They do this to the mobile networks already I think. India is becoming more and more despotic under Modi and the opposition is nowhere because they're hilariously unpopular with 85% of the population
Politically, [axing winter fuel allowance] was a supreme act of self-harm which may yet end up costing Rachel Reeves her job. Campaigners say the issue was brought up time and again on the doorstep during recent local elections, and it is widely thought to be a major cause of Labour’s drubbing on polling day.
Of all the things Rachel Reeves could have cut, this was possibly the worst target she might have chosen.
Axing the winter fuel allowance was precisely the sort of penny-wise, pound-foolish measure that Treasury officials like to sneak through while the Chancellor’s guard is down and the hunt is on for quick, emblematic fixes.
Telegraph
Penny wise pound foolish to me means something like picking the cheapest builder who then cocks up the job and costs your more in the long run. Or George Osborne cutting the numbers at HMRC....
Reeves' problem IMO was Labour did not lay the ground for the tough decisions that needed to come. I doubt this was the worst target either. Raising income tax having promised not to would probably have ended her chancellorship.
They do this to the mobile networks already I think. India is becoming more and more despotic under Modi and the opposition is nowhere because they're hilariously unpopular with 85% of the population
The BJP's Democratic Alliance got 46% of the vote last year, meaning 54% of Indians did NOT vote for them.
FPTP and a fractured opposition gifted Modi the election.
What a beautiful morning for our early morning walk. Still, cool, bright, with a slightly watery sun breaking through from time to time. Just perfect for walking.
The problem with this as a trading bet is that if the odds fell to, say, 30/1 you still need to have a way of getting on the other end of it to close out your risk. Presumably you can do that through Betfair?
Hi @DavidL , I sort of replied to your holiday question of a few days ago, but as I was in Sorrento at the time, I had limited PB time.
For context I can't advise on such exotic places such as Japan and we always went on active holidays until recently, but as we are getting older sight seeing is becoming more relevant.
Here goes on some suggestions, bearing in mind your budget:
Iceland: If you haven't been, there will probably be quite a bit of stuff you have never done before. Excellent place to go for a change.
Cycling: Either organised or organise yourself on French greenways. I do a new route every year. For romance you can stay in chateaux and have a break in Paris before or after and that will be well within budget.
Italy: You mentioned Rome and Sorrento. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast is very touristy even in the off season. If you like walking there is a lot to do and it is very hilly. You can get around by train, boat and bus very easily.
Also if you fancy a tour Pisa, Florence, Sienna, Rome, Cortona and other hill top towns are easy to visit by train. We flew into Pisa and out of Rome once and into Perugia another time.
Trains are also good in France, Portugal and Spain.
We are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train in a few weeks.
They do this to the mobile networks already I think. India is becoming more and more despotic under Modi and the opposition is nowhere because they're hilariously unpopular with 85% of the population
India has always had a culture of hard government surveillance/control of telecoms. They were very, very... reluctant to allow any kind of encryption. Satellite communications have always been especially restricted - since they were invented.
Labour at 6/4 is value I think. They've made a bad start but they are getting the hang of govt. The economy may well turn around, its certainly overdue! If the next election is a referendum between Starmer and Farage, I think Labour win.
Yes, there are worse uses for those coins in the jar than a big price punt on the LDs.
Particularly as a trading bet. The threshold for most seats is now somewhere in the mid to high 20s% vote share, unless Reform manage to consolidate the right of centre vote. Thats a much lower bar than before.
I'm not taking this bet. The Liberal Democrats appeal to a specific middle-upper middle class elite concentrated in the home counties and posh suburban England.
Their upper limit is 20% at best. To go higher they'd need to co-opt students from the Greens, and some of the NOTA vote that Reform are getting, like they got in 2010, when they still only hit 23%.
As with all the parties they are also suffering from a lack of quality. Paddy Ashdowns leadership team had Charles Kennedy, Menzies Campbell, Ed Davey, Vince Cable, Simon Hughes, where are todays equivalents?
Just like Labour they need to be bolder and come up with some strategic answers.
If they are not clearly appealing to a centrist like me, I fail to see how they become the biggest party. The weakness of the others does give them a shot at strengthening what they do have though and perhaps even breaking the 100 seat barrier.
Yeah, but which party does have a quality leadership team? Not actually terrible is about the best that can be said about a small number of politicians. As for the rest..
Hindsight always tends to turn the politicians of yesterday into towering figures and today’s politicians into hopeless cases.
The Lib Dems and Liberals before them have always had a mixture of impressive and mediocre politicians, like any other party.
That said, there are some pretty strong MPs now, and many more of them, with a lot of real life experience. They just still struggle to get air time.
The notable absence, compared with both their past and with the other parties, is that the LD parliamentary party, at least in the Commons, is light on nutters and deadweights.
Alas, poor Lembit..
Given his trajectory he'll end up as a Ref MP.
