Andy Murray and bro Jamie out of the Men’s Doubles.
I've seen some cringe things in my time by this Andy Murray tribute by the BBC is another level. And having everything done to some sort of choir-set version of Creep by Radiohead? Bizarre.
He’s got more games scheduled too, both at this Wimbledon and at the Olympics.
Are we filling in ti me or what?
Bringing back Sue Barker to do a 'This Is Your Life' was...interesting. But the sheer number of players who turned up was actually quite moving, but fair play. I just felt they were trying to get him to cry though.
Apologies if this has been asked before, but if the exit poll is done at the same 100 or so seats each election, how would it pick up the predicted Tory losses of more than that number?
Apologies if this has been asked before, but if the exit poll is done at the same 100 or so seats each election, how would it pick up the predicted Tory losses of more than that number?
I don't know how it works exactly, but they must surely extrapolate. If seat A is doing X, a similar seat B will also do X.
Apologies if this has been asked before, but if the exit poll is done at the same 100 or so seats each election, how would it pick up the predicted Tory losses of more than that number?
I think the 100 are designed to be representative e.g. if they poll Nottingham N then they can probably use that to infer Nottingham E
Apologies if this has been asked before, but if the exit poll is done at the same 100 or so seats each election, how would it pick up the predicted Tory losses of more than that number?
Because they will be able to see which demographics have moved in which direction, and can extrapolate.
Rishi Sunak has given a peerage to his chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith
Oliver Dowden, Julian Smith, Ben Wallace and Alister Jack all get knighthoods
Sunak's other peerages include:
Sir Graham Brady, former chairman of the 1922 committee Chris Grayling, former transport secretary Dame Eleanor Laing, deputy speaker of Commons Craig Mackinley Theresa May Alok Sharma
Starmer has nominated Margaret Beckett, John Cryer, Harriet Harman, Margaret Hodge, Kevan Jones, Barbara Keeley, John Spellar and Rosie Winterton
So as we move into the last hours of the Con government, I can't help but think how disappointing it has been. Love them or loathe them but Thatcher and Blair transformed the UK.
This iteration of the Cons have not achieved that much, if you think about it. For me, the problem has been the rotating cast of PMs and cabinet ministers, which has led to constant change. Great for the political journos but this has led to a loss of focus and long-term planning.
I think it was the purge of half the party post Brexit. A party that can include Hammond, Saj, Gauke, even Rory Stewart is a very different proposition to the current party.
But post election I suspect the Conservatives will go right not centre.
Quick q, but who is the most One Nation Tory likely to be eligible for the upcoming leadership race?
By half the party you mean about eight MPs ?
And are you aware that Saj was appointed Chancellor and then Health Sec by Boris ?
I think there were at least eight (former) cabinet members. From memory the September purge included: Hammond Ken Clarke Letwin David Gauke Justine Caroline noakes Rory Stuart Nick soames
When the Conservatives expel a grandson of Churchill you know the heart and soul has gone.
It’s up there with when the Corbynistas shouted “Tory” at anyone who thought Tony Blair had achieved one or two good things
The conservatives need someone who can drag them back to the centre, as Starmer has with Labour. But I’m not confident.
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
My other half has voted Labour, she's a life long socialist.
She's not keen on Starmer and she was thinking of voting Green but then she asked why I was a Tory.
I replied 'Because taxes are like your knickers, I always want to see them lower.'
Her reply was unprintable but said she's voting Labour now.
Rishi Sunak has given a peerage to his chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith
Oliver Dowden, Julian Smith, Ben Wallace and Alister Jack all get knighthoods
Sunak's other peerages include:
Sir Graham Brady, former chairman of the 1922 committee Chris Grayling, former transport secretary Dame Eleanor Laing, deputy speaker of Commons Craig Mackinley Theresa May Alok Sharma
Starmer has nominated Margaret Beckett, John Cryer, Harriet Harman, Margaret Hodge, Kevan Jones, Barbara Keeley, John Spellar and Rosie Winterton
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
Judging by their normal output something about Trans.
A rig I was on last year showed it in the mess every fecking morning and evening whilst we were eating. In spite of loads of complaints. Apparently the Camp Boss was a devotee. And every fecking day it was the same. Trans this, Trans that. It was relentless. I don't care which side of the debate you are on, GB news managed to piss off everybody.
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
Mine snuck me a cheeky glance at her ballot paper. Tory.
She always voted Labour before marrying me, so quite possibly one of a very select group that voted Labour 1997 thru 2010 but Tory in 2024.
