The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous
Downing Street pass for example.
If you don't understand what a good gifts and hospitality policy looks like I suggest you obtain one from an NHS hospital.
Personal gifts are usually a taxable benefit hope SKS has recorded them on his HMRC paperwork.
The Conservative Party need to report this to HMRC and the police. Durham Constabulary and GMP will be amenable to investigate.
I don't think the conservative party need to do anything but sit back as Labour self combust
Last thing Conservatives want is for SKS to go anywhere.
Oh I don't know. Labour getting through a bunch of leaders this Parliament would level the playing field.
In that huge new intake, there must be someone who can follow in the steps of Liz Truss...
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more depressed and miserable by the day and the Tories not even in the game... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
If the final two were Badenoch and Jenrick I’d likely vote for Badenoch, I absolutely will not be voting for Jenrick.
The Dirty Desmond scandal should have disqualified from being an MP let alone leader.
Happily it is not a choice I have to make but I am glad you share my view of Jenrick. I don't actually rate any of the contenders but Jenrick I actively despise.
The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous
Downing Street pass for example.
If you don't understand what a good gifts and hospitality policy looks like I suggest you obtain one from an NHS hospital.
Personal gifts are usually a taxable benefit hope SKS has recorded them on his HMRC paperwork.
The Conservative Party need to report this to HMRC and the police. Durham Constabulary and GMP will be amenable to investigate.
I don't think the conservative party need to do anything but sit back as Labour self combust
Last thing Conservatives want is for SKS to go anywhere.
Oh I don't know. Labour getting through a bunch of leaders this Parliament would level the playing field.
In that huge new intake, there must be someone who can follow in the steps of Liz Truss...
There is. He is currently First Lord of the Treasury.
Meanwhile, I read that Farage has said that bigots and racists are not welcome in the Reform Party. If he's serious, he should start by expelling Lee Anderson. Seriously.
...and himself. What about the Farage Riots? Who posted Andrew Tate bullshit that set the wheels in motion for Holiday Inns being set on fire.
I was thinking specifically about Anderson's diatribe about the 'Islamist' Sadiq Khan, who has 'given our capital city away'. He doubled down on this today. If that isn't bigotry/racism, I'm not quite sure what Farage has in mind.
Interesting policy proposal from Anne Widdicombe at the Reform Rally:
Put prisoners in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe tells Reform conference Prisoners should be put in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe has told the Reform UK conference.
I wonder how that will go down with voters in Clacton, Skegness, Boston and Great Yarmouth ?
That's the sort of policy where, if Labour proposed it, Reform would deride it as Labour sending prisoners on holiday.
It was only a few days ago that someone on here was suggesting putting prisoners in hotels, citing the use of hotels for Asylum Seekers as a justification. Maybe someone in Reform is reading PB and harvesting all the dumbest ideas.
Many, many years ago I stayed in a hotel near Aberdeen that was called, from memory, The Alton Skene Dhu. Or something like that.
It was the most horrendously depressing place I have ever seen. The locals claimed that it was built as a prison, but Human Rights legislation prevented its use. This seemed implausible, since no-one could ever have imagined keeping prisoners in those conditions.
LOL. The Skene Dhu is infamous. They used to put oil workers up in there on their way to and from the rigs when we were fogged in as it is right next door to the heliport. It was reknowned as the sort of place you pay for rooms by the hour and the floors are permanently sticky. The Travellodge in the centre of Aberdeen has a similar rep these days.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more depressed and miserable by the day and the Tories not even in the game... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Of course. Because those 72 seats of the actual third party in parliament are a mere bagatelle.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
His Achilles heel surely pre-dates Trump. It’s that the majority of the country can’t stand the twat.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
Where would you class horse racing? It's a national sport but there isn't an England horse racing team for example. The Leger is one of the five classics - I'd argue if the Prime Starmer attended the Grand National or the Derby or Cheltenham Gold Cup these can be considered national sporting events.
I'm trying to understand where the "line" is - the provision of "invitations" to events has happened throughout political history. Prince William went to Taylor Swift - I don't suppose he paid. Was the invitation to Starmer made available only after July 5th or was there a standing invitation to the occupant of No.10 - would Rishi Sunak have attended had he still been Prime Minister, should he?
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous in terms of policy or pursuing a personal political agenda. It's possible to give something and expect nothing in return - most of us do it most of the time. If I donate £500 to the Liberal Democrats, do I expect a say in Party policy? I'd expect a Thank You but that's about it.
The issue isn't the gifts but the pre-election comments from Labour about wanting to "clean up politics" and this looks like hypocrisy and we all love a bit of hypocrisy from our political leaders.
It’s really simple. Does the politician have a role at the event or not?
If he’s there to present a trophy to the winner, or is there entertaining a visiting dignitary, then no problem.
If he’s just there of his own accord, or for political reasons, then it needs to be declared.
I believe the racecourse at Town Moor is technically "owned" by the council as it is a common, although the facilities are operated by Arena.
I imagine our esteemed (?) Prime Minister was speaking to local Doncaster politicians (possibly even about Nuclear matters as posted above).
I have fewer problems with that than the Arsenal box, to be honest, even if it was a favour thrown by friendly politicians. The races have always had some degree of dignitary attendance as it is the one event in the year where Doncaster is looked at in a vaguely positive manner. Even Queenie turned up on occasion.
Going to the races is very different from watching a football match.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Meanwhile, I read that Farage has said that bigots and racists are not welcome in the Reform Party. If he's serious, he should start by expelling Lee Anderson. Seriously.
...and himself. What about the Farage Riots? Who posted Andrew Tate bullshit that set the wheels in motion for Holiday Inns being set on fire.
I was thinking specifically about Anderson's diatribe about the 'Islamist' Sadiq Khan, who has 'given our capital city away'. He doubled down on this today. If that isn't bigotry/racism, I'm not quite sure what Farage has in mind.
There is, thankfully, a limited (still big, but dwindling daily) market for people who think Jim Davidson is the country’s greatest comedian.
When Reform discover the secret of popularity among the young fash, like their counterparts on the continent…that’s when we really need to worry.
Interesting policy proposal from Anne Widdicombe at the Reform Rally:
Put prisoners in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe tells Reform conference Prisoners should be put in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe has told the Reform UK conference.
I wonder how that will go down with voters in Clacton, Skegness, Boston and Great Yarmouth ?
That's the sort of policy where, if Labour proposed it, Reform would deride it as Labour sending prisoners on holiday.
It was only a few days ago that someone on here was suggesting putting prisoners in hotels, citing the use of hotels for Asylum Seekers as a justification. Maybe someone in Reform is reading PB and harvesting all the dumbest ideas.
Many, many years ago I stayed in a hotel near Aberdeen that was called, from memory, The Alton Skene Dhu. Or something like that.
It was the most horrendously depressing place I have ever seen. The locals claimed that it was built as a prison, but Human Rights legislation prevented its use. This seemed implausible, since no-one could ever have imagined keeping prisoners in those conditions.
The old Oxford prison is now an hotel. It’s much nicer!
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
Farage.
I suspect this splits fairly neatly along whether you are a pb righty or a pb lefty. Prove mr wrong pb!
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
Can we take a cyanide tablet? 😂
No, probably Farage as there's the remotest possibility he might only be pretending to be an anti-British, Putin shill... where-as with with the Gorgeous One, you just know, like Jezza, he actually IS an anti-British, Putin shill with the added attraction of being anti-Semitic (which Farage isn't) as well.
UK PM Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves will not accept any further donations for clothing after donor row
The reasons to batter the Prime Minister have become evermore shrill.........
Meanwhile the most pleasant country with the nicest people in the whole of the Middle East are REALLY being battered.
This wonderful and extremely well educated little country has done everything it can to rebuild itself after a 21 year long civil war. It was thriving. It used to be known as the Cote d'Azur of the Middle East and it was well on it's way to getting back there.
I can't begin to tell you what a tragedy this is. it's surely time to get past Mrs Starmer's wardrobe and get some perspective
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
Can we take a cyanide tablet? 😂
No, probably Farage as there's the remotest possibility he might only be pretending to be an anti-British, Putin shill... where-as with with the Gorgeous One, you just know, like Jezza, he actually IS an anti-British, Putin shill with the added attraction of being anti-Semitic (which Farage isn't) as well.
Seconded.
I'm reminded of the PJ O'Rourke line about Trump-Clinton.
Farage would be appalling, but in a recognisably normal way. The same could be said of Corbyn. Galloway would be far worse.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
Meanwhile, I read that Farage has said that bigots and racists are not welcome in the Reform Party. If he's serious, he should start by expelling Lee Anderson. Seriously.
The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
Where would you class horse racing? It's a national sport but there isn't an England horse racing team for example. The Leger is one of the five classics - I'd argue if the Prime Starmer attended the Grand National or the Derby or Cheltenham Gold Cup these can be considered national sporting events.
I'm trying to understand where the "line" is - the provision of "invitations" to events has happened throughout political history. Prince William went to Taylor Swift - I don't suppose he paid. Was the invitation to Starmer made available only after July 5th or was there a standing invitation to the occupant of No.10 - would Rishi Sunak have attended had he still been Prime Minister, should he?
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous in terms of policy or pursuing a personal political agenda. It's possible to give something and expect nothing in return - most of us do it most of the time. If I donate £500 to the Liberal Democrats, do I expect a say in Party policy? I'd expect a Thank You but that's about it.
The issue isn't the gifts but the pre-election comments from Labour about wanting to "clean up politics" and this looks like hypocrisy and we all love a bit of hypocrisy from our political leaders.
It’s really simple. Does the politician have a role at the event or not?
If he’s there to present a trophy to the winner, or is there entertaining a visiting dignitary, then no problem.
If he’s just there of his own accord, or for political reasons, then it needs to be declared.
I believe the racecourse at Town Moor is technically "owned" by the council as it is a common, although the facilities are operated by Arena.
I imagine our esteemed (?) Prime Minister was speaking to local Doncaster politicians (possibly even about Nuclear matters as posted above).
I have fewer problems with that than the Arsenal box, to be honest, even if it was a favour thrown by friendly politicians. The races have always had some degree of dignitary attendance as it is the one event in the year where Doncaster is looked at in a vaguely positive manner. Even Queenie turned up on occasion.
