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This explains so much – politicalbetting.com

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  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,709

    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Comes a point though at which the Millenium is a bit of a wanky name. Are you going to keep it, what, a thousand years? And then what?
    Stadiwm Genedlaethol Cymru. Nice, unambiguous, no muddle with County Durham, Palatinate, etc.
    That used to be the official name before 1999 but nobody ever called it that.
    Call it the Prince of Wales stadium.
    Is that as TSE Wills?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082
    ydoethur said:

    kinabalu said:

    ydoethur said:

    kinabalu said:

    Leon said:

    eek said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Paedophile who sexually assaulted stepdaughter allowed to stay in UK under ECHR rules
    Kicking sex offender from Democratic Republic of Congo out of Scotland would affect his ‘family life’, tribunal says"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/17/paedophile-echr-asylum-seeker-deported-glasgow-scotland/

    You seem to have missed the full article because the Home Office appealed and it seems the Judge missed half the facts

    The Home Secretary won an appeal against the ruling, in part because the interests of the stepdaughter had not been considered in an independent social work report that was crucial to allowing the original appeal.

    It was also found that the potential risk MD might pose to his own children had not been taken into account. A new hearing is expected to take place this month.

    Once a foreigner is convicted of a crime as evil as this - murder, rape, terrorism, child abuse - lawyers should be removed from the equation. At that point, when the villain has done his time, the RAF should take over, fly the villain into the airspace of his country of origin, strap him into a parachute - then push him out of the helicopter, saying "good luck"

    Job done
    Much better to be sexually abused by somebody born here.
    That would be making the punishment fit the crime, but I’m surprised to find you so punitive in matters of punishment.
    Clever twist!
    Well, I was wondering who would carry it out. We no longer have a chief hangman but what about a chief well hung man?
    The execution of Sejanus’s family…,
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,330

    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Comes a point though at which the Millenium is a bit of a wanky name. Are you going to keep it, what, a thousand years? And then what?
    Stadiwm Genedlaethol Cymru. Nice, unambiguous, no muddle with County Durham, Palatinate, etc.
    That used to be the official name before 1999 but nobody ever called it that.
    Call it the Prince of Wales stadium.
    There's one already, not that far away. Just imagine the confusion.
  • ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Comes a point though at which the Millenium is a bit of a wanky name. Are you going to keep it, what, a thousand years? And then what?
    Stadiwm Genedlaethol Cymru. Nice, unambiguous, no muddle with County Durham, Palatinate, etc.
    That used to be the official name before 1999 but nobody ever called it that.
    Call it the Prince of Wales stadium.
    Is that as TSE Wills?
    A bald suggestion.
  • AlsoLei said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Speaking of the Principality, when is Baldy Billy getting his investiture? Is he busy learning Welsh?
    Prince of Wales has no plans for investiture, Kensington Palace confirms

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-63635177
  • Carnyx said:

    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Comes a point though at which the Millenium is a bit of a wanky name. Are you going to keep it, what, a thousand years? And then what?
    Stadiwm Genedlaethol Cymru. Nice, unambiguous, no muddle with County Durham, Palatinate, etc.
    That used to be the official name before 1999 but nobody ever called it that.
    Call it the Prince of Wales stadium.
    There's one already, not that far away. Just imagine the confusion.
    Have one in Welsh and one in English.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496
    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,112
    edited November 17

    Are there many countries that secretly make it illegal to say certain things about the PM?

    In Thailand, you can get into serious trouble if you say the wrong thing about their King.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,709

    Are there many countries that secretly make it illegal to say certain things about the PM?

    In Thailand, you can get into serious trouble if you say the wrong thing about their King.
    The rather bigger problem is if you say something that’s right about him.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Are there many countries that secretly make it illegal to say certain things about the PM?

    In Thailand, you can get into serious trouble if you say the wrong thing about their King.
    That is much less the case, these days

    Mainly because the new king is widely despised, unlike the old guy, who was a mensch
  • I'm being quite greedy tonight. I've bought, and have roasting in the oven (breasts down, like all birds should be roasted because of gravity), a whole one kilo guinea fowl

    I'm just going to fry a few chips and have various chutneys with it

    I've got a nice bottle of Austrian white in the fridge; a 2018 Grüner Veltliner from Ebner-Ebenauer
  • Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    ...

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Christ, an absolute hammering for Wales

    Australia are genuinely good

    Wales are genuinely bad

    Don't panic. Four converted tries in two minutes will see us over the line.
    That was more like Australia versus Armenia
    Have you got Shaun Edwards's phone number?
    The only consolation for you Taffs is that England are nearly as bad
    England really aren't that bad. Gatland without Edwards is like Robin without Batman.
    England are bad in a different way. They have plenty of talent but the coaching is so dire they play like a team at least five places below in the rankings. And they are terrible chokers, and have been for years

    Wales simply don't have the talent, right now - and I feel for them. Losing their one world class player - Rees Zammit - to NFL, was a horrible blow

    Wales need to copy what Ireland did many years ago, and change their game from the grassroots up

    The Regional game in Wales is in chaos.

    Schools rugby is in very good order. We have them televised on S4C. Cowbridge Comp for example has a sixth form rugby academy. The trouble starts when they leave for Loughborough or Hartpury College they are after a while eligible for England.

    State schools were once rugby only schools. For reasons of health and safety litigation football is more widely played in schools than it was.

    Population is not on our side either. England have a pot of 10 times the potential talent than Wales, yet they still look to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to broaden the selection scope.
    But all rugby nations do this, Ireland are absolutely ruthless in making foreigners eligible if it turns out their great grandmother once ate a potato

    Oz and NZ trawl all of Polynesia for players, and with great success

    Wales need to up their talent kidnapping game
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 72,173

    Are there many countries that secretly make it illegal to say certain things about the PM?

    Any country with libel laws make it illegal to say certain things about anyone if they are libellous, and if they aren't you can test the claim in court
    In S Korea, you can be criminally prosecuted for slandering historical figures (and truth is not necessarily a defence).
    Quite an exciting business, being a Korean historian.

