For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
It’s like Chagos. A court says he should jump, and Starmer replies how high.
Apart from Starmer doing the exact opposite of that and saying the Government will do everything possible to block a payment to Adams ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jn1zg1ew9o ), yes, that is correct.
I know woke is driven by exclusion (just as the average member of the public gets used to the 'correct' terms and words to use those words and terms move on, and you get subject to opprobrium for incorrect language).
But can anyone pinpoint when EDI became DEI? And does anyone other than me have an issue with this as it is rather adjacent to the Latin for God?
According to these guys (and girls and non-binaries etc) it's going the other way, DEI -> EDI 🤷
DEIs, EDIs... I guess we'll be on to IDEs by mid March
ETA: And the E is equity, rather than equality, apparently
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
ELEVEN paragraphs. We all love Miss @Cyclefree - I’d vote for her as Prime Minister - but please, shove it in ChatGPT and reduce it to three?
Ta muchly
(Tho I do agree with the argument)
Word limits have varied over time. OGH used to impose a limit of around 800 words. As Cyclefree expanded, her articles started to come in at around the 1,200 mark and was teased on length. Viewcode then brought in one at around 1,400 words and the debate intensified. Then Ydoethur(?) got one published at 1,800 words and the debate ceased. At approx 1,118 words this article "Pitched Out" is well within three of those four limits.
I just want to say that OGH never gave me a word limit.
He is representing Greater Manchester Police in the Malkinson inquiry.
He will try and defend & excuse the indefensible.
And he was in the Post Office inquiry. I thought he was verging on unfair on many of the witnesses but he never even approached the issue of the courts and their handling of the prosecutions. It isn't diminishing the wrongness of the Post Office and Fujitsu in my view to point out that the courts were meant to determine guilt from innocence, the courts and the very well paid barristers were the actual miscarriers of justice.
No - this is wrong. The courts do not determine guilt when someone pleads guilty because they have been coerced into doing so on the basis of false / fraudulent evidence, as happened in many of the Post Office cases. The fault there lies very firmly with the Post Office and Fujitsu.
In others where people pleaded not guilty, the PO's barristers were at fault as were the witnesses from Fujitsu.
Finally, criminal prosecution work is pretty poorly paid - one reason why the work done was rushed and done without care or much competence. That is not a professional response but it is the reality. Once again, people need to realise that false economies are in reality bloody expensive.
There has never been any serious attempt at holding Gordon Brown to task for selling off the gold. I know that even if he and Tony Blair were made bankrupt the money raised would be negligible against the loss. But if they had been then the present even more incompetent bench of chancers might have been put off seeking high office and so there would have been a monetary as well as emotional saving to the nation that would have been of a similar magnitude.
[snip]
Selling off the gold was small change compared to selling off the council houses on the cheap. What are the sold ones worth now?
The judges who oversaw court proceedings about Sara Sharif's care before she was murdered have "serious concerns" about the risks to them and their families if they are now named, the Court of Appeal has been told.
Mr Justice Williams ruled in December that the media could not identify three judges who oversaw historical family court cases related to Sara, as well as others including social workers and guardians, due to a "real risk" of harm from a "virtual lynch mob".
The judge added that arguing the individuals involved in those proceedings were responsible for Sara's death aged just 10 was "equivalent to holding the lookout on the Titanic responsible for its sinking".
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I thought that on the Today programme this morning. He is also courageous putting this out there repeatedly in public. He is doubtless always dealing with the no smoke without fire reflex. Simply being known as someone who was wrongly convicted of a violent rape will mean in some people's eyes that he is always treated with suspicion, no matter how clear cut the evidence is.
Reports from 2023 state that someone else was arrested for the crime in 2022. Presumably, if that person were to be convicted, it would help in respect of justice being done, and dispelling some of the lingering suspicion over Andy Malkinson.
Does anyone know if there's been any further progress with that investigation?
For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
It’s like Chagos. A court says he should jump, and Starmer replies how high.
Is respect for the law a yesterday thing in a politician now then?
I know Donald "Felonius Maximus" Trump won on Nov 5th but still.
Respect for the law is one thing. Simply doing whatever a court says, without argument or appeal, is another.
Remember that "disrespecting the law" was used as an excuse not to question the Post Office convictions.
Edit: Do you mean "Maximus Scelestus"??
OTOH we don't want to celebrate contempt for the law, do we, just because it's paid dividends in the US? No.