Going to the races is very different from watching a football match.
Yes absolutely. There’s almost always a good reason for a politician to turn up at a provincial racecourse.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
I vote for an independent Scotland with a generous asylum policy for refugees making the dangerous river crossing over the Tweed.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
There are always more than 2 candidates. Bus Pass Elvis Party for me.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
His Achilles heel surely pre-dates Trump. It’s that the majority of the country can’t stand the twat.
In purely logical terms you can say that about pretty much any party leader or notable politician. It is ectremely rare that a majority ofpeople actually like any of our leadership candidates for any of the parties. Particularly the successful ones.
This is not meant as a defence of Farage, simply pointing out that being actively disliked is an occupational hazard.
Meanwhile, I read that Farage has said that bigots and racists are not welcome in the Reform Party. If he's serious, he should start by expelling Lee Anderson. Seriously.
I think we're all old enough to realise that the words of politicians are meaningless and do not necessarily attach to a fact.
UK PM Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves will not accept any further donations for clothing after donor row
The reasons to batter the Prime Minister have become evermore shrill.........
Meanwhile the most pleasant country with the nicest people in the whole of the Middle East are REALLY being battered.
This wonderful and extremely well educated little country has done everything it can to rebuild itself after a 21 year long civil war. It was thriving. It used to be known as the Cote d'Azur of the Middle East and it was well on it's way to getting back there.
I can't begin to tell you what a tragedy this is. it's surely time to get past Mrs Starmer's wardrobe and get some perspective
The middle east is being torn apart by malign actors including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and of course Israel
It is a tragedy of mankind and all parties engaged in this conflict should hang their heads in shame
I fear it is going to be with us for a very long time as nobody is listening to anybody
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
Farage.
I suspect this splits fairly neatly along whether you are a pb righty or a pb lefty. Prove mr wrong pb!
Yeah, reluctantly I agree.
Tempted by Galloway as he's too useless to actually enact anything nutty, whereas with Farage who knows. But I dislike Galloway more than Farage.
Not sure whether you have me as a pb righty or a pb lefty though...
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
Where would you class horse racing? It's a national sport but there isn't an England horse racing team for example. The Leger is one of the five classics - I'd argue if the Prime Starmer attended the Grand National or the Derby or Cheltenham Gold Cup these can be considered national sporting events.
I'm trying to understand where the "line" is - the provision of "invitations" to events has happened throughout political history. Prince William went to Taylor Swift - I don't suppose he paid. Was the invitation to Starmer made available only after July 5th or was there a standing invitation to the occupant of No.10 - would Rishi Sunak have attended had he still been Prime Minister, should he?
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous in terms of policy or pursuing a personal political agenda. It's possible to give something and expect nothing in return - most of us do it most of the time. If I donate £500 to the Liberal Democrats, do I expect a say in Party policy? I'd expect a Thank You but that's about it.
The issue isn't the gifts but the pre-election comments from Labour about wanting to "clean up politics" and this looks like hypocrisy and we all love a bit of hypocrisy from our political leaders.
It’s really simple. Does the politician have a role at the event or not?
If he’s there to present a trophy to the winner, or is there entertaining a visiting dignitary, then no problem.
If he’s just there of his own accord, or for political reasons, then it needs to be declared.
I believe the racecourse at Town Moor is technically "owned" by the council as it is a common, although the facilities are operated by Arena.
I imagine our esteemed (?) Prime Minister was speaking to local Doncaster politicians (possibly even about Nuclear matters as posted above).
I have fewer problems with that than the Arsenal box, to be honest, even if it was a favour thrown by friendly politicians. The races have always had some degree of dignitary attendance as it is the one event in the year where Doncaster is looked at in a vaguely positive manner. Even Queenie turned up on occasion.
Going to the races is very different from watching a football match.
Not how common land works. It's all actually owned by someone, who is usually a person and very rarely a council, the catch being that it is essentially valueless because ownership comes with few to no rights. Typically the commoners between them have grazing rights for as many beasts as the land will support, but if there's a surplus the owner can stick a couple of sheep on after the commoners are satisfied.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
Can I choose the bottle of brandy and revolver in the study?
UK PM Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves will not accept any further donations for clothing after donor row
The reasons to batter the Prime Minister have become evermore shrill.........
Meanwhile the most pleasant country with the nicest people in the whole of the Middle East are REALLY being battered.
This wonderful and extremely well educated little country has done everything it can to rebuild itself after a 21 year long civil war. It was thriving. It used to be known as the Cote d'Azur of the Middle East and it was well on it's way to getting back there.
I can't begin to tell you what a tragedy this is. it's surely time to get past Mrs Starmer's wardrobe and get some perspective
The middle east is being torn apart by malign actors including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and of course Israel
It is a tragedy of mankind and all parties engaged in this conflict should hang their heads in shame
I fear it is going to be with us for a very long time as nobody is listening to anybody
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
If I wear my waterproof work jacket for my walk (it's the only waterproof coat I have with a hood), should I declare it for tax purposes to avoid being a hypocrite?
