"We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."
Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?
I presume they mean refunds for tickets bought in error, or that turn out to be un-needed
So, you buy a ticket from Paddington to Bath, on the Tuesday, intending to travel the coming Saturday. Up until Friday midnight you can ask for your money back, and not travel, and they will do that happily. They refund you instantly (I've done this myself several times, and they are brisk and efficient)
I presume people are gaming the system and actually travelling and THEN claiming a refund, as if they never travelled. This stops that. You will still be able to claim for delays, on actual trains you use. That is a different system
You're welcome
It's claimed the loss due to fraud is £40m per annum.
You can also get the refund and then get delay-repay too, double-dipping. But you might end up in jail:
"Iran responds to Trump threats: 'Be careful not to get eliminated yourself'
An Iranian official has apparently threatened Donald Trump with "elimination" after the US president hit out at Tehran over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Larijani, Iran's national security council chief and a top adviser to the slain supreme leader, responded to Trump on X today, writing:
"The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn't fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.""
"We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."
Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?
Assume your request to cancel? They would want to ensure you don't travel on an early train and then pretend you are cancelling your journey on a later train the same day?
Indeed. And you could "cancel" up to 30 days after the date of travel...
The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.
So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
Trying to work out who is who in that description.
To be honest I just assumed that finally someone has pointed out what was blindingly obvious. Larry Mullen from U2 was a long term KGB agent in the 80s.
ALSO, when I got home there'd been a delivery, and I am now the proud owner of an absolutely mahoohoohoohoohoohoosive fossilised Megalodon shark tooth from the Miocene
It's much more likeable than my weird, sinister, dark-noomy Trilobite
So, a good day
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! But who cares? No big deal I want more
Councils don't get gratitude when they don't raise council tax as much as they could, or even if they don't raise it at all, so good idea or not administrations doing it are no more likely to be safe at the next election than those they do not do it (unless they are one of the ones which has gone bankrupt and has permission to go well above the usual limits).
The whole thing is a bit of a nonsense anyway. Government knows demand is so high the regluar limit is not enough for many areas, hence the adult social care levy.
"Iran responds to Trump threats: 'Be careful not to get eliminated yourself'
An Iranian official has apparently threatened Donald Trump with "elimination" after the US president hit out at Tehran over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Larijani, Iran's national security council chief and a top adviser to the slain supreme leader, responded to Trump on X today, writing:
"The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn't fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.""
The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.
The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
All Reform MPs now appear to be piling on on YouGov
Im going to guess they might already know whats coming out in the morning - loss of the lead??
It's true that YouGov's figures for Reform have been out of line with the average of all other pollsters recently. They've been averaging about 28-30% with the rest of them.
ALSO, when I got home there'd been a delivery, and I am now the proud owner of an absolutely mahoohoohoohoohoohoosive fossilised Megalodon shark tooth from the Miocene
It's much more likeable than my weird, sinister, dark-noomy Trilobite
So, a good day
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! But who cares? No big deal I want more
All Reform MPs now appear to be piling on on YouGov
Im going to guess they might already know whats coming out in the morning - loss of the lead??
It's true that YouGov's figures for Reform have been out of line with the average of all other pollsters recently. They've been averaging about 28-30% with the rest of them.
Yes. But its not just Reform that have different figures euth differemt pollsters. These freaks post like its a conspiracy. And theyve done it to other pollsters too
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
They're too stupid to realise.
Either that, or genuinely malevolent, and racist - against whites
All Reform MPs now appear to be piling on on YouGov
Im going to guess they might already know whats coming out in the morning - loss of the lead??
It's true that YouGov's figures for Reform have been out of line with the average of all other pollsters recently. They've been averaging about 28-30% with the rest of them.
Yes. But its not just Reform that have different figures euth differemt pollsters. These freaks post like its a conspiracy. And theyve done it to other pollsters too
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
Watching the Labour front bench's attempt to restrict trial by jury makes me wonder whether Keir Starmer and David Lammy understand England at all. They are smashing up the fundamental freedoms of this country as if they were foreign invaders
It's starting to dawn on him that this is a debacle from which he needs to distant himself.
They probably embarked on Operation Epstein Fury because they managed to convince themselves it would be easy. See also the SMO, Suez and Leeds Utd's 2000/2001 Champions League campaign
Looks like Rubio is going to be set up for the fall, rather than Hegseth.
Well, he's got eyes on the Presidency hasn't he. Which could be a problem for Vance or Don Jr.
FPT. I have a hunch that Trump will endorse Newsom for the Presidency in 2028 for a number of reasons. 1. It will be very dramatic and newsworthy. Trump will remain the centre of attention. 2. Newsom looks the part. 3. He despises Vance and little Rubio and thinks they are nothing without him. 4. He might be able to do a deal with Newsom to protect himself and his family from litigation in return for his endorsement.
Watching the Labour front bench's attempt to restrict trial by jury makes me wonder whether Keir Starmer and David Lammy understand England at all. They are smashing up the fundamental freedoms of this country as if they were foreign invaders
YouGov methodology is interesting . Not sure how other pollsters do this but this should be quite concerning for Labour given the Green VI.
“We ask voting intention using two questions. First, we ask people how they would vote if a general election were held tomorrow. Then we ask people to think about their own constituency, the parties standing there, and ask how they would vote there. It is the answers to the second question that we use to drive our headline voting intention figure. We have found this approach is more effective at picking up tactical voting considerations and how people actually cast their vote on the day, in particular in seats where the Liberal Democrats are in contention.”
It’s a shame we only get to see the headline numbers and not the more general one . I would have thought though this type of polling incorporating more tactical voting would be better served closer to an election .
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
They're too stupid to realise.
Lots of board members are remarkably stupid, yes.
Oh sorry, is that not what you meant?
Still a way to go: “executives from ethnic minorities now held a record 20 per cent of FTSE 100 board positions and 16 per cent of FTSE 250 board positions. For FTSE 100 companies this compared with 12 per cent in 2019.
In 2025 there were 14 chief executives of FTSE 100 companies with ethnic minority backgrounds, the highest number on record, as well as eight chairs and nine chief finance officers.”
My favourite press release on this was from a few years ago that found that there were more Daves and Steves heading up UK FTSE companies than women or those from an ethnic minority.
If anything the linked article shows that there has been pretty good progress on the ethnic background of the boss classes. Just not so much on the female side (regardless of ethnic background).
Also I suspect if you looