I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
I’ve been making money from Britain being a bit crap at the moment too however I also made money when it was doing well. The current money is easy but it doesn’t make me happy because I want Britain to be amazing, wealthy, happy, influential, respected and covered in flags.
I would happily hand over everything I’m making from the downturn in the country’s fortunes for us to be back in the late 90s (I think probably a good choice, can’t plump for late 1800s as that’s silly).
I always do remember however that we are still pretty good despite the last load of governments so if we get good government, (and that can’t come from reform because they are single issue coalition of social conservatives and liberal small staters amongst other things and they do not have any depth of good candidates to step up to run the country as far as I can see) we can get a head of steam again.
“If the UK were subject to an IMF programme, the spending cuts imposed as a condition would be some £100bn-£150bn, perhaps more. That puts a bit of context on the government's recent failed attempts to cut spending by £3bn.”
This follows a pretty heavyweight Telegraph report - citing senior economists, ex BoE bigwigs - that the UK is headed for IMF bailout territory
Brace
Scaremongering nonsense . Especially as economic growth is likely to be better than expected over the next few months which means Reeves will have less money to find .
Is the government intending on spending loads more money to achieve a bit of growth?
The data so far in August was better than expected . There’s been a strong recovery since April .
Inflation is surging, unemployment is rising, growth is close to zero, the government is the sixth most indebted developed nation on earth
The deficit is huge and growing, public spending is outwith control, the pensions bill is crippling, we have millions of working age people on benefits, the tax burden is the heaviest in seventy years, councils are sliding into bankruptcy, real wages have barely risen in two decades, business investment is stagnant, productivity is among the worst in the OECD, foreign capital and private wealth is fleeing to safer, more dynamic economies, destroying our tax base, even as borrowing costs are through the roof: 30-year gilt yields have surged past 5.6 %, the highest since 1998, and 10-year yields are hovering at an eye watering, crisis-signalling 4.7 %, so that every pound we borrow moves us closer to the cliff edge marked "Greece or Argentina?". Meanwhile our Chancellor literally weeps in parliament because she knows she cannot do the job and we are headed for disaster
But "the data in August was better than expected"
Stop being so miserable! The last GDP data was better than expected and the next one is likely to be better than expected . The UK is not Greece or Argentina .
heading there ever faster though
I wish we were Argentina. They just had greater GDP growth than China.
Growth from a low base isn't necessarily where you want to live. And inflation is around 20%!
Argentina had inflation of 266% a year ago so are actually getting it under control.
Indeed. But economic records are best judged from ten years' hence. It is relatively easy to create a short-term economic bubble; to truly change an economy for the better is much harder.
However, Argentina is starting from such a low base, and they face so many problems, I wish them luck.
Into that post is smuggled a 'from...hence'. We spent several hours earlier on the merits or otherwise of 'from whence'. Do we need to return to the question? Is the answer the same? Does JD Vance have an opinion on the matter? Is Reform going to ban it from henceforth?
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
Knock one out in 20 minutes !!
You into Stings tantric stuff.
I’m sure earlier he wrote that with his tins of cassoulet he can go for years. Just got to watch those sharp edges where the lid was, aim for the middle.
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
This is a little unfair on Mozart except in his earliest period, when he was about four.
it is true however of Haydn's unlistenable to baryton trios, of which there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty three. I have heard each and every one of them. It's like spending a fortnight with only the New Statesman and the Spectator for company.
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
This is a little unfair on Mozart except in his earliest period, when he was about four.
it is true however of Haydn's unlistenable to baryton trios, of which there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty three. I have heard each and every one of them. It's like spending a fortnight with only the New Statesman and the Spectator for company.
I had never heard of barytons before. Every day on PB is a school day.
I can’t believe the new thread isn’t about Starmer’s latest tweet. I know he’s normally quite dull, but this one is potentially a game changer. Maybe they are finally taking things seriously in Labour HQ?
I don’t know why, but this feels qualitatively different. New. Urgent.
Just read it:
“I want every young person to have the opportunity to realise their full potential.