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
Why wait for Johnson when you can read Baroness Harman's view of it
Because the irony would explode everyone's irony meters.
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
Interesting policy proposal from Anne Widdicombe at the Reform Rally:
Put prisoners in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe tells Reform conference Prisoners should be put in disused holiday camps, Ann Widdecombe has told the Reform UK conference.
I wonder how that will go down with voters in Clacton, Skegness, Boston and Great Yarmouth ?
That's the sort of policy where, if Labour proposed it, Reform would deride it as Labour sending prisoners on holiday.
It was only a few days ago that someone on here was suggesting putting prisoners in hotels, citing the use of hotels for Asylum Seekers as a justification. Maybe someone in Reform is reading PB and harvesting all the dumbest ideas.
Many, many years ago I stayed in a hotel near Aberdeen that was called, from memory, The Alton Skene Dhu. Or something like that.
It was the most horrendously depressing place I have ever seen. The locals claimed that it was built as a prison, but Human Rights legislation prevented its use. This seemed implausible, since no-one could ever have imagined keeping prisoners in those conditions.
The old Oxford prison is now an hotel. It’s much nicer!
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
Why wait for Johnson when you can read Baroness Harman's view of it
Because the irony would explode everyone's irony meters.
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
I voted for Starmer in the fond and forlorn belief that Labour would have a bunch of brilliant but hidden ideas for getting the country going. It is now abundantly clear they don't, plus they are as venal and inept as the Tories with added layers of hypocrisy, avarice and Wokeness. Starmer is a terrified overpromoted middle manager who has been found out
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
Why wait for Johnson when you can read Baroness Harman's view of it
Because the irony would explode everyone's irony meters.
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
Really? All well before my time but I find it hard to believe anyone defended Johnson over wallpaper. It sounds as if you want to say Starmer is corrupt af but so was Johnson but you realise that doesn't sound so great so you dress it up as a point about hypocrisy.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
Why wait for Johnson when you can read Baroness Harman's view of it
Because the irony would explode everyone's irony meters.
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
40 years ago today, the original Elite game was released for the BBC B.
I've enjoyed so much time with various versions of thar game...
I remember spending many hours learning how to write 3D graphics based on playing it. Almost drove me into becoming a mathematician.
Thankfully my secondary school maths teacher refused to tell me anything about 3D trig, as "you don't need to know it yet" and the local library was a little spartan on the maths front. So that was that.
I am guessing the usual Starmer bashers have been all over this story?
Wait, no?
Robert Jenrick, who is the favourite to be the next Conservative party leader, received £75,000 from a firm which has no employees, has never made a profit and has £332,000 in debts after taking a loan from an untraceable British Virgin Islands company
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
Why wait for Johnson when you can read Baroness Harman's view of it
Because the irony would explode everyone's irony meters.
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
Really? All well before my time but I find it hard to believe anyone defended Johnson over wallpaper. It sounds as if you want to say Starmer is corrupt af but so was Johnson but you realise that doesn't sound so great so you dress it up as a point about hypocrisy.
Starmer is a rank amateur compared to Johnson. I am not too concerned by Lulu Lytle, although it provided hours of hilarity. I am deeply offended by Johnson's attendance at the tarts and vicars party at Lebedev's Italian villa and his loose tongued comment about Nasaneen Radcliffe or arranging for Pen Farthing to bring dogs back to the UK instead of Afghan employees of the UK Government.
Sometimes travel is bewildering. This time yesterday - roughIy - I was walking around the remarkable gardens of the University of British Columbia, gazing across the wild blue PaciHfic sounds and the Strait of Georgia to Bowen and Vancouver Islands, thickly carpeted in great green larch and spruce forests, some of the most remote areas of the globe, until the last century. Some of the last places where pre industrial mankind held out - within living memory
Now I am in Camden
I wonder if we, as a species have really adapted to this change, which has happened in the last few decades in our 200,000 year history as Homo sapiens
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
I voted for Starmer in the fond and forlorn belief that Labour would have a bunch of brilliant but hidden ideas for getting the country going. It is now abundantly clear they don't, plus they are as venal and inept as the Tories with added layers of hypocrisy, avarice and Wokeness. Starmer is a terrified overpromoted middle manager who has been found out
Sometimes travel is bewildering. This time yesterday - roughIy - I was walking around the remarkable gardens of the University of British Columbia, gazing across the wild blue PaciHfic sounds and the Strait of Georgia to Bowen and Vancouver Islands, thickly carpeted in great green larch and spruce forests, some of the most remote areas of the globe, until the last century. Some of the last places where pre industrial mankind held out - within living memory
Now I am in Camden
I wonder if we, as a species have really adapted to this change, which has happened in the last few decades in our 200,000 year history as Homo sapiens
Is there not one single PB Tory who wants the favourite to be leader?