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I remember the hour before the GE2017 exit poll when everyone was saying all the signs were Theresa May had won a stonking majority.
And who could forget the hours before the 2019 exit poll when Leon’s ‘authoritative sources’ had persuaded him that a hung Parliament with Corbyn as PM was coming, and he moved all his investments overseas and into foreign currencies? Just before the £ and UK markets shot up….
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
One image of the day: my view on the way to the polling station. @ManchesterKurt may know where I am!
You are abut 300m from my house, go over the bridge, houses on the right after the offices opposite Waverley Rd.
You would probably recognise me.
I don't own a car and walk Dane Rd a lot on my way to Chorlton Golf Club, always wearing shorts, normally a bucket hat or sometimes a Santa Hat, no matter what the time of year.
Fairly sure I know exactly who you are. I remember seeing someone walking past frequently after lockdown eaed pulling a golf trolley. I admired the le gth of walk to Sale GC - then cycled past this person crossing Jackson's Bridge and relaised he must play at Chorlton. Next time I see this person pass I will chance a greeting.
Do you think that wise?
Somehow I imagined Sgt Wilson from Dads Army saying that.
I remember the hour before the GE2017 exit poll when everyone was saying all the signs were Theresa May had won a stonking majority.
And who could forget the hours before the 2019 exit poll when Leon’s ‘authoritative sources’ had persuaded him that a hung Parliament with Corbyn as PM was coming, and he moved all his investments overseas and into foreign currencies? Just before the £ and UK markets shot up….
There was even a rumour that Boris was going to lose his seat.
Word on the street here is a comfortable Labour win in West and East too close to call Labour v Tory. The Green/primary campaign has done well in Ventnor and Ryde but made less impact around the Bay Area. My money is on Tory hold for East with a decent Reform showing.
Uncle is in Lake, so in the East.
Indeed I think all my relatives are. There used to be cousins in Freshwater but they moved to Whitley Bay.
I remember the hour before the GE2017 exit poll when everyone was saying all the signs were Theresa May had won a stonking majority.
And who could forget the hours before the 2019 exit poll when Leon’s ‘authoritative sources’ had persuaded him that a hung Parliament with Corbyn as PM was coming, and he moved all his investments overseas and into foreign currencies? Just before the £ and UK markets shot up….
The markets will not mind a big Labour majority tbh
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
My other half has voted Labour, she's a life long socialist.
She's not keen on Starmer and she was thinking of voting Green but then she asked why I was a Tory.
I replied 'Because taxes are like your knickers, I always want to see them lower.'
Her reply was unprintable but said she's voting Labour now.
Yes, at least then you´ll be smiling through the tears,,, I have been in your situation many times, so you have some sympathy from me. Obviously not enough to want to change the result in the Tories favour, but Good Luck anyway.
I spoke to a colleague in the office today. An EU Citizen who has lived in the UK since 2013, paid taxes etc, PhD from a UK university and a specialist in her field. She can’t vote here. She also noted she can no longer vote in her own country Denmark, as she doesn’t pay tax there. This to me is wrong and I sincerely hope Starmer will rectify to allow resident EU citizens to vote at GE after a qualifying period of paying UK tax.
Anyway in the interests of transparency, thought I would share my election bets:
June bets
Boston Reform 2 to 1 £15 Ashfield Reform 9 to 4 £10 South Holland Reform 16 to 1 £10 Amber Valley Reform 33 to 1 £5 Maidenhead LD 5 to 2 £5 Tewkesbury LD 7 to 1 £5 Isle of Wight E Reform 66/1 £2
Feeling good about the LD bets. Think Amber Valley is a loser but the others could have a chance.
July bets following final YouGov MRP
ANME SNP 6 to 5 £5 Great Yarmouth Reform 7 to 4 £5 Maidstone Con 7 to 4 £5 Melksham LD 7 to 4 £5 Mid Leics Lab 4 to 5 £5 N Beds Con 7 to 4 £5 N Dorset LD 12 to 1 £5 NE Hants LD 7 to 1 £5 Runnymede LD 12 to 1 £5 Sutton Coldfield Con 1 to 1 £5 Waveney V Con 13 to 8 £5 Wells LD 4 to 11 £5 Folkstone Reform 9 to 1 £3 Harrow E Con 10 to 3 £3 Newton Abbott Con 6 to 1 £3 Poole Con 9 to 4 £3 Tiverton LD 4 to 5 £3 Gainsborough Con 11 to 10 £2 Romford Con 2 to 1 £2
You did well Tewkesbury at 7-1, I got 5-1. Have done some work there for the Lib Dems. Excellent candidate against Tory has never had to do anything in a "safe" seat. As I have posted before Tory just favourite. Depends if enough Labour and Green supporters voted tactically. Will know in around 6-7 hours
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
My other half has voted Labour, she's a life long socialist.