From training to apprenticeships, my government is building Britain’s future by investing in the next generation.
Here's the problem - that is a worthy policy goal. Other things have also been worthy - a wholesale makeover of NHS England as an example.
But nobody notices or cares because there is no vision.
"I want every young person to realise their full potential" - why? What goals are we chasing?
I have No Clue what this government wants for Britain.
That’s a little harsh. “Every young person [realising] their full potential” is a worthwhile goal in itself
Of course it is. But all interesting and relavant political utterances are about the fact that to govern is to choose. Some of the choices are about universal aspirations such as the potential of young people, where to support its opposite is nonsense, but they are still choices between different routes and different meanings.
Expressing the universal aspiration as if it is clever or important isn't wise.
Starmer's grotesque train smash of a Government makes a lot more sense if you realise Labour never wanted to be in government at this stage in the cycle. They wanted another 5 years of fag-end Tories, hamstrung by the blob and their own lack of parliamentary unity, allowing Labour to blame all the country's problems on Brexit/Tories then Wes Streeting comes in after Starmer's respectable opposition performance and returns a grateful nation to the bossom of the EU (don't mention the incoming invoice).
Sadly they have now been placed in a situation of having to convince everyone that Britain is shit, falling apart, and needs the EU, whilst also being the Government responsible for its state. "It was the Tories" seems to have lost all currency long before its theoretical sell-by date due to the April budget and the way it imploded. So all the crapness of everything is coming home to roost with Labour.
Who knows how long they'll be gone after this, and if they will ever return.
No. That is very silly and not true. Parties generally want to win the elections they fight!
Indeed. Labour wanted to win. True, they've been handed a very poor inheritance, but they'd still like control of it.
The "train smash of a government" (which is still better than what we had from 2020 to 2024...) is such, in part, because of that inheritance, but also because they are not very good at government. In particular, saying "the lot in power are cr@p, aren't they?" may win you an election, but it's no good when you are in power...
Some governments have enjoyed longer honeymoons, but the rise of Reform UK (and to a lesser extent the LibDems and Greens) have perhaps given people alternatives sooner.
That hasn't helped.
But their core problem is that the government either have no message, or no-one with the ability to sell that message. And that means when the Farage Party comes along with a message - however stupid that message might be - it can gain adherents.
Starmer really needs a message, and a team around him to sell that message.
I have zero idea what the current Labour government is *for*. They can no longer define themselves as not being the government that is screwing things up.
It's potentially good news for Labour if their main problem is comms rather than stubbornly low economic growth and boxed in public finances. The comms is more short term fixable.
I’m sure improving their comms will make everyone realise they’ve never had it so good.
That's arguably true on many metrics. But as a message, no, that would not get it done.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
This is a little unfair on Mozart except in his earliest period, when he was about four.
it is true however of Haydn's unlistenable to baryton trios, of which there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty three. I have heard each and every one of them. It's like spending a fortnight with only the New Statesman and the Spectator for company.
I had never heard of barytons before. Every day on PB is a school day.
You mustn't confuse it with a theorbo (which was Pepys's preferred string instument).
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Naughty headline. A man has been arrested on suspicion of the racially aggravated public order offence of hurling abuse at a Muslim woman, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
This is a little unfair on Mozart except in his earliest period, when he was about four.
it is true however of Haydn's unlistenable to baryton trios, of which there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty three. I have heard each and every one of them. It's like spending a fortnight with only the New Statesman and the Spectator for company.
The Government would save about £40bn (year one) if the Bank of England stopped paying commercial banks interest on their QE holdings. It's absolutely loony for a central bank to give banks a load of money and than pay them interest on it.
The 'argument' I've heard for not stopping this muppetry is that it 'smacks of default' and would spook investors.
But as long as the spend is not reassigned, I think it would actually be seen as a responsible and serious move. The Government would effectively not be borrowing that £40bn.