The Tories should be like hignfy after Deaytons downfall and have different weekly celeb guest party leaders for a year or two. Starmer's problem is he is dangling with nothing to do until the budget (59 sleeps!) and until the Tories elect a leader, no opponent to oppose. Why make it easy for him? A prosecutor with nobody to prosecute looks pretty silly
Donald Trump suits the US government with a nonsensical lawsuit that exists as an excuse to fund raise, but, if he wins, becomes a convenient way to just pay himself a large sum of government money: https://youtu.be/4vfiCcgW2F4
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
"However, they said the inclusion in the April proposal of a four-year scheme allowing students to study in each other’s countries while paying home fees was a non-starter – and a youth mobility scheme would have a better political chance if students were removed from the equation.
One source in the UK said it was just not viable because there had always been an “imbalance in the flow of students”, with more EU citizens studying in the UK than British students in the EU. This created a disproportionate financial burden on British institutions, something they could not countenance in a youth mobility scheme."
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
Yes, I agree
The issue with universities was real
This just seems to be win-win. Let our kids interact, let anyone under 30 live and work in the EU and vice versa, for 2 years
Just do it. I always disliked the closing-down-opportunities vision of Brexit, this seriously ameliorates it. Britain will likely benefit as kids want to come to London and learn English in a great world city. Inter alia it will invigorate the capital. JUST DO IT
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more miserable by the day and the Tories not even on at pitch at the moment... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Farage always has been an excellent orator and ran rings round the EU
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
Trump's about to become history (after which I suspect Nigel will move on pretty fast) And at election '29 Farage's divisiveness will be set against SKS and the Labour government and whatever becomes of the Tories.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
Question for PB. In a forced choice:
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
I just can't even think about that choice! Ughhhhhhhhhh....
Galloway, I suppose, because he's older and would be more likely to shuffle off this mortal coil.
The statement says it is only freebie clothes, does this mean if Starmer wants some new specs or some Oasis tickets, Lord Alli is still on speed dial?
This story will run and run as at each event or football match Starmer will be asked who paid for it
Indeed, now Reeves and Rayner have admitted they have also been taking lots of freebies the questions will just keep coming as with Lammy, Streeting, Miliband and others
This threatens to become Partygate 2 or Freebiegate 1
Yet the Racing Post was very complimentary about the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria attending the St Leger at Doncaster last Saturday. The course first extended an invitation to then LOTO Starmer in 2022 but he couldn't attend either then because of the Queen's death and in 2023 because of a prior engagement.
Are you seriously suggesting as Prime Minister, Starmer shouldn't accept any invitation to attend any sporting event?
No of couse not
As PM he should attend events by invitation in the national interest, but following Arsenal and Taylor Swift concerts are not the same at all
Where would you class horse racing? It's a national sport but there isn't an England horse racing team for example. The Leger is one of the five classics - I'd argue if the Prime Starmer attended the Grand National or the Derby or Cheltenham Gold Cup these can be considered national sporting events.
I'm trying to understand where the "line" is - the provision of "invitations" to events has happened throughout political history. Prince William went to Taylor Swift - I don't suppose he paid. Was the invitation to Starmer made available only after July 5th or was there a standing invitation to the occupant of No.10 - would Rishi Sunak have attended had he still been Prime Minister, should he?
I'm not bothered about clothes particularly - the point is whether Lord Alli was under any impression the gifts would be advantageous in terms of policy or pursuing a personal political agenda. It's possible to give something and expect nothing in return - most of us do it most of the time. If I donate £500 to the Liberal Democrats, do I expect a say in Party policy? I'd expect a Thank You but that's about it.
The issue isn't the gifts but the pre-election comments from Labour about wanting to "clean up politics" and this looks like hypocrisy and we all love a bit of hypocrisy from our political leaders.
It’s really simple. Does the politician have a role at the event or not?
If he’s there to present a trophy to the winner, or is there entertaining a visiting dignitary, then no problem.
If he’s just there of his own accord, or for political reasons, then it needs to be declared.
I believe the racecourse at Town Moor is technically "owned" by the council as it is a common, although the facilities are operated by Arena.
I imagine our esteemed (?) Prime Minister was speaking to local Doncaster politicians (possibly even about Nuclear matters as posted above).
I have fewer problems with that than the Arsenal box, to be honest, even if it was a favour thrown by friendly politicians. The races have always had some degree of dignitary attendance as it is the one event in the year where Doncaster is looked at in a vaguely positive manner. Even Queenie turned up on occasion.
Going to the races is very different from watching a football match.
Not how common land works. It's all actually owned by someone, who is usually a person and very rarely a council, the catch being that it is essentially valueless because ownership comes with few to no rights. Typically the commoners between them have grazing rights for as many beasts as the land will support, but if there's a surplus the owner can stick a couple of sheep on after the commoners are satisfied.
Definitely council owned.
It isn't really a common in the normal sense although it is called "Doncaster Common" on the map. The middle of the racecourse is a golf course, again run privately but effectively leased.
We are currently fighting to try and get them to maintain it properly as a lowland heath, but the golfers keep moaning about the rough and don't seem to be able to carry the ball 100 yards off the tees so it gets mown to grass rather than heather. Hackers.
40 years ago today, the original Elite game was released for the BBC B.
I've enjoyed so much time with various versions of thar game...
I remember spending many hours learning how to write 3D graphics based on playing it. Almost drove me into becoming a mathematician.
Thankfully my secondary school maths teacher refused to tell me anything about 3D trig, as "you don't need to know it yet" and the local library was a little spartan on the maths front. So that was that.