She's not keen on Starmer and she was thinking of voting Green but then she asked why I was a Tory.
I replied 'Because taxes are like your knickers, I always want to see them lower.'
Her reply was unprintable but said she's voting Labour now.
If only you'd been a part of the Tory campaign.
Maybe he's the mole...?
As if I'd ever sabotage a government with David Cameron in it.
A mistake, I think, though I'm just extrapolating from Didcot and Wantage. The poll here is generally agreed to have been much higher than recent years, and on paper it's a safe Tory seat. There was zero Tory campaign, near-zero Reform campaign (the area voted heavily against leaving the EU), only a sketchy Labour effort and a LibDem campaign based on leaflets (admittedly in huge numbers) rather than canvassing - many polling stations had no political representatives at all.
I think it's either a big LibDem majority or a last-minute Tory recovery, and on the whole the former seems more likely.
I tend to agree with Casino. So many 'safe' seats are in play now that there's more incentive for people of all sides to come out on vote unless you're in a safe Labour seat.
That’s a very good point. Turnout tends to be higher in marginals than safe seats, not least because in safe seats no-one really bothers to campaign
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
My other half has voted Labour, she's a life long socialist.
She's not keen on Starmer and she was thinking of voting Green but then she asked why I was a Tory.
I replied 'Because taxes are like your knickers, I always want to see them lower.'
Her reply was unprintable but said she's voting Labour now.
If only you'd been a part of the Tory campaign.
Maybe he's the mole...?
As if I'd ever sabotage a government with David Cameron in it.
I remember the hour before the GE2017 exit poll when everyone was saying all the signs were Theresa May had won a stonking majority.
And who could forget the hours before the 2019 exit poll when Leon’s ‘authoritative sources’ had persuaded him that a hung Parliament with Corbyn as PM was coming, and he moved all his investments overseas and into foreign currencies? Just before the £ and UK markets shot up….
The markets will not mind a big Labour majority tbh
Tories not being the opposition, any big Reform numbers, or (impossible I know) some big Green numbers might unsettle things a little.
I remember the hour before the GE2017 exit poll when everyone was saying all the signs were Theresa May had won a stonking majority.
And who could forget the hours before the 2019 exit poll when Leon’s ‘authoritative sources’ had persuaded him that a hung Parliament with Corbyn as PM was coming, and he moved all his investments overseas and into foreign currencies? Just before the £ and UK markets shot up….
There was even a rumour that Boris was going to lose his seat.
I remember that one spreading like wildfire at our firm's Christmas party that night.
I spoke to a colleague in the office today. An EU Citizen who has lived in the UK since 2013, paid taxes etc, PhD from a UK university and a specialist in her field. She can’t vote here. She also noted she can no longer vote in her own country Denmark, as she doesn’t pay tax there. This to me is wrong and I sincerely hope Starmer will rectify to allow resident EU citizens to vote at GE after a qualifying period of paying UK tax.
Fine, but bear in mind they might not all vote Met, as many on the centre-left assume.
I'd forgotten just how good Jaws was. "1100 men went into the water..."
That's my election night viewing almost done - off to bed as soon the exit poll is out.
I think that needs updating for tonight.
365 Tories went into the water. Didn't see the first result for 90 minutes...
..despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those voters come in and… they rip you to pieces.
"Here lies the body of Mary Lee; died at the age of a hundred and three. For fifteen years she kept her virginity; not a bad record for this vicinity."
So as we move into the last hours of the Con government, I can't help but think how disappointing it has been. Love them or loathe them but Thatcher and Blair transformed the UK.
This iteration of the Cons have not achieved that much, if you think about it. For me, the problem has been the rotating cast of PMs and cabinet ministers, which has led to constant change. Great for the political journos but this has led to a loss of focus and long-term planning.
I think it was the purge of half the party post Brexit. A party that can include Hammond, Saj, Gauke, even Rory Stewart is a very different proposition to the current party.
But post election I suspect the Conservatives will go right not centre.
Quick q, but who is the most One Nation Tory likely to be eligible for the upcoming leadership race?
By half the party you mean about eight MPs ?
And are you aware that Saj was appointed Chancellor and then Health Sec by Boris ?
