How does he find the time? He and Melania were saving flood buried children in Texas this morning.
Surely even you realise now the man is out of his box. Carve his gurning face into Mount Rushmore, give him a Nobel Peace Prize. Just make him go! Mad as a March Hare and the Republicans in Congress are investigating Biden's age related neurological issues. At least Biden learned to read and write.
It's quite funny. Just President Chump reading out the BS he's projected on the inside of his head.
Anyhoo, have a good day everyone - I'm off for a walk to a drink.
At what point does anti Reform tactical voting enter the fray ?
It will be a huge issue in the next election. There will be a major battle in hundreds of seats as to what is the right anti-Reform vote.
That's right, up to a point. But if you end up voting for someone you don't much like, you'll spend the following 5 years grumbling about it, which ultimately (extrapolating to the general population) is bad for democracy, and leads to parties like Reform. There needs to be an element of voting for whom you like, regardless of how you think other people will vote.
I think one should first decide if one clearly prefers a party, and if so vote for it. If one doesn't have much preference between two or three, and dislikes another option, than vote tactically.
Yes. all good points. However; take me as an example, traditionally a One Nation Tory, now voting Labour.
Normally I vote Tory, but in the next election even more than that I vote against Reform.
Will I know when I vote in 2029 whether a Tory vote shores up a Reform minority government, in which case I would vote differently, or if the Tories would support anything but Reform in which case they are on the list of possibles, or something else.
So in many seats there are two tactical issues: Who is the party that can beat Reform; secondly, is a Tory vote in fact a Reform supporting vote when it comes to alliances.
As I have said before, in Cumbria there are 5 seats (+Farron's which is different). In 2019 all were Tory; 2024 all went Labour; currently all are projected for Reform. What, in Cumbria, is the right anti-Reform vote?
Democracy's great, but there's only so much influence, realistically, an individual vote can have on who the government is. Our system is to a large extent one of viting against the party one likes least. There is something to be said for this. But the USA shows where this leads. I think, all things considered, I am with Nick P here: a system which encourages us to vote for the party we like the most, rather than against the one we like the least, has (despite your valid concerns), more to recommend it than the reverse. Which for me is STV. Though I am far from one-eyed about this: all systems have strengths and weaknesses.
Indeed, no seat in a GE has yet been decided by a single vote, which is a powerful reason for any one individual to vote for their party of choice.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
At what point does anti Reform tactical voting enter the fray ?
It will be a huge issue in the next election. There will be a major battle in hundreds of seats as to what is the right anti-Reform vote.
That's right, up to a point. But if you end up voting for someone you don't much like, you'll spend the following 5 years grumbling about it, which ultimately (extrapolating to the general population) is bad for democracy, and leads to parties like Reform. There needs to be an element of voting for whom you like, regardless of how you think other people will vote.
I think one should first decide if one clearly prefers a party, and if so vote for it. If one doesn't have much preference between two or three, and dislikes another option, than vote tactically.
Yes. all good points. However; take me as an example, traditionally a One Nation Tory, now voting Labour.
Normally I vote Tory, but in the next election even more than that I vote against Reform.
Will I know when I vote in 2029 whether a Tory vote shores up a Reform minority government, in which case I would vote differently, or if the Tories would support anything but Reform in which case they are on the list of possibles, or something else.
So in many seats there are two tactical issues: Who is the party that can beat Reform; secondly, is a Tory vote in fact a Reform supporting vote when it comes to alliances.
As I have said before, in Cumbria there are 5 seats (+Farron's which is different). In 2019 all were Tory; 2024 all went Labour; currently all are projected for Reform. What, in Cumbria, is the right anti-Reform vote?
Democracy's great, but there's only so much influence, realistically, an individual vote can have on who the government is. Our system is to a large extent one of viting against the party one likes least. There is something to be said for this. But the USA shows where this leads. I think, all things considered, I am with Nick P here: a system which encourages us to vote for the party we like the most, rather than against the one we like the least, has (despite your valid concerns), more to recommend it than the reverse. Which for me is STV. Though I am far from one-eyed about this: all systems have strengths and weaknesses.