Those shirts Ali was getting SKS were far too tight looked like he could Buster Blood Vessel at any minute.
Suppose it would have been Bad Manners to complain
That trend'll not catch on.
*cough* slightly sad there was no reaction to this pun. I almost never venture a pun but was quite pleased with this one.
Bit subtle?
Is it a pun on "treadle"?
Buster Bloodvessel's real name is Douglas Trendle. I appreciate not everyone is totally up to speed with the finer details of Bad Manners but I thought maybe at least BJO might havr got it.
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
Yes, I agree
The issue with universities was real
This just seems to be win-win. Let our kids interact, let anyone under 30 live and work in the EU and vice versa, for 2 years
Just do it. I always disliked the closing-down-opportunities vision of Brexit, this seriously ameliorates it. Britain will likely benefit as kids want to come to London and learn English in a great world city. Inter alia it will invigorate the capital. JUST DO IT
So Darren and Sharon get more competition for housing but its easier for Tarquin and Jocasta to become skiing instructors ?
Do you realise that many of those 'EU kids' will actually be those more recent arrivals you got so upset about in Paris ?
UK PM Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves will not accept any further donations for clothing after donor row
The reasons to batter the Prime Minister have become evermore shrill.........
Meanwhile the most pleasant country with the nicest people in the whole of the Middle East are REALLY being battered.
This wonderful and extremely well educated little country has done everything it can to rebuild itself after a 21 year long civil war. It was thriving. It used to be known as the Cote d'Azur of the Middle East and it was well on it's way to getting back there.
I can't begin to tell you what a tragedy this is. it's surely time to get past Mrs Starmer's wardrobe and get some perspective
The middle east is being torn apart by malign actors including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and of course Israel
It is a tragedy of mankind and all parties engaged in this conflict should hang their heads in shame
I fear it is going to be with us for a very long time as nobody is listening to anybody
40 years ago today, the original Elite game was released for the BBC B.
I've enjoyed so much time with various versions of thar game...
I remember spending many hours learning how to write 3D graphics based on playing it. Almost drove me into becoming a mathematician.
Thankfully my secondary school maths teacher refused to tell me anything about 3D trig, as "you don't need to know it yet" and the local library was a little spartan on the maths front. So that was that.
Ditto here. I wrote a spinning cube in Basic.
Ha, yes. I wrote something to display very basic trees (7 vertices) and polygons in 3D. I worked out how a view should be projected onto a flat screen but didn't know enough about integer trig so it was way way too slow. [Dragon for me, BBC was way too expensive]
If I'd known how matrix multiplication worked at the time I might have been dangerous. Libraries just didn't cut it.
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more depressed and miserable by the day and the Tories not even in the game... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Of course. Because those 72 seats of the actual third party in parliament are a mere bagatelle.
Farage got significantly more votes than said 3rd party, they only have vastly more seats because of weird artifacts of the FPTP system.
Next election will almost certainly see the Tories recover at least a bit, so this is probably the high water mark for the Lib Dems, whilst if they play their cards right Reform is likely to pick up a lot of Red Wall Labour votes next time round.
The EU have revised their youth mobility scheme . The offer to the UK will be a two year visa and it won’t include anything on universities . This seems very fair and if Labour refuse this then I’m totally done with them .
Yes, they should accept that. Besides anything else, it might help them reduce ex-EU legal migration
The main sticking point on the earlier proposal was the issue around universities . So a two year scheme without that you’d think wouldn’t be controversial. But you never know with the current Labour government ! It would of course help with the hospitality industry . Starmer keeps saying he wants a reset , so he either does something to show that or he should stfu . As you can tell I’m not happy with the Labour Party . It’s been a woeful start .
Yes, I agree
The issue with universities was real
This just seems to be win-win. Let our kids interact, let anyone under 30 live and work in the EU and vice versa, for 2 years
Just do it. I always disliked the closing-down-opportunities vision of Brexit, this seriously ameliorates it. Britain will likely benefit as kids want to come to London and learn English in a great world city. Inter alia it will invigorate the capital. JUST DO IT
Or in other words return bar tenders and waiters to minimum wage jobs....keeps the prices down for those that can afford to eat out
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more depressed and miserable by the day and the Tories not even in the game... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
Of course. Because those 72 seats of the actual third party in parliament are a mere bagatelle.
Farage got significantly more votes than said 3rd party, they only have vastly more seats because of weird artifacts of the FPTP system.
Next election will almost certainly see the Tories recover at least a bit, so this is probably the high water mark for the Lib Dems, whilst if they play their cards right Reform is likely to pick up a lot of Red Wall Labour votes next time round.
As a Czech woman, it was not hard to find low-skilled jobs: on a German fruit and vegetable farm, as a hotel cleaner in Ireland and in France’s social care sector. I spent a couple of weeks looking for work in the UK, but Brexit has made it difficult for EU citizens without a permit to work legally.
I hope we can all agree that this is a benefit of Brexit - reduced exploitation and higher wages for low paid British workers.