He didn't have good optics
Way, way back, when he was an MP, I saw him in a pub in Bloomsbury - he'd obviously been out leafleting.
All the young ladies in the group were crowding round him in a rather blatant fashion.
For some inexplicable reason he had the nickname "tripod".
I'm not taking this bet. The Liberal Democrats appeal to a specific middle-upper middle class elite concentrated in the home counties and posh suburban England.
Their upper limit is 20% at best. To go higher they'd need to co-opt students from the Greens, and some of the NOTA vote that Reform are getting, like they got in 2010, when they still only hit 23%.
As with all the parties they are also suffering from a lack of quality. Paddy Ashdowns leadership team had Charles Kennedy, Menzies Campbell, Ed Davey, Vince Cable, Simon Hughes, where are todays equivalents?
Just like Labour they need to be bolder and come up with some strategic answers.
If they are not clearly appealing to a centrist like me, I fail to see how they become the biggest party. The weakness of the others does give them a shot at strengthening what they do have though and perhaps even breaking the 100 seat barrier.
Yeah, but which party does have a quality leadership team? Not actually terrible is about the best that can be said about a small number of politicians. As for the rest..
Hindsight always tends to turn the politicians of yesterday into towering figures and today’s politicians into hopeless cases.
The Lib Dems and Liberals before them have always had a mixture of impressive and mediocre politicians, like any other party.
That said, there are some pretty strong MPs now, and many more of them, with a lot of real life experience. They just still struggle to get air time.
The notable absence, compared with both their past and with the other parties, is that the LD parliamentary party, at least in the Commons, is light on nutters and deadweights.
Alas, poor Lembit..
Given his trajectory he'll end up as a Ref MP.
He didn't have good optics
Way, way back, when he was an MP, I saw him in a pub in Bloomsbury - he'd obviously been out leafleting.
All the young ladies in the group were crowding round him in a rather blatant fashion.
For some inexplicable reason he had the nickname "tripod".
Keen photographer, I expect. No doubt the climax for young women wanting headshots to launch their modelling careers.
I'm not taking this bet. The Liberal Democrats appeal to a specific middle-upper middle class elite concentrated in the home counties and posh suburban England.
Their upper limit is 20% at best. To go higher they'd need to co-opt students from the Greens, and some of the NOTA vote that Reform are getting, like they got in 2010, when they still only hit 23%.
As with all the parties they are also suffering from a lack of quality. Paddy Ashdowns leadership team had Charles Kennedy, Menzies Campbell, Ed Davey, Vince Cable, Simon Hughes, where are todays equivalents?
Just like Labour they need to be bolder and come up with some strategic answers.
If they are not clearly appealing to a centrist like me, I fail to see how they become the biggest party. The weakness of the others does give them a shot at strengthening what they do have though and perhaps even breaking the 100 seat barrier.
Yeah, but which party does have a quality leadership team? Not actually terrible is about the best that can be said about a small number of politicians. As for the rest..
Hindsight always tends to turn the politicians of yesterday into towering figures and today’s politicians into hopeless cases.
The Lib Dems and Liberals before them have always had a mixture of impressive and mediocre politicians, like any other party.
That said, there are some pretty strong MPs now, and many more of them, with a lot of real life experience. They just still struggle to get air time.
The notable absence, compared with both their past and with the other parties, is that the LD parliamentary party, at least in the Commons, is light on nutters and deadweights.
Alas, poor Lembit..
Given his trajectory he'll end up as a Ref MP.
He didn't have good optics
Way, way back, when he was an MP, I saw him in a pub in Bloomsbury - he'd obviously been out leafleting.
All the young ladies in the group were crowding round him in a rather blatant fashion.
For some inexplicable reason he had the nickname "tripod".
Keen photographer, I expect. No doubt the climax for young women wanting headshots to launch their modelling careers.
Nah, a surveyor. He'd erect his tripod and dangle his plumb bobs, before taking his staff to points of interest.
I’m not quite convinced the LDs have the geographic strength yet, particularly in the north. I say yet, because anything can happen this far out.
The LibDems don't have geographic strength in the Midlands. They would need to make significant gains there before considering this bet.
Also, despite the nation's Fun Dad being a doughty campaigner that didn't really move the vote share that much.
Big Rish and the gang were a bunch of flag wankers responsible for and glorying in a braindead brexit yet the LibDems only improved 0.6% on their 2019 vote share. They would have to improve greatly on that score to have any pretensions of being the largest party.
I don't think judging them on their 2024 performance is fair. They were part of an anti Tory coalition. If Reform replace the Tories as the Brexit Party which seems possible there's every chance the Libs will take a large chunk of the Tory vote
The USA, France, Holland suggest that the large majority of centre right voters shift to the insurgent right, rather than centre left.