Indeed, no seat in a GE has yet been decided by a single vote, which is a powerful reason for any one individual to vote for their party of choice.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
In the 1886 General Election, the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency was a draw. The successful candidate was decided by a tiebreak from the Returning Officer.
At what point does anti Reform tactical voting enter the fray ?
It will be a huge issue in the next election. There will be a major battle in hundreds of seats as to what is the right anti-Reform vote.
That's right, up to a point. But if you end up voting for someone you don't much like, you'll spend the following 5 years grumbling about it, which ultimately (extrapolating to the general population) is bad for democracy, and leads to parties like Reform. There needs to be an element of voting for whom you like, regardless of how you think other people will vote.
I think one should first decide if one clearly prefers a party, and if so vote for it. If one doesn't have much preference between two or three, and dislikes another option, than vote tactically.
Yes. all good points. However; take me as an example, traditionally a One Nation Tory, now voting Labour.
Normally I vote Tory, but in the next election even more than that I vote against Reform.
Will I know when I vote in 2029 whether a Tory vote shores up a Reform minority government, in which case I would vote differently, or if the Tories would support anything but Reform in which case they are on the list of possibles, or something else.
So in many seats there are two tactical issues: Who is the party that can beat Reform; secondly, is a Tory vote in fact a Reform supporting vote when it comes to alliances.
As I have said before, in Cumbria there are 5 seats (+Farron's which is different). In 2019 all were Tory; 2024 all went Labour; currently all are projected for Reform. What, in Cumbria, is the right anti-Reform vote?
Democracy's great, but there's only so much influence, realistically, an individual vote can have on who the government is. Our system is to a large extent one of viting against the party one likes least. There is something to be said for this. But the USA shows where this leads. I think, all things considered, I am with Nick P here: a system which encourages us to vote for the party we like the most, rather than against the one we like the least, has (despite your valid concerns), more to recommend it than the reverse. Which for me is STV. Though I am far from one-eyed about this: all systems have strengths and weaknesses.
Indeed, no seat in a GE has yet been decided by a single vote, which is a powerful reason for any one individual to vote for their party of choice.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
In the 1886 General Election, the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency was a draw. The successful candidate was decided by a tiebreak from the Returning Officer.
Petrol stations are running out of fuel after the collapse of one of Britain’s biggest oil refineries cut off vital supplies. A financial crisis at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, owned by Prax Group, has unleashed chaos across a string of forecourts near the plant in Lincolnshire, some of which have been unable to secure any supplies for more than a week.
Point of order: If Nigel is being counted separately then surely it is:
Nigel Farage and his motley bunch of five four three MPs are setting the agenda in a way that Badenoch cannot.
The lamestream media allow Brave Sir Nigel to set the agenda. It was similarly true during the Brexit campaign. Nigel in a aircraft, Nigel on a boat on the Thames, Nigel conceding defeat at the In-Out Referendum. Nigel on every conceivable gameshow, Nigel being interviewed by the guy from Gogglebox who ran Parker Steel. The f***** is never off our screens!
Saw him on the news yesterday. On his boat in the Channel, sun on his craggy face, cotton shirt and neckerchief, saying it was all simply not good enough. No questions. Just thirty seconds of him.
Thanks much to all who have answered many of my questions about that 3-wheeled vehicle. The company seems unlikely to displace Toyota, any time soon, but it is fun to see the attempts.
At what point does anti Reform tactical voting enter the fray ?
It will be a huge issue in the next election. There will be a major battle in hundreds of seats as to what is the right anti-Reform vote.
That's right, up to a point. But if you end up voting for someone you don't much like, you'll spend the following 5 years grumbling about it, which ultimately (extrapolating to the general population) is bad for democracy, and leads to parties like Reform. There needs to be an element of voting for whom you like, regardless of how you think other people will vote.
I think one should first decide if one clearly prefers a party, and if so vote for it. If one doesn't have much preference between two or three, and dislikes another option, than vote tactically.
Yes. all good points. However; take me as an example, traditionally a One Nation Tory, now voting Labour.
Normally I vote Tory, but in the next election even more than that I vote against Reform.
Will I know when I vote in 2029 whether a Tory vote shores up a Reform minority government, in which case I would vote differently, or if the Tories would support anything but Reform in which case they are on the list of possibles, or something else.
