As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Yeah, it was a combination of them, after the Happy Eater acquisition, having two locations competing with each other - they were really too big - plus the big high street brands starting to monopolise the motorway services. The fact that most A road locations have been converted to either Starbucks or Subway suggests perhaps that the HE/LC restaurant style has gone out of fashion.
r/WhitePeopleTwitter is now calling for the public execution of the DOGE software developers
Ah yes, of course, because someone posts something on Reddit, it must mean that vast swathes of people are in favour of the execution of DOGE software developers.
For the record, we are only calling for the public execution of software developers with red hair.
r/WhitePeopleTwitter is now calling for the public execution of the DOGE software developers
You'd make a crap Scooby Doo and Shaggy, You are believing the bad guy's dodgy alibis.
I don't think it is controversial that some Trump opponents will be bad people. That doesn't mean the sides are equal, so the dispute will be about how many are bad, and if it is argued singular posts are representative or not.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Trump on what Trudeau could offer him to change his mind on tariffs: "What I'd like to see -- Canada become our 51st state."
I think you could well be right: Trump sees himself as extending the borders of the US to encompass Canada and Greenland.
He wants to go down in history at achieving this.
There are, however, a couple of small issues with this:
(1) If Canada were to agree to join, then it would fundamentally alter US electoral geography - the US would move very significantly to the Left. Something definitely not envisaged by the Project 2025 crowd.
(2) Quebec: they barely want to be part of Canada, would they want to be part of the US?
(3) There's no way that Canada would want to come as one State: Ontario alone has 16 million people, which would put them 4th after California, Texas and Florida. Quebec's 9 million would put them in the top half of States by size. BC and Alberta aren't tiny either. So, you would probably be talking about probably eight states, of which five would be left wing - and that's assuming that Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba were all separate (right wing) states.
(4) Has anyone even done an opinion poll on this? Plus (and this is quite important), is the best way to get someone to agree to marry you to threaten them with starvation if they don't agree on the union? It certainly wasn't the way I wooed my wife, but other PBers may have a different opinion.
(4) worked for England v Scotland in 1707. That, and mass bribery of the lairds.
Any modern lairds up for a good bribing?
"I gave Mornay double his lands in Scotland with matching estates in England. Lochlan turned for much less!"
Trump's tariffs are purely a negotiating ploy. He cos-plays a madman enamoured of tariffs to get the "deals" he wants with these threats. Mexico just caved. I have no idea what he wants out of Canada
Nor does Canada.
Which makes the whole thing a bit weird.
And you know what... Irrespective of whether tariffs are removed, American goods are going to be a bit less popular in Canada than they were.
One of the problems Trump has is that Central America is not dirt poor any more, and won't be pushed around so easily.
Mexico's GDP is only about 10% less than Russia's, and both Mexico and Panama are around world average for Per Cap GDP.
r/WhitePeopleTwitter is now calling for the public execution of the DOGE software developers
Ah yes, of course, because someone posts something on Reddit, it must mean that vast swathes of people are in favour of the execution of DOGE software developers.
For the record, we are only calling for the public execution of software developers with red hair.
Don't we have to establish their views on Radiohead before sentencing?
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
Given what we've learnt today, it's hardly surprising that Starmer's voice coaching was largely ineffective. It doesn't really work when you're both wearing masks.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
There's actually a Grade II listed former Little Chef at Markham Moor near Retford on the A1, which has a roof which is a HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID.
Given what we've learnt today, it's hardly surprising that Starmer's voice coaching was largely ineffective. It doesn't really work when you're both wearing masks.
I’m staggered by this. If the shop floor workers want more money they can get a job in the warehouse. Why don’t they? How the feck is this sexual discrimination? And people wonder why there is a backlash.
It's not all that complicated. Law begets law. Once you have a principle enshrined in a statute - in this case equal pay as between identifiable different groups - then it will generate cases. Cases have to adjudicate on the facts, creating precedents. Further cases generate more etc.
For lawyers, employment tribunal cases have an additional charm. Usually there are three possible legal stages - first instance, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court. In thse cases there are four. Tribunal, Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court. So it can generate money and hot air for ever.
Unions, and the law firms like Thompson's that exist to serve them (and I make no criticism of any of these fine bodies) will keep this going indefinitely. In our world full of billionaire chancers and their posh lawyers I think those who stand up for the rights of the actual workers deserve commendation.
Canada and Denmark share a 1.2 km long land border on Hans Island since we ended the Whisky War in 2022. So technically we could join the European Union. https://x.com/CraigBaird/status/1886136938564030793
Greenland left the EU in 1985 !
It's an "overseas countries and territories (OCT) associated to the European Union".
I am not sure what that means.
Good luck with getting Canada in the CAP.
Similar to the Faeroes, I think, so outside the CFP etc.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Trump on what Trudeau could offer him to change his mind on tariffs: "What I'd like to see -- Canada become our 51st state."
I think you could well be right: Trump sees himself as extending the borders of the US to encompass Canada and Greenland.
He wants to go down in history at achieving this.
There are, however, a couple of small issues with this:
(1) If Canada were to agree to join, then it would fundamentally alter US electoral geography - the US would move very significantly to the Left. Something definitely not envisaged by the Project 2025 crowd.