I suspect she has found it very hard to be both leader and MP. Incredible demands on time when it is very small party with little support compared to the main parties. Lucas was exceptional in her ability to do both I suspect.
Property. It turns out that lots of GPs own the properties they use, outright. Very often old buildings, lots of spare space (car parks) etc.
So buy the GP practise(s), knock them down, build flats on the site. With a GP practise at the bottom, if the locals are lucky. More commonly, merge multiple practises onto one site, with the other sites becoming "redundant"....
Yes, there are worse uses for those coins in the jar than a big price punt on the LDs.
This needs a cautious and measured approach as it can result in failing to have a pound coin for supermarket visits (vid. supra passim).
For those driving to the supermarket surely a £1 coin is kept in the car at all times for precisely this purpose? Or even better a £1 coin shaped token so one is never tempted to spend it.
Yes, there are worse uses for those coins in the jar than a big price punt on the LDs.
This needs a cautious and measured approach as it can result in failing to have a pound coin for supermarket visits (vid. supra passim).
For those driving to the supermarket surely a £1 coin is kept in the car at all times for precisely this purpose? Or even better a £1 coin shaped token so one is never tempted to spend it.
I use a €1 coin for this very reason, can't use it in an emergency.
I wonder which parties are leaking votes to Reform?
I think most of Reform's support in Scotland won't have voted before. Otherwise, they could be picking up voters from everyone, save the Lib Dems and Greens.
This should be a very big and exciting day for the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Press Conference at The Oval Office, 10A.M. Thank you!
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Its nice to hear something positive as opposed to the doom posts from captain doom (of no fixed abode).
The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
Politically, [axing winter fuel allowance] was a supreme act of self-harm which may yet end up costing Rachel Reeves her job. Campaigners say the issue was brought up time and again on the doorstep during recent local elections, and it is widely thought to be a major cause of Labour’s drubbing on polling day.
Of all the things Rachel Reeves could have cut, this was possibly the worst target she might have chosen.
Axing the winter fuel allowance was precisely the sort of penny-wise, pound-foolish measure that Treasury officials like to sneak through while the Chancellor’s guard is down and the hunt is on for quick, emblematic fixes.
Telegraph
Cutting WFA was precisely the right thing to do, the only right thing she did in an otherwise awful budget.
The self-entitled moaning prats who are whinging need to get over it, or there can be no sensible governance if we keep kowtowing and blowing money on unearned entitlements.
Yes, there are worse uses for those coins in the jar than a big price punt on the LDs.
This needs a cautious and measured approach as it can result in failing to have a pound coin for supermarket visits (vid. supra passim).
For those driving to the supermarket surely a £1 coin is kept in the car at all times for precisely this purpose? Or even better a £1 coin shaped token so one is never tempted to spend it.
I use a €1 coin for this very reason, can't use it in an emergency.
Wasting time on the coast when the Cuillin (even the Red ones) are clear? Madness.
In these over-touristed times, the knack of having somewhere to yourself is also worth a lot. My car is the only one at the end of the track and so far me and the dog haven't seen another soul, on one of the most scenic hikes of my lifetime in perfect conditions.
Skye is actually pretty busy, with a lot of French visitors, the usual Americans in the expensive hotel, a sprinkling of Italians, Dutch in their campervans, German motorcyclists, plus a fair few Chinese/Koreans struggling with their over-sized hire cars on the single track lanes, even the odd Indian family. Plus Scots exploring their own country. The accent I hardly ever hear is English.
I expect most of them have followed your advice and are all now processing up the mountain.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
Living in America, you don’t experience the state like you do in the UK, because there is simply less of it.
Assuming you are blessed enough to be in the top 50% of income, that can actually make US life more pleasant in subtle little ways. No absurd battles with GP receptionists to get an appointment, for example; no menacing letters about tv licenses etc.
However the bits that *are* run by the state, like inbound immigration, are disastrous and seem to be getting more disastrous.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
You're here on other people's money which always helps. Even New York used to feel tolerable when I went there for business because I was in a nice upper east side hotel, had expenses for uber, expenses for drinks/dinner etc...
The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
And will it still have the 100% tariff on British movies?
If every word in the Spectator were replaced by "bah humbug" would anyone notice?
Read it. Excellent article. Explains exactly why Reform are winning and will continue to win, unless someone else addresses this urban decay
I agree. We're seeing the cumulative impact of cuts to discretionary council budgets. Look at Gardenwalkers post about central London - it's the only place which feels close to Australian/German standards in the public realm.
Edinburgh is extremely grotty now. Random unfinished roadworks, utilities tearing up the street and not putting right, buddleia destroying our Georgian architecture. And that's in one of our finest cities. There's scaffolding on the Royal Mile that's been up for 5 years.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Interesting. Confirms my view of London these days.
Politically, [axing winter fuel allowance] was a supreme act of self-harm which may yet end up costing Rachel Reeves her job. Campaigners say the issue was brought up time and again on the doorstep during recent local elections, and it is widely thought to be a major cause of Labour’s drubbing on polling day.