Questioning a judgement and appealing it *is* respecting the law. The process of the law.
Am I saying otherwise? I don't think I am.
I was responding to the sentiment that Starmer is a timid conformist with too much reverence for the rules. That required an "OTOH" which it fell to me to provide. You know, lest we all get swept away.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I thought that on the Today programme this morning. He is also courageous putting this out there repeatedly in public. He is doubtless always dealing with the no smoke without fire reflex. Simply being known as someone who was wrongly convicted of a violent rape will mean in some people's eyes that he is always treated with suspicion, no matter how clear cut the evidence is.
Reports from 2023 state that someone else was arrested for the crime in 2022. Presumably, if that person were to be convicted, it would help in respect of justice being done, and dispelling some of the lingering suspicion over Andy Malkinson.
Does anyone know if there's been any further progress with that investigation?
To your point about his reputation.
This is why the systematic destruction and humiliation of the people who destroyed his life is important.
For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
An exceptionally poor decision from the government not to appeal what is very likely a winnable case for them, in any event.
If there's also a potential conflict of interest, then still worse.
Hang on, wasn't it OK for Tory AGs to be active lawyers? Complete with conflicts of interest against the UKG etc? Didn't we discuss that and why wasn't it sorted out?
Good piece. I'm not sure I can quite agree on Carrington. I'd generally prefer the people at fault to resign/get fired than the most senior person.
Another point the guardian link raises is the downside of arms length bodies. This org were clearly useless and yet ministers struggled to take them to task. At least if a politician cocks up, it's relatively easy for public pressure to come to bear (and there are rivals willing to stick the knife in also...)
For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
An exceptionally poor decision from the government not to appeal what is very likely a winnable case for them, in any event.
If there's also a potential conflict of interest, then still worse.
Hang on, wasn't it OK for Tory AGs to be active lawyers? Complete with conflicts of interest against the UKG etc? Didn't we discuss that and why wasn't it sorted out?
There has never been any serious attempt at holding Gordon Brown to task for selling off the gold. I know that even if he and Tony Blair were made bankrupt the money raised would be negligible against the loss. But if they had been then the present even more incompetent bench of chancers might have been put off seeking high office and so there would have been a monetary as well as emotional saving to the nation that would have been of a similar magnitude.
[snip]
Selling off the gold was small change compared to selling off the council houses on the cheap. What are the sold ones worth now?
Gordon's right to buy (gold) scheme. A lifeline for all those strivers and savers who yearned to own their own ingot.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
An exceptionally poor decision from the government not to appeal what is very likely a winnable case for them, in any event.
If there's also a potential conflict of interest, then still worse.
It's the perception of possible bias and a potential conflict of interest which are the big problems. The A-G is meant to be the lawyer advising the government. He cannot do that job in a situation where he cannot or will not say that he might benefit if his former client benefits from a government decision. Especially when that decision relates to whether or not to appeal a ruling which currently benefits his client.
He has to recuse himself.
Then there is the politics of it all. No money for any number of deserving causes. But money for a terrorist leader .....
And it's questionable without any of that. The judgment is that of one high court judge, and the analysis I've seen says the government has a very strong case to appeal.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
Wait until he hears about Texas!
Replace them with beautiful nodding donkeys.
You don't get the nice scenery of Purbeck free with the nodding donkeys, though.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
ELEVEN paragraphs. We all love Miss @Cyclefree - I’d vote for her as Prime Minister - but please, shove it in ChatGPT and reduce it to three?
Ta muchly
(Tho I do agree with the argument)
Word limits have varied over time. OGH used to impose a limit of around 800 words. As Cyclefree expanded, her articles started to come in at around the 1,200 mark and was teased on length. Viewcode then brought in one at around 1,400 words and the debate intensified. Then Ydoethur(?) got one published at 1,800 words and the debate ceased. At approx 1,118 words this article "Pitched Out" is well within three of those four limits.
I just want to say that OGH never gave me a word limit.
He is representing Greater Manchester Police in the Malkinson inquiry.
He will try and defend & excuse the indefensible.
And he was in the Post Office inquiry. I thought he was verging on unfair on many of the witnesses but he never even approached the issue of the courts and their handling of the prosecutions. It isn't diminishing the wrongness of the Post Office and Fujitsu in my view to point out that the courts were meant to determine guilt from innocence, the courts and the very well paid barristers were the actual miscarriers of justice.