I think there were at least eight (former) cabinet members. From memory the September purge included: Hammond Ken Clarke Letwin David Gauke Justine Caroline noakes Rory Stuart Nick soames
When the Conservatives expel a grandson of Churchill you know the heart and soul has gone.
It’s up there with when the Corbynistas shouted “Tory” at anyone who thought Tony Blair had achieved one or two good things
The conservatives need someone who can drag them back to the centre, as Starmer has with Labour. But I’m not confident.
Yesterday I was all in for my best bottle of Malbec for tonight.
But I’ve had a change of mind. I’ve opened a 2015 Pecharmant which I bought at the Chateau in 2019. The Elixir of Chateau les Farcies du Pech. Pecharmant for me is one of France’s more underrated apellations, on the north side of Bergerac.
A bittersweet one because my good friend who we were with on that occasion passed away last year at a criminally young age. A scientist who led a notable body of research into the ecological consequences of Chernobyl. I shall remember him as I watch these results.
Ah, sad. Sympathies
I've gone for an Amarone to acoompany the (sensational) laksa, and for the results - a 2001 Chateau Musar. Yes, 2001
It feels fitting for the fall of a very overripe governing party. A wine that is probably quite a few years past its peak. Needs to be drunk. End
Rishi Sunak has given a peerage to his chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith
Oliver Dowden, Julian Smith, Ben Wallace and Alister Jack all get knighthoods
Sunak's other peerages include:
Sir Graham Brady, former chairman of the 1922 committee Chris Grayling, former transport secretary Dame Eleanor Laing, deputy speaker of Commons Craig Mackinley Theresa May Alok Sharma
Starmer has nominated Margaret Beckett, John Cryer, Harriet Harman, Margaret Hodge, Kevan Jones, Barbara Keeley, John Spellar and Rosie Winterton
No undeserving or dodgy bastards in that lot.
*puts on Sheldon voice*
That, FYI, was sarcasm.
The Graham Brady one is dodgy as all get out. That one for the running total of letters?
I spoke to a colleague in the office today. An EU Citizen who has lived in the UK since 2013, paid taxes etc, PhD from a UK university and a specialist in her field. She can’t vote here. She also noted she can no longer vote in her own country Denmark, as she doesn’t pay tax there. This to me is wrong and I sincerely hope Starmer will rectify to allow resident EU citizens to vote at GE after a qualifying period of paying UK tax.
Why EU citizens?
Why should a Danish citizen who pays taxes here be treated any different to an American citizen who pays taxes here?
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
We both voted for Damian Hinds.
Decent bloke tbf
This is one of the curious things. How many Tories can muster a personal vote. It won't affect the overall result but if you like your local Tory MP perhaps hep them stay in.
As Warren Buffet said, when the tide goes out you see who has been swimming naked.
What will be the 'Portillo moment'? I suspect Liz Truss.
Another observation. I have a reasonably average sized friendship group and I don't know (although I can guess in most cases) how any of them are voting. It strikes me as weird the number of people on internet message boards whose friends breathlessly tell them exactly what they are going to plump for in the privacy of the voting booth. Maybe my acquaintances are unusually reticent with me.
I don’t even know how my wife voted.
My other half has voted Labour, she's a life long socialist.
She's not keen on Starmer and she was thinking of voting Green but then she asked why I was a Tory.
I replied 'Because taxes are like your knickers, I always want to see them lower.'
Her reply was unprintable but said she's voting Labour now.
If only you'd been a part of the Tory campaign.
Maybe he's the mole...?
As if I'd ever sabotage a government with David Cameron in it.
I spoke to a colleague in the office today. An EU Citizen who has lived in the UK since 2013, paid taxes etc, PhD from a UK university and a specialist in her field. She can’t vote here. She also noted she can no longer vote in her own country Denmark, as she doesn’t pay tax there. This to me is wrong and I sincerely hope Starmer will rectify to allow resident EU citizens to vote at GE after a qualifying period of paying UK tax.
Yet someone who is British but has lived in Thailand for 20 years can vote here.
I spoke to a colleague in the office today. An EU Citizen who has lived in the UK since 2013, paid taxes etc, PhD from a UK university and a specialist in her field. She can’t vote here. She also noted she can no longer vote in her own country Denmark, as she doesn’t pay tax there. This to me is wrong and I sincerely hope Starmer will rectify to allow resident EU citizens to vote at GE after a qualifying period of paying UK tax.
Why only resident EU citizens? Why not any resident tax-payer?