The commercial banks give the BoE assets in return. It’s not “free money” for the banks but is designed to ensure liquidity in the system
Well, if it's not free money, and is given in exchange for assets, there should be no objection to it stopping, and those assets being retained, should there?
The interest is paid because it is owed.
The bank can stop the programme if it doesn’t need to support liquidity in the banking system
So that's a change of story from it being 'in exchange for assets' then isn't it?
It is not owed, because no other central bank pays interests on its own QE the way ours does.
Naughty headline. A man has been arrested on suspicion of the racially aggravated public order offence of hurling abuse at a Muslim woman, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
I wonder if J D Vance knows the nature of the cause he has taken on as friend of Connolly and the friends of Connolly. May we look forward to his intervention and stalwart defence of free speech?
The Government would save about £40bn (year one) if the Bank of England stopped paying commercial banks interest on their QE holdings. It's absolutely loony for a central bank to give banks a load of money and than pay them interest on it.
The 'argument' I've heard for not stopping this muppetry is that it 'smacks of default' and would spook investors.
But as long as the spend is not reassigned, I think it would actually be seen as a responsible and serious move. The Government would effectively not be borrowing that £40bn.
The commercial banks give the BoE assets in return. It’s not “free money” for the banks but is designed to ensure liquidity in the system
Well, if it's not free money, and is given in exchange for assets, there should be no objection to it stopping, and those assets being retained, should there?
The interest is paid because it is owed.
The bank can stop the programme if it doesn’t need to support liquidity in the banking system
So that's a change of story from it being 'in exchange for assets' then isn't it?
It is not owed, because no other central bank pays interests on its own QE the way ours does.
However hard I try to understand this matter, I still don't. Is it just me?
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
I am going to the funeral of a good friend who died of cancer at 63 tomorrow. Amongst the many twists and turns of a fascinating career he was in charge of the Student Union in Edinburgh for a couple of years and very well connected on the Ibiza party scene. He always drank Tenants and, when challenged about it, he said it was reliable, tasted the same wherever you went and relatively weak so that you could drink a sociable amount of it without losing your grip if you were on duty or otherwise being responsible.
I may well have to sink a pint of the stuff in his memory tomorrow.
I have just written an entire article about how Britain is Doomed, in 40 minutes
We may be doomed, but - kerching - some of us are getting paid for it
If it takes you forty minutes to write, then the information and intellectual content will be near, if not precisely, zero.
So no change then.
On a REALLY good day I can knock 'em out in 20 minutes, almost flawless
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
Knock one out in 20 minutes !!
You into Stings tantric stuff.
I’m sure earlier he wrote that with his tins of cassoulet he can go for years. Just got to watch those sharp edges where the lid was, aim for the middle.
Is that the "rag-head" incident?
I remember when I first heard that term, as a twelve year old at Newbury racecourse in 1990 with my Dad
We were at the parade ring before the first and Sheikh Mohammed Hamdan al Maktoum(?) and his entourage arrived
The man standing next to me said "Oh, the rag-heads have arrived"
I asked my Dad later, rather indiscreetly, "What's a rag-head?", and got a shush before the explanation
It was a very good day. My Dad let me have a two quid bet on each of the six races. I bet on Willie Carson all day (who I think was riding for the Sheikh in every race), he won five out of six
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
I believe Tennents have done a bit of work on it to upgrade it for the modern palate, and coincidentally by accident someone bought me a pint of it last night. Not so terrible that I didn’t drink it but still wouldn’t buy it.
As I've said here before, Sadiq Khan made a monumental political error when announcing his desire to run for a third term as London Mayor in January 2022. His reasoning was understandable - he thought Boris Johnson and the Conservatives would win an election in 2023 or 2024 and Labour wouldn't be serious contenders until 2028 by which time he would be able to stand as an MP and get a senior cabinet post in an incoming Labour Government.
He didn't (as indeed most didn't) envisage the implosion of the Conservatives after 2022 and the way this opened the door for Starmer and Labour in 2024 by which time he was committed to running for London Mayor.