  • Aaron Rupar
    @atrupar.com‬

    Make America Healthy Again lasted less than a Scaramucci

    https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lb5y4mdqdk2m

    Cold McDonald's and warm Coke.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
    It's so evil and topsy turvy I generally try not to think about it, or I will go mad

    The Two Tier thing is not just true, it is insanely and grotesquely true, and it is destroying trust in the UK with horrifying speed
  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,153

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    Worse -- it is the third consultation, and after that must come a statutory consultation when they finally apply for official planning consent. And this is for something designated "a project of national significance"...
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894
    Biden allowing Ukraine to hit Russia with US long range missiles it seems.

    That's pretty huge!
  • Leon said:

    Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
    It's so evil and topsy turvy I generally try not to think about it, or I will go mad

    The Two Tier thing is not just true, it is insanely and grotesquely true, and it is destroying trust in the UK with horrifying speed
    It's at least three tier

    Jews/Israel/Zionists occupy the nadir
  • Omnium said:

    Biden allowing Ukraine to hit Russia with US long range missiles it seems.

    That's pretty huge!

    I hope they haven't used too many already..
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894

    Omnium said:

    Biden allowing Ukraine to hit Russia with US long range missiles it seems.

    That's pretty huge!

    I hope they haven't used too many already..
    Due to operational issues they seem to have used very few, and the large cargo vessel offloading now is carrying bandages, soft toys, and widgets. Definitely not a shed-load of Putin-enders.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894
    Whack a mole - Ukraine style!
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    Then nothing would ever get built. Roads, either.

    CBR is always difficult. Take this project: in my immediate area, there is to be a new station to the north of the town. The old airfield site to the east, which the new line cuts slightly through, is already planned to be a housing development. But there are vast swathes of fields to the north where another extension to the town could be built. With a new railway station handily placed.

    How much is another five or ten thousand houses worth to the economy? How much of that should be allocated to the fact the railway was/is to be built?

    And that is just one tiny part of the new line. The proposed massive new town at Tempsford by the A1 will require much better transport links - of which this will be one.
    https://ukdayone.org/briefings/new-towns-for-a-new-britain-where-britain-s-next-new-town-should-be
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,495

    AlsoLei said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Speaking of the Principality, when is Baldy Billy getting his investiture? Is he busy learning Welsh?
    Prince of Wales has no plans for investiture, Kensington Palace confirms

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-63635177
    stopped even pretending nowadays, just take the loot
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894

    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    Then nothing would ever get built. Roads, either.

    CBR is always difficult. Take this project: in my immediate area, there is to be a new station to the north of the town. The old airfield site to the east, which the new line cuts slightly through, is already planned to be a housing development. But there are vast swathes of fields to the north where another extension to the town could be built. With a new railway station handily placed.

    How much is another five or ten thousand houses worth to the economy? How much of that should be allocated to the fact the railway was/is to be built?

    And that is just one tiny part of the new line. The proposed massive new town at Tempsford by the A1 will require much better transport links - of which this will be one.
    https://ukdayone.org/briefings/new-towns-for-a-new-britain-where-britain-s-next-new-town-should-be
    It's all a bit too much in my view. (Probably everybody's view) There needs to be a little more blind disregard and trampling of toes so that progress can actually happen.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,888
    Leon said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Christ, an absolute hammering for Wales

    Australia are genuinely good

    Wales are genuinely bad

    Don't panic. Four converted tries in two minutes will see us over the line.
    That was more like Australia versus Armenia
    Have you got Shaun Edwards's phone number?
    The only consolation for you Taffs is that England are nearly as bad
    England really aren't that bad. Gatland without Edwards is like Robin without Batman.
    England are bad in a different way. They have plenty of talent but the coaching is so dire they play like a team at least five places below in the rankings. And they are terrible chokers, and have been for years

    Wales simply don't have the talent, right now - and I feel for them. Losing their one world class player - Rees Zammit - to NFL, was a horrible blow

    Wales need to copy what Ireland did many years ago, and change their game from the grassroots up

    The Regional game in Wales is in chaos.

    Schools rugby is in very good order. We have them televised on S4C. Cowbridge Comp for example has a sixth form rugby academy. The trouble starts when they leave for Loughborough or Hartpury College they are after a while eligible for England.

    State schools were once rugby only schools. For reasons of health and safety litigation football is more widely played in schools than it was.

    Population is not on our side either. England have a pot of 10 times the potential talent than Wales, yet they still look to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to broaden the selection scope.
    But all rugby nations do this, Ireland are absolutely ruthless in making foreigners eligible if it turns out their great grandmother once ate a potato

    Oz and NZ trawl all of Polynesia for players, and with great success

    Wales need to up their talent kidnapping game
    When we do England steal them anyway. Have
    you heard Billy Vunipola's Pontypool accent?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,805
    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    National infrastructure should NOT be about making money.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,888

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Comes a point though at which the Millenium is a bit of a wanky name. Are you going to keep it, what, a thousand years? And then what?
    A huge bung to the WRU from the Principality Building Society may have had a hand in the name change too.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 5,980
    edited November 17
    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882
    edited November 17
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    About 10 years ago....and of course we no longer have Twickers, its the Allianz...
    It will forever be Billy Williams's cabbage patch to some of us.

    See, even back in 1909 farmers were selling their land for redevelopment...
    It turns out that a large part of Darlington was owned by Mrs Eek's family back in the 1850s. In fact one of the bridges on the ECML was built so the farmer could access his farm.

    The weird bit is that we moved here in 1998 and only discovered this when her uncle tracked the family tree during Covid..
    On canals, and probably railways too, such structures are called 'accommodation bridges', not because they are comfortable places to live but because their purpose is to 'accommodate' a landowner who might have pasture one one side and a milking parlour on the other.
    I quite like low bridges called 'cattle creeps'. A couple I know would have trouble letting a cow through, height-wise.
    I looked that up and came across this one at Wolverton, under a canal - hate to think what @MattW would think of a path being led through it.