Of all the things Rachel Reeves could have cut, this was possibly the worst target she might have chosen.
Axing the winter fuel allowance was precisely the sort of penny-wise, pound-foolish measure that Treasury officials like to sneak through while the Chancellor’s guard is down and the hunt is on for quick, emblematic fixes.
Telegraph
Cutting WFA was precisely the right thing to do, the only right thing she did in an otherwise awful budget.
The self-entitled moaning prats who are whinging need to get over it, or there can be no sensible governance if we keep kowtowing and blowing money on unearned entitlements.
The change to the employment allowance was good too.
Politically, [axing winter fuel allowance] was a supreme act of self-harm which may yet end up costing Rachel Reeves her job. Campaigners say the issue was brought up time and again on the doorstep during recent local elections, and it is widely thought to be a major cause of Labour’s drubbing on polling day.
Of all the things Rachel Reeves could have cut, this was possibly the worst target she might have chosen.
Axing the winter fuel allowance was precisely the sort of penny-wise, pound-foolish measure that Treasury officials like to sneak through while the Chancellor’s guard is down and the hunt is on for quick, emblematic fixes.
Telegraph
Cutting WFA was precisely the right thing to do, the only right thing she did in an otherwise awful budget.
The self-entitled moaning prats who are whinging need to get over it, or there can be no sensible governance if we keep kowtowing and blowing money on unearned entitlements.
Warner says "politically".
No amount of 'well, it's the right thing for the nation's finances' etc is going to make an ounce of difference.
Mull is too big and much of it is boring. Skye is spectacular. A bit busy perhaps, but like everything when you're trying to avoid the crowds an early start is your friend. I am a big fan of Arran - "Scotland in miniature".
If every word in the Spectator were replaced by "bah humbug" would anyone notice?
That was broadly the reason why I stopped taking it a few years ago. Nearly all the opinion pieces said the same thing, and might as well have been written by the same angry red-faced privileged person who doesn't know how lucky he (always a he) is.
The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
And will it still have the 100% tariff on British movies?
That's literally not going to happen, the executive doesn't have the power to put tariffs up on the movie industry, there is a very specific named reservation of tariff power to Congress for the movie industry and there's no way Congress will agree to a 100% tariff plan. Every media company has recovered after the initial announcement and then back down once the Trump admin were told they don't have the power to do it and would need Congress to pass a law to either give him the power or enact the tariff. There's simply no mechanism for Trump to put up tariffs in this manner on that specific industry. You of all people should know this!
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
You're here on other people's money which always helps. Even New York used to feel tolerable when I went there for business because I was in a nice upper east side hotel, had expenses for uber, expenses for drinks/dinner etc...
I’m not. It’s a visa update trip extended into a minor family holiday.
Last time I came back (a year ago), I was slightly depressed with the London experience, it felt shabby and there was litter everywhere. And the sheer volume of “Do Not” advertising and messaging on the tube made it feel horribly nanny-state-ish.
So much depends on things like where you stay, I’m not trying to make a broader political point.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
Living in America, you don’t experience the state like you do in the UK, because there is simply less of it.
Assuming you are blessed enough to be in the top 50% of income, that can actually make US life more pleasant in subtle little ways. No absurd battles with GP receptionists to get an appointment, for example; no menacing letters about tv licenses etc.
However the bits that *are* run by the state, like inbound immigration, are disastrous and seem to be getting more disastrous.
Tbf, if you're lucky enough to have private healthcare in the UK you can also sidestep a lot of the hassle with the NHS and it does make life a lot less hassle as you don't interact with the state anywhere near as much.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
You're here on other people's money which always helps. Even New York used to feel tolerable when I went there for business because I was in a nice upper east side hotel, had expenses for uber, expenses for drinks/dinner etc...
I’m not. It’s a visa update trip extended into a minor family holiday.
Last time I came back (a year ago), I was slightly depressed with the London experience, it felt shabby and there was litter everywhere. And the sheer volume of “Do Not” advertising and messaging on the tube made it feel horribly nanny-state-ish.
So much depends on things like where you stay, I’m not trying to make a broader political point.
It's still like that, but if you stay in Hampstead then it does make London very agreeable. The litter situation in the square mile is beyond ridiculous now though, again it relates to the break down of law and order IMO, people have just stopped giving a fuck.
Wasting time on the coast when the Cuillin (even the Red ones) are clear? Madness.
In these over-touristed times, the knack of having somewhere to yourself is also worth a lot. My car is the only one at the end of the track and so far me and the dog haven't seen another soul, on one of the most scenic hikes of my lifetime in perfect conditions.