IF his Mayoral term ends before a 2029 election, he could easily find a London MP (East Ham perhaps?) from where he could run and likely become an MP but he's lost valuable time - had he decided to go for a Westminster seat rather than the Mayoralty, he'd be a prominent Govenrment spokesman now.
Can we bring back the stocks.? I have a strong desire to pelt the perpetrators of the above with expired comestibles. While wearing a tricorn hat.
Perhaps this is a resurgence of my innate Britishness?
I have a more appropriate punishment, get them to write a 1,000 word report on St George, particularly his origins and the number of times he visited the UK, and how he stole the job of a native born Brit, bring back St Edmund.
I see I've 100 likes from 234 posts. I've no idea of the significance and care even less.
The real question is whether you're one of those preverts who think that the Deltics were a good locomotive...
I furs5 came to the deltic via model railways. I had a terrible Lima version in N gauge, built the Airfix OO kit of the blue prototype (powered it with a Lima chasis) and now crave an up to date N gauge version. My first Lima N gauge one was terrible, as befits the genuine engine class…
Good Morning one and all. Brighter here now, after a rather dull start, weather-wise!
Case as stated, I don't see that Khan has a problem. His term finishes in May 2028. He doesn't stand again, and applauds (or not, depends who wins) his successor and takes a short holiday. SKS must go to the country before July 2029, so announces, sometime in Spring 2029 that a) the election will be in May and b) that he's not going to stand. Khan is welcomed into his seat and off we go.
So who is Labour’s candidate for PM during the election campaign?
If Khan's successor as Mayor was an MP, Khan could simply win that by-election.
Getting into parliament isn’t the issue
There are 4 scenarios:
- starmer goes before the election: new Labour leader chosen and wins - no room for khan - Starmer goes before election: new Labour leader chosen and loses - Khan could be LOTO not PM - Starmer runs and wins: no vacancy until 2031 at earliest and probably too late for Khan - Starmer runs and loses: Khan could be LOTO not PM
Personally I think Rayner is most likely
But, but does she not have girly bits? I thought Labour didn't really go for that sort of thing.
No one can know unless the chromosomes have been checked…*
*Grateful thanks to all at NHS Fife for this witticism…
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1959620851369701496
We all recall FDR boasting of his great relationship with Hitler.
Reposting JD should be an automatic flag.
As Leon pointed out, we are seeing more speculation that President Trump is in physical as well as mental decline. Now, we need to take all this with a pinch of salt but we should not rule out President Vance before 2029.
As I pointed out yesterday it was widely claimed that Putin was seriously ill not that long ago. He seems to holding on for the moment.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1959620851369701496
We all recall FDR boasting of his great relationship with Hitler.
Reposting JD should be an automatic flag.
As Leon pointed out, we are seeing more speculation that President Trump is in physical as well as mental decline. Now, we need to take all this with a pinch of salt but we should not rule out President Vance before 2029.
As I pointed out yesterday it was widely claimed that Putin was seriously ill not that long ago. He seems to holding on for the moment.
Perhaps he has done a Brezhnev:
‘Lenin has died but his cause lives on!’
‘What a coincidence. Brezhnev has died, but his body lives on.’
Naughty headline. A man has been arrested on suspicion of the racially aggravated public order offence of hurling abuse at a Muslim woman, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
I wonder if J D Vance knows the nature of the cause he has taken on as friend of Connolly and the friends of Connolly. May we look forward to his intervention and stalwart defence of free speech?
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Castlemaine must be a contender for worst beer ever.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
By taking the stirring spoon off the likes of farage, tice, Philp and Jenrick would be a start.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
So many fakes about nowadays , jazzing up cooking lagers. Today I saw Rosa Blanca Mallorca, 3.4% only in UK could you promote all these crap beers. They will be bringing Watney Red Barrel back next.
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1959620851369701496
We all recall FDR boasting of his great relationship with Hitler.
Reposting JD should be an automatic flag.
As Leon pointed out, we are seeing more speculation that President Trump is in physical as well as mental decline. Now, we need to take all this with a pinch of salt but we should not rule out President Vance before 2029.
