That don’t impress me much – politicalbetting.com

System

That don’t impress me much – politicalbetting.com

Kemi Badenoch is much less likely to be seen as a 'PM in waiting' than Keir Starmer was when he became Labour leaderBadenoch first poll (Nov 2024): 15% Starmer first poll (May 2020): 32%https://t.co/FiifPne8wb pic.twitter.com/9ujjRv9IgV

Read the full story here

Morris_Dancer

FPT:

Hey, kids. After endless faffing about finally got the audio for a review of the F1 2024 title fights up here:
https://undercutters.podbean.com/e/f1-2024-title-fight-undercutters-ep1/

Hope you give it a listen. Second episode will be about the battle for sixth between RB, Haas, and Alpine.



FPT 2 F1: if you prefer words, there are many here, and about nine delightful graphs. Marvel at the graphics. Gosh, they are lovely:
https://morrisf1.blogspot.com/2024/12/f1-2024-title-fight.html

dixiedean

Trailing like the Saudis.
So they've put up a shedload of sportswash money for a snooker tournament.
And $1m for anyone who makes a 147 then pots the gimmick golden ball.
Anyways, Zhang Anda has nine reds and nine blacks. When. Power cut.
Energy crisis, you see.

Foss

Pulpstar said:

Sean_F said:

Malmesbury said:

Sean_F said:

RobD said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

A Turkish crime boss said to be one of Britain’s biggest drug dealers has won his human rights battle against deportation.

The man, who was jailed for 16 years for plotting to supply heroin across the UK, won the right to remain in the UK on the basis that it would breach his human right to a family life, even though he had an extra-marital affair with a woman in Turkey who he married to “preserve her honour”.

The 70-year-old drug dealer, who was granted anonymity, also claimed that as an Alevi Kurd he would be persecuted if he was deported to Turkey.

However, the immigration tribunal was told that he had returned to his homeland eight times since he came to Britain without facing any persecution.

The man’s claim to remain in the UK was backed by the UN Refugee Agency, despite the Home Office saying that he was a “danger to the community” and that his continued presence in the UK was “not conducive to the public good” because of his criminal history.

The tribunal was told that he was believed to be the head of an organised crime gang responsible at the time for 90 per cent of the UK heroin trade.

...even getting a Turkish passport...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/18/turkish-crime-boss-jailed-heroin-offences-allowed-to-stay/

Why can't he have a family life in Turkey?

I think that some human rights lawyers and judges feel a positive glow of virtue, by endangering the public, in the cause of abstract principles.

I met some of the people involved in Capn’ Hooks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Hamza_al-Masri) fight against extradition. They were quite clear that they believed that all extradition and repatriation was wrong and they wanted to set precedents to stop all of it.

Such people are unhinged. Unfortunately, they are absurdly influential.

How have they attained so much influence ? What sort of thought processes do the relevant judges go through to reach their increasingly ridiculous conclusions ?
It's precisely the same de haut en bas mindset that excluded the 2nd round of presidential elections going ahead in Romania.

Entryism.

We should trial taking these decisions out of the hands of the professional panels and using the general jury pool.

MarqueeMark

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

Sunil_Prasannan

dixiedean said:

Trailing like the Saudis.
So they've put up a shedload of sportswash money for a snooker tournament.
And $1m for anyone who makes a 147 then pots the gimmick golden ball.
Anyways, Zhang Anda has nine reds and nine blacks. When. Power cut.
Energy crisis, you see.

Ban all dictatorships and absolute monarchies from the Olympics!

Anabobazina

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

MarqueeMark

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

It was "so true" the first three times you posted it.

B-O-R-I-N-G......

TheScreamingEagles

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

So you’ve not read the thread then?

This is what I’ve written

What must sting for Kemi Badenoch is that she is doing worse than Starmer at a similar point, but as with those writing off Starmer now, there’s plenty of time for Badenoch to turn it around.

Sunil_Prasannan

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?

Northern_Al

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

Quite right. I'm tired of all these threads celebrating what a wonderful job Starmer and Reeves are doing - they should be given a year to prove that they're really that great now they're in power.

MarqueeMark

TheScreamingEagles said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

So you’ve not read the thread then?

This is what I’ve written

What must sting for Kemi Badenoch is that she is doing worse than Starmer at a similar point, but as with those writing off Starmer now, there’s plenty of time for Badenoch to turn it around.