    But the 'accommodation crossings' - private level crossings, effectively, for the farmer - were also possible on railways for the obvious reason why they often aren't on a canal. Now regarded as a major safety issue, or perhaps cost issue, I believe.
    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    About 10 years ago....and of course we no longer have Twickers, its the Allianz...
    It will forever be Billy Williams's cabbage patch to some of us.

    See, even back in 1909 farmers were selling their land for redevelopment...
    It turns out that a large part of Darlington was owned by Mrs Eek's family back in the 1850s. In fact one of the bridges on the ECML was built so the farmer could access his farm.

    The weird bit is that we moved here in 1998 and only discovered this when her uncle tracked the family tree during Covid..
    On canals, and probably railways too, such structures are called 'accommodation bridges', not because they are comfortable places to live but because their purpose is to 'accommodate' a landowner who might have pasture one one side and a milking parlour on the other.
    I quite like low bridges called 'cattle creeps'. A couple I know would have trouble letting a cow through, height-wise.
    I looked that up and came across this one at Wolverton, under a canal - hate to think what @MattW would think of a path being led through it.

    Snip

    But the 'accommodation crossings' - private level crossings, effectively, for the farmer - were also possible on railways for the obvious reason why they often aren't on a canal. Now regarded as a major safety issue, or perhaps cost issue, I believe.
    Was that the right link @Carnyx ?
    No; thank you.
    Correct linky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtMpNXV-Koo
    There was a recent scheme to spend about £45m on a roundabout on the Nottingham Ring Road, which interrupted off around 7 or 8 Public Footpaths.

    When it was pointed out, the comment was "there's a cattle creep they could use".

    Disabled people and pedestrians and cyclists to be treated as second class farm animals.

    Grrr.

    I saw it in some minutes somewhere which I was not able to track down again.

    Motornormativity !

    I suggest that the method of repairing such should be a Bangalore Torpedo.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894

    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    National infrastructure should NOT be about making money.
    Why not?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    Omnium said:

    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    Then nothing would ever get built. Roads, either.

    CBR is always difficult. Take this project: in my immediate area, there is to be a new station to the north of the town. The old airfield site to the east, which the new line cuts slightly through, is already planned to be a housing development. But there are vast swathes of fields to the north where another extension to the town could be built. With a new railway station handily placed.

    How much is another five or ten thousand houses worth to the economy? How much of that should be allocated to the fact the railway was/is to be built?

    And that is just one tiny part of the new line. The proposed massive new town at Tempsford by the A1 will require much better transport links - of which this will be one.
    https://ukdayone.org/briefings/new-towns-for-a-new-britain-where-britain-s-next-new-town-should-be
    It's all a bit too much in my view. (Probably everybody's view) There needs to be a little more blind disregard and trampling of toes so that progress can actually happen.
    I have some sympathy with that. I can see that a consultation for the broad route is a good idea - in this case, whether to go far south, this route, or one that approached Cambridge from the north. But having two consultations on the chosen route, and *then* a planning process, is a bit much. Why not go from the initial broad consultation to the planning process, during which changes will probably have to be made anyway.

    Although I do think the route shown in this latest plan is better than the one in the first consultation, so it did serve a purpose.
  • DoctorGDoctorG Posts: 53
    algarkirk said:

    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Will Hutton makes a good argument for the changes to farming death duties in The Observer. I hadn't realised Thatcher had introduced it in 1984. So long as the wealthy prioritise and are incentivised to prioritise land ownership we will be a country in decline.

    Most farmers aren't wealthy but income poor even if asset rich
    Hutton's argument is that they can sell off part of the farm. It might even depress land values.
    They have loads of options. Gift slices of the farm to their inheritors every 7 years and they need pay nothing at all.
    The most obvious way to do this is by means of a partnership through which the capital can be transferred from one generation to the next over time whilst regulating the shares of profits (or losses) to reflect the work actually done on the farm.
    There is a group with no obvious options: very old farmers who have held on to ownership, correctly under the exisiting law, and who won't have 7 years to rectify and rearrange. They should receive special treatment.

    The slightly odd thing is that the government is sticking to the plan, suggesting that very few are affected because of exemptions, (that therefore it will raise little cash), but that the economy requires this change. This does its image little good at the very moment it holds rural seats for the first time in ages.
    One extreme example I've heard of is a farmer in his 80s, sadly has advanced dementia and retains control of the business and assets (some farmers are very stubborn relinquishing control). Has a son working for the business. In this example, the easiest way out to avoid the tax is for the father to pass away before April 2026, gifting the whole estate to his son his will.

    I can't emphasise there are quite a number of families who will still have grandparents holding all or majority of the land in their name, some in their 90s, with millions of assets to their name. Not suggesting this is the right way to run a business but will be interesting to see if the government buckle and allow an age based concession (personally I don't think they will)


  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,888

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
  • I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
    Indeed, steps will be taken to prevent a repeat.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    Carnyx said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    About 10 years ago....and of course we no longer have Twickers, its the Allianz...
    It will forever be Billy Williams's cabbage patch to some of us.

    See, even back in 1909 farmers were selling their land for redevelopment...
    It turns out that a large part of Darlington was owned by Mrs Eek's family back in the 1850s. In fact one of the bridges on the ECML was built so the farmer could access his farm.

    The weird bit is that we moved here in 1998 and only discovered this when her uncle tracked the family tree during Covid..
    On canals, and probably railways too, such structures are called 'accommodation bridges', not because they are comfortable places to live but because their purpose is to 'accommodate' a landowner who might have pasture one one side and a milking parlour on the other.
    I quite like low bridges called 'cattle creeps'. A couple I know would have trouble letting a cow through, height-wise.
    I looked that up and came across this one at Wolverton, under a canal - hate to think what @MattW would think of a path being led through it.


    But the 'accommodation crossings' - private level crossings, effectively, for the farmer - were also possible on railways for the obvious reason why they often aren't on a canal. Now regarded as a major safety issue, or perhaps cost issue, I believe.
    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    eek said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    About 10 years ago....and of course we no longer have Twickers, its the Allianz...
    It will forever be Billy Williams's cabbage patch to some of us.

    See, even back in 1909 farmers were selling their land for redevelopment...
    It turns out that a large part of Darlington was owned by Mrs Eek's family back in the 1850s. In fact one of the bridges on the ECML was built so the farmer could access his farm.