As I pointed out yesterday it was widely claimed that Putin was seriously ill not that long ago. He seems to holding on for the moment.
Not to mention Trump himself. He was scheduled to be carried away by his oddly stooping gait shortly after he held hands with Theresa May as I understood it. But he seems to have scraped by somehow.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
Indeed. I doubt we can ever do that when we have the sort of comment thrown around that you replied to.
Because, by implication, anyone who supports the flag or had pride in England is a ‘racist’ or a Nazi.
It’s bloody ridiculous.
The same people probably wave Palestine flags around all day
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
Indeed. I doubt we can ever do that when we have the sort of comment thrown around that you replied to.
Because, by implication, anyone who supports the flag or had pride in England is a ‘racist’ or a Nazi.
It’s bloody ridiculous.
The same people probably wave Palestine flags around all day
Given that the people who are currently putting up the flag are all card carrying members of the kick immigrants (of some form or other) out of this country - what else can you call the current flag waving
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
I am going to the funeral of a good friend who died of cancer at 63 tomorrow. Amongst the many twists and turns of a fascinating career he was in charge of the Student Union in Edinburgh for a couple of years and very well connected on the Ibiza party scene. He always drank Tenants and, when challenged about it, he said it was reliable, tasted the same wherever you went and relatively weak so that you could drink a sociable amount of it without losing your grip if you were on duty or otherwise being responsible.
I may well have to sink a pint of the stuff in his memory tomorrow.
I have certainly had a lot worse David and in draught in the pub i svery acceptable , not so good out of a tin. 63 is very young to be gone.
JD Vance: "This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to World War 2, if you go back to every major conflict in human history, they all end with some kind of negotiation." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1959620851369701496
We all recall FDR boasting of his great relationship with Hitler.
The first episode is superb, and Tusk by Fleetwood Mac is such a good track to open it
You've reminded me to rewatch 'Trust' (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5664952/). One of the last shows Donald Sutherland made (and boy, did it look like he had a ball) and the first few episodes were directed by Danny Boyle. The opening scene is backed by 'Money' by Pink Floyd. Which is what reminded me.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
This is where the flag movement will rapidly lose support. Not from right on people saying they’re all Nazis, but from simple stuff like this, low level criminal damage and making the local environment look a mess.
There’s a weariness in places at low level crime not being dealt with like anti social behaviour, shoplifting, criminal damage and so on. Adding more of it simply puts some of the patriots in the same category as the shoplifters, kids on e-bikes with safer balaclavas and others.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Castlemaine must be a contender for worst beer ever.
Their adverts were good though.
My taste must be Changing. I used to love Kronenbourg 1664 when younger. Had a bottle today. Vile.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
It would be nice to have a 1:2 ratio for likes to posts, I'm currently at 1:2.14, so I'd now have to run very fast on likes going forwards to claw that back.
Has Dura got the best ratio of any regular? 1:1.1 which is even more impressive as very few people agree with what he says, and plenty of us often have no idea what he is saying.....
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Castlemaine must be a contender for worst beer ever.
Their adverts were good though.
My taste must be Changing. I used to love Kronenbourg 1664 when younger. Had a bottle today. Vile.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
Indeed. I doubt we can ever do that when we have the sort of comment thrown around that you replied to.
Because, by implication, anyone who supports the flag or had pride in England is a ‘racist’ or a Nazi.
It’s bloody ridiculous.
The same people probably wave Palestine flags around all day
Given that the people who are currently putting up the flag are all card carrying members of the kick immigrants (of some form or other) out of this country - what else can you call the current flag waving
I’d call your comment a sweeping generalisation that’s unsubstantiated, certainly not the case of some of those local to me raising flags based on posts on my local fb groups from people actually raising flags. But you’re welcome to your view. It’s not inconsistent with PBs view of working class communities.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Castlemaine must be a contender for worst beer ever.