No - this is wrong. The courts do not determine guilt when someone pleads guilty because they have been coerced into doing so on the basis of false / fraudulent evidence, as happened in many of the Post Office cases. The fault there lies very firmly with the Post Office and Fujitsu.
In others where people pleaded not guilty, the PO's barristers were at fault as were the witnesses from Fujitsu.
Finally, criminal prosecution work is pretty poorly paid - one reason why the work done was rushed and done without care or much competence. That is not a professional response but it is the reality. Once again, people need to realise that false economies are in reality bloody expensive.
Just a note to say from me at least your slightly lengthier articles are appreciated, and this one is characteristically good.
I have added everyone who asked and a few others suggested to the PB Bluesky Starter Pack.
I've also added Mark Pack as he always talks about polling, and if anyone can suggest a lefty and a righty to provide balance to the combined posts I'll add them too. I wondering about Sunder Katwala for the lefty.
If anyone else gets a Bluesky account and wants to be added, just PM me over there, or here.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
Not scary in the movie sense. No big words, no super skills.
Local government devolution is a fascinating topic for those interested in politics at a local and regional level.
Bournmouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority is having a vote this evening on which regional grouping it would like to join. The alternatives are to go East and join Hampshire and the Solent or to go West and join the Heart of Wessex (Wiltshire, Somerset and the rest of Dorset).
As the Labour Government would like a complete map without any missed out areas, it would need to join one of the proposals as BCP is too small (400k population) to go it alone as a mayoral authority (proposed size at least 1.5m).
Another interesting area is Milton Keynes, which has put forward a joint bid with Bedford and Luton. Last year there were serious discussions to include Northamptonshire in the proposal, but Northamptonshire has been left out at the last minute.
Some areas in the forefront of change will be allowed not to have county council elections in May 2025.
My local area Hertfordshire (population 1.2m) appears to be a bit small to meet the criteria of being a mayoral authority, but it is running out of next door neighbours to join up (unless it could persuade Harlow and Uttlesford to leave Essex).
I'd be careful with that. There are tanks in Epping on permanent standby.
Is the 500k a hard limit?
That will leave Nottinghamshire as a single unitary (800k outside Nottingham). And Nottingham is only 320k, even though some would argue that everything from Bristol to Hull should be part of Nottingham .
I'd say 250k or 300k would be more appropriate, and it needs to be flexible.
Excellent news on the ceasefire deal and he's forced Israel to give up a lot more than people expected too which Ukrainians everywhere will be watching.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
Wait until he hears about Texas!
Replace them with beautiful nodding donkeys.
You don't get the nice scenery of Purbeck free with the nodding donkeys, though.
Purbeck ... memories.
I still have my habit of sometimes swapping a similar sounding word in by mistake when I'm not quite sure.
At school one day I managed, aloud in class, to replace the Pretender "Perkin Warbeck" with ... "Marvin Purbeck". It's still engraved in my memory.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
Excellent news on the ceasefire deal and he's forced Israel to give up a lot more than people expected too which Ukrainians everywhere will be watching.
It will further discredit the likes of Biden and Starmer with the left.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
Wait until he hears about Texas!
Replace them with beautiful nodding donkeys.
You the first to volunteer for the job? You're doing it quite well already
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
Can one of our lawyers ( @DavidL ?) comment on whether the AG's refusal to answer the "Do you benefit from a future Gerry Adams compensation award" in a Commons committee is in line with normal client confidentiality practice?
I have added everyone who asked and a few others suggested to the PB Bluesky Starter Pack.
I've also added Mark Pack as he always talks about polling, and if anyone can suggest a lefty and a righty to provide balance to the combined posts I'll add them too. I wondering about Sunder Katwala for the lefty.
If anyone else gets a Bluesky account and wants to be added, just PM me over there, or here.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
Not scary in the movie sense. No big words, no super skills.
Just a slightly bigger fish in the pond.
But there’s always that feeling with his character there’s something beneath the surface. Just one thing and he will flip. A hair trigger. He has that look in his eyes. You’re never quite sure.
When he kills those guys he plays with them like a cat with mice.
Neil Fitzmaurice is in another good film, Going off Big Time.