So give her that time...

kinabalu

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

Not to worry, BTL will no doubt assert its usual anti-Starmer identity.

MarqueeMark

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?

As The Jam might have asked, "That's entertainment?"

TheScreamingEagles

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

So you’ve not read the thread then?

This is what I’ve written

What must sting for Kemi Badenoch is that she is doing worse than Starmer at a similar point, but as with those writing off Starmer now, there’s plenty of time for Badenoch to turn it around.

So give her that time...

I have, my last Badenoch thread praised her.

https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2024/12/16/badenoch-is-absolutely-right-on-a-potential-tory-and-reform-alliance/

ydoethur

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?

No, and no.

Big_G_NorthWales

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

So you’ve not read the thread then?

This is what I’ve written

What must sting for Kemi Badenoch is that she is doing worse than Starmer at a similar point, but as with those writing off Starmer now, there’s plenty of time for Badenoch to turn it around.

So give her that time...

Apart from her reference to brexit at the end of pmqs today she was clear, calm and really irritated Starmer who only had 22 billion black hole response

Starmer, Reeves and Labour are in government and are not popular whilst Kemi is completely new to her role and may well grow into it

I would be far more worried if I supported Labour with the economic climate in disarray directly as a result of their ill considered choices

Taz

dixiedean said:

Trailing like the Saudis.
So they've put up a shedload of sportswash money for a snooker tournament.
And $1m for anyone who makes a 147 then pots the gimmick golden ball.
Anyways, Zhang Anda has nine reds and nine blacks. When. Power cut.
Energy crisis, you see.

If they can sort the booze out Barry Hearn will take the darts World Championship there too.

rottenborough

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

rottenborough

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

Bit harsh - he's only reporting the polling.

JosiasJessop

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

SKS is a Year 9 student who lost the competition, but goes around saying his was the best entry anyway. For reasons.

noneoftheabove

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

Taz

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?

Let me entertain you.

algarkirk

It's not all that complicated. The Tories big task is to reform themselves around policies, principles and practices which ally themselves to both traditional centre right ground and the conviction that they know how to run the UK competently. They need to to keep us informed on progress and convince us.

They have not yet started. Nor do they give this Tory a sense that they know how to, or that this is the job they have to do if they care about our country.

ydoethur

JosiasJessop said:

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

SKS is a Year 9 student who lost the competition, but goes around saying his was the best entry anyway. For reasons.

As a human rights lawyer that was his job!

kinabalu

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

Leaving just enough room for a sandwich.

dixiedean

algarkirk said:

It's not all that complicated. The Tories big task is to reform themselves around policies, principles and practices which ally themselves to both traditional centre right ground and the conviction that they know how to run the UK competently. They need to to keep us informed on progress and convince us.

They have not yet started. Nor do they give this Tory a sense that they know how to, or that this is the job they have to do if they care about our country.

They don't give me the sense that it is a necessary job. And it's far from sufficient.

williamglenn

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

JosiasJessop

One for @Leon:

“Unprecedented” decline in teen drug use continues, surprising experts
Kids who were in 8th grade at pandemic's start have ushered in an era of abstaining.

https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/the-kids-are-maybe-alright-teen-drug-use-hits-new-lows-in-ongoing-decline/

RobD

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

Sale of the Chagos Islands?

williamglenn

RobD said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

Sale of the Chagos Islands?

If America won't let us give them away, we could always offer the Isle of Wight.

GIN1138

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

TheScreamingEagles

RobD said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

Sale of the Chagos Islands?

How about a swap?

The Chagos Islands for Hong Kong, Kowloon, the New Territories etc.

algarkirk

Foss said:

Pulpstar said:

Sean_F said:

Malmesbury said:

Sean_F said:

RobD said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

A Turkish crime boss said to be one of Britain’s biggest drug dealers has won his human rights battle against deportation.

The man, who was jailed for 16 years for plotting to supply heroin across the UK, won the right to remain in the UK on the basis that it would breach his human right to a family life, even though he had an extra-marital affair with a woman in Turkey who he married to “preserve her honour”.

The 70-year-old drug dealer, who was granted anonymity, also claimed that as an Alevi Kurd he would be persecuted if he was deported to Turkey.

However, the immigration tribunal was told that he had returned to his homeland eight times since he came to Britain without facing any persecution.

The man’s claim to remain in the UK was backed by the UN Refugee Agency, despite the Home Office saying that he was a “danger to the community” and that his continued presence in the UK was “not conducive to the public good” because of his criminal history.