@RochdalePioneers Tennents is rank - there's a reason that even Scottish pubs serve Innis & Gunn instead these days
Compared to Carling it is Nectar. Not that great in tins but ok in draught in a pub if not top class, certainly not rank as a cooking lager, only 4% so never going to be great.
Madri, the authentic taste of Spain, owns them both.
Madri is so Yorkshire they've even got Zac Dingle to advertise it.
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
There’s a pub in the Toon that has, festooned outside of it, a placard declaring it the taste of Madrid.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Castlemaine must be a contender for worst beer ever.
Their adverts were good though.
My taste must be Changing. I used to love Kronenbourg 1664 when younger. Had a bottle today. Vile.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Not just him, quite a few on PB fall into that bracket.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
Treat the flag like the Church of England does as normal. Treat the flag like Scots treat the Scottish flag - its just part of life. Today lots of churches flew the flag simply because 24th August is the feast of St Bartholomew the Apostle. No-one will have confused it with racism or anything except unassuming English churches doing what they do for longer than anyone can remember. The current fad will pass and it will return to being a sign of being English and stuff like English football and rugby.
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
This is where the flag movement will rapidly lose support. Not from right on people saying they’re all Nazis, but from simple stuff like this, low level criminal damage and making the local environment look a mess.
There’s a weariness in places at low level crime not being dealt with like anti social behaviour, shoplifting, criminal damage and so on. Adding more of it simply puts some of the patriots in the same category as the shoplifters, kids on e-bikes with safer balaclavas and others.
The fact is that with any mass movement, we don't know who is doing what.
It is the easiest thing in the world to spray paint red crosses on things, and add a racist diatribe for good measure, if you wish to discredit the whole thing.
The organisers of the flag protest should have said from the beginning that grafitti wasn't welcome, but even then it is hard to disown such spontaneous acts because it's not an organised campaign.
It's Twatto McPratto exhibiting the depth of his knowledge of the world.
Vance and his boss, Trump, both have, AIUI, good American degrees.
And we think we’ve problems with our universities.
Most US colleges are fiercely woke and hate Trump and Vance.
Vance is more of an intellectual than Trump though and better able to articulate his America First, anti globalisation, anti woke and socially conservative views
I sometimes worry that A Clockwork Orange is coming true and those lads will be police soon.
"There was me, that is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel, and my three droogs, that is Priti, Govey, and Dom, and we were sitting in the Kensington Milkbar trying to make up our Raaboodocks what to do with the evening. The Kensington Milkbar sold Milk-plus, milk plus Corn Syrup or GM Soya or Chlorinated Chicken, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old No-Deal Brexit!"
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
“If the UK were subject to an IMF programme, the spending cuts imposed as a condition would be some £100bn-£150bn, perhaps more. That puts a bit of context on the government's recent failed attempts to cut spending by £3bn.”
This follows a pretty heavyweight Telegraph report - citing senior economists, ex BoE bigwigs - that the UK is headed for IMF bailout territory
Brace
Scaremongering nonsense . Especially as economic growth is likely to be better than expected over the next few months which means Reeves will have less money to find .
Is the government intending on spending loads more money to achieve a bit of growth?
The data so far in August was better than expected . There’s been a strong recovery since April .
Inflation is surging, unemployment is rising, growth is close to zero, the government is the sixth most indebted developed nation on earth
The deficit is huge and growing, public spending is outwith control, the pensions bill is crippling, we have millions of working age people on benefits, the tax burden is the heaviest in seventy years, councils are sliding into bankruptcy, real wages have barely risen in two decades, business investment is stagnant, productivity is among the worst in the OECD, foreign capital and private wealth is fleeing to safer, more dynamic economies, destroying our tax base, even as borrowing costs are through the roof: 30-year gilt yields have surged past 5.6 %, the highest since 1998, and 10-year yields are hovering at an eye watering, crisis-signalling 4.7 %, so that every pound we borrow moves us closer to the cliff edge marked "Greece or Argentina?". Meanwhile our Chancellor literally weeps in parliament because she knows she cannot do the job and we are headed for disaster
But "the data in August was better than expected"
Stop being so miserable! The last GDP data was better than expected and the next one is likely to be better than expected . The UK is not Greece or Argentina .
heading there ever faster though
I wish we were Argentina. They just had greater GDP growth than China.