(2) Quebec: they barely want to be part of Canada, would they want to be part of the US?
(3) There's no way that Canada would want to come as one State: Ontario alone has 16 million people, which would put them 4th after California, Texas and Florida. Quebec's 9 million would put them in the top half of States by size. BC and Alberta aren't tiny either. So, you would probably be talking about probably eight states, of which five would be left wing - and that's assuming that Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba were all separate (right wing) states.
(4) Has anyone even done an opinion poll on this? Plus (and this is quite important), is the best way to get someone to agree to marry you to threaten them with starvation if they don't agree on the union? It certainly wasn't the way I wooed my wife, but other PBers may have a different opinion.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.
In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.
In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.
I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.
AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.
Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.
In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.
In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.
I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.
AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.
Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!
Trump on what Trudeau could offer him to change his mind on tariffs: "What I'd like to see -- Canada become our 51st state."
I think you could well be right: Trump sees himself as extending the borders of the US to encompass Canada and Greenland.
He wants to go down in history at achieving this.
There are, however, a couple of small issues with this:
(1) If Canada were to agree to join, then it would fundamentally alter US electoral geography - the US would move very significantly to the Left. Something definitely not envisaged by the Project 2025 crowd.
(2) Quebec: they barely want to be part of Canada, would they want to be part of the US?
(3) There's no way that Canada would want to come as one State: Ontario alone has 16 million people, which would put them 4th after California, Texas and Florida. Quebec's 9 million would put them in the top half of States by size. BC and Alberta aren't tiny either. So, you would probably be talking about probably eight states, of which five would be left wing - and that's assuming that Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba were all separate (right wing) states.
(4) Has anyone even done an opinion poll on this? Plus (and this is quite important), is the best way to get someone to agree to marry you to threaten them with starvation if they don't agree on the union? It certainly wasn't the way I wooed my wife, but other PBers may have a different opinion.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
There's actually a Grade II listed former Little Chef at Markham Moor near Retford on the A1, which has a roof which is a HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID.
The old little chef near Warminster on the A36 used to be a fantastic curry restaurant, although most of its trade was take away. Sadly the owners left a few years ago to focus on take away in their other venue. It was weird in a good way to sit inside a little chef that had had a makeover to curry house spec.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
If you put 30.8% RefUK into Electoral Calculus you get a majority if Lab are on 22.5% and Tories 20.5%.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
There's actually a Grade II listed former Little Chef at Markham Moor near Retford on the A1, which has a roof which is a HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID.
The old little chef near Warminster on the A36 used to be a fantastic curry restaurant, although most of its trade was take away. Sadly the owners left a few years ago to focus on take away in their other venue. It was weird in a good way to sit inside a little chef that had had a makeover to curry house spec.
I remember getting pancakes in that Little Chef 30 years ago. Funny what sticks with you. Or was I thinking of the one at Beckington?
r/WhitePeopleTwitter is now calling for the public execution of the DOGE software developers
You'd make a crap Scooby Doo and Shaggy, You are believing the bad guy's dodgy alibis.
There was someone who was definitely a genuine California liberal posting a photo of one of the DOGE team and saying he will be “popular in prison”.
With all due respect, William, so what?
There are going to be nutters of all flavours and colours who call for people to be locked up and shot.
Exactly so. There is a nutter on social media for every occasion. Anyone using a single example of such an anecdatum is positively damaging the argument being put forward. Not least because they could be completely made up by something that doesn't even qualify as sentient whether meat or electronic-based, so not responsible, or by the other side - even WG himself for all one knows*. So basically WG is effectively conceding the argument.
That doesn't, of course, excuse the behaviour of the aforesaid nutter [edit] who is being cited.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
If you put 30.8% RefUK into Electoral Calculus you get a majority if Lab are on 22.5% and Tories 20.5%.
I think we’re already at the point that the existing models break down because we are so far outside of the precedents.
Given what we've learnt today, it's hardly surprising that Starmer's voice coaching was largely ineffective. It doesn't really work when you're both wearing masks.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
Clearly a more important thing to do than international aid programmes or having an education department.
One day, don't know when, the old formula that USA dollar is a reserve currency so it doesn't matter how much debt it has and can always borrow/print a few quadrillion more (eg to create a sovereign wealth fund out of money it doesn't possess) will be found to have a subtle fatal flaw in it. I can't imagine what it might be but there will be one.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
EMA of latest polls
Would Lab really win 287 seats with just 25.6% of the vote?
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
EMA of latest polls
This shows it clearly. It is very hard to believe on the shifts in this chart that not many Labour votes have switched to Reform. Everyone but Labour and Reform are flat since the GE in July.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
EMA of latest polls
Would Lab really win 287 seats with just 25.6% of the vote?
Using Electoral Calculus methodology - yes. Lots of small majorities.
Half a century ago Congress, the courts, other key institutions within and outside of the government, and the American public, faced an assault launched by President Richard Nixon and his henchmen to the constitutional order and the rule of law.
Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins President Trump tells me his call with Prime Minister Trudeau went “very well.” Asked if the tariffs against Canada are still going into effect tonight, he said, “Watch.”