Apparently Trump credited with Israel-Gaza conflict
Starmer waits Trump's OK on the Chagos deal
Next Ukraine - Russia and if Trump manages that then he will be seen to have a huge impact
Depends what he “manages” in Ukraine. If it’s Ukraine’s capitulation then that’s not hard. If it’s Russia withdrawing to their 2014 position then fair play to him.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
The reference to 1.5degC increase, in any case, seems obsolete now, alas, unless I am missing something.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
... and I had dinner full of arthropod abdomens yesterday. Well, risotto with prawns ... and their diet sure isn't vegan, unlike crickets.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Finest hour being the "Talons of Weng-Chiang". Although it's impossible to view now without noticing the yellowface, it did have a lovely sense of atmosphere and Jago and Litefoot were your proper Holmes side characters. Jago (Christopher Benjamin) and Litefoot ended up with their own series on Big Finish, as I assume you know.
I know some with political aspirations come here. A quick tip. If you ever become Attorney General, and are asked if you stand to benefit financially if your government pays compensation to someone who publicly supported the assassination of the kings uncle. The correct is No!
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
On the other side of the camera his Tyrannosaur was very good.
For a start, who knew that our Labour Attorney General was Gerry Adams’ lawyer?
It’s like Chagos. A court says he should jump, and Starmer replies how high.
Apart from Starmer doing the exact opposite of that and saying the Government will do everything possible to block a payment to Adams ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jn1zg1ew9o ), yes, that is correct.
Everything possible would include not repealing the Legacy Act, which under Parliamentary sovereignty is a possible option.
So either he's going to do a u-turn, or he's not willing to do everything possible.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
... and I had dinner full of arthropod abdomens yesterday. Well, risotto with prawns ... and their diet sure isn't vegan, unlike crickets.
I hope you removed the bloodline !!
An unpardonable sin on Masterchef on a par with lumpy mash !!
Sir Keir’s spokesman said on Wednesday: “We will only agree to a deal that is in the UK’s best interests and protect our national security.
“It is obviously now right that the new US administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office.”
A significant change of tone.
Impossible - the UK government caved to Mauritius yesterday. I read it on here.
As best we can tell, the Chagos deal crossed Musk’s radar overnight, as he responded to a tweet about it with exclamation marks. Coincidentally or otherwise, by 9am Florida time today, Starmer announced he wouldn’t do anything without first getting assurances from the incoming US govt. But if you like you go ahead and believe that Starmer and Lammy pulled out because they drove such a hard bargain in protecting our national interest.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
On the other side of the camera his Tyrannosaur was very good.
I’ve heard that but never seen it. I will see if it’s on YouTube. Lots of decent British films cropping up there
Kemi gets a 3.5 out of 10 so far, mainly earning those points for having the good sense to make an intervention that we shan't discuss.
Everything else - shadow cabinet appointments, sorting out CCHQ (she hasn't), policy (laughs bitterly), PMQs and handling the media (including social media) - has all been preeeetty bad.
On the other hand Reform has risen in the polls by seemingly doing almost nothing. Farage and the other MPs have had about the same amount of airtime since the election as the Lib Dems, ie hardly any. I’d put Farage’s parties’ popularity in the past down to him being an ever-present charismatic feature of the political landscape, but that doesn’t explain the post-election rise. It feels much more like an automatic NOTA vote.
I always found the Greens’ stubbornly high support in the absence of any media coverage or visible activity at all quite remarkable, but I sense Reform is benefiting from the same phenomenon.
These are all reasons I expect the Tories to do better vis a vis Reform in real elections for the foreseeable future. They’ve been outperforming polling in local by-elections.
I think that's just an indication of the varying amounts of right wing media we consume. I consume a fair bit, you hardly any. I think Reform, for having 5 MPs, have been fairly ubiquitous since the election, making the news through their membership number stunt, holding various live events, Farage's Trump association, being fairly visible in the campaigns on inheritance tax, well-promoted Tory defections. Objectively I don't see a full calendar of publicity like that for the Lib Dems, but potentially I'm not watching C4 News or other relevant media sources.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
Not scary in the movie sense. No big words, no super skills.
Just a slightly bigger fish in the pond.
But there’s always that feeling with his character there’s something beneath the surface. Just one thing and he will flip. A hair trigger. He has that look in his eyes. You’re never quite sure.
When he kills those guys he plays with them like a cat with mice.
Neil Fitzmaurice is in another good film, Going off Big Time.
That’s what I mean.
In the US versions (tons on Netflix), the idealistic Special Forces guy/gal comes homes, fights the bad guys, the bad guys behind the bad guys etc. Saves the day.
Dead Man’s Shoes is - a somewhat organised psychopath kills a small number of the local small fish. For an understandable reason, true. But he isn’t a hero. Or even vaguely nice.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
Mind you, the Scottish government is all in on the epidermic of the new drug, Cake!, being sold in our Primary Schools.
I wonder if now the Gaza conflict appears to be closing and the Hezbollah outfit are neutered then the Trumpdozer will, as a trade off, allow Israel to go for Iran with their tacit support ?
Can one of our lawyers ( @DavidL ?) comment on whether the AG's refusal to answer the "Do you benefit from a future Gerry Adams compensation award" in a Commons committee is in line with normal client confidentiality practice?
Thanks
Honestly don't know. He would have a duty to declare any conflict of interest and he should have recused himself from any decision about the appeal if he had an interest. He may well have done so, of course.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
The reference to 1.5degC increase, in any case, seems obsolete now, alas, unless I am missing something.
The annual anomaly last year went above +1.5C, but the annual anomaly bounces up and down around the mean, due to random factors, so the long-term mean anomaly at this time is probably +1.3C.
The world is currently on track to reach +1.5C on average in 2030, so even very rapid emergency changes to cut emissions wouldn't avoid that being breached, but there is still potential for an overshoot scenario, if rapid cuts to GHG emissions are made, and particularly if concentrations of methane can be cut, as that could lead to a modest degree of global cooling from a peak warming of ~2C.
I know some with political aspirations come here. A quick tip. If you ever become Attorney General, and are asked if you stand to benefit financially if your government pays compensation to someone who publicly supported the assassination of the kings uncle. The correct is No!
I wonder if now the Gaza conflict appears to be closing and the Hezbollah outfit are neutered then the Trumpdozer will, as a trade off, allow Israel to go for Iran with their tacit support ?
Attack on Iranian nukes should be our geopol base case for 2025 I think
Local government devolution is a fascinating topic for those interested in politics at a local and regional level.
Bournmouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority is having a vote this evening on which regional grouping it would like to join. The alternatives are to go East and join Hampshire and the Solent or to go West and join the Heart of Wessex (Wiltshire, Somerset and the rest of Dorset).
As the Labour Government would like a complete map without any missed out areas, it would need to join one of the proposals as BCP is too small (400k population) to go it alone as a mayoral authority (proposed size at least 1.5m).
Another interesting area is Milton Keynes, which has put forward a joint bid with Bedford and Luton. Last year there were serious discussions to include Northamptonshire in the proposal, but Northamptonshire has been left out at the last minute.
Some areas in the forefront of change will be allowed not to have county council elections in May 2025.
My local area Hertfordshire (population 1.2m) appears to be a bit small to meet the criteria of being a mayoral authority, but it is running out of next door neighbours to join up (unless it could persuade Harlow and Uttlesford to leave Essex).
Harlow and Uttlesford and Epping Forest are already pencilled in as one West Essex unitary, maybe with Brentwood too. You would need to get East Herts to replace Brentwood and put Brentwood in a unitary with Chelmsford and Maldon and Basildon for instance
If I was locked up for so long for a crime I didn’t commit and my parents died knowing my name wasn’t cleared I would go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down upon release.
I think you mean Get Pitcher.
Dead Men's Shoes - a revenge film set in the UK we can all recognise.
That is a great great film.
It’s terrific. Paddy Considine is so scary in it.
On the other side of the camera his Tyrannosaur was very good.
My cousin composed the music in that film (along with a friend).
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
I find this a rather glib attitude, given that we have sleepwalked (apologies to anyone who campaigned against it - I didn't) into a situation where our legitimate public debate on this forum is significantly constrained due to the encroachment of legislation upon free speech. There is such a thing as the thin end of the wedge, which should be obvious to all of us now as the thicker ends of various wedges heave into view.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
Mind you, the Scottish government is all in on the epidermic of the new drug, Cake!, being sold in our Primary Schools.
A terrible drug that affects ‘Shatners bassoon’ which affects your perception of time.
I wonder if now the Gaza conflict appears to be closing and the Hezbollah outfit are neutered then the Trumpdozer will, as a trade off, allow Israel to go for Iran with their tacit support ?