Growth from a low base isn't necessarily where you want to live. And inflation is around 20%!
Argentina had inflation of 266% a year ago so are actually getting it under control.
They are, yes. Good for them. Still don't think it's the most attractive place to live in the world, economically speaking.
Most of these 'flaggers' seem to be absolute roasters. If that makes me a stereotyper, so be it.
I have the cross of St George cufflinks, I think it might blow the minds of the flaggers.
So you celebrate the fictional actions of a fictional knight who killed fictional endangered wildlife without a license, no safety case, no hi-viz, no statements completed on the effect of his actions on the environment, equality or community relations?
Just back from the toon. Visited the quayside market and the Newcastle Mela. The Mela was ace. All races and people together enjoying food and music in a lovely environment. Great fun. Some lovely street food.
I also didn’t see many flags but I didn’t look for them. I did see on pb earlier people reporting flags sightings which, by some happy coincidence, aligned with their view of the issue. PB at its best.
A bridge over the A36 outside Warminster had two England flags this afternoon. I think it’s a real thing going on out there, but lets appropriate it for the Rugby World Cup…
It's nice to see the Junior National Front retake the St George flag..
I think it’s really sad. Many, many people have a problem with the English identity, and flag, because of the associations with the far right. Because of this we English are denied the nationalism that is enjoyed by our Celtic cousins. To hear Elis James talk about his Welshness and following the Welsh football team is a joy. I was sickened by the events at Wembley in 2021 for the Euros final. How do we English build an identity that doesn’t reek of the racists?
The cause isn’t helped by wife beating Neanderthals attacking migrant hotels. Sadly it’s going to get worse now after a period when the English flag had more positive vibes. Not sure how you do that as the stereotype that most people have of those putting up flags on their houses ( outside of England football or rugby events ) is a shaved headed , tattooed racist thug .
No. That is the stereotype YOU have. Most people are actually able to contextualise. Something you appear to be incapable of doing.
Brits aren’t like Americans and so whether you like it or not sticking an England flag on your house outside of Royal or sporting events will give people the wrong idea .
There is a house just along from me that has flown the English flag, the Lincolnshire flag* and (since 2022) the Ukraine flag continuously for as long as I have lived here. No one considers the owners racist or xenophobic and nor should they.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
The Northumberland flag will be worse. It’s awful.
There’s a couple of houses on the estate next to mine that fly England flags. See them out when cycling. Doubt anyone here thinks they're racist, I’m sure plenty of PBers think they are. We seem ashamed of our flag.
Our local takeaway has always flown a Union Flag and a Bangladeshi Flag. Bothers no one.
Comments
I would happily hand over everything I’m making from the downturn in the country’s fortunes for us to be back in the late 90s (I think probably a good choice, can’t plump for late 1800s as that’s silly).
I always do remember however that we are still pretty good despite the last load of governments so if we get good government, (and that can’t come from reform because they are single issue coalition of social conservatives and liberal small staters amongst other things and they do not have any depth of good candidates to step up to run the country as far as I can see) we can get a head of steam again.
And we think we’ve problems with our universities.
I am the Mozart of predictable but articulate clickbait
You into Stings tantric stuff.
Man arrested after Muslim woman and her child were 'racially abused' by people painting flags on buildings
https://x.com/DailyMail/status/1959663032981729707
Palestinian flags. All over the place.
it is true however of Haydn's unlistenable to baryton trios, of which there are no fewer than one hundred and twenty three. I have heard each and every one of them. It's like spending a fortnight with only the New Statesman and the Spectator for company.
Perhaps this is a resurgence of my innate Britishness?
A man has been arrested on suspicion of the racially aggravated public order offence of hurling abuse at a Muslim woman, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
It is not owed, because no other central bank pays interests on its own QE the way ours does.
I may well have to sink a pint of the stuff in his memory tomorrow.