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Hiking the Offa's Dyke footpath a few years ago I found myself in Monmouth in need of an eatery that would welcome without condescension someone who looked (and smelt) like they'd walked 160 miles to get there. Wetherspoons it was. I'd rate it as perfectly adequate, which in my book is high praise indeed.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
Without some numbers from DKs and "will not vote" from YouGov, it's very difficult to get your head round what is happening. Roughly:
1) Reform cleaving off lots of '24 Tories 2) Labour losing more voters to Lib Dems than Reform 3) A significant chunk of Reform's vote is non-voters from '24
But I can't really work out how they have ended up with the percentages they have, particularly the Tory share.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
There's actually a Grade II listed former Little Chef at Markham Moor near Retford on the A1, which has a roof which is a HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID.
The old little chef near Warminster on the A36 used to be a fantastic curry restaurant, although most of its trade was take away. Sadly the owners left a few years ago to focus on take away in their other venue. It was weird in a good way to sit inside a little chef that had had a makeover to curry house spec.
I remember getting pancakes in that Little Chef 30 years ago. Funny what sticks with you. Or was I thinking of the one at Beckington?
Still good memories though.
In August 1980 my wife and I, with our 3 children, were returning from a fabulous 2 weeks in Chamonix on the car train and I decided to wait until we were in England before ringing my Mother and Father to say we were back in the UK
Just north of London we stopped at a Little Chef and I phoned home
Mum answered and asked where we were
I told her, then she said my father had been taken ill last night
I asked how he was and in a haltering voice she said 'he died in my arms'
It was utterly dreadful news which I had to break to my wife and children in the Little Chef and the drive back to Wales was terrible
We never went in another Little Chef again, and it is a moment in our family history that lives in all our memories
The one positive was the time spent in Chamonix introduced our eldest son to the mountains and snow, and some years later as a professional snowboarder he spent winters in Chamonix and also Whistler in Canada
66% of the public support, 16% against a ratio of 4.1, 24 of the panel support, 6 against, a ratio of 4.
Should the panel be balanced in terms of popular support, MP support or 50/50?
Personally, I think such a panel should be a full spread of views rather than done like a vote or poll.
They are the evidence quarry which is to be mined and refined by the committee.
The stuff about opinion polls is childish and irrelevant. The overwhelming majority have not read the Bill and do not understand any of the medical or legal issues. It is obvious from the debate in here that many of those commenting have not read the BillThat is why proper scrutiny is needed. It is what was promised. This Bill is not getting it.
Some questions:
1. Why no evidence from Canada? The reason was that its legal system is so different that nothing useful could be gleaned. Disingenuous nonsense. But if so, why then 2. So many witnesses from Australia
66% of the public support, 16% against a ratio of 4.1, 24 of the panel support, 6 against, a ratio of 4.
Should the panel be balanced in terms of popular support, MP support or 50/50?
Personally, I think such a panel should be a full spread of views rather than done like a vote or poll.
They are the evidence quarry which is to be mined and refined by the committee.
Should a climate change commission be 50% climate change deniers to give all views equal access? Or similar with anti-vaxxers?
Arguably those are different as more science based but the anti-vaxxers and climate change deniers would certainly feel it unbalanced.
What a stupid comparison. The issue is about coercion, about the rights of the disabled and the vulnerable, about palliative care, about the morality of it all. Not about whether the science tells us that we can kill people. We know that already.
The issue is about many things: how you weigh up those things is very much up to an individual.
For me, not making dying people suffer unnecessarily is a massively important thing. I want less suffering in the world.
And also IMV, palliative care is *far* from perfect in reducing suffering.
At least palliative care tries to reduce suffering, while letting nature take it's course. Assisted dying interferes. And no, I'm not taking sides; I've seen dying which was assisted and which wasn't. My mind isn't made up.
Yes, it tries to, and almost everyone working in palliative care will try to reduce suffering.
But speaking from my own viewpoint: if I have a deadly illness, and my quality of life is poor - if, for instance, the only way I survive is to be on a cocktail of drugs that makes it impossible for me to do anything else - then I'd rather end it all, at a time and place of my choosing, with my loved ones around me.
And anyone stopping me from doing so would be torturing me. I enjoy life too much just to exist.
Existence is not life.
You are already free to commit suicide if you want. And have whoever you want around you. You are not obliged to take a cocktail of drugs.
Stop claiming that you are forbidden from doing any of these things. You aren't.
Oh - and suicide prevention is not "torture". Treating depression in the terminally ill (see the evidence from one of the psychiatrists who gave evidence to the committee) is not "torture" either.
The anomaly in the UK is that suicide is legal but the state does everything it can to prevent you accessing the means to painlessly end your life with dignity.
If I could go in front of a panel of doctors/judges and then be allowed to obtain the drugs I could be given in Switzerland then that would be fine. I wouldn't need "assistance" from anyone. But I can't.
Sooner or later people like your good self need to recognise that people have a right to choose a dignified death without others sticking their oar in. Until that time I shall maintain my membership of Exit International and keep Dignitas on speed dial.