So in many seats there are two tactical issues: Who is the party that can beat Reform; secondly, is a Tory vote in fact a Reform supporting vote when it comes to alliances.
As I have said before, in Cumbria there are 5 seats (+Farron's which is different). In 2019 all were Tory; 2024 all went Labour; currently all are projected for Reform. What, in Cumbria, is the right anti-Reform vote?
Democracy's great, but there's only so much influence, realistically, an individual vote can have on who the government is. Our system is to a large extent one of viting against the party one likes least. There is something to be said for this. But the USA shows where this leads. I think, all things considered, I am with Nick P here: a system which encourages us to vote for the party we like the most, rather than against the one we like the least, has (despite your valid concerns), more to recommend it than the reverse. Which for me is STV. Though I am far from one-eyed about this: all systems have strengths and weaknesses.
Indeed, no seat in a GE has yet been decided by a single vote, which is a powerful reason for any one individual to vote for their party of choice.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
In the 1886 General Election, the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency was a draw. The successful candidate was decided by a tiebreak from the Returning Officer.
I see that today in Skye they are predicting temperature maxima of between 25-29C. So I trust that the rest of you are pleasantly warm?
31C here in Llandudno
Apparently it’s now 29C in Trondheim, on the same latitude as Reykjavik, where I was just one week back. But right up here we labour under very low cloud and 14C, feels like 12C. Please send some sunshine north….!
I see that today in Skye they are predicting temperature maxima of between 25-29C. So I trust that the rest of you are pleasantly warm?
31C here in Llandudno
Apparently it’s now 29C in Trondheim, on the same latitude as Reykjavik, where I was just one week back. But right up here we labour under very low cloud and 14C, feels like 12C. Please send some sunshine north….!
I see that today in Skye they are predicting temperature maxima of between 25-29C. So I trust that the rest of you are pleasantly warm?
31C here in Llandudno
Apparently it’s now 29C in Trondheim, on the same latitude as Reykjavik, where I was just one week back. But right up here we labour under very low cloud and 14C, feels like 12C. Please send some sunshine north….!
Are you still in the Lofoten Island ?
I am, trapped in the murk, hoping tomorrow’s forecast comes true…
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
I see that today in Skye they are predicting temperature maxima of between 25-29C. So I trust that the rest of you are pleasantly warm?
31C here in Llandudno
Apparently it’s now 29C in Trondheim, on the same latitude as Reykjavik, where I was just one week back. But right up here we labour under very low cloud and 14C, feels like 12C. Please send some sunshine north….!
Are you still in the Lofoten Island ?
I am, trapped in the murk, hoping tomorrow’s forecast comes true…
Shame
We were fortunate to have beautiful sunny weather and it is a really beautiful part of Norway
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
I see that today in Skye they are predicting temperature maxima of between 25-29C. So I trust that the rest of you are pleasantly warm?
31C here in Llandudno
Apparently it’s now 29C in Trondheim, on the same latitude as Reykjavik, where I was just one week back. But right up here we labour under very low cloud and 14C, feels like 12C. Please send some sunshine north….!
Are you still in the Lofoten Island ?
I am, trapped in the murk, hoping tomorrow’s forecast comes true…
Shame
We were fortunate to have beautiful sunny weather and it is a really beautiful part of Norway
In the round, I can’t complain; way better weather than my last Norway road trip, when it was probably typical, rather than bad. These last few weeks have been exceptional, and better is predicted here from tomorrow. Indeed the cloudbase has already lifted up to fifty feet. And I am a long way north.
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
This music video features a little 1957 BMW Izetta "bubblecar":
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Since you and your ilk put that lying charlatan Johnson into the top job, your party has demonstrated itself utterly unfit for, and incapable of, decent government. Why should any dispassionate observer care whether it goes extinct, or not?
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Since you and your ilk put that lying charlatan Johnson into the top job, your party has demonstrated itself utterly unfit for, and incapable of, decent government. Why should any dispassionate observer care whether it goes extinct, or not?
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Of course it would be better for the Tories to try to move back to the centre-right, rather than fighting with Reform for the left half of the hard right.