The tribunal was told that he was believed to be the head of an organised crime gang responsible at the time for 90 per cent of the UK heroin trade.

...even getting a Turkish passport...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/18/turkish-crime-boss-jailed-heroin-offences-allowed-to-stay/

Why can't he have a family life in Turkey?

I think that some human rights lawyers and judges feel a positive glow of virtue, by endangering the public, in the cause of abstract principles.

I met some of the people involved in Capn’ Hooks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Hamza_al-Masri) fight against extradition. They were quite clear that they believed that all extradition and repatriation was wrong and they wanted to set precedents to stop all of it.

Such people are unhinged. Unfortunately, they are absurdly influential.

How have they attained so much influence ? What sort of thought processes do the relevant judges go through to reach their increasingly ridiculous conclusions ?
It's precisely the same de haut en bas mindset that excluded the 2nd round of presidential elections going ahead in Romania.

Entryism.

We should trial taking these decisions out of the hands of the professional panels and using the general jury pool.

I have no views on this case, but three points.

I want to live in a country that has the rule of law, which means the courts can tell the government to get lost. This is a major difference between us and Russia et al. I like it that way.

This particular case has a potential for 4 levels of hearing - Tribunal, Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal, SC. If the government is right it can appeal.

Government through parliament makes the law and through parliament can change it. Courts don't make the laws.

Luckyguy1983

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

boulay

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

They can get the Chinese EV manufacturers to set up EV factories in the UK and sell them branded as old British brands that lost their way like Triumph, Austin, Rover and Jaguar.

MaxPB

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

JosiasJessop

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

The USA under Trump might well be *worse* than China.

Which leaves us with ... Europe.

(Runs for cover.)

Nigelb

JosiasJessop said:

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

SKS is a Year 9 student who lost the competition, but goes around saying his was the best entry anyway. For reasons.

No, he’s the dud who was made head boy.

NickyBreakspear

We are in a treading water phase for Badenoch.

In our multi-party world, she needs to work out and understand what do the Conservatives stand for and what are the important dividing lines with the other parties. This includes in particular Reform.

It is too early for these to be well developed, and so she is currently firing off blanks trying to see what is working.

I would expect to see the start of a more coherent approach by Easter.

It has taken Labour 6 months to start finding their feet in Government, so we shouldn't we expect the same from the Conservatives?

Nigelb

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

There is no lunchtime as fast as she’s concerned.

GIN1138

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

Luckyguy1983

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

The Treasury is a blight on the country. It has been since the 1980s and probably for decades before - perhaps centuries. Sack the lot of them and fumigate the building. The Prime Minister should be responsible for economic policy, ultimately they get the blame - it's poisonous to have the Treasury as this power behind the throne and the Chancellor pursuing a parallel policy agenda to the PM.

algarkirk

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

Yes. Nil impact. The reason is simple. Any criticism required of government we can do ourselves effortlessly. We have no interest in Tory criticisms, and anyway they all ring hollow.

We want very much to know how brilliantly and competently they would run the UK, and on what principles and policies, especially the hard and intractable issues that don't accede to slogans, and we want on display the brilliance of the top team that will do all this.

0/10 so far.

TheScreamingEagles

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Luckyguy1983

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

GIN1138

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Seriously? You paid nearly £400 for... that? 😂

MattW

kinabalu said:

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

Leaving just enough room for a sandwich.

I've picked up a sandwich for this evening, to go with a salad.

(And about half of a pack of cocoa dusted chocolate coated almonds, which are subversively moreish.)

It is a Boxing Day feast with British chicken and oak-smoked pork, with cheese coleslaw and balsamic onion chutney. No partridge, Alan or otherwise.

I don't get where Boxing Day comes in. Other than it is this morning's sandwich, so is technically a left over.

Northern_Al

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

I erred in clicking on that link. Disgusting.
A lesser being would be in the sin bin for posting that.

kinabalu

MattW said:

kinabalu said:

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

Leaving just enough room for a sandwich.

I've picked up a sandwich for this evening, to go with a salad.

(And about half of a pack of cocoa dusted chocolate coated almonds, which are subversively moreish.)

It is a Boxing Day feast with British chicken and oak-smoked pork, with cheese coleslaw and balsamic onion chutney. No partridge, Alan or otherwise.

I don't get where Boxing Day comes in. Other than it is this morning's sandwich, so is technically a left over.