Look I am full in favour of your right to end your life. However my father is in a home now with dementia and I see the vultures that would be whispering in is ear hovering....you are a burden, you are squandering your savings. Had to ban most of them from seeing him now as he was getting upset by them and apologizing for being a burden
I really sympathise with your situation but it must be possible to allow people like myself to exercise my right to a painless, dignified death without putting others in a position to be coerced. Many of the opponents of AD seem to me to be simply trying to muddy the waters. Is anyone seriously suggesting, for example, that disabled people, will be forced to kill themselves if the legislation is passed?
As I said fully behind assisted dying....I see the value in it and would want it for myself...I however am in the position where I see people who would have no problem making feel like he should take that option as they feel would benefit them....not that they are looking after him but they think he may have left them something
Bryant is a decent Parliamentarian, but Science Minister ? Please.
I did wonder about this one. Govt spending £90m to get a £450m investment seems... I dunno... kinda expensive?
20% of the capital cost to ensure a vaccines research and production capacity isn’t absurd. We’re a relatively small market for pharmaceuticals now we’re not in the EU, and we tend to pay less for them than most developed countries.
In that context, we need to work harder to retain our share of what is a multinational industry. You can only cheese pare so much.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
The biggest single switch from Labour has been to don't know/won't say. That does kooky things to both the numerator and the denominator in the fractions. (One of the things that probably flatters the Reform score a bit is that a lot more of their voters are really gung-ho enthusiastic, whereas everyone else's support is more lukewarm.)
So the story is more that Golf Club Boors nationwide have flipped Con-to-Ref, and that might be enough to push the Reform total above a diminished Labour score. Or it might not. The swing certainly ain't uniform.
Trouble for anyone trying to interpret the polls is that we don't know what those shy Labour voters will do when push comes to shove. Is it more like 1992 or 1997/2024? And the relevant voters aren't saying.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
Without some numbers from DKs and "will not vote" from YouGov, it's very difficult to get your head round what is happening. Roughly:
1) Reform cleaving off lots of '24 Tories 2) Labour losing more voters to Lib Dems than Reform 3) A significant chunk of Reform's vote is non-voters from '24
But I can't really work out how they have ended up with the percentages they have, particularly the Tory share.
Reform are gaining far more labour votes in red wall seats
Indeed check all the locals where the conservatives are doing reasonably, but in red wall reform are tanking Labour
It is also expected Reform will cause mayhem for Labour here in Wales next year
We were assured earlier, by Sky News no less, that the Mexicans had caved on every point.
Yes, getting Trump to promise arms control on weapons smugglers going south and nothing on trade.
And moving Mexican troops to the border seems rather like Brer Rabbit being thrown in the brier patch, it's not often a country wants a neighbour to move an army onto its frontier.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Hiking the Offa's Dyke footpath a few years ago I found myself in Monmouth in need of an eatery that would welcome without condescension someone who looked (and smelt) like they'd walked 160 miles to get there. Wetherspoons it was. I'd rate it as perfectly adequate, which in my book is high praise indeed.
Many, many years ago, as a student I was sent with the lab tech and the van to collect some stuff on an overnighter. When we'd got to the hotel and dumped our bags, he insisted on going to one of those chain steak places (I forget the name but it was c. 1980 and the typical menu was prawn cocktail, steak and chips, and Black Forest, albeit with some options). He explained that at least he knew what to expect, and could eat and digest it, when he was tired after driving all day and had a long day the next day packing the gear and driving home and unloading. It was a lesson in its little way: I've never been too dismissive of such places since - so long as the stuff is edible.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
The biggest single switch from Labour has been to don't know/won't say. That does kooky things to both the numerator and the denominator in the fractions. (One of the things that probably flatters the Reform score a bit is that a lot more of their voters are really gung-ho enthusiastic, whereas everyone else's support is more lukewarm.)
So the story is more that Golf Club Boors nationwide have flipped Con-to-Ref, and that might be enough to push the Reform total above a diminished Labour score. Or it might not. The swing certainly ain't uniform.
Trouble for anyone trying to interpret the polls is that we don't know what those shy Labour voters will do when push comes to shove. Is it more like 1992 or 1997/2024? And the relevant voters aren't saying.
The other thing is that we also know Reform voters are very online, so I take their polling with a hefty pinch of salt
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
If you put 30.8% RefUK into Electoral Calculus you get a majority if Lab are on 22.5% and Tories 20.5%.
But that is unlikely to reflect reality. Reform could get a majority on less or need more.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Hiking the Offa's Dyke footpath a few years ago I found myself in Monmouth in need of an eatery that would welcome without condescension someone who looked (and smelt) like they'd walked 160 miles to get there. Wetherspoons it was. I'd rate it as perfectly adequate, which in my book is high praise indeed.
Many, many years ago, as a student I was sent with the lab tech and the van to collect some stuff on an overnighter. When we'd got to the hotel and dumped our bags, he insisted on going to one of those chain steak places (I forget the name but it was c. 1980 and the typical menu was prawn cocktail, steak and chips, and Black Forest, albeit with some options). He explained that at least he knew what to expect, and could eat and digest it, when he was tired after driving all day and had a long day the next day packing the gear and driving home and unloading. It was a lesson in its little way: I've never been too dismissive of such places since - so long as the stuff is edible.