The question is whether there are still enough sane people in the party to make that a realistic possibility. There isn't much sign of that.
First British mens doubles winners at Wimbledon since the 1930s, including Lloyd Glasspool brother of ex Hollyoaks actor Parry
Doesn't feel right only have best of 3 sets for mens doubles.
Doesn’t feel right that the women only play best of three for the same prize money as the men.*
*Because it gives them a greater run at the doubles, as less tired than the men.
If Wimbledon are allowed to develop the golf course they have bought they aim to turn it into a 3 week tournament. Perhaps they could go for 5 sets for everything.
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
People used to also drive these on a motorcycle licence. My father had a friend with one, and I remember being in it as a boy. No reverse gear, so if you were in a tight spot you had to lift it round.
Used to be one, the old saying that the two best days owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it is true (and arguably “if it flies, floats or fcks, rent it” is good advice).
Absolute money pit for maintenance, fuel, mooring fees etc.
I've just come back from ten days in Montenegro. Apart from being marred by various small frustrations like cheating taxi drivers and triple digit temperatures in Podogrica, it was an improbably fascinating trip - a country, like so many in Eastern Europe, apparently split down the middle between following its heart, towards its Slavic brethren Serbia and Russia, and its head, towards NATO and civilised Europe.
As some commenters seem to appreciate my occasional postcards from foreign parts, I thought I'd share some thoughts:
- they use the Euro, and this has clearly trapped them in an unsustainably strong currency. Things feel much more expensive than they should for a developing country at the back end of Europe, unemployment is obviously very high (14% officially, youth unemployment 26%, in reality probably significantly higher) - Russian influence EVERYWHERE. The most common petrol stations were Lukoil, many Russian banks (Sberbank etc) have branches in the towns, lots of signs in tourist areas where in Russian and the usual quota of Russian men obviously drunk by noon on the beaches - but every Montenegrin ministry in the capital flies an EU flag alongside the Montenegrin one, and some fly NATO flags as well. So it's an odd mix. Their national symbol is the double-headed eagle, simultaneously facing west and east, which seems somehow appropriate to the country. - the language situation is just as confused. Montenegrin itself is sort of a dialect of Serbian but sort of its own language. It only formally separated from Serbian in the 1990s. Most of the signs use the Latin script but some are in modified Cyrillic and a few are in English. - the people I talked to are also a mix - they look Mediterranean rather than Slavic, though their language and culture are obviously basically Serbian. They drive better than you'd expect for a country that's next to Albania, and actually stop at pedestrian crossings, which was unexpected - the US embassy in Podgorica is staggeringly ugly and larger than the former embassy in London on Grosvenor Square. For an obscure country of 600k, not a world power of 70m. God knows what Uncle Sam is thinking. - the food is good if uninspired - classic Balkan fare of grilled meat, potatoes, sauces, soups, etc.
Anyway it was a good trip, though unfortunately I had to cut it short because of work. They won't become another Belarus as they are too far - geographically and culturally - from Russia but I will be interested to see if they can maintain their precarious national balancing act over the next couple of decades or if they will embrace the free world with all its problems and disappointments wholeheartedly.
Never been, but it’s sort of on my list. Isn’t it magnificently scenic, especially those old monasteries in the mountains next to the sea?
Yes the mountains, forests and beaches are very nice to look at, and the more popular hiking trails are good and well-maintained. Hiking is obviously a popular passtime there, though they charge foreigners a few euros for access to their national parks and parking is expensive.
And you only get third party insurance if you drive there, and have to buy some sort of basic policy for cash at the border?
I drove around inland Montenegro (it’s beautiful) and wrote about it for the Gazette. Zero hassle
When are you going to visit those inbred hillbillies you're interested in ?
Used to be one, the old saying that the two best days owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it is true (and arguably “if it flies, floats or fcks, rent it” is good advice).
Absolute money pit for maintenance, fuel, mooring fees etc.
You could buy a nice traditional wooden sailing yacht and spend all summer varnishing so that it is ready for winter storage.
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Of course it would be better for the Tories to try to move back to the centre-right, rather than fighting with Reform for the left half of the hard right.
The question is whether there are still enough sane people in the party to make that a realistic possibility. There isn't much sign of that.