Making me hungry reading that.

Malmesbury

JosiasJessop said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

The USA under Trump might well be *worse* than China.

Which leaves us with ... Europe.

(Runs for cover.)

Silly thinking. Think big. Think outside the box

We take all the Uyghurs and Tibetans from the Chinese government and put them to work picking strawberries and wiping old peoples arses. For nothing.

And get paid by the Chinese government for doing so.

What’s not to like?

algarkirk

NickyBreakspear said:

We are in a treading water phase for Badenoch.

In our multi-party world, she needs to work out and understand what do the Conservatives stand for and what are the important dividing lines with the other parties. This includes in particular Reform.

It is too early for these to be well developed, and so she is currently firing off blanks trying to see what is working.

I would expect to see the start of a more coherent approach by Easter.

It has taken Labour 6 months to start finding their feet in Government, so we shouldn't we expect the same from the Conservatives?

Hope you are right. But this should be better developed than it is. The job of serious parties is to be constantly across policy, ideas, developments, what the other parties are doing etc. We are not short of wonks, institutes, researchers, economists, academics and business leaders to work from.

Ask these questions of the Tories: What is your USP. Where are you going. How do you plan to get there.

Blank.

Kemi should be talking this all the time, day after day, big speech after big speech, until we know it by heart. Has she heard of Blair or Thatcher?

Big_G_NorthWales

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

The bigger question going into 2025 is just how the public will react to Musk financially backing Farage and Reform, and the response to that will be a determining factor in Farage and Reforms progress or otherwise

kinabalu

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

MattW

Am I correct that Luigi Mangione, the health tycoon alleged killer, has been charged with Second Degree murder?

How does that charge work? Regardless of the verdict, the allegation of going after the chap with a gun and shooting him dead seems a little planned and intentional - which I thought was First Degree.

algarkirk

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

People, and media, would throng to hear from Kemi and the Tories the moment they had something interesting to say.

Shecorns88

JosiasJessop said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

The USA under Trump might well be *worse* than China.

Which leaves us with ... Europe.

(Runs for cover.)

No need to run for cover at all.

China can offer us a lot of investment, we should be wary, but are they a threat to us in terms of subverting our democracy and culture NO

America can take a lot but not offer too much that we can't provide for ourselves or get on better terms from elsewhere. Trump will always want best buck and control. He puppetmaster is a far greater threat to Global, Western, European, British democracy right now than China could ever be.

China would be the better bet for me every time. If Starmer can't see this and ignore pillocks like IDS and Tugenhadt then he is doing the Country a disservice.

MattW

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

You have fake gold taps in your bathroom in the form of fishes too, and needed to co-ordinate?

MattW

kinabalu said:

MattW said:

kinabalu said:

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

I said on PB a few times before she ran that she wasn't ready for prime time.

Seems to be the case, although early days.

I'll be surprised if she is still leader by next GE to be honest.

She may well be another William Hague.

You think she can drink 15 pints by lunchtime?

Leaving just enough room for a sandwich.

I've picked up a sandwich for this evening, to go with a salad.

(And about half of a pack of cocoa dusted chocolate coated almonds, which are subversively moreish.)

It is a Boxing Day feast with British chicken and oak-smoked pork, with cheese coleslaw and balsamic onion chutney. No partridge, Alan or otherwise.

I don't get where Boxing Day comes in. Other than it is this morning's sandwich, so is technically a left over.

Making me hungry reading that.

You started it !

Shecorns88

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Every person you listen to who has worked with Badenoch, almost all Tories say the same thing

Work shy, aloof, arrogant, lacking empathy and personality.

No wonder she is a dud.

Looking at that Tory Front Bench today, especially either side of her was terrifying.

No one with gravitas or the spark too reignite them

They desperately need a Penny Mordaunt type to take over ASAP.

Sandpit

Taz said:

dixiedean said:

Trailing like the Saudis.
So they've put up a shedload of sportswash money for a snooker tournament.
And $1m for anyone who makes a 147 then pots the gimmick golden ball.
Anyways, Zhang Anda has nine reds and nine blacks. When. Power cut.
Energy crisis, you see.

If they can sort the booze out Barry Hearn will take the darts World Championship there too.

It’ll be a while until that happens.




Maybe 2030.

TheScreamingEagles

GIN1138 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Seriously? You paid nearly £400 for... that? 😂

With Labour's attack on hard working parents like me VAT on school fees means I am a man on a budget so I have to grab bargains when I can see them, they were £800 a week ago.