    The weird bit is that we moved here in 1998 and only discovered this when her uncle tracked the family tree during Covid..
    On canals, and probably railways too, such structures are called 'accommodation bridges', not because they are comfortable places to live but because their purpose is to 'accommodate' a landowner who might have pasture one one side and a milking parlour on the other.
    I quite like low bridges called 'cattle creeps'. A couple I know would have trouble letting a cow through, height-wise.
    I looked that up and came across this one at Wolverton, under a canal - hate to think what @MattW would think of a path being led through it.

    Snip

    But the 'accommodation crossings' - private level crossings, effectively, for the farmer - were also possible on railways for the obvious reason why they often aren't on a canal. Now regarded as a major safety issue, or perhaps cost issue, I believe.
    Was that the right link @Carnyx ?
    No; thank you.
    Correct linky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtMpNXV-Koo
    I'm pretty sure I've been through that!
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,709
    Omnium said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
    We all have to be extremely careful in what we say about Radiohead as well.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 17
    Leon said:

    ...

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Christ, an absolute hammering for Wales

    Australia are genuinely good

    Wales are genuinely bad

    Don't panic. Four converted tries in two minutes will see us over the line.
    That was more like Australia versus Armenia
    Have you got Shaun Edwards's phone number?
    The only consolation for you Taffs is that England are nearly as bad
    England really aren't that bad. Gatland without Edwards is like Robin without Batman.
    England are bad in a different way. They have plenty of talent but the coaching is so dire they play like a team at least five places below in the rankings. And they are terrible chokers, and have been for years

    Wales simply don't have the talent, right now - and I feel for them. Losing their one world class player - Rees Zammit - to NFL, was a horrible blow

    Wales need to copy what Ireland did many years ago, and change their game from the grassroots up

    The Regional game in Wales is in chaos.

    Schools rugby is in very good order. We have them televised on S4C. Cowbridge Comp for example has a sixth form rugby academy. The trouble starts when they leave for Loughborough or Hartpury College they are after a while eligible for England.

    State schools were once rugby only schools. For reasons of health and safety litigation football is more widely played in schools than it was.

    Population is not on our side either. England have a pot of 10 times the potential talent than Wales, yet they still look to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to broaden the selection scope.
    But all rugby nations do this, Ireland are absolutely ruthless in making foreigners eligible if it turns out their great grandmother once ate a potato

    Oz and NZ trawl all of Polynesia for players, and with great success

    Wales need to up their talent kidnapping game
    With the new rules on eligibility, you can't really "kidnap" talent anymore in the way NZ / Australia / England used to do. It opens up great opportunity for smaller nations to a) get their players back and b) go stealing players if they drop out of favour. Scotland have been highly effective at this.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882
    edited November 17
    On these A-barriers, I'm not sure if this one has been used - but we now know their purpose. My photo quota for today.


  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,153
    Omnium said:

    We've discussed major new projects in the past, the costs, planning etc. I just thought I'd link to the latest consultation document for the new East-West Rail line between Bedford and Cambridge. If built, this would be a new-build 100MPH railway line.

    This is the second consultation, after one in 2021.

    Note the size of the document (this is *not* an official planning document), and the way various options for certain sections are presented, marked and ranked. It is about as far from just scribbling crayons on a map as it is possible to get.

    https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/ea875894b1/Technical-Report-online-PDF.pdf

    This is one reason these projects cost such a lot of money. The problem is, it might just end up with an improved project at the end of it. But how many consultations are required? I think we had one for the broad route options, then when that was decided, one in 2021 for the route, and now this second one, with minor changes. Only after changes from this consultation are incorporated will planning consent be considered.

    (Edit: no cattle creeps or accommodation bridges, in the strict sense of the term.)

    I'd prefer a similar document that tells me how this enterprise will make money for investors. Railways should be about making money. The sooner the government gets out of the financial affairs of transport, the better.
    It would probably be easier to make money if the state didn't oblige them to spend so much time and effort on multiple rounds of consultations, changes of plan, and expensive tunnelling to appease locals...
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882
    edited November 17

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    Will they get sued?
    They should be, sadly for senior politicos if they sued every time somebody posted something defamatory about them every lawyer in the UK would be needed.
    More recently it's also Twitter and Joey Barton.

    Cost: £75k so far. Plus the lawyers.

    Plus he hasn't piped down.
    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/joey-barton-jeremy-vine-high-court-harassment-bike-cycling-b1187372.html

    (It slightly reminds me of the chap recently who drove away from Court in his car, where he had just been banned from driving!)
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,422

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 17
    The tw@tter stuff is being repeated all over YouTube as well.....could get costly. Lawyers rubbing hands and not because its suddenly got chilly.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 10,894
    edited November 17
    ydoethur said:

    Omnium said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
    We all have to be extremely careful in what we say about Radiohead as well.
    I'm sure @Malmesbury dealt with all that with his expositions on HMS Captain and Covenanter tanks - subtle and well done I felt.

    (PS not sure it was Malmesbury)
  • Would England have won the autumn international games if the RFU got rid of their stupid rules about non-eligibility of players who are based abroad?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945
    edited November 17
    "Rupert Lowe MP
    @RupertLowe10

    I am determined to uncover the true number of crimes committed by illegal migrants. I’ve been told “The information requested is not available from published statistics.” The Home Office knows, but refuses to tell us… I am going to dig and dig and dig. The truth will come.

    6:16 PM · Nov 17, 2024
    54.4K Views"

    https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/1858212690839376088
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882
    edited November 17
    May be of interest to one or two here - Proviz have 70% off on some of their winter cycling jackets for clearance, which are padded with artificial down, with nice zips for coolth, and deep pockets. Brings them down to £30 from £100.