A clear majority of Tory MPs would vote for Stride over Jenrick combining Badenoch and Cleverly backers from the last leadership election, enough for a Stride coronation if Kemi was removed.
Party members too picked Badenoch over Jenrick. Only chance Jenrick has to be party leader in my view is for the Tories and Reform to lose the next general election, maybe to a Labour minority government propped up by the LDs. Farage then resigns as does the defeated Tory leader and he positions himself as the man to reunite the right
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Since you and your ilk put that lying charlatan Johnson into the top job, your party has demonstrated itself utterly unfit for, and incapable of, decent government. Why should any dispassionate observer care whether it goes extinct, or not?
Boris stopped Corbyn becoming PM and got Brexit done. Sunak also ran a more competent effective government than Starmer is doing, as voters increasingly realise.
As BigG says if the Tories go extinct it will be Farage and Reform who replace them who most left liberals hate even more than Tories
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
Stride has gravitas and ran a successful business and understands the economy.
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
People used to also drive these on a motorcycle licence. My father had a friend with one, and I remember being in it as a boy. No reverse gear, so if you were in a tight spot you had to lift it round.
My uncle had a Bond 3 wheeler. His family had to get out & walk up steep hills.
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
Stride has gravitas and ran a successful business and understands the economy.
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
I always find him to be on top of his brief when interviewed. He did a good job of Minister for the Today programme under Rishi. Only one who was better was Alex Chalk.
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
Stride has gravitas and ran a successful business and understands the economy.
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
Didn't you once say that you needed a leader with oomph? Jenrick has it. Stride doesn't.
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
Stride has gravitas and ran a successful business and understands the economy.
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
Didn't you once say that you needed a leader with oomph? Jenrick has it. Stride doesn't.
Farage already has oomph and not one poll has Jenrick taking significant Reform voters back from Farage.
Stride can hold Sunak 2024 voters at least and win back a few centrist swing voters who voted Tory since Cameron but went Labour or LD last year, are unhappy with the government but hate Farage
At what point does anti Reform tactical voting enter the fray ?
It will be a huge issue in the next election. There will be a major battle in hundreds of seats as to what is the right anti-Reform vote.
That's right, up to a point. But if you end up voting for someone you don't much like, you'll spend the following 5 years grumbling about it, which ultimately (extrapolating to the general population) is bad for democracy, and leads to parties like Reform. There needs to be an element of voting for whom you like, regardless of how you think other people will vote.
I think one should first decide if one clearly prefers a party, and if so vote for it. If one doesn't have much preference between two or three, and dislikes another option, than vote tactically.
Yes. all good points. However; take me as an example, traditionally a One Nation Tory, now voting Labour.
Normally I vote Tory, but in the next election even more than that I vote against Reform.
Will I know when I vote in 2029 whether a Tory vote shores up a Reform minority government, in which case I would vote differently, or if the Tories would support anything but Reform in which case they are on the list of possibles, or something else.
So in many seats there are two tactical issues: Who is the party that can beat Reform; secondly, is a Tory vote in fact a Reform supporting vote when it comes to alliances.
As I have said before, in Cumbria there are 5 seats (+Farron's which is different). In 2019 all were Tory; 2024 all went Labour; currently all are projected for Reform. What, in Cumbria, is the right anti-Reform vote?
Democracy's great, but there's only so much influence, realistically, an individual vote can have on who the government is. Our system is to a large extent one of viting against the party one likes least. There is something to be said for this. But the USA shows where this leads. I think, all things considered, I am with Nick P here: a system which encourages us to vote for the party we like the most, rather than against the one we like the least, has (despite your valid concerns), more to recommend it than the reverse. Which for me is STV. Though I am far from one-eyed about this: all systems have strengths and weaknesses.
Indeed, no seat in a GE has yet been decided by a single vote, which is a powerful reason for any one individual to vote for their party of choice.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
But at least you wouldn't have also cheered on Trump like Leon.
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
People used to also drive these on a motorcycle licence. My father had a friend with one, and I remember being in it as a boy. No reverse gear, so if you were in a tight spot you had to lift it round.
My uncle had a Bond 3 wheeler. His family had to get out & walk up steep hills.