Shecorns88

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

MattW

MattW said:

Am I correct that Luigi Mangione, the health tycoon alleged killer, has been charged with Second Degree murder?

How does that charge work? Regardless of the verdict, the allegation of going after the chap with a gun and shooting him dead seems a little planned and intentional - which I thought was First Degree.

OK. Watching the press conference he's also charged with Murder in the First Degree, and Murder as a form of Terrorism, which is a further version of Second Degree Murder.

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2024/12/18/luigi-mangione-terror-thompson

MattW

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Seriously? You paid nearly £400 for... that? 😂

With Labour's attack on hard working parents like me VAT on school fees means I am a man on a budget so I have to grab bargains when I can see them, they were £800 a week ago.

I think he's lining himself up as the Trump-alike candidate for the Tory Leadership.

There's an assassination addition of these coming soon, and the rest of the products.

Malmesbury

Shecorns88 said:

JosiasJessop said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

The USA under Trump might well be *worse* than China.

Which leaves us with ... Europe.

(Runs for cover.)

No need to run for cover at all.

China can offer us a lot of investment, we should be wary, but are they a threat to us in terms of subverting our democracy and culture NO

America can take a lot but not offer too much that we can't provide for ourselves or get on better terms from elsewhere. Trump will always want best buck and control. He puppetmaster is a far greater threat to Global, Western, European, British democracy right now than China could ever be.

China would be the better bet for me every time. If Starmer can't see this and ignore pillocks like IDS and Tugenhadt then he is doing the Country a disservice.

I have personally blocked spyware in Chinese supplied equipment.

If you think Trump is transactional, wait till you deal with the Chinese government. And they are currently eliminating 2 separate cultures.

Dopermean

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Seriously? You paid nearly £400 for... that? 😂

With Labour's attack on hard working parents like me VAT on school fees means I am a man on a budget so I have to grab bargains when I can see them, they were £800 a week ago.

You have very small feet!
So at least you can save £000s in VAT on shoes.

HYUFD

Yes Kemi hasn't made a huge impact as leader, she doesn't have the charismatic personality of a Blair, Cameron, Johnson or Thatcher. Nor is she a dull centrist taking over a party where most voters were desperate for it to move to the centre after a particularly hardline leader, as Starmer was when he took over from Corbyn.

In voteshare terms though the Tories are doing at least as well as Starmer Labour were in 2020 and almost as well as Cameron's Tories were in 2006 relative to the governing party.

Note Kemi has a much better net approval rating than Starmer though, +2% compared to his -27% and also better than Farage on -10%

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/explore/public_figure/Kemi_Badenoch

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/explore/public_figure/Keir_Starmer

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/explore/public_figure/Nigel_Farage

Malmesbury

Shecorns88 said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

The fishing rights are the bigger economic issue.

Given the over fishing in much of the world, the Chinese want to move their factory ships into the area. And strip it clean.

Anabobazina

MarqueeMark said:

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

It was "so true" the first three times you posted it.

B-O-R-I-N-G......

If you watch her at PMQs having seen it...

Luckyguy1983

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

rottenborough

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

I posted this piece earlier. Fantastic read if u can get through paywall or use up a free visit.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/opinion/us-china-musk-swift-tariffs-manufacturing.html

"I learned a new term on this visit: “dark factory.” A retired Chinese official mentioned to me in passing over dinner that she wanted to buy a new high-tech bed and decided to go see the offerings at the factory. When she arrived, though, she found it was a “dark factory” — so the lights were turned on just for her. It wasn’t dark because it was out of business, she told me. It was dark because it was so fully roboticized that the company doesn’t waste electricity keeping the lights on for any humans..."

TheScreamingEagles

Dopermean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

GIN1138 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

You tell him! And I'll give my two-pennith and say TSE's taste in shoes, stinks!

How can you say that?

Have you seen my latest trainers, they are on half price, an utter bargain.

https://www.versace.com/gb/en/odissea-trainers-gold/1004524-1A02259_DSS_395_1Y420__.html

Seriously? You paid nearly £400 for... that? 😂

With Labour's attack on hard working parents like me VAT on school fees means I am a man on a budget so I have to grab bargains when I can see them, they were £800 a week ago.

You have very small feet!
So at least you can save £000s in VAT on shoes.