Berni Inn ? I have fond memories as a teen of their serving coffee with a large shot of whisky or brandy, and whipped cream on top. Their steaks were fairly decent, too.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Hiking the Offa's Dyke footpath a few years ago I found myself in Monmouth in need of an eatery that would welcome without condescension someone who looked (and smelt) like they'd walked 160 miles to get there. Wetherspoons it was. I'd rate it as perfectly adequate, which in my book is high praise indeed.
Many, many years ago, as a student I was sent with the lab tech and the van to collect some stuff on an overnighter. When we'd got to the hotel and dumped our bags, he insisted on going to one of those chain steak places (I forget the name but it was c. 1980 and the typical menu was prawn cocktail, steak and chips, and Black Forest, albeit with some options). He explained that at least he knew what to expect, and could eat and digest it, when he was tired after driving all day and had a long day the next day packing the gear and driving home and unloading. It was a lesson in its little way: I've never been too dismissive of such places since - so long as the stuff is edible.
Ah, I used to love a Berni Inn.
I rather fancy this place next time I am in The Smoke, it's a real Eighties time capsule:
It sounds like there are serious questions to answer about the Sheffield stabbing. The perpetrator had apparently previously taken a machete into school and threatened to stab another student.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
EMA of latest polls
Would Lab really win 287 seats with just 25.6% of the vote?
It entirely depends on how efficient the L-LD-G vote is. (And, of course how efficient/inefficient the C-Ref vote is.)
It is certainly far from impossible: one only has to look at Scotland to see how disproportional FPTP can be.
It sounds like there are serious questions to answer about the Sheffield stabbing. The perpetrator had apparently previously taken a machete into school and threatened to stab another student.
On latest figures, there are 244 knife homicides per year in the UK. That's one of the lowest rates in the whole world (per capita). It's half the rate they have in Germany, and a third of the rate they have in the Netherlands. The rate is five times higher in Puerto Rico and nearly seven times higher in the US. It's about eight times higher in Romania. Maybe it's worth reflecting that, while each such death is a tragedy, we are doing well overall as a nation.
As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.
Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.
Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.
The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.
There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.
And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.
Pizza Hut?!
A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut McDonald's, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOC9d17vASc&t=64s
Is that not the Yank version?
The British one has Happy Eater in it.
Then British children were singing the Yank version 30 years ago when I was a child.
When I learned it (mid-late 80s), that one was the first verse and the second verse was:
A Burger King, a Burger King, a Little Chef and a Burger King Happy Eater, Happy Eater, a Little Chef and a Burger King
Of course, Little Chef and Happy Eater are no longer with us. LC's owner bought HE's owner in the mid 90s and converted all HEs to LC, but that was the beginning of the end - LC was a shadow of its former self by the mid Noughties and all gone by 2018.
Wait, hang on, Little Chef has gone? The number of times I stop at services and never noticed. That’s quite sad. I must have just stopped going…
Steady on. I'm a pleb and regard Spoons as expensive posh fine wining and dining for special occasions only, but I drew the line at Little Chef.
Eh? A colleague and I used to call in regularly on the one on the Fosse Way somewhere in the Cotdswolds when heading down to Somerset etc. for work/cider/Yeovilton air show. It was great!
Hiking the Offa's Dyke footpath a few years ago I found myself in Monmouth in need of an eatery that would welcome without condescension someone who looked (and smelt) like they'd walked 160 miles to get there. Wetherspoons it was. I'd rate it as perfectly adequate, which in my book is high praise indeed.
Many, many years ago, as a student I was sent with the lab tech and the van to collect some stuff on an overnighter. When we'd got to the hotel and dumped our bags, he insisted on going to one of those chain steak places (I forget the name but it was c. 1980 and the typical menu was prawn cocktail, steak and chips, and Black Forest, albeit with some options). He explained that at least he knew what to expect, and could eat and digest it, when he was tired after driving all day and had a long day the next day packing the gear and driving home and unloading. It was a lesson in its little way: I've never been too dismissive of such places since - so long as the stuff is edible.
Berni Inn ? I have fond memories as a teen of their serving coffee with a large shot of whisky or brandy, and whipped cream on top. Their steaks were fairly decent, too.
The problem for the Tories is you can imagine labour voters going to Reform you can imagine labour voters going to LD you can imagine labour voters going to Green you can imagine labour voters going to the SNP /PC
I cannot imagine labour voters going to the tories atm - all other reasons to move from labour are hoovered by the above parties
Bad news. The predictions for what'll happen to the energy price cap in April keep rising. EDF now predicted Ofgem will increase it by 3.3% rise, British Gas predicts 5%, Eon Next predicts 5.7%.
We're only a couple of weeks from the end of the assessment period. So that means this is getting pretty firm. Its now nearly unthinkable that it'll drop, it's going to rise, the big question is how much.
Trump on what Trudeau could offer him to change his mind on tariffs: "What I'd like to see -- Canada become our 51st state."
I think you could well be right: Trump sees himself as extending the borders of the US to encompass Canada and Greenland.
He wants to go down in history at achieving this.
There are, however, a couple of small issues with this:
(1) If Canada were to agree to join, then it would fundamentally alter US electoral geography - the US would move very significantly to the Left. Something definitely not envisaged by the Project 2025 crowd.