    I have a Proviz, and these things are insanely reflective.

    https://provizsports.com/search?q=commuter&options[prefix]=last&country=GB
  • Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
    I don't think that I'm in any danger of breaching the OSA

    But I do believe that I'm currently restricted from saying various things that would have been fine to say about Boris

    People can now go to prison for a long time for posting the wrong thing
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 63,114

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,066
    Andy_JS said:

    "Julie Burchill
    I listened to a solid week of Woman’s Hour…
    What a week of woe it was"

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/i-listened-to-a-solid-week-of-womans-hour/

    Imagine spending a week listening to Julie Burchill
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,978

    Would England have won the autumn international games if the RFU got rid of their stupid rules about non-eligibility of players who are based abroad?

    How many players playing overseas would walk into the side ?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,422
    Andy_JS said:

    "Rupert Lowe MP
    @RupertLowe10

    I am determined to uncover the true number of crimes committed by illegal migrants. I’ve been told “The information requested is not available from published statistics.” The Home Office knows, but refuses to tell us… I am going to dig and dig and dig. The truth will come.

    6:16 PM · Nov 17, 2024
    54.4K Views"

    https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/1858212690839376088

    Rupert Lowe doesn't even know what an "illegal migrant" is.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,857
    DoctorG said:

    algarkirk said:

    DavidL said:

    HYUFD said:

    Will Hutton makes a good argument for the changes to farming death duties in The Observer. I hadn't realised Thatcher had introduced it in 1984. So long as the wealthy prioritise and are incentivised to prioritise land ownership we will be a country in decline.

    Most farmers aren't wealthy but income poor even if asset rich
    Hutton's argument is that they can sell off part of the farm. It might even depress land values.
    They have loads of options. Gift slices of the farm to their inheritors every 7 years and they need pay nothing at all.
    The most obvious way to do this is by means of a partnership through which the capital can be transferred from one generation to the next over time whilst regulating the shares of profits (or losses) to reflect the work actually done on the farm.
    There is a group with no obvious options: very old farmers who have held on to ownership, correctly under the exisiting law, and who won't have 7 years to rectify and rearrange. They should receive special treatment.

    The slightly odd thing is that the government is sticking to the plan, suggesting that very few are affected because of exemptions, (that therefore it will raise little cash), but that the economy requires this change. This does its image little good at the very moment it holds rural seats for the first time in ages.
    One extreme example I've heard of is a farmer in his 80s, sadly has advanced dementia and retains control of the business and assets (some farmers are very stubborn relinquishing control). Has a son working for the business. In this example, the easiest way out to avoid the tax is for the father to pass away before April 2026, gifting the whole estate to his son his will.

    I can't emphasise there are quite a number of families who will still have grandparents holding all or majority of the land in their name, some in their 90s, with millions of assets to their name. Not suggesting this is the right way to run a business but will be interesting to see if the government buckle and allow an age based concession (personally I don't think they will)


    They should never have started down this track in the way they have. If they don't deal with the 'dead in 7 years because 93' group, they will cause some pain. If they do plug the gap, the next group to hit the headlines will be the 'healthy farmer aged 48 dies suddenly, tragic family face £2 million tax bill'.

    Tax reforms need care.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
    I thought we had already said we would, but the block was USA support services?

    Why is Mr Biden limiting it to Kursk, FFS?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 17
    Taz said:

    Would England have won the autumn international games if the RFU got rid of their stupid rules about non-eligibility of players who are based abroad?

    How many players playing overseas would walk into the side ?
    England lost each of the games in the last 20 minutes. The bench is very weak. Off the top of my head, here is a selection of those who could be selected.

    Owen Farrell, Kyle Sinckler, Dave Ribbans, Courtney Lawes, Jack Willis, Sam Simmonds, Henry Arundell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Lewis Ludlam,

    In terms of forwards, Sinckler, Ribbans, Lawes, Willis coming off the bench is a big step up. Farrell on for Smith, Marchant or Tuilagi on for Ollie Lawrence. Arundell comes on for the wing.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,032
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/17/rebecca-hall-i-regret-apologising-for-working-with-woody-allen

    The worm is continuing to turn against woke warriors and cancel culture.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    MattW said:

    May be of interest to one or two here - Proviz have 70% off on some of their winter cycling jackets for clearance, which are padded with artificial down, with nice zips for coolth, and deep pockets. Brings them down to £30 from £100.

    I have a Proviz, and these things are insanely reflective.

    https://provizsports.com/search?q=commuter&options[prefix]=last&country=GB

    Was it you who recommended the Varia bike radar/light the other week? I got one soon after, and it's blooming amazing. A game-changer for cycling. I've done over 200km with it this month, and it's awesome.

    If it was you, then thanks! And if not, thanks to whoever it was...
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,312
    MattW said:

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
    I thought we had already said we would, but the block was USA support services?

    Why is Mr Biden limiting it to Kursk, FFS?
    Is he? I have seen other suggestions that initial use is likely to be in Kursk, not that it is limited to Kursk.

    Maybe it's just ratcheting up the "escalation". Today Kursk, next week Voronezh.

    Le Figaro is already reporting the British and French have allowed the use of Stormshadow/SCALP.

    I presume something is already flying. And why can't Preston spell Kyiv yet?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882
    edited November 17
    Why has Youtube just fed me a video about trains at Dore & Totley?

    Including, apparently, an Ex-Avanti 221?

    @Sunil_Prasannan ? What did I do?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqKhOhEn_c8
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,888

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    You are perfectly able to say whatever you want to, however you might then need to test the reliability of your commentary in front of a judge. Free speech can be expensive.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,422
    edited November 17

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
    I don't think that I'm in any danger of breaching the OSA

    But I do believe that I'm currently restricted from saying various things that would have been fine to say about Boris

    People can now go to prison for a long time for posting the wrong thing
    It's fine for me to say that Boris is serially unfaithful. I am restricted from saying BlancheLivermore is serially unfaithful. That's because one is true and one isn't.

    To go to prison, you'd have to be inciting hatred, I think. Comments about an individual would, initially, be libel or slander. If you lost a case and faced a court order, and then breached that, you could go to prison.

    But why are you so keen to repeat Twitter rumours?
  • MattW said:

    Why has Youtube just fed me a video about trains at Dore & Totley?

    Including, apparently, an Ex-Avanti 221?

    @Sunil_Prasannan ?