I have size 11 feet, my issue is I have very wide feet, so finding the right footwear is difficult.

kjh

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

Seems like a bloody impressive big straw to me.

Shecorns88

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

The fishing rights are the bigger economic issue.

Given the over fishing in much of the world, the Chinese want to move their factory ships into the area. And strip it clean.

To quote anno old comidiene

"Am I bovvered"

Fishing rights on the other side of the globe... Let the locals argue the toss, what's it got to do with us?

Anabobazina

JosiasJessop said:

Anabobazina said:

Kemi Badenoch is a Year 9 who won a competition.
Once seen cannot be unseen.

(Read on a football forum –– and so true)

SKS is a Year 9 student who lost the competition, but goes around saying his was the best entry anyway. For reasons.

He won the only competition that mattered. That on 4 July. Funny old world.

Big_G_NorthWales

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

SandyRentool

TUC beware:

No beer and sandwiches at Number 10 if Kemi becomes PM.

Shecorns88

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

JosiasJessop said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

The USA under Trump might well be *worse* than China.

Which leaves us with ... Europe.

(Runs for cover.)

No need to run for cover at all.

China can offer us a lot of investment, we should be wary, but are they a threat to us in terms of subverting our democracy and culture NO

America can take a lot but not offer too much that we can't provide for ourselves or get on better terms from elsewhere. Trump will always want best buck and control. He puppetmaster is a far greater threat to Global, Western, European, British democracy right now than China could ever be.

China would be the better bet for me every time. If Starmer can't see this and ignore pillocks like IDS and Tugenhadt then he is doing the Country a disservice.

I have personally blocked spyware in Chinese supplied equipment.

If you think Trump is transactional, wait till you deal with the Chinese government. And they are currently eliminating 2 separate cultures.

And what will Trump do to Mexicans, Costa Ricans and Puerto Ricans... Feed them to the dogs??

If you have something to hide from them fair enough... I'm far more worried about Musk

Malmesbury

Shecorns88 said:

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

The fishing rights are the bigger economic issue.

Given the over fishing in much of the world, the Chinese want to move their factory ships into the area. And strip it clean.

To quote anno old comidiene

"Am I bovvered"

Fishing rights on the other side of the globe... Let the locals argue the toss, what's it got to do with us?

We currently have them.

Plus the current deal is to give them to Mauritius along with the islands. This may not actually benefit the actual Chagos islanders.

The moral deal would be to find out what the actual Chagos Islanders want….

HYUFD

'Head teacher struck off for school ski trip to Switzerland where one girl pupil slept with three boys, another had sex with a boy for £30... while others stole alcohol and wielded knives'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205951/Head-teacher-banned-Swiss-ski-trip-sex-knives-booze.html

HYUFD

'Cowardly Assad 'gave Israel the locations of his weapon depots and missile systems in return for them letting him flee Syria - which helped IDF launch airstrike blitz'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205975/Cowardly-Assad-gave-Israel-locations-weapon-depots-missile-systems-return-letting-flee-Syria-helped-IDF-launch-airstrike-blitz.html

Shecorns88

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

If the Russian Report was produced in the same week as Labour bought forward legislation to ban all overseas donations to political parties to stop Musk it would destroy Reform

Reform let no one forget is not a political party. It is a limited company with a handful of shareholders.

It is what it is a vehicle to make a few rabid right wing individuals very rich irrespective of a right wing coup d'etat that Hitler failed to deliver using the ex King and Moseley in the 40s

Does anyone seriously want Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, disciples of and associates of Musk running our streets with hate, division and fear.

We saw a sickening glimpse of that from the Farage Riots on July. That showed just how dangerous Musk, Farage, Robinson and their thugs are.

TheScreamingEagles

Sergio Perez sacked by Red Bull.

Luckyguy1983

kjh said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

Seems like a bloody impressive big straw to me.

I suppose it's all relative.

Shecorns88

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

The fishing rights are the bigger economic issue.

Given the over fishing in much of the world, the Chinese want to move their factory ships into the area. And strip it clean.

To quote anno old comidiene

"Am I bovvered"

Fishing rights on the other side of the globe... Let the locals argue the toss, what's it got to do with us?

We currently have them.

Plus the current deal is to give them to Mauritius along with the islands. This may not actually benefit the actual Chagos islanders.

The moral deal would be to find out what the actual Chagos Islanders want….

Since when did Britain do moral deals with its Empire and Commonwealth of Nations.