Skye is actually pretty busy, with a lot of French visitors, the usual Americans in the expensive hotel, a sprinkling of Italians, Dutch in their campervans, German motorcyclists, plus a fair few Chinese/Koreans struggling with their over-sized hire cars on the single track lanes, even the odd Indian family. Plus Scots exploring their own country. The accent I hardly ever hear is English.
I expect most of them have followed your advice and are all now processing up the mountain.
Or sitting in a pub waiting to feel paranoid about the locals rudely speaking Gaelic (not a common occurence in Portree admittedly).
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
You have clearly never come home via the Stansted Express at Tottenham Hale
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
Living in America, you don’t experience the state like you do in the UK, because there is simply less of it.
Assuming you are blessed enough to be in the top 50% of income, that can actually make US life more pleasant in subtle little ways. No absurd battles with GP receptionists to get an appointment, for example; no menacing letters about tv licenses etc.
However the bits that *are* run by the state, like inbound immigration, are disastrous and seem to be getting more disastrous.
Tbf, if you're lucky enough to have private healthcare in the UK you can also sidestep a lot of the hassle with the NHS and it does make life a lot less hassle as you don't interact with the state anywhere near as much.
The big change is adding private GPs to the corporate private healthcare plans. Previously (a few years back) you had to get referral by an NHS GP before doing anything.
The problem is London has had trillions spent on it over the last 25 years or so, while some medium-sized towns in England look the same as they did back then, as if a single penny hasn't been spent on upgrading anything. No exaggeration.
Mull is too big and much of it is boring. Skye is spectacular. A bit busy perhaps, but like everything when you're trying to avoid the crowds an early start is your friend. I am a big fan of Arran - "Scotland in miniature".
Bute - 'Arran in miniature'. Not really, Arran stil has a bit of wild bleakness, Bute doesn't.
And brought about by the people the magazine has whole-heartedly supported over the past 14 years. Labour's challenge is to show that they are making enough of an improvement in 4 years' time; so far they are continuing in the same vein so it doesn't look hopeful.
Wasting time on the coast when the Cuillin (even the Red ones) are clear? Madness.
In these over-touristed times, the knack of having somewhere to yourself is also worth a lot. My car is the only one at the end of the track and so far me and the dog haven't seen another soul, on one of the most scenic hikes of my lifetime in perfect conditions.
Skye is actually pretty busy, with a lot of French visitors, the usual Americans in the expensive hotel, a sprinkling of Italians, Dutch in their campervans, German motorcyclists, plus a fair few Chinese/Koreans struggling with their over-sized hire cars on the single track lanes, even the odd Indian family. Plus Scots exploring their own country. The accent I hardly ever hear is English.
I expect most of them have followed your advice and are all now processing up the mountain.
It was a joke of course, although I doubt you'll find many tourists traversing Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh.
The joke comes from spending many a week on Skye myself watching it rain and hoping for one clear day.
I've not been since the major tourist influx - perhaps just as well - although I do have one summit left to climb.
You are pretty safe from the tourists on Raasay, although you might find the odd visitor if you walk up Dùn Caan (well worth it for the view if you can). Nothing much wrong with pottering along the coast though.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Politically, [axing winter fuel allowance] was a supreme act of self-harm which may yet end up costing Rachel Reeves her job. Campaigners say the issue was brought up time and again on the doorstep during recent local elections, and it is widely thought to be a major cause of Labour’s drubbing on polling day.
Of all the things Rachel Reeves could have cut, this was possibly the worst target she might have chosen.
Axing the winter fuel allowance was precisely the sort of penny-wise, pound-foolish measure that Treasury officials like to sneak through while the Chancellor’s guard is down and the hunt is on for quick, emblematic fixes.
Telegraph
Cutting WFA was precisely the right thing to do, the only right thing she did in an otherwise awful budget.
The self-entitled moaning prats who are whinging need to get over it, or there can be no sensible governance if we keep kowtowing and blowing money on unearned entitlements.
Indeed. As someone who could be persuaded to vote Labour, and who didn't last time, this is one of the things they have got right and need to do more of.
Mull is too big and much of it is boring. Skye is spectacular. A bit busy perhaps, but like everything when you're trying to avoid the crowds an early start is your friend. I am a big fan of Arran - "Scotland in miniature".
Bute - 'Arran in miniature'. Not really, Arran stil has a bit of wild bleakness, Bute doesn't.
Arran is gorgeous, and it gives such a feeling of satisfaction to have actually climbed Goat Fell.
And brought about by the people the magazine has whole-heartedly supported over the past 14 years. Labour's challenge is to show that they are making enough of an improvement in 4 years' time; so far they are continuing in the same vein so it doesn't look hopeful.
I wouldn’t dispute this. The Tories 2010-2014 were an embarrassing clownshow. They only won because Labour were even worse in prospect - Ed Miliband as PM? Look what he’s doing now and imagine the damage he could have done as premier
Jeremy Corbyn??! Nuff said
This is why I despise both main parties, I want them both to die, and I will happily vote Reform, as things stand
Started fine and sunny here, clouding over a bit now. Had an American visitor yesterday, wife of a relative. No way is she going back to the US until Trump is gone.