    That's my local station.

    Had some improvements recently.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928

    Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
    I'm convinced there are trojan horse figures within the establishment who want a Trump style leader.

    I'm only half joking.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082
    Omnium said:

    ydoethur said:

    Omnium said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
    We all have to be extremely careful in what we say about Radiohead as well.
    I'm sure @Malmesbury dealt with all that with his expositions on HMS Captain and Covenanter tanks - subtle and well done I felt.

    (PS not sure it was Malmesbury)
    I'm not sure what my expositions HMS Captain and the Covenanter tanks have to do with Radiohead.

    Unless you are referring to my quoting the stages of the project...

    1. Enthusiasm
    2. Disillusionment
    3. Panic
    4. Search for the Guilty
    5. Punishment of the Innocent*
    6. Praise for the uninvolved.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082

    Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
    I'm convinced there are trojan horse figures within the establishment who want a Trump style leader.

    I'm only half joking.
    The Police seems to specialise in Malevolent Compliance. If told to pull back on hate non-crimes, they will probably start arresting people who offend Tommy Lots of Names. Or something equally stupid.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,709

    MattW said:

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
    I thought we had already said we would, but the block was USA support services?

    Why is Mr Biden limiting it to Kursk, FFS?
    Is he? I have seen other suggestions that initial use is likely to be in Kursk, not that it is limited to Kursk.

    Maybe it's just ratcheting up the "escalation". Today Kursk, next week Voronezh.

    Le Figaro is already reporting the British and French have allowed the use of Stormshadow/SCALP.

    I presume something is already flying. And why can't Preston spell Kyiv yet?
    Maybe he’s chicken.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082
    ydoethur said:

    MattW said:

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
    I thought we had already said we would, but the block was USA support services?

    Why is Mr Biden limiting it to Kursk, FFS?
    Is he? I have seen other suggestions that initial use is likely to be in Kursk, not that it is limited to Kursk.

    Maybe it's just ratcheting up the "escalation". Today Kursk, next week Voronezh.

    Le Figaro is already reporting the British and French have allowed the use of Stormshadow/SCALP.

    I presume something is already flying. And why can't Preston spell Kyiv yet?
    Maybe he’s chicken.
    Crumbs! what a comment....
  • SteveSSteveS Posts: 190

    Omnium said:

    ydoethur said:

    Omnium said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
    We all have to be extremely careful in what we say about Radiohead as well.
    I'm sure @Malmesbury dealt with all that with his expositions on HMS Captain and Covenanter tanks - subtle and well done I felt.

    (PS not sure it was Malmesbury)
    I'm not sure what my expositions HMS Captain and the Covenanter tanks have to do with Radiohead.

    Unless you are referring to my quoting the stages of the project...

    1. Enthusiasm
    2. Disillusionment
    3. Panic
    4. Search for the Guilty
    5. Punishment of the Innocent*
    6. Praise for the uninvolved.
    Some say that in Government, there is an additional stage 3 1/2, which is ‘announcing even more money in the hope that will fix the problem’

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864
    edited November 17

    AlsoLei said:

    Leon said:

    When did they rename it the Principality Stadium? Annoying change

    I don't like change

    Speaking of the Principality, when is Baldy Billy getting his investiture? Is he busy learning Welsh?
    Prince of Wales has no plans for investiture, Kensington Palace confirms

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-63635177
    William did the modern thing and made a speech in the Senedd after his father made him Prince of Wales.

    I suppose it goes down a bit better with Welsh people than being proclaimed Prince of Wales from a castle Edward I built to impose English rule on Wales like Edward II and his father were (and of course unlike Edward II William has some Welsh blood from the Tudors)
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,032
    If those Twitter posts are true it's dynamite and I hope that [redacted] uses parliamentary privilege to ask the right questions.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082

    Leon said:

    If you need any more reasons to despair for the UK, try this

    "I went on GBNews to challenge the lie that Pakistani-Muslim grooming gangs were a “thing of the past”.

    The next day, the police came to my door and tried to intimidate me into silence.

    Criticise the establishment, and they will do everything in their power to stop you. This."

    https://x.com/SamanthaTaghoy/status/1857928002014761201

    This brave girl Samantha Taghoy is herself a victim of the grooming gangs. And the police come after HER

    I saw that earlier. It's horrendous that a survivor of grooming gangs isn't allowed to talk about it if she says the sacred M and I words
    I'm convinced there are trojan horse figures within the establishment who want a Trump style leader.

    I'm only half joking.
    Someone said that, due to incompetence, many organisations will act as if they have been infiltrated by their worst enemies.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882

    MattW said:

    May be of interest to one or two here - Proviz have 70% off on some of their winter cycling jackets for clearance, which are padded with artificial down, with nice zips for coolth, and deep pockets. Brings them down to £30 from £100.

    I have a Proviz, and these things are insanely reflective.

    https://provizsports.com/search?q=commuter&options[prefix]=last&country=GB

    Was it you who recommended the Varia bike radar/light the other week? I got one soon after, and it's blooming amazing. A game-changer for cycling. I've done over 200km with it this month, and it's awesome.

    If it was you, then thanks! And if not, thanks to whoever it was...
    No - it may have been @Eabhal ?

    I posted a link to Ashley Neal's review (he liked it), and a couple of alternatives that are a little less pricey.

    I really pleased you like it, and have found the right device for your requirement. Don't forget the lifesaver glance, though - they are great but nothing is 100%, and a driver may decide you are one of those who does not look as he does not know about it. But I'm sure you are on that !
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,888

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
    I don't think that I'm in any danger of breaching the OSA

    But I do believe that I'm currently restricted from saying various things that would have been fine to say about Boris

    People can now go to prison for a long time for posting the wrong thing
    Wasn't a dishevelled former Prime Minister allegedly subject to an NDA. I don't believe anyone could mention anything about violins if I recall correctly.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    Russia is developing a new Black Sea port in occupied Abhkazia. Since it's not sovereign Russian territory I would hope there wouldn't be restrictions on missile attacks there?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864
    edited November 17

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    They have 2 months to send them all over before Biden leaves office, then Putin has to deal with Trump if he wants to respond further
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,882

    MattW said:

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    Wouldn’t have happened if Harris had won.
    Robert Peston
    @Peston
    With the New York Times announcing that Biden is about to give permission for Ukraine to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia, we are waiting at the back of the PM’s plane to find out whether Starmer will give the same permission to Zelenskyy in relation to long-range Storm Shadow missiles that the UK has already given to Kiev (and whether Macron of France will give the green light in relation to France’s equivalent ballistic system).