Sometimes travel is bewildering. This time yesterday - roughIy - I was walking around the remarkable gardens of the University of British Columbia, gazing across the wild blue PaciHfic sounds and the Strait of Georgia to Bowen and Vancouver Islands, thickly carpeted in great green larch and spruce forests, some of the most remote areas of the globe, until the last century. Some of the last places where pre industrial mankind held out - within living memory
Now I am in Camden
I wonder if we, as a species have really adapted to this change, which has happened in the last few decades in our 200,000 year history as Homo sapiens
What's more, the speed of change is ACCELERATING
The Good Lord gave us the litre of Tanqueray 47% duty free precisely to enable us to adapt to the change. PBUH.
Went to Essex hustings tonight with the Tory leadership candidates. Cleverly was affable as ever and wanted to reach out to the nation as a whole and see off Reform by being true to Conservative values not becoming Reform while projecting party unity too.
Badenoch was sharper than I expected, thoughtful and emphasised the need for the party to sell itself again based on conservative values not just be managerial. Jackie Doyle Price was representing Tugendhat who had another engagement and made clear that the party couldn’t just speak to itself but needed to reach out to the whole country and those Tories who stayed home more than Reform.
Jenrick was the most slick and polished, a strong speaker and orator and told a few jokes. My main fear is he could be Hague2, excellent at Question Time and his conference speech but maybe got the role too young. Jenrick was also the most rightwing, wanted to move away from Net Zero to protect our industrial base, wanted to leave the ECHR and deport immigrants etc. however he was saying some good things about building new homes for younger people too
What is interesting about this polling is that - despite the constant MSM messaging that Reform UK is a 'far right' party - only 39% of people think they are 'extremist'. It follows that 61% of people view them as something like a mainstream/moderate party. I don't think this is a problem for Reform. The propaganda against them is ineffective but gets them free publicity and outreach. The fact that a minority of people regard them as 'extremist' is actually a selling point for them, as they can claim to be the party of upending the status quo and achieving radical change.
Comments
In that huge new intake, there must be someone who can follow in the steps of Liz Truss...
Gotta say (and I know PB won't want to hear it) but with Kieth and Rachel trying to make the country more depressed and miserable by the day and the Tories not even in the game... It's increasingly looking like there's only one show in town - Farage/Reform.
However, he is hugely divisive and his closeness to Trump is his achillles heel
I imagine our esteemed (?) Prime Minister was speaking to local Doncaster politicians (possibly even about Nuclear matters as posted above).
I have fewer problems with that than the Arsenal box, to be honest, even if it was a favour thrown by friendly politicians. The races have always had some degree of dignitary attendance as it is the one event in the year where Doncaster is looked at in a vaguely positive manner. Even Queenie turned up on occasion.
Going to the races is very different from watching a football match.
I'm not saying REF will win the next election but if Labour keep on as they are and if the Tories don't pull themselves together, the path to PM Farage is there, IMO.
When Reform discover the secret of popularity among the young fash, like their counterparts on the continent…that’s when we really need to worry.
How do you know?
*innocent face*
PM Farage, or PM Galloway?
This will do nicely.
>4k there at 1.6atm if anyone else wants to get involved.
I suspect this splits fairly neatly along whether you are a pb righty or a pb lefty. Prove mr wrong pb!
No, probably Farage as there's the remotest possibility he might only be pretending to be an anti-British, Putin shill... where-as with with the Gorgeous One, you just know, like Jezza, he actually IS an anti-British, Putin shill with the added attraction of being anti-Semitic (which Farage isn't) as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mtp2-PEH20
Meanwhile the most pleasant country with the nicest people in the whole of the Middle East are REALLY being battered.
This wonderful and extremely well educated little country has done everything it can to rebuild itself after a 21 year long civil war. It was thriving. It used to be known as the Cote d'Azur of the Middle East and it was well on it's way to getting back there.
I can't begin to tell you what a tragedy this is. it's surely time to get past Mrs Starmer's wardrobe and get some perspective
I'm reminded of the PJ O'Rourke line about Trump-Clinton.
Farage would be appalling, but in a recognisably normal way. The same could be said of Corbyn. Galloway would be far worse.
I am eagerly waiting Johnson's critique of Starmer corruption in tomorrow's Mail.
I've enjoyed so much time with various versions of thar game...
John Rentoul
@JohnRentoul
·
11m
Great line from @patrickkmaguire
https://thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/labour-needs-to-break-out-of-the-gray-zone-m5bxw3cvm
Did he steal this from my comment earlier about Mandelson? Do we have lurkers from the Times?
This is not meant as a defence of Farage, simply pointing out that being actively disliked is an occupational hazard.
It is a tragedy of mankind and all parties engaged in this conflict should hang their heads in shame
I fear it is going to be with us for a very long time as nobody is listening to anybody
Tempted by Galloway as he's too useless to actually enact anything nutty, whereas with Farage who knows. But I dislike Galloway more than Farage.
Not sure whether you have me as a pb righty or a pb lefty though...
I first played it when I was nine, and I could never dock competently
(Posted for the lyrics, but also for the simplest, most brilliant music video, ever)
I am not particularly contented by the Goonergate scandal, but those on here who were in the first instance crying foul over criticism of Johnson's considerably more egregious "corruption" are now demanding Starmer's nuts.