Some week for Mikel Arteta. Claimed Liverpool won the league with fewer points than Arsenal have had in the past two seasons, then said the Gunners have been the best team in this season's Champions League.
Phase 7 of his masterplan is just making stuff up it seems.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Alistair Campbell complaining about “lies and distortion” is like Fred West complaining about “antisocial neighbours”
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Alistair Campbell complaining about “lies and distortion” is like Fred West complaining about “antisocial neighbours”
Nobody ever complained about Fred West’s building work.
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
Yes I generally feel very happy to come home. This is a lovely country full of broadly sane people. I'd also add that it usually takes about two minutes to clear UK immigration at Heathrow T5 compared to an hour minimum at US immigration at JFK or Dulles. Another reason to feel cheerful on arrival.
Living in America, you don’t experience the state like you do in the UK, because there is simply less of it.
Assuming you are blessed enough to be in the top 50% of income, that can actually make US life more pleasant in subtle little ways. No absurd battles with GP receptionists to get an appointment, for example; no menacing letters about tv licenses etc.
However the bits that *are* run by the state, like inbound immigration, are disastrous and seem to be getting more disastrous.
Tbf, if you're lucky enough to have private healthcare in the UK you can also sidestep a lot of the hassle with the NHS and it does make life a lot less hassle as you don't interact with the state anywhere near as much.
The big change is adding private GPs to the corporate private healthcare plans. Previously (a few years back) you had to get referral by an NHS GP before doing anything.
Now all the plans seem to offer 24/7 GP coverage.
It's often not appreciated that GP's, like pharmacies and dentists are contractors to the NHS, NOT employees. There's a good deal of control of operations admittedly but all three professions often own their own premises, or rent them like other people. There are premises which are owned by one or other of the health authorities and rented out, but one of the features of the NHS is that in the vast majority of cases GP's (etc) are self-employed,
Will the Lib Dems be targeting enough seats to win most seats? Bearing in mind that they'd have to come from third in a lot of them?
Anti-Farage tactical voting will be incredibly difficult because the changes in support are so large. It won't be obvious to voters where Faragists could realistically win, and who will be best placed to defeat them. Do you vote for the red or blue incumbents, even though they are losing more votes, or do you switch to the yellows in the hope that red/blue voters will cop on that the yellows have the best chance, even when starting from third or fourth?
I think the Faragists are set to win lots of seats on record low shares of the vote.
One place I had no idea how beautiful it was, till I visited it, was the Coast, and the Glens, of Antrim. On a par with the Ring of Kerry, IMHO.
Indeed. Took the coast road from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway last year. Quietish, because the cross-country route is faster. Just beautiful. Will be going back to explore the 'interior' of the glens as it were.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Alistair Campbell complaining about “lies and distortion” is like Fred West complaining about “antisocial neighbours”
Given the wholehearted support by the opposition parties for trade deals, when the Conservatives were in power….
I get the impression that Labour thinks they are in opposition.
And brought about by the people the magazine has whole-heartedly supported over the past 14 years. Labour's challenge is to show that they are making enough of an improvement in 4 years' time; so far they are continuing in the same vein so it doesn't look hopeful.
It's gone full circle again. Britain was scuzzland when the British Right hated the fat benefit-scrounging plebs; then it was the land of dreams and hearty Brexit enablers when Boris was in charge. Now it's back to being scuzzland again cos Sir Keir's on the scene.
The Spectator is extremely middle-brow. Boris grew readership substantially, but it became a stupider magazine, and intellectually at least it has not recovered.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Alistair Campbell complaining about “lies and distortion” is like Fred West complaining about “antisocial neighbours”
Nobody ever complained about Fred West’s building work.
I was at university with a guy who's dad worked with Fred West. Apparently Fred would often arrive early and begin work without anyone else there, very diligent. A few complaints may have came when the police had to be shown these jobs and proceeded to dig them up.
I see - unremarked on here I think - that Labour are considering extending ILR to 10 years.
Yes, I think they have to because they need to be able to send the Boriswave home by making them illegible for ILR as most won't now meet the new income threshold for a visa extension beyond 5 years.
Will the Lib Dems be targeting enough seats to win most seats? Bearing in mind that they'd have to come from third in a lot of them?
Anti-Farage tactical voting will be incredibly difficult because the changes in support are so large. It won't be obvious to voters where Faragists could realistically win, and who will be best placed to defeat them. Do you vote for the red or blue incumbents, even though they are losing more votes, or do you switch to the yellows in the hope that red/blue voters will cop on that the yellows have the best chance, even when starting from third or fourth?