    If Starmer says yes, then I assume Zelenskyy would deploy those British missiles within hours, partly because there are reportedly very few ATACMS missiles already on the ground in Ukraine.

    This is arguably the hardest and highest stakes decision that Starmer will have taken since winning the election. It will be seen by Putin as a serious escalation by the UK.
    I thought we had already said we would, but the block was USA support services?

    Why is Mr Biden limiting it to Kursk, FFS?
    Is he? I have seen other suggestions that initial use is likely to be in Kursk, not that it is limited to Kursk.

    Maybe it's just ratcheting up the "escalation". Today Kursk, next week Voronezh.

    Le Figaro is already reporting the British and French have allowed the use of Stormshadow/SCALP.

    I presume something is already flying. And why can't Preston spell Kyiv yet?
    Oh I see. That's how I read the wording.
  • Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
    I don't think that I'm in any danger of breaching the OSA

    But I do believe that I'm currently restricted from saying various things that would have been fine to say about Boris

    People can now go to prison for a long time for posting the wrong thing
    Wasn't a dishevelled former Prime Minister allegedly subject to an NDA. I don't believe anyone could mention anything about violins if I recall correctly.
    Not quite, but what people like Blanche Livermore is unaware OGH banned people for breaching this a decade ago.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2328067/Boris-Johnsons-secret-lovechild-daughter-Stephanie-victory-publics-right-know.html
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    edited November 17
    I wouldn't be too optimistic about Biden shifting on long range missiles. I wouldn't be surprised if he carefully restricts the number Ukraine can use and the acceptable targets so as not to do too much damage to Russia.

    Notice the Washington Post report - 'limited strikes'
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,928
    HYUFD said:

    Huzzah.

    Breaking news: President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use a powerful American long-range weapon for limited strikes inside Russia in response to North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to aid Moscow’s war effort, according to U.S. officials.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/

    They have 2 months to send them all over before Biden leaves office, then Putin has to deal with Trump if he wants to respond further
    I would be interested to know quantities. So much talk about how stocks are dangerously low.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
    The first person to mention The Rumours today was @darkage

    And that is not a criticism of @darkage, he/she was careful not to state any specifics, and The Rumours HAVE been dominating social media for a day or two, so they cannot be entirely ignored. We DO need to be mindful of a very twitchy Establishment, willing to use Plod in quite dubious ways to silence everyone
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,141
    CatMan said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "Julie Burchill
    I listened to a solid week of Woman’s Hour…
    What a week of woe it was"

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/i-listened-to-a-solid-week-of-womans-hour/

    Imagine spending a week listening to Julie Burchill
    That breathless, squeaky little voice apart from anything else.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    What does OSA stand for? Googled it and got obstructive sleep apnea which I'm guessing isn't what people are talking about.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 43,437
    MattW said:

    MattW said:

    May be of interest to one or two here - Proviz have 70% off on some of their winter cycling jackets for clearance, which are padded with artificial down, with nice zips for coolth, and deep pockets. Brings them down to £30 from £100.

    I have a Proviz, and these things are insanely reflective.

    https://provizsports.com/search?q=commuter&options[prefix]=last&country=GB

    Was it you who recommended the Varia bike radar/light the other week? I got one soon after, and it's blooming amazing. A game-changer for cycling. I've done over 200km with it this month, and it's awesome.

    If it was you, then thanks! And if not, thanks to whoever it was...
    No - it may have been @Eabhal ?

    I posted a link to Ashley Neal's review (he liked it), and a couple of alternatives that are a little less pricey.

    I really pleased you like it, and have found the right device for your requirement. Don't forget the lifesaver glance, though - they are great but nothing is 100%, and a driver may decide you are one of those who does not look as he does not know about it. But I'm sure you are on that !
    Oh yes, I still glance over my shoulder. But - and this is the most impressive thing - I can only see a certain distance back when I glance over my shoulder (at least, without weaving all over the road...), and it shows cars far beyond that. So I know they're approaching - and you can tell their speed.

    It isn't perfect, which is another reason the glance is needed - it 'forgets' cars that have been behind you for some time, and which are going at your speed waiting to overtake; I have had one software crash with it, and it gets confused by other cyclists (though I believe there's a 'peloton' mode that help with that) . It also misses cars on windy roads, such as the main one through my part of the village. But all in all, it really is a gamechanger, especially on country lanes.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 13,213

    I wouldn't be too optimistic about Biden shifting on long range missiles. I wouldn't be surprised if he carefully restricts the number Ukraine can use and the acceptable targets so as not to do too much damage to Russia.

    Notice the Washington Post report - 'limited strikes'

    I never understand why they agonise so publicly about these decisions, and appear to pre-announce them.

    Why not just quietly give the go ahead and of Russia complains, shrug quietly. I don’t remember Russian media agonising at length about whether bringing in North Korean soldiers would be an escalation.
  • Andy_JS said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    What does OSA stand for? Googled it and got obstructive sleep apnea which I'm guessing isn't what people are talking about.
    Official Secrets Act
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082
    SteveS said:

    Omnium said:

    ydoethur said:

    Omnium said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    A bit of a mind twister.

    I'm not allowed to say pineapple is great on pizza. (TSE rulings #1,#2,#4 through #128...)

    Perhaps I'm secretly not allowed to say that walnuts are great on pizza.

    I've no strong view as to the truth of either of these things, but I think it's safe to say that the answer to your question is 'no'.
    We all have to be extremely careful in what we say about Radiohead as well.
    I'm sure @Malmesbury dealt with all that with his expositions on HMS Captain and Covenanter tanks - subtle and well done I felt.