Chagos is utterly expendable.

Shecorns88

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sergio Perez sacked by Red Bull.

Long overdue

Should have grabbed Sainz when they had the chance

Big_G_NorthWales

Shecorns88 said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

If the Russian Report was produced in the same week as Labour bought forward legislation to ban all overseas donations to political parties to stop Musk it would destroy Reform

Reform let no one forget is not a political party. It is a limited company with a handful of shareholders.

It is what it is a vehicle to make a few rabid right wing individuals very rich irrespective of a right wing coup d'etat that Hitler failed to deliver using the ex King and Moseley in the 40s

Does anyone seriously want Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, disciples of and associates of Musk running our streets with hate, division and fear.

We saw a sickening glimpse of that from the Farage Riots on July. That showed just how dangerous Musk, Farage, Robinson and their thugs are.

Then you need to win the argument and ask why the Democrats lost to Trump

It is similar to Brexit and why did remain lose

Shecorns88

HYUFD said:

'Cowardly Assad 'gave Israel the locations of his weapon depots and missile systems in return for them letting him flee Syria - which helped IDF launch airstrike blitz'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205975/Cowardly-Assad-gave-Israel-locations-weapon-depots-missile-systems-return-letting-flee-Syria-helped-IDF-launch-airstrike-blitz.html

Hopefully one day they will share the death row cells in the Hague
.. They deserve each other

Nigelb

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

Anyone who has any interest in democracy should reject Musk buying political influence here, in the manner he has in the US.
“Not a great look” is beside the point.

Luckyguy1983

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

Nor do I - though I think that's what it's being used as for our Labourites. They see their party being squished, and they're desperate for a line to take.

As the money piles into Reform (forget Musk, I'm talking Candy and Co.), that will inevitably enter policy, and it is a concern that their policies and positions will simply become bought ones. I am slightly comforted by the fact that most of their donors seem to want to make money by reviving the British economy, not by feeding off its decline like some notable Labour donors. But it's still a concern.

It will be particularly interesting to see how their electric car ideas develop with Musk's burgeoning influence. If I were them, I wouldn't tell him to F-off (that would just be silly) but I would balance him carefully with other donors and hypothecate any donations to specific areas of Musk/Reform joint concerns, like free speech.

Big_G_NorthWales

Nigelb said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

Anyone who has any interest in democracy should reject Musk buying political influence here, in the manner he has in the US.
“Not a great look” is beside the point.

Absolutely but will they?

Malmesbury

a

Shecorns88 said:

HYUFD said:

'Cowardly Assad 'gave Israel the locations of his weapon depots and missile systems in return for them letting him flee Syria - which helped IDF launch airstrike blitz'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205975/Cowardly-Assad-gave-Israel-locations-weapon-depots-missile-systems-return-letting-flee-Syria-helped-IDF-launch-airstrike-blitz.html

Hopefully one day they will share the death row cells in the Hague
.. They deserve each other

Aside from there being no death penalty in The Hague…

TimS

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

It’s a hard truth that Musk just doesn’t seem foreign enough to most potential Reform supporters for this to be an issue.

He’s white. English speaking. Omnipresent on people’s devices therefore considered “us” rather than “them”.

Reform voters won’t give a shit. They like Trump after all.

Big_G_NorthWales

TimS said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

It’s a hard truth that Musk just doesn’t seem foreign enough to most potential Reform supporters for this to be an issue.

He’s white. English speaking. Omnipresent on people’s devices therefore considered “us” rather than “them”.

Reform voters won’t give a shit. They like Trump after all.

It is not Reform supporters, but those that Reform want to attract, and need to attract, to become a real problem to the established parties and how they react is key

Shecorns88

TimS said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

It’s a hard truth that Musk just doesn’t seem foreign enough to most potential Reform supporters for this to be an issue.

He’s white. English speaking. Omnipresent on people’s devices therefore considered “us” rather than “them”.

Reform voters won’t give a shit. They like Trump after all.

He's white South African Afrikanner stock.