I think the Faragists are set to win lots of seats on record low shares of the vote.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Blair and Campbell had more influence over the media to get their points across I think. Fewer channels, more concentrated viewers. Trump, by being outrageous, can get his vibe across successfully through social media.
Labour haven't got the knack of it yet. Starmer needs to be out there doing a hottest curry challenge or drinking Scottish whiskey with Sachin Tendulkar or something. To be fair I've no idea either but does feel like Labour are stuck in a 90s/00s playbook that isn't going to cut through.
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
Alistair Campbell complaining about “lies and distortion” is like Fred West complaining about “antisocial neighbours”
Nobody ever complained about Fred West’s building work.
Actually I believe his patios had a tendency to subside. He was notorious for it
Defence of the India NI thingy is easy intellectually; but not if you don't understand the motto of St Trinian's:
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Did Blair/Campbell face as much distortion and as many lies? Social media and a populist right (like Trump) who care nothing about truth have made the situation worse.
I have read Robin Cook's memoir - Point of Departure. In it, he points out that in the 1970s, which were pretty tumultuous political times, there were 4 negative headlines in the newspapers for every positive one. At the time of writing, about 1999/2000, when times were much more benign, there were 18 negative headlines in the newspapers for every positive one. So yes the Blair government did face lies and distortion.
Comments
Reeves' problem IMO was Labour did not lay the ground for the tough decisions that needed to come.
I doubt this was the worst target either. Raising income tax having promised not to would probably have ended her chancellorship.
FPTP and a fractured opposition gifted Modi the election.
For context I can't advise on such exotic places such as Japan and we always went on active holidays until recently, but as we are getting older sight seeing is becoming more relevant.
Here goes on some suggestions, bearing in mind your budget:
Iceland: If you haven't been, there will probably be quite a bit of stuff you have never done before. Excellent place to go for a change.
Cycling: Either organised or organise yourself on French greenways. I do a new route every year. For romance you can stay in chateaux and have a break in Paris before or after and that will be well within budget.
Italy: You mentioned Rome and Sorrento. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast is very touristy even in the off season. If you like walking there is a lot to do and it is very hilly. You can get around by train, boat and bus very easily.
Also if you fancy a tour Pisa, Florence, Sienna, Rome, Cortona and other hill top towns are easy to visit by train. We flew into Pisa and out of Rome once and into Perugia another time.
Trains are also good in France, Portugal and Spain.
We are doing Seville, Cordoba and Granada by train in a few weeks.
https://x.com/mrcharlesamos/status/1920393772392657285?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
"Get your blow in first"(Semper debeatis percutis ictu primo).
If you don't do this the 24 hour a day news, distortion and lies cycle has chewed you up and moved on to other trivia.
Trump, Blair, Campbell all got this and get this. Why can't this government?
Exclusive: Announcement of desire to focus on MP role means Adrian Ramsay must decide whether to find new co-candidate
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/08/carla-denyer-says-she-will-not-stand-again-as-greens-co-leader-to-focus-on-mp-role
https://x.com/davidlammy/status/1135912228438171654?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
‘Yeh but Tories’ will be the default response, natch.
Holyrood Regional Voting Intention:
SNP: 29% (+1)
REF: 20% (+8)
LAB: 18% (-4)
CON: 12% (-4)
LD: 10% (+1)
GRN: 9% (-1)
Changes vs 22/04/25"
https://x.com/Survation/status/1920226029383131319
GP surgeries owner Assura agrees to private equity takeover worth £1.61bn
The London-listed company will be bought by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Stonepeak Partners.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gp-surgeries-owner-assura-agrees-to-private-equity-takeover-worth-ps1-61bn-b2730001.html
What an amazing holiday. A week in the west highlands without rain.
Property. It turns out that lots of GPs own the properties they use, outright. Very often old buildings, lots of spare space (car parks) etc.
So buy the GP practise(s), knock them down, build flats on the site. With a GP practise at the bottom, if the locals are lucky. More commonly, merge multiple practises onto one site, with the other sites becoming "redundant"....
Wasting time on the coast when the Cuillin (even the Red ones) are clear? Madness.
In the background are the mountains behind Lochalsh. Viewed from the east coast of Raasay as correctly suggested above
As predicted in this eloquent article in CityAM a couple of weeks ago:
https://www.cityam.com/welcome-to-the-shape-shifting-world-of-big-tech-taxes/
(Which still contains the deliberate error about when and by whom it was introduced, despite the paper being told to change it).
This should be a very big and exciting day for the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Press Conference at The Oval Office, 10A.M. Thank you!
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/welcome-to-scuzz-nation/
Based on my first 24 hours in Britain, from Gatwick into Central London, this country is clean, prosperous, and much more relaxed than New York.
There’s a palpable lack of everyday narcissism, which is refreshing. The tube talks to you in polite, cut-glass RP. The coffee is good, the pastries even better. Taxi drivers appear to know how to get about. Things work.