My parents went to it when it was an hotel, and said it was a fabulous quirky place to stay.
I don’t know anyone who ever stayed there in its former use.
And Jenrick
And Starmer
https://x.com/msnbc/status/1837167295656824851
I voted for Starmer in the fond and forlorn belief that Labour would have a bunch of brilliant but hidden ideas for getting the country going. It is now abundantly clear they don't, plus they are as venal and inept as the Tories with added layers of hypocrisy, avarice and Wokeness. Starmer is a terrified overpromoted middle manager who has been found out
The Tories can drop dead
That leaves... Farage. Give him a go
Same cock and balls cartoon?
Thankfully my secondary school maths teacher refused to tell me anything about 3D trig, as "you don't need to know it yet" and the local library was a little spartan on the maths front. So that was that.
https://x.com/ziontree/status/1837082859510677748
Now I am in Camden
I wonder if we, as a species have really adapted to this change, which has happened in the last few decades in our 200,000 year history as Homo sapiens
What's more, the speed of change is ACCELERATING
Do you have a link to the new proposal?
I remember being allowed to borrow one of school’s three or four Model Bs over the long summer holidays. Bliss
Made it to Elite in the end.
I also played Galactic Trader on Vax\Vms which was brilliant.
S
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/29/eu-fresh-proposal-youth-mobility-scheme-uk
"However, they said the inclusion in the April proposal of a four-year scheme allowing students to study in each other’s countries while paying home fees was a non-starter – and a youth mobility scheme would have a better political chance if students were removed from the equation.
One source in the UK said it was just not viable because there had always been an “imbalance in the flow of students”, with more EU citizens studying in the UK than British students in the EU. This created a disproportionate financial burden on British institutions, something they could not countenance in a youth mobility scheme."
The issue with universities was real
This just seems to be win-win. Let our kids interact, let anyone under 30 live and work in the EU and vice versa, for 2 years
Just do it. I always disliked the closing-down-opportunities vision of Brexit, this seriously ameliorates it. Britain will likely benefit as kids want to come to London and learn English in a great world city. Inter alia it will invigorate the capital. JUST DO IT
Every time someone made a hyperspace jump we had to sneakernet it across the room
Galloway, I suppose, because he's older and would be more likely to shuffle off this mortal coil.
Is it a pun on "treadle"?
It isn't really a common in the normal sense although it is called "Doncaster Common" on the map. The middle of the racecourse is a golf course, again run privately but effectively leased.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16.3&lat=53.52095&lon=-1.09590&layers=6e&right=OSLeisure
We are currently fighting to try and get them to maintain it properly as a lowland heath, but the golfers keep moaning about the rough and don't seem to be able to carry the ball 100 yards off the tees so it gets mown to grass rather than heather. Hackers.
As shit stirring goes, this is sub-par possum-poop.
I appreciate not everyone is totally up to speed with the finer details of Bad Manners but I thought maybe at least BJO might havr got it.
Fuck-load of lightning strikes over southern England and eastern Wales today:
https://www.lightningmaps.org/#google_vignette;m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=8;y=50.8765;x=-1.0109;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;ts24=1;
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/starmer-hints-at-backing-for-hs2-north-replacement-3285719
Do you realise that many of those 'EU kids' will actually be those more recent arrivals you got so upset about in Paris ?
https://youtu.be/t5Vr_chMVQ4?si=1w7Aj5KI0omdWEfG
If I'd known how matrix multiplication worked at the time I might have been dangerous. Libraries just didn't cut it.
Next election will almost certainly see the Tories recover at least a bit, so this is probably the high water mark for the Lib Dems, whilst if they play their cards right Reform is likely to pick up a lot of Red Wall Labour votes next time round.
Chancellor McDonnell, or Chancellor Kwarteng?
I always count
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/18/europe-west-migrants-east-undercover-jobs-workers
As a Czech woman, it was not hard to find low-skilled jobs: on a German fruit and vegetable farm, as a hotel cleaner in Ireland and in France’s social care sector. I spent a couple of weeks looking for work in the UK, but Brexit has made it difficult for EU citizens without a permit to work legally.
I hope we can all agree that this is a benefit of Brexit - reduced exploitation and higher wages for low paid British workers.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/19/ireland-hotel-cleaner-work-payslips-schedule
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/20/undercover-care-worker-france-marseille-agency
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/18/undercover-germany-farm-worker-shop-vegetables
Badenoch was sharper than I expected, thoughtful and emphasised the need for the party to sell itself again based on conservative values not just be managerial. Jackie Doyle Price was representing Tugendhat who had another engagement and made clear that the party couldn’t just speak to itself but needed to reach out to the whole country and those Tories who stayed home more than Reform.
Jenrick was the most slick and polished, a strong speaker and orator and told a few jokes. My main fear is he could be Hague2, excellent at Question Time and his conference speech but maybe got the role too young. Jenrick was also the most rightwing, wanted to move away from Net Zero to protect our industrial base, wanted to leave the ECHR and deport immigrants etc. however he was saying some good things about building new homes for younger people too
McDonnell has failed to learn from quite a lot of historical evidence.