He's bought up with hardline Apartheid DNA

Thats why he's attracted to Robinson, Tate, Hopkins, Farage, Fox and other associated rabid fascists

Shecorns88

Malmesbury said:

a

Shecorns88 said:

HYUFD said:

'Cowardly Assad 'gave Israel the locations of his weapon depots and missile systems in return for them letting him flee Syria - which helped IDF launch airstrike blitz'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14205975/Cowardly-Assad-gave-Israel-locations-weapon-depots-missile-systems-return-letting-flee-Syria-helped-IDF-launch-airstrike-blitz.html

Hopefully one day they will share the death row cells in the Hague
.. They deserve each other

Aside from there being no death penalty in The Hague…

Shame

Luckyguy1983

TimS said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

GIN1138 said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

MarqueeMark said:

Oh look, another anti-Badenoch thread.

Just fucking knock it off. Give her a year to either bed in or prove a disaster. Until then, your daily diatribes are just deathly dull.

It isn't that she is 'doing badly' - she ain't doing great, but most people don't even watch PMQs. It's that she's not present. There's a policy absence, a media absence - an opposition absence. She polling doesn’t demonstrate her making a bad impact, it represents her making no impact against peoples' existing perception of the Tories.

At the moment the public (and therefore the media) don't want to hear from the Tories so it's very hard for Kemi to get exposure.

She does hardly any media. Add to that that her set piece event each week, isn't great (though it's improving), it's a recipe for a Nigel Farage Government.

Not sure about that. In the pocket of a foreign billionaire isn't a great look.

That's the straw we're clutching today is it?

I genuinely do not think it is a straw to be clutched at

As I just posted the reaction to Musk's money will go a long way to determine the future of Farage and Reform

And I wait to see, as I am genuinely intrigued and think it could go either way

It’s a hard truth that Musk just doesn’t seem foreign enough to most potential Reform supporters for this to be an issue.

He’s white. English speaking. Omnipresent on people’s devices therefore considered “us” rather than “them”.

Reform voters won’t give a shit. They like Trump after all.

He seems plenty foreign enough to me, but I do find his very upfront and obvious approach a lot less objectionable than the far more insidious multi-pronged tactics of the PRC.

If Reform start wanting to bring forward the timetable for banning petrol and diesel cars, I'll have very strong objections.

sarissa

williamglenn said:

RobD said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

Sale of the Chagos Islands?

If America won't let us give them away, we could always offer the Isle of Wight.

They could always Stand On Zanzibar.

TimS

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

Malmesbury said:

Shecorns88 said:

MaxPB said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/1869420542266351668

EXCLUSIVE:

The Treasury has drawn up detailed plans for closer economic ties with China

They focus on financial services and clean energy, draft policy proposals seen by Bloomberg show

Comes ahead of Rachel Reeves’ trip there next month

This is a disaster. First the surrender on Chagos and now we've got this mental "closer to China" idea. 2029 can't come soon enough. We need to get rid of Labour as fast as we can.

If you have to look on a map to find where somewhere is and it's literally on the other side of the globe how the feck can it be worth keeping

A 99 year lease is more than sufficient

Can anyone seriously argue that a runway will be worth anything strategically on 99 years time

It's not the isle of wight, isle of man or even Alderney.

It's just a badge for little englangers to whinge and moan about.

The fishing rights are the bigger economic issue.

Given the over fishing in much of the world, the Chinese want to move their factory ships into the area. And strip it clean.

To quote anno old comidiene

"Am I bovvered"

Fishing rights on the other side of the globe... Let the locals argue the toss, what's it got to do with us?

We currently have them.

Plus the current deal is to give them to Mauritius along with the islands. This may not actually benefit the actual Chagos islanders.

The moral deal would be to find out what the actual Chagos Islanders want….

Closer to home I’m a fan of doing some small land deals.

Give Spain the Isle of Portland and put Gibraltar to bed as an issue forever. And get ourselves a nice tapas and fino spot for summer evenings and stag parties.

Take back the pale of Calais. Macron would be delighted as it’s all Le Pen voting up there. In return, give France South Ken. They practically have it already.

Get Heligoland back from Germany and give them Oxford. BMW is already there.

Finally, get Switzerland and give the Swiss Aviemore.

Nigelb

Just had a fascinating lunch with a 22-year-old Stanford grad. Smart kid. Perfect resume. Something felt off though.

He kept pausing mid-sentence, searching for words. Not complex words - basic ones. Like his brain was buffering.

Finally asked if he was okay. His response floored me.

"Sometimes I forget words now. I'm so used to having ChatGPT complete my thoughts that when it's not there, my brain feels... slower."

He'd been using AI for everything. Writing, thinking, communication. It had become his external brain. And now his internal one was getting weaker...
https://x.com/gregisenberg/status/1869202002783207622