(2) Quebec: they barely want to be part of Canada, would they want to be part of the US?
(3) There's no way that Canada would want to come as one State: Ontario alone has 16 million people, which would put them 4th after California, Texas and Florida. Quebec's 9 million would put them in the top half of States by size. BC and Alberta aren't tiny either. So, you would probably be talking about probably eight states, of which five would be left wing - and that's assuming that Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba were all separate (right wing) states.
(4) Has anyone even done an opinion poll on this? Plus (and this is quite important), is the best way to get someone to agree to marry you to threaten them with starvation if they don't agree on the union? It certainly wasn't the way I wooed my wife, but other PBers may have a different opinion.
(4) also known as that jolly old Henry VIII (and successors) tactic. Reverse takeover on the cards?
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
NEW: Judge AliKhan blocks Trump's funding freeze (for now), ordering OMB to instruct all federal agencies that received the original memo that they must reinstate any stopped payments.
It sounds like there are serious questions to answer about the Sheffield stabbing. The perpetrator had apparently previously taken a machete into school and threatened to stab another student.
On latest figures, there are 244 knife homicides per year in the UK. That's one of the lowest rates in the whole world (per capita). It's half the rate they have in Germany, and a third of the rate they have in the Netherlands. The rate is five times higher in Puerto Rico and nearly seven times higher in the US. It's about eight times higher in Romania. Maybe it's worth reflecting that, while each such death is a tragedy, we are doing well overall as a nation.
I looked at the numbers a week or so ago. Homicides involving knives are surprisingly consistent at 40% or so of the total year in, year out. To the extent that such crimes rise it is in proportion to homicides overall. I genuinely do not think the knives are the problem, the real problem is why do crimes involving violence occur at all? Of course there are no simple answers to that, and any solution will likely be labourious and expensive. If we really want to drive knife crime down, particularly amongst young people, then it will be things like education, social services, youth services that need funding and programmes, not focusing on particularly types of knives and how they are purchased.
Matt Goodwin's polling might not be so bad after all.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
Reform is probably tied or ahead. However, structurally they are against a tactically well balanced Labour - Lib Dem vote, while their own vote appears not to be well-balanced with the Conservatives, so I would assume Labour would remain ahead on seats. But of course all this is as academic as March 2021 polling.
I have no idea about this, but Goodwin says somewhere that the national polling figure which would open up the sunlit uplands for Reform is 31% unless other things changed and one other party also soared ahead from their present position. I don't think that can be marked down as impossible.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
Oh God, I actually agree with Matt Goodwin on something.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Looking at the tables - of those '24 Conservatives with a voting intention, a 1/4 would now vote for Reform. That compares 1/12 for Labour.
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
The overall figures are odd. The Tory vote is basically flat but loads have defected to Reform. The Labour vote has collapsed, no other party than Reform has risen much, but not many Labour votes have gone to Reform. Strange.
Without some numbers from DKs and "will not vote" from YouGov, it's very difficult to get your head round what is happening. Roughly:
1) Reform cleaving off lots of '24 Tories 2) Labour losing more voters to Lib Dems than Reform 3) A significant chunk of Reform's vote is non-voters from '24
But I can't really work out how they have ended up with the percentages they have, particularly the Tory share.
Reform are gaining far more labour votes in red wall seats
Indeed check all the locals where the conservatives are doing reasonably, but in red wall reform are tanking Labour
It is also expected Reform will cause mayhem for Labour here in Wales next year
I appreciate the effort but I really can't see any evidence that Reform are going to hammer Labour any harder than they are the Conservatives. Using that YouGov poll, based on figures with at least 100 respondents:
Reform are picking up 3x as many Conservative voters as Labour voters, as share of '24 vote
Reform are scoring 29% with over 65s - only two points behind the Conservatives in the core Tory vote
Reform's vote is distributed fairly evenly across the country, with the best numbers in the Midlands
The Conservatives best region is very nearly... London! (pipped by one point for the Midlands).
Labour's best numbers are in the North of England, beating London
It sounds like there are serious questions to answer about the Sheffield stabbing. The perpetrator had apparently previously taken a machete into school and threatened to stab another student.
On latest figures, there are 244 knife homicides per year in the UK. That's one of the lowest rates in the whole world (per capita). It's half the rate they have in Germany, and a third of the rate they have in the Netherlands. The rate is five times higher in Puerto Rico and nearly seven times higher in the US. It's about eight times higher in Romania. Maybe it's worth reflecting that, while each such death is a tragedy, we are doing well overall as a nation.
I looked at the numbers a week or so ago. Homicides involving knives are surprisingly consistent at 40% or so of the total year in, year out. To the extent that such crimes rise it is in proportion to homicides overall. I genuinely do not think the knives are the problem, the real problem is why do crimes involving violence occur at all? Of course there are no simple answers to that, and any solution will likely be labourious and expensive. If we really want to drive knife crime down, particularly amongst young people, then it will be things like education, social services, youth services that need funding and programmes, not focusing on particularly types of knives and how they are purchased.
The Glasgow approach seems the way forward, treating knifing as a public health problem.