There was an Israeli academic with a lot of experience in these sort of negotiations on the radio, he expected Trump to have offered Netanyahu support for more settlements in the West Bank, future attacks on Hamas, and implicit support for any other brainwave the Israeli government comes up with. I don't think he is expecting peace to last for long.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
Mind you, the Scottish government is all in on the epidermic of the new drug, Cake!, being sold in our Primary Schools.
Injecting rather than ingesting? Now that's mainlining.
Apparently there’s a climate and nature bill going through at the moment which, according to the few people commenting about it online, is a great threat to the fabric of society.
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
Some of this just sounds like conspiracist thought processes running wild - similar to the idea that “15 minute cities” meant we were all going to be forcibly imprisoned in 15-minute walkable areas.
Exactly. It all seems a very bizarre extrapolation. Similar to the WEF will have us all eating crickets stuff. I wondered if there was a balanced commentary. It is a private members bill, thanks Carnyx, so won’t be law unless the govt backs it.
It's a handy reference piece actually. Almost every WEF conspiracy theory succinctly summarised.
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
Of course it’s not a pisstake. You’d think it was from something like Brass Eye.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
I find this a rather glib attitude, given that we have sleepwalked (apologies to anyone who campaigned against it - I didn't) into a situation where our legitimate public debate on this forum is significantly constrained due to the encroachment of legislation upon free speech. There is such a thing as the thin end of the wedge, which should be obvious to all of us now as the thicker ends of various wedges heave into view.
Talking of the free speech legislation which is coming into law we now have lobbyists and campaigners demanding we go further as the law is not adequate and politicians agreeing.
The law has not even come into effect. There seems to have been a concerted effort from lobbyists on this over the last week.
I was asking what the counter debate was to the online stuff I’ve seen about this bill as a lot of the commentary, like that I linked, does go into the conspiracy theory stuff.
I get the thin end of the wedge stuff. We have had things like the RIP act being used against parents gaming the system to get kids into a better school or anti terror legislation used to seize the assets of Icelandic banks or photographers being harassed under anti terror legislation for taking pictures in public even being made to delete them.
I have grave concerns the assisted dying bill will see similar mission creep and when Kim Leadbitter guarantees it won’t I have to say I’m not buying it.
Comments
DEIs, EDIs... I guess we'll be on to IDEs by mid March
ETA: And the E is equity, rather than equality, apparently
I don't know his position vis-à-vis Starmer's announcement that the Govt will try and stop any payout to Adams.
In others where people pleaded not guilty, the PO's barristers were at fault as were the witnesses from Fujitsu.
Finally, criminal prosecution work is pretty poorly paid - one reason why the work done was rushed and done without care or much competence. That is not a professional response but it is the reality. Once again, people need to realise that false economies are in reality bloody expensive.
https://news.sky.com/story/judges-who-oversaw-sara-sharif-care-cases-before-her-murder-fear-safety-risks-for-their-families-if-they-are-named-13289454
The judges who oversaw court proceedings about Sara Sharif's care before she was murdered have "serious concerns" about the risks to them and their families if they are now named, the Court of Appeal has been told.
Mr Justice Williams ruled in December that the media could not identify three judges who oversaw historical family court cases related to Sara, as well as others including social workers and guardians, due to a "real risk" of harm from a "virtual lynch mob".
The judge added that arguing the individuals involved in those proceedings were responsible for Sara's death aged just 10 was "equivalent to holding the lookout on the Titanic responsible for its sinking".
As someone pointed out (above) - it seems that both the UK and Mauritius have incompetent negotiators.
Does anyone know if there's been any further progress with that investigation?
I was responding to the sentiment that Starmer is a timid conformist with too much reverence for the rules. That required an "OTOH" which it fell to me to provide. You know, lest we all get swept away.
This is why the systematic destruction and humiliation of the people who destroyed his life is important.
It is the evidence of his innocence.
I'd generally prefer the people at fault to resign/get fired than the most senior person.
Another point the guardian link raises is the downside of arms length bodies. This org were clearly useless and yet ministers struggled to take them to task. At least if a politician cocks up, it's relatively easy for public pressure to come to bear (and there are rivals willing to stick the knife in also...)
Mt. Rainier is looking beautiful today, and you can see a variety of views through the web cams that work during the winter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier
No dog for scale, but it would not surprise me if you soon see people there.
There's a good chance that these views will last for a few days. And they change as the sun rises.
Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don't want even one built during my Administration. The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!
The judgment is that of one high court judge, and the analysis I've seen says the government has a very strong case to appeal.
https://x.com/pme_politics/status/1879487543886164458
WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!
I have added everyone who asked and a few others suggested to the PB Bluesky Starter Pack.
I've also added Mark Pack as he always talks about polling, and if anyone can suggest a lefty and a righty to provide balance to the combined posts I'll add them too. I wondering about Sunder Katwala for the lefty.
If anyone else gets a Bluesky account and wants to be added, just PM me over there, or here.
Starter Pack is here:
https://bsky.app/starter-pack/mattwardman.bsky.social/3lfk4fvp5yv26
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/president-trump-to-take-centre-stage-at-davos-just-three-days-after-his-inauguration/ar-AA1xcxLw?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=15bcfb92ceaf44398405ca7c61c90b21&ei=20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x2G1K6ZJVE
Just a slightly bigger fish in the pond.
That will leave Nottinghamshire as a single unitary (800k outside Nottingham). And Nottingham is only 320k, even though some would argue that everything from Bristol to Hull should be part of Nottingham
I'd say 250k or 300k would be more appropriate, and it needs to be flexible.
I still have my habit of sometimes swapping a similar sounding word in by mistake when I'm not quite sure.
At school one day I managed, aloud in class, to replace the Pretender "Perkin Warbeck" with ... "Marvin Purbeck". It's still engraved in my memory.
https://x.com/tomaspueyo/status/1879554682093498791
Here’s an example thread. Real year zero stuff.
https://x.com/chrislittlewoo8/status/1875631790204821913?s=61
I have tried to find a balanced commentary. To no avail. Is there one, does anyone have a rational view on it ?
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3707
Thanks
Apparently Trump credited with Israel-Gaza conflict
Starmer waits Trump's OK on the Chagos deal
Next Ukraine - Russia and if Trump manages that then he will be seen to have a huge impact
Prayers for all involved
When he kills those guys he plays with them like a cat with mice.
Neil Fitzmaurice is in another good film, Going off Big Time.
https://x.com/fantomfilms/status/1879584288976634118?s=61
Is it a pisstake? "Flowery language", "livestock gutted".
RIP
https://x.com/nevillefchambe1/status/1879575549418643954?s=61
So either he's going to do a u-turn, or he's not willing to do everything possible.
An unpardonable sin on Masterchef on a par with lumpy mash !!
Nice words. Need to deliver.
There is a community of people out there who believe this,is genuinely the case.
In the US versions (tons on Netflix), the idealistic Special Forces guy/gal comes homes, fights the bad guys, the bad guys behind the bad guys etc. Saves the day.
Dead Man’s Shoes is - a somewhat organised psychopath kills a small number of the local small fish. For an understandable reason, true. But he isn’t a hero. Or even vaguely nice.
The world is currently on track to reach +1.5C on average in 2030, so even very rapid emergency changes to cut emissions wouldn't avoid that being breached, but there is still potential for an overshoot scenario, if rapid cuts to GHG emissions are made, and particularly if concentrations of methane can be cut, as that could lead to a modest degree of global cooling from a peak warming of ~2C.
In 2021 the SPD won 121 constituencies, the CDU 98, the CSU 45, the Greens 16, the Afd 16 and the Left 3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_2021_German_federal_election
Now the latest projection has the Union winning 211, the AfD 45, the SPD just 31, the Greens 10 and the Left 2
https://www.election.de/cgi-bin/showforecast_btw25.pl?map=250110
7th Starship/SuperHeavy test pushed to Thursday by weather.
I'm not so sure.
I can't decide if it's just bad for everything, or if there'll be a rush for safer things - investing in ice sculptures perhaps?
The law has not even come into effect. There seems to have been a concerted effort from lobbyists on this over the last week.
I was asking what the counter debate was to the online stuff I’ve seen about this bill as a lot of the commentary, like that I linked, does go into the conspiracy theory stuff.
I get the thin end of the wedge stuff. We have had things like the RIP act being used against parents gaming the system to get kids into a better school or anti terror legislation used to seize the assets of Icelandic banks or photographers being harassed under anti terror legislation for taking pictures in public even being made to delete them.
I have grave concerns the assisted dying bill will see similar mission creep and when Kim Leadbitter guarantees it won’t I have to say I’m not buying it.