    (PS not sure it was Malmesbury)
    I'm not sure what my expositions HMS Captain and the Covenanter tanks have to do with Radiohead.

    Unless you are referring to my quoting the stages of the project...

    1. Enthusiasm
    2. Disillusionment
    3. Panic
    4. Search for the Guilty
    5. Punishment of the Innocent*
    6. Praise for the uninvolved.
    Some say that in Government, there is an additional stage 3 1/2, which is ‘announcing even more money in the hope that will fix the problem’

    That is generally considered part of the panic.

    Did you know that in the aftermath of HMS Captain sinking, the man who condemned her design as unseaworthy was forced to resign as Chief Constructor for the Royal Navy (Chief designer)?

    The man who nearly replaced him, Laird, of the famous ship yard, had been in charge of building HMS Captain, whose misbuilding (massively over weight due to poor yard management) contributed top the disaster....
  • Leon said:

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
    The first person to mention The Rumours today was @darkage

    And that is not a criticism of @darkage, he/she was careful not to state any specifics, and The Rumours HAVE been dominating social media for a day or two, so they cannot be entirely ignored. We DO need to be mindful of a very twitchy Establishment, willing to use Plod in quite dubious ways to silence everyone
    If only you had a magazine that could publish this story.

    But I heard the same bullshit about Lord McAlpine.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Taz said:

    Would England have won the autumn international games if the RFU got rid of their stupid rules about non-eligibility of players who are based abroad?

    How many players playing overseas would walk into the side ?
    England lost each of the games in the last 20 minutes. The bench is very weak. Off the top of my head, here is a selection of those who could be selected.

    Owen Farrell, Kyle Sinckler, Dave Ribbans, Courtney Lawes, Jack Willis, Sam Simmonds, Henry Arundell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Lewis Ludlam,

    In terms of forwards, Sinckler, Ribbans, Lawes, Willis coming off the bench is a big step up. Farrell on for Smith, Marchant or Tuilagi on for Ollie Lawrence. Arundell comes on for the wing.
    Arundell is, tragically, not eligible
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    The OSA applies whether you sign it or not.

    If you think something is true, then say it. But if you think rumours on Twitter are likely to be true, maybe you should re-think your epistemology.
    I don't think that I'm in any danger of breaching the OSA

    But I do believe that I'm currently restricted from saying various things that would have been fine to say about Boris

    People can now go to prison for a long time for posting the wrong thing
    It's fine for me to say that Boris is serially unfaithful. I am restricted from saying BlancheLivermore is serially unfaithful. That's because one is true and one isn't.

    To go to prison, you'd have to be inciting hatred, I think. Comments about an individual would, initially, be libel or slander. If you lost a case and faced a court order, and then breached that, you could go to prison.

    But why are you so keen to repeat Twitter rumours?
    What if the rumours are true? Rumours are, often, true. Remember The Necklace
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,505
    edited November 17
    Leon said:

    Taz said:

    Would England have won the autumn international games if the RFU got rid of their stupid rules about non-eligibility of players who are based abroad?

    How many players playing overseas would walk into the side ?
    England lost each of the games in the last 20 minutes. The bench is very weak. Off the top of my head, here is a selection of those who could be selected.

    Owen Farrell, Kyle Sinckler, Dave Ribbans, Courtney Lawes, Jack Willis, Sam Simmonds, Henry Arundell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Lewis Ludlam,

    In terms of forwards, Sinckler, Ribbans, Lawes, Willis coming off the bench is a big step up. Farrell on for Smith, Marchant or Tuilagi on for Ollie Lawrence. Arundell comes on for the wing.
    Arundell is, tragically, not eligible
    That was my point....all those players are not eligible. Would having them come off the bench with 20 to go have changed the result in the last 3 games?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
    The first person to mention The Rumours today was @darkage

    And that is not a criticism of @darkage, he/she was careful not to state any specifics, and The Rumours HAVE been dominating social media for a day or two, so they cannot be entirely ignored. We DO need to be mindful of a very twitchy Establishment, willing to use Plod in quite dubious ways to silence everyone
    If only you had a magazine that could publish this story.

    But I heard the same bullshit about Lord McAlpine.
    There's a version of the rumours which I believe IS likely true, and makes sense, and is - potentially - extremely damaging for the government. But it is NOT the one being casually batted about on Le TwiX
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,864
    If the rumour is related to Starmer's legal career I really don't think it means much given cab rank rule
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 52,268
    This is how the Czech foreign minister was welcomed to UCL:

    https://x.com/habibi_uk/status/1857472015449600366
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 51,082
    HYUFD said:

    If the rumour is related to Starmer's legal career I really don't think it means much given cab rank rule

    Does anyone have an example of The Truth, on any matter, first being revealed on Twatter?

    As opposed to zillions of lies, bullshit, horseshit etc etc?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 56,496

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    I see some people have forgotten the lessons about Twitter and Lord McAlpine.

    There was no real need for anyone to bring it up on here this afternoon. Although it got a substantial reaction so I suppose that could be viewed as a job well done by the poster.
    The first person to mention The Rumours today was @darkage

    And that is not a criticism of @darkage, he/she was careful not to state any specifics, and The Rumours HAVE been dominating social media for a day or two, so they cannot be entirely ignored. We DO need to be mindful of a very twitchy Establishment, willing to use Plod in quite dubious ways to silence everyone
    If only you had a magazine that could publish this story.

    But I heard the same bullshit about Lord McAlpine.
    There's a version of the rumours which I believe IS likely true, and makes sense, and is - potentially - extremely damaging for the government. But it is NOT the one being casually batted about on Le TwiX
    So shut the fuck up about in on here.

    I've spoken to OGH and he doesn't want to be sued, so your choice.
    Again, I did NOT start this conversation - go check - so I am quite happy for it to end
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,945

    Andy_JS said:

    Is everything that we're secretly not allowed to say untrue?

    Importantly ETA - I haven't signed the OSA or any NDAs

    What does OSA stand for? Googled it and got obstructive sleep apnea which I'm guessing isn't what people are talking about.
    Official Secrets Act
    Thanks.
This discussion has been closed.