I am experiencing the UK through the lens of a U.S. tourist, and it feels fantastic. Even Vauxhall, which I was forced to go to due to an appointment at the U.S. embassy, seems pleasant - instead of the car-ridden, jerry-built, ersatz shanghai I remembered it as.
I’m sure it will get worse as I venture outside my bubble of chi-chi.
The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
The self-entitled moaning prats who are whinging need to get over it, or there can be no sensible governance if we keep kowtowing and blowing money on unearned entitlements.
Eastern Isle of Raasay, on the grassy track a little north of Hallaig, looking W‑SW across the Sound of Raasay to the Red Cuillin of Skye
Approx. coords 57.312 ° N, ‑6.056 ° W (± 3 km along that coastal trail).
Skye is actually pretty busy, with a lot of French visitors, the usual Americans in the expensive hotel, a sprinkling of Italians, Dutch in their campervans, German motorcyclists, plus a fair few Chinese/Koreans struggling with their over-sized hire cars on the single track lanes, even the odd Indian family. Plus Scots exploring their own country. The accent I hardly ever hear is English.
I expect most of them have followed your advice and are all now processing up the mountain.
Assuming you are blessed enough to be in the top 50% of income, that can actually make US life more pleasant in subtle little ways. No absurd battles with GP receptionists to get an appointment, for example; no menacing letters about tv licenses etc.
However the bits that *are* run by the state, like inbound immigration, are disastrous and seem to be getting more disastrous.
It’s all about Mull.
Harris is a little gem
Blissful.
And with eageles and otters and corncrakes too.
Edinburgh is extremely grotty now. Random unfinished roadworks, utilities tearing up the street and not putting right, buddleia destroying our Georgian architecture. And that's in one of our finest cities. There's scaffolding on the Royal Mile that's been up for 5 years.
No amount of 'well, it's the right thing for the nation's finances' etc is going to make an ounce of difference.
Last time I came back (a year ago), I was slightly depressed with the London experience, it felt shabby and there was litter everywhere. And the sheer volume of “Do Not” advertising and messaging on the tube made it feel horribly nanny-state-ish.
So much depends on things like where you stay, I’m not trying to make a broader political point.
Now all the plans seem to offer 24/7 GP coverage.
Not really, Arran stil has a bit of wild bleakness, Bute doesn't.
TLDR: The police are slow to act. The social media companies just don't act at all.
The joke comes from spending many a week on Skye myself watching it rain and hoping for one clear day.
I've not been since the major tourist influx - perhaps just as well - although I do have one summit left to climb.
You are pretty safe from the tourists on Raasay, although you might find the odd visitor if you walk up Dùn Caan (well worth it for the view if you can). Nothing much wrong with pottering along the coast though.
But, I love Mull and Skye, too.
Jeremy Corbyn??! Nuff said
This is why I despise both main parties, I want them both to die, and I will happily vote Reform, as things stand
Started fine and sunny here, clouding over a bit now. Had an American visitor yesterday, wife of a relative.
No way is she going back to the US until Trump is gone.
Arteta believes Arsenal have been “the best team in the Champions League this season”. Is he football’s version of Donald Trump?
https://x.com/sportsweek/status/1920229809566720086?s=61&t=c6bcp0cjChLfQN5Tc8A_6g
Some week for Mikel Arteta. Claimed Liverpool won the league with fewer points than Arsenal have had in the past two seasons, then said the Gunners have been the best team in this season's Champions League.
Phase 7 of his masterplan is just making stuff up it seems.
https://x.com/paddypower/status/1920391287380824330?s=61&t=c6bcp0cjChLfQN5Tc8A_6g
Fun fact.
On Sunday, Arteta’s Arsenal will have given Liverpool more guards of honour than trophies Arteta’s arsenal have won.
Anti-Farage tactical voting will be incredibly difficult because the changes in support are so large. It won't be obvious to voters where Faragists could realistically win, and who will be best placed to defeat them. Do you vote for the red or blue incumbents, even though they are losing more votes, or do you switch to the yellows in the hope that red/blue voters will cop on that the yellows have the best chance, even when starting from third or fourth?
I think the Faragists are set to win lots of seats on record low shares of the vote.
I get the impression that Labour thinks they are in opposition.
Boris grew readership substantially, but it became a stupider magazine, and intellectually at least it has not recovered.
Labour haven't got the knack of it yet. Starmer needs to be out there doing a hottest curry challenge or drinking Scottish whiskey with Sachin Tendulkar or something. To be fair I've no idea either but does feel like Labour are stuck in a 90s/00s playbook that isn't going to cut through.
In it, he points out that in the 1970s, which were pretty tumultuous political times, there were 4 negative headlines in the newspapers for every positive one.
At the time of writing, about 1999/2000, when times were much more benign, there were 18 negative headlines in the newspapers for every positive one.
So yes the Blair government did face lies and distortion.