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
People used to also drive these on a motorcycle licence. My father had a friend with one, and I remember being in it as a boy. No reverse gear, so if you were in a tight spot you had to lift it round.
My uncle had a Bond 3 wheeler. His family had to get out & walk up steep hills.
Back in my hitch-hiking days I had a lift in one of those things from Colchester to Chelmsford. Getting out was even harder than getting in.
Bugger. Last ever ELO concert at Hyde Park tomorrow is cancelled because Jeff Lynne is ill. Fully understand why but still gutted.
How disappointing! I'm glad people got to see them on the prior dates.
Much of Lynne's backing band have a new project called Big Horizon.
Not heard from Hyde Park what happens yet. We were looking forward to seeing Steve Winwood and the Doobie brothers as well. No idea if anything is going ahead or the whole thing is cancelled.
And some of you might have informed thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of such a car.
You may or not be aware, but there used to be a well known three wheeled car in the UK: the Robin Reliant. It was the subject of much derision. Its advantages were that it was very cheap and you could drive it on just a motorbike license. It was rumoured to topple over when cornering too fast.
People used to also drive these on a motorcycle licence. My father had a friend with one, and I remember being in it as a boy. No reverse gear, so if you were in a tight spot you had to lift it round.
My late uncle had one. He was slightly larger than the vehicle and would have won the Drones Club 'Fat Uncle' competition if entered.
Been for a swim, too hot for gardening, even too hot for alcohol. I'm going to sit under a tree and read with a big jug of icy water.
I've some friends going for 5 Munros today, each carrying 4 litres. Unusual for me to decline such an outing but cannot stand that feeling of lightheadedness you get after a long ascent in the sun.
After the $200 million AI engineer signing a couple of days ago, now Google / Deepmind in with outbidding OpenAI for talent behind a AI fork of Visual Code.
Been for a swim, too hot for gardening, even too hot for alcohol. I'm going to sit under a tree and read with a big jug of icy water.
I've some friends going for 5 Munros today, each carrying 4 litres. Unusual for me to decline such an outing but cannot stand that feeling of lightheadedness you get after a long ascent in the sun.
Never too hot for alcohol, just the sort of alcohol.....As we now know we all be shoving ice in our white wine and coke in our red when it gets hot.
If Badenoch were removed most of her MP backers and former Cleverly backers would back Stride over Jenrick. Probably enough to give him a coronation as Michael Howard got in 2003 to ensure he not Davis replaced IDS.
Stride can also offer a heavyweight fiscal conservative programme to centrist swing voters. Kemi has proved she can't out war on woke Farage and nor could Jenrick out Farage on stopping the boats and immigration
What's behind this odd pushing from you of the silly bloater? If course Reform has outflanked the Tories on the right. But the Lib Dems, Labour and the Nationalist Parties are clearly occupying the 'centre-left' that you seem to wish to indulge, and such voters are even less likely to vote for the Tories (though they do seem very happy to offer free advice).
No poll has Jenrick winning back Reform voters, Stride can at least hold the 2024 Sunak vote and add some ex Tories who went Labour or LD last year
Stride is a nice guy but not a winner
Frankly Badenoch is better
It is not a matter of finding a winner now it is a matter of stopping the party going extinct.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
Michael Howard had been Home Secretary and his role was to achieve a more respectable result against Blair. Mel Stride doesn't have the gravitas to be a Michael Howard figure and the challenge facing the party is of a totally different nature.
Stride has gravitas and ran a successful business and understands the economy.
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
After the $200 million AI engineer signing a couple of days ago, now Google / Deepmind in with outbidding OpenAI for talent behind a AI fork of Visual Code.
After the $200 million AI engineer signing a couple of days ago, now Google / Deepmind in with outbidding OpenAI for talent behind a AI fork of Visual Code.
If they didn't before, with $200m in their pocket, I bet they suddenly find such ladies become very attracted to them....for their wit and personality of course.
Been for a swim, too hot for gardening, even too hot for alcohol. I'm going to sit under a tree and read with a big jug of icy water.
I've some friends going for 5 Munros today, each carrying 4 litres. Unusual for me to decline such an outing but cannot stand that feeling of lightheadedness you get after a long ascent in the sun.