I am afraid in the end I held my nose and voted SNP.
I am deeply frustrated with them, they have missed the moment on independence through the last few years and have taken their voters for mugs (yes, I appreciate the irony) and are now in a meltdown of increasing pace and I expect it to be a bad night for them by recent standards (if not actually all that bad by overall historic standards), but hey. Keir's getting his super-ultra-mega-majority without really standing for anything other than being not the Tories and will hopefully at least be boringly competent, so it's a bit of a free hit, the Lib Dems appear to be the comedy extras with Ed Davey's japes, the Conservative kicking should have happened years ago and Reform are just a bit mental.
All in all though a bit of an uninspiring choice really, and I hope the result of the election means PR in the longer-term rather than FPTP.
Comments
365 Tories went into the water. Didn't see the first result for 90 minutes...
Bear in mind some of us have thousands staked on this.
You take it with PINEAPPLE?
AAAAAAAARGHHHHHH!
Civilisation has just collapsed
Chris Grayling has been given a peerage by Rishi Sunak, in what could be one of his final acts as PM
Breaking:
Rishi Sunak has given a peerage to his chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith
Oliver Dowden, Julian Smith, Ben Wallace and Alister Jack all get knighthoods
Sunak's other peerages include:
Sir Graham Brady, former chairman of the 1922 committee
Chris Grayling, former transport secretary
Dame Eleanor Laing, deputy speaker of Commons
Craig Mackinley
Theresa May
Alok Sharma
Starmer has nominated Margaret Beckett, John Cryer, Harriet Harman, Margaret Hodge, Kevan Jones, Barbara Keeley, John Spellar and Rosie Winterton
*Although very, very believable at the time!
Hammond
Ken Clarke
Letwin
David Gauke
Justine
Caroline noakes
Rory Stuart
Nick soames
When the Conservatives expel a grandson of Churchill you know the heart and soul has gone.
It’s up there with when the Corbynistas shouted “Tory” at anyone who thought Tony Blair had achieved one or two good things
The conservatives need someone who can drag them back to the centre, as Starmer has with Labour. But I’m not confident.
*puts on Sheldon voice*
That, FYI, was sarcasm.
A rig I was on last year showed it in the mess every fecking morning and evening whilst we were eating. In spite of loads of complaints. Apparently the Camp Boss was a devotee. And every fecking day it was the same. Trans this, Trans that. It was relentless. I don't care which side of the debate you are on, GB news managed to piss off everybody.
Though it would be a slow motion surrender.
It involves giving away (an unspecified amount of) territory and promising not to join NATO / NATO promising not to admit Ukraine.
She always voted Labour before marrying me, so quite possibly one of a very select group that voted Labour 1997 thru 2010 but Tory in 2024.
Flirty flirty.
Can I show you my betslip, love?
Indeed I think all my relatives are. There used to be cousins in Freshwater but they moved to Whitley Bay.
I could play that. Maybe Ramesses the Great.
Ipsos chief exec @benatipsos at our @SECNewgateUK election night shindig
Posted without (further) comment….
https://x.com/Nevfountain/status/1808760114121146554
Look at how Europe is voting atm.
Guildford is going LibDem but that’s amazing
I've gone for an Amarone to acoompany the (sensational) laksa, and for the results - a 2001 Chateau Musar. Yes, 2001
It feels fitting for the fall of a very overripe governing party. A wine that is probably quite a few years past its peak. Needs to be drunk. End
Why should a Danish citizen who pays taxes here be treated any different to an American citizen who pays taxes here?
As Warren Buffet said, when the tide goes out you see who has been swimming naked.
What will be the 'Portillo moment'? I suspect Liz Truss.
I am deeply frustrated with them, they have missed the moment on independence through the last few years and have taken their voters for mugs (yes, I appreciate the irony) and are now in a meltdown of increasing pace and I expect it to be a bad night for them by recent standards (if not actually all that bad by overall historic standards), but hey. Keir's getting his super-ultra-mega-majority without really standing for anything other than being not the Tories and will hopefully at least be boringly competent, so it's a bit of a free hit, the Lib Dems appear to be the comedy extras with Ed Davey's japes, the Conservative kicking should have happened years ago and Reform are just a bit mental.
All in all though a bit of an uninspiring choice really, and I hope the result of the election means PR in the longer-term rather than FPTP.
Who are we following on here for tips?
https://x.com/christiancalgie/status/1808952989618516365
My final call was Tory majority of 40 to 70 plus Scotland.