The problem for the Tories is you can imagine labour voters going to Reform you can imagine labour voters going to LD you can imagine labour voters going to Green you can imagine labour voters going to the SNP /PC
I cannot imagine labour voters going to the tories atm - all other reasons to move from labour are hoovered by the above parties
Yet the details of tonight's poll have 4% of 2024 Labour voters going Tory, more than the 3% of Labour voters going SNP and PC, with just 2% of 2024 Tories going Labour. 6% of 2024 LDs have gone Tory to just 1% of 2024 Tories who have gone LD.
Just those Kemi gains from Labour and the LDs have been outweighed by the 24% of 2024 Tories who have gone Reform, much more than the 6% of 2024 Reform voters who have gone Tory
Bad news. The predictions for what'll happen to the energy price cap in April keep rising. EDF now predicted Ofgem will increase it by 3.3% rise, British Gas predicts 5%, Eon Next predicts 5.7%.
We're only a couple of weeks from the end of the assessment period. So that means this is getting pretty firm. Its now nearly unthinkable that it'll drop, it's going to rise, the big question is how much.
Fixed my energy tariff for 14 months a couple of days ago, at lower than the current price cap. Worth checking what fixes are still out there.
Bad news. The predictions for what'll happen to the energy price cap in April keep rising. EDF now predicted Ofgem will increase it by 3.3% rise, British Gas predicts 5%, Eon Next predicts 5.7%.
We're only a couple of weeks from the end of the assessment period. So that means this is getting pretty firm. Its now nearly unthinkable that it'll drop, it's going to rise, the big question is how much.
Fixed my energy tariff for 14 months a couple of days ago, at lower than the current price cap. Worth checking what fixes are still out there.
I fixed mine last month at lower than the price cap
The problem for the Tories is you can imagine labour voters going to Reform you can imagine labour voters going to LD you can imagine labour voters going to Green you can imagine labour voters going to the SNP /PC
I cannot imagine labour voters going to the tories atm - all other reasons to move from labour are hoovered by the above parties
Yet the details of tonight's poll have 4% of 2024 Labour voters going Tory, more than the 3% of Labour voters going SNP and PC, with just 2% of 2024 Tories going Labour. 6% of 2024 LDs have gone Tory to just 1% of 2024 Tories who have gone LD.
Just those Kemi gains from Labour and the LDs have been outweighed by the 24% of 2024 Tories who have gone Reform, much more than the 6% of 2024 Reform voters who have gone Tory
Comments
For the record, we are only calling for the public execution of software developers with red hair.
"Reform have topped a Sky News/YouGov poll for the first time as the party continues to shake up British politics. Nigel Farage's Reform UK has edged in front on 25%, with Labour pushed into second on 24% and the Tories on 21%. The YouGov poll, taken on Sunday and Monday, also puts the Lib Dems on 14% and Greens on 9%."
https://news.sky.com/story/reform-uk-tops-landmark-poll-for-first-time-13302531
There are going to be nutters of all flavours and colours who call for people to be locked up and shot.
It doesn't really work when you're both wearing masks.
For lawyers, employment tribunal cases have an additional charm. Usually there are three possible legal stages - first instance, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court. In thse cases there are four. Tribunal, Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court. So it can generate money and hot air for ever.
Unions, and the law firms like Thompson's that exist to serve them (and I make no criticism of any of these fine bodies) will keep this going indefinitely. In our world full of billionaire chancers and their posh lawyers I think those who stand up for the rights of the actual workers deserve commendation.
Clearly a more important thing to do than international aid programmes or having an education department.
FWIW I suspect Reform (who I don't support and won't vote for) would do well for themselves at the moment by keeping out of overseas politics altogether. It is likely that in 2029 they will do best by having no relationship with Trumpism in the public mind. But it is also possible that in 2029 Trumpism will be the flavour of the month. They should wait and see, and tack to the centre while maintaining a policy of very low migration and uncosted delusional economic unicornery. (Which by then will be a stronger version of what Lab/Con will be offering).
See: 1MDB
So, US funds will be used to buy and thereby control a social media platform that Trump thinks helped him win.
And there are those still on here who maintain he wont run in 2028.
The Tory to Reform ratio is under 1 at the moment but I’ve been seeing 0.67 as the breakaway moment, ie once Reform are on 1.5x the Tory vote share their momentum becomes hard to stop.
By contrast the Labour to LD+Green ratio remains over 1 so Labour are miles away from having a viable competitor for main party on the centre and left.
Still good memories though.
That doesn't, of course, excuse the behaviour of the aforesaid nutter [edit] who is being cited.
*Purely hypothetical, of course.
It's the one thing you can do over the phone.
(Well, one of the few things. But still.)
But it's also picking up significant movements from Labour to LD/Green. The whole thing is fascinating, Reform picking up support not quite where you would expect.
It's all going to kick off in the East of Europe again isn't it? "Bikers for Putin" is a worrying development. Trump was the last thing we needed
I will watch later in week.
Mexico delivers a masterclass in how to handle Trump's threats
Will Grant
BBC News, reporting from Mexico City"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8d90v1m6qvt
Following his call with President Trump, Canada’s Trudeau says “proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days.”
They defeated it.