My only near incident on the Munros was on this kind of day trying the Ring of Steall. Starting at 4am was not early enough...
You’d feel pretty short changed if you had tickets for this . I know Sabalenka isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I was hoping she’d win the semi as I feared this type of match .
You’d feel pretty short changed if you had tickets for this . I know Sabalenka isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I was hoping she’d win the semi as I feared this type of match .
Sabalenka's grunting is, shall we say, OTT, so I actually wanted Anisimova to beat her
You’d feel pretty short changed if you had tickets for this . I know Sabalenka isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I was hoping she’d win the semi as I feared this type of match .
Sabalenka's grunting is, shall we say, OTT, so I actually wanted Anisimova to beat her
Comments
Anyhoo, have a good day everyone - I'm off for a walk to a drink.
I’m fairly confident that a trawl of Palmer’s post history would throw up a fair few when he’s been very keen on tactical voting - when it favours his own side, of course - but there we are.
Back at the beginning of 2024, such was my distaste at the never-ending Tory s***show that I was seriously considering voting Labour myself. Then Starmer made some speech disregarding the calls from his activists for electoral reform, then Starmer made some speech basically endorsing Brexit and ruling out any significant moves to unwind it, and of course there was nothing excitingly significant on tax and restoring public services, so already I was thinking that Labour wasn’t really offering voters like me anything much.
Then the local seat had a very poor candidate imposed upon it by Labour HQ, and once I realised that even local Labour members weren’t supporting their own candidate, any question of voting for them went out of the window.
And what a lucky escape - avoiding the pitiful absurdity of joining Leon in railing against an ensuing inadequate shambles that I had actually voted for.
Glad it's cooler than forecast but still wish it were more so.
Anyway, Trump's now parping about 30% tariffs on Mexico and the EU from 1 August:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyvj13d9ylpo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton-under-Lyne_(UK_Parliament_constituency)#Elections_in_the_1880s
Just what we need panic buying of fuel.
https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-announces-30-tariff-on-imports-from-eu-13395817
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_East_Fife_(UK_Parliament_constituency)#Elections_in_the_2010s
TACO.
Stride can be a Michael Howard figure to steady the ship, Kemi has a year to improve the party's voteshare or face the fate of IDS
We were fortunate to have beautiful sunny weather and it is a really beautiful part of Norway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snILjFUkk_A
The question is whether there are still enough sane people in the party to make that a realistic possibility. There isn't much sign of that.
*Because it gives them a greater run at the doubles, as less tired than the men.
And a bit short on luggage space.
Absolute money pit for maintenance, fuel, mooring fees etc.
* I can say that because I grew up in Ledbury.
Party members too picked Badenoch over Jenrick. Only chance Jenrick has to be party leader in my view is for the Tories and Reform to lose the next general election, maybe to a Labour minority government propped up by the LDs. Farage then resigns as does the defeated Tory leader and he positions himself as the man to reunite the right
As BigG says if the Tories go extinct it will be Farage and Reform who replace them who most left liberals hate even more than Tories
Stride certainly has more gravitas than Kemi, Jenrick or Cleverly
Stride can hold Sunak 2024 voters at least and win back a few centrist swing voters who voted Tory since Cameron but went Labour or LD last year, are unhappy with the government but hate Farage
That's tomorrow's predicted high too.
Youse really should move up here.
Much of Lynne's backing band have a new project called Big Horizon.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/live/ckgjwzweeg5t
BirminghamManchester gig and he had a "funny turn". They were quite upset by it.I've some friends going for 5 Munros today, each carrying 4 litres. Unusual for me to decline such an outing but cannot stand that feeling of lightheadedness you get after a long ascent in the sun.
https://www.theverge.com/openai/705999/google-windsurf-ceo-openai
Its all very footballer-esque.
I'd have given it a miss too.
Dozens taken away by Met Police officers after staging second wave of demonstrations in the capital
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/12/palestine-action-protesters-arrested-london/
I was on it!
As part of a multiple. All the other legs are still running...
6-0, 6-0
That can't happen too often at a Wimbledon final.
When I said still running, I meant the horses, not that they are still in play...