I remember when I first heard that term, as a twelve year old at Newbury racecourse in 1990 with my Dad
We were at the parade ring before the first and Sheikh Mohammed Hamdan al Maktoum(?) and his entourage arrived
The man standing next to me said "Oh, the rag-heads have arrived"
I asked my Dad later, rather indiscreetly, "What's a rag-head?", and got a shush before the explanation
It was a very good day. My Dad let me have a two quid bet on each of the six races. I bet on Willie Carson all day (who I think was riding for the Sheikh in every race), he won five out of six
I think I came out twenty eight pounds up
As I've said here before, Sadiq Khan made a monumental political error when announcing his desire to run for a third term as London Mayor in January 2022. His reasoning was understandable - he thought Boris Johnson and the Conservatives would win an election in 2023 or 2024 and Labour wouldn't be serious contenders until 2028 by which time he would be able to stand as an MP and get a senior cabinet post in an incoming Labour Government.
He didn't (as indeed most didn't) envisage the implosion of the Conservatives after 2022 and the way this opened the door for Starmer and Labour in 2024 by which time he was committed to running for London Mayor.
IF his Mayoral term ends before a 2029 election, he could easily find a London MP (East Ham perhaps?) from where he could run and likely become an MP but he's lost valuable time - had he decided to go for a Westminster seat rather than the Mayoralty, he'd be a prominent Govenrment spokesman now.
They might have made it nicer
If a sufficient number of posters flag your posts within a short space of time then it limits your ability to post.
Also I have zero flags because I would never troll PB, plus it is is impossible to flag a post by myself or Robert.
Farage in da hood
https://x.com/nigel_farage/status/1959678712204714212?s=61
https://x.com/dawnsl44/status/1959201023219642755?s=61
The biggest impact your writing has had on the world was, by your own admission, partly inspiring Anders Breivik.
But it’s hard not to love the look of the thing.
*Grateful thanks to all at NHS Fife for this witticism…
Except, of course, when a member of the Indian cricket team causes him to lose a bet that involves pineapple on pizza.
‘Lenin has died but his cause lives on!’
‘What a coincidence. Brezhnev has died, but his body lives on.’
I wonder if someone in Spain is brewing bitter and calling it Tadcasta.
It was developed in Spain
Quality brew.
No,different to when they brewed Labatts and Castlemaine 4X in the U.K.
Bringing great booze to the masses.
Their adverts were good though.
The first episode is superb, and Tusk by Fleetwood Mac is such a good track to open it
Because, by implication, anyone who supports the flag or had pride in England is a ‘racist’ or a Nazi.
It’s bloody ridiculous.
The same people probably wave Palestine flags around all day
There’s a weariness in places at low level crime not being dealt with like anti social behaviour, shoplifting, criminal damage and so on. Adding more of it simply puts some of the patriots in the same category as the shoplifters, kids on e-bikes with safer balaclavas and others.
https://x.com/robjeffries/status/1959529472064942195?s=61
It is the easiest thing in the world to spray paint red crosses on things, and add a racist diatribe for good measure, if you wish to discredit the whole thing.
The organisers of the flag protest should have said from the beginning that grafitti wasn't welcome, but even then it is hard to disown such spontaneous acts because it's not an organised campaign.
Vance is more of an intellectual than Trump though and better able to articulate his America First, anti globalisation, anti woke and socially conservative views
Just finished both series of Blue Lights though, as that was two-weekend bingeable.
The scene where they try to drown McDowells character, just seemed to go on and on and on.
Context. It matters.
And your choice of ignoring it and relying on your own bigoted stereotypes says a great deal about you and your views of the country and the people who share it with you.
*which is a horrible multicoloured thing and an eyesore compared to other county flags
There’s a couple of houses on the estate next to mine that fly England flags. See them out when cycling. Doubt anyone here thinks they're racist, I’m sure plenty of PBers think they are. We seem ashamed of our flag.
Our local takeaway has always flown a Union Flag and a Bangladeshi Flag. Bothers no one.