit anyway. But why do I have two, both incorrect, bills... Why did someone come around to read the smart meter the other day? Tis a mystery.

    I understand from various hints that your story is considerably worse.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 18,055
    edited June 25
    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    It's almost like the ability and integrity of the government matters more,

    Incidentally, how's this for disgusting:

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnee9e22klno

    Man suffers from massive, repeated and obviously entirely deliberate attempted fraud from an energy company.

    This is OFGEM's response:

    The energy regulator Ofgem said it expected suppliers to "act compassionately", adding it had toughened up rules for companies to follow when dealing with people who were struggling to pay bills.

    Fuck them. Shoot them, indeed. Neither use nor ornament. Clearly hopelessly corrupt or so stupid they should not be given the right to have sex.

    No wonder British Gas thinks it is above the law.
    £500 compensation feels like a pittance for all the trouble and worry they've put him through, and it's hardly going to act as a deterrent to encourage them to ensure that their bills are accurate.

    It's pretty much the same as the Post Office isn't it? An obviously error-strewn billing system, and they'd be willing to prosecute people if they had the power to do so, but instead they'll set debt collection agencies onto them.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,486
    Cookie said:

    Scott_xP said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Shall I tell you what's weird:

    Some of the most highly regulated countries in the world (like Switzerland and Singapore) provide their citizens with incredibly high standards of living. While some of the least regulated (like, say, Albania) provide their citizens with a pretty shitty one.

    What I also find weird is this belief that Europe is far more regulated than the US. As someone who has started businesses in both places, I've found the US to have the higher regulatory burden: one can't even open a nail salon in the US without a raft of permits, while it is almost entirely hassle free in the - say - France.

    It's almost like "less regulation" is not the be all and end all for solving economic malaise.

    Hey, you don't need to convince us that Brexit was stupid. We already know
    Farooq earlier humourously suggested that HYUFD's head can only hold 5 ideas (The 1997 General Election, Gordon Brown, the Russell Group, a cat, the monarchy). Look it up, it was very funny, if a little harsh.
    But honestly Scott, I sometimes think your brain only has one idea.
    Brexit has happened. Britain has done neither noticeably better nor noticeably worse than its counterparts in the EU. Relax and let it go.
    Besides which, since Scott often says Brexit means more red tape, his comment made no sense.
  • OnboardG1OnboardG1 Posts: 1,589
    edited June 25
    Carnyx said:

    OnboardG1 said:

    Cookie said:

    OnboardG1 said:

    Leon said:

    Kane is having a terrible tournament

    He's certainly unable to score.
    He's got half England's goals hasn't he?
    Poor attempt at a biblical joke. I've spend most of the day reading about people jumping out of planes and getting shot for democracy and then coming back to find a bunch of chancers making a mockery of it so I'm a little fried. Plus the people who viewed my house yesterday moaned about it being cluttered and disorganised so I'm cheering myself up with booze.
    What's the problem? Presumably you and your impedimenta don't get included in the house sale?
    Hell if I know. Apparently it made it impossible to assess the condition of the house which sounds like wank to me. The estate agent seems to want me to throw everything bar the carpets out into the garage and sleep in the bathtub or something. Not to mention that we decluttered heavily, had the whole house professionally cleaned, top-to-bottom and are moving because the house isn't large enough for our expansive hobbies (sewing and modelmaking). I think they're just moaning bastards but this whole process has ground me down blunt.
This discussion has been closed.