Today, we face a crisis greater than Watergate.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/more-dangerous-than-watergate?r=1emko&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Kaitlan Collins
@kaitlancollins
President Trump tells me his call with Prime Minister Trudeau went “very well.” Asked if the tariffs against Canada are still going into effect tonight, he said, “Watch.”
Who is next?
EU?
1) Reform cleaving off lots of '24 Tories
2) Labour losing more voters to Lib Dems than Reform
3) A significant chunk of Reform's vote is non-voters from '24
But I can't really work out how they have ended up with the percentages they have, particularly the Tory share.
Just north of London we stopped at a Little Chef and I phoned home
Mum answered and asked where we were
I told her, then she said my father had been taken ill last night
I asked how he was and in a haltering voice she said 'he died in my arms'
It was utterly dreadful news which I had to break to my wife and children in the Little Chef and the drive back to Wales was terrible
We never went in another Little Chef again, and it is a moment in our family history that lives in all our memories
The one positive was the time spent in Chamonix introduced our eldest son to the mountains and snow, and some years later as a professional snowboarder he spent winters in Chamonix and also Whistler in Canada
In that context, we need to work harder to retain our share of what is a multinational industry. You can only cheese pare so much.
So the story is more that Golf Club Boors nationwide have flipped Con-to-Ref, and that might be enough to push the Reform total above a diminished Labour score. Or it might not. The swing certainly ain't uniform.
Trouble for anyone trying to interpret the polls is that we don't know what those shy Labour voters will do when push comes to shove. Is it more like 1992 or 1997/2024? And the relevant voters aren't saying.
Indeed check all the locals where the conservatives are doing reasonably, but in red wall reform are tanking Labour
It is also expected Reform will cause mayhem for Labour here in Wales next year
And moving Mexican troops to the border seems rather like Brer Rabbit being thrown in the brier patch, it's not often a country wants a neighbour to move an army onto its frontier.
Not completely impossible, but a very tough gig, and they’re never going to sing well.
I have fond memories as a teen of their serving coffee with a large shot of whisky or brandy, and whipped cream on top. Their steaks were fairly decent, too.
Once the largest food chain outside the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berni_Inn
I rather fancy this place next time I am in The Smoke, it's a real Eighties time capsule:
https://oslocourtrestaurant.co.uk/
It is certainly far from impossible: one only has to look at Scotland to see how disproportional FPTP can be.
you can imagine labour voters going to Reform
you can imagine labour voters going to LD
you can imagine labour voters going to Green
you can imagine labour voters going to the SNP /PC
I cannot imagine labour voters going to the tories atm - all other reasons to move from labour are hoovered by the above parties
A Ukrainian interceptor FPV drone, launched from a "mothership" taking down a Russian ISR drone.
It's incredible how FPV drone technology has matured so rapidly into a cheap and extremely effective air defence capability.
https://x.com/JimmySecUK/status/1886496453897449489
Awesome work.
TRUMP TRADE WAR UPDATE:
Colombia: Lasted 4 hours - Trump accepts what was already offered.
🇨🇴
Mexico: Lasted one weekend - Trump accepts worse than before.
🇲🇽
Canada: Lasted one weekend - Trump accepts what was already agreed.
🇨🇦
Two-step process established:
1. Try to look tough
2. Just fold
🤡
Elon Musk is a terrible president.
Martin Lewis
@MartinSLewis
Bad news. The predictions for what'll happen to the energy price cap in April keep rising. EDF now predicted Ofgem will increase it by 3.3% rise, British Gas predicts 5%, Eon Next predicts 5.7%.
We're only a couple of weeks from the end of the assessment period. So that means this is getting pretty firm. Its now nearly unthinkable that it'll drop, it's going to rise, the big question is how much.
Labour 237, Reform 148, Conservatives 125, LDs 78
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/usercode.py?scotcontrol=N&CON=21&LAB=24&LIB=14&Reform=25&Green=9&UKIP=&TVCON=&TVLAB=&TVLIB=&TVReform=&TVGreen=&TVUKIP=&SCOTCON=&SCOTLAB=&SCOTLIB=&SCOTReform=&SCOTGreen=&SCOTUKIP=&SCOTNAT=&display=AllChanged&regorseat=(none)&boundary=2024
NEW: Judge AliKhan blocks Trump's funding freeze (for now), ordering OMB to instruct all federal agencies that received the original memo that they must reinstate any stopped payments.
https://bsky.app/profile/joshuajfriedman.com/post/3lhckndvvbk2z
It's a cult.
Even if he lost every trade battle he would still be the fucking messiah to his people. Because he tried etc etc...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45572691
Just those Kemi gains from Labour and the LDs have been outweighed by the 24% of 2024 Tories who have gone Reform, much more than the 6% of 2024 Reform voters who have gone Tory
https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/VotingIntention_MRP_250203_w.pdf
So, do we do this every 30 days for the next four years?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xqyrlpnl4o
Interesting defence....it wasn't racist it was simply musing about historical racial power imbalances....
You need to use a different denominator if you're comparing across parties.
https://news.sky.com/story/tariffs-on-canada-paused-for-at-least-30-days-as-trudeau-reveals-details-of-phone-call-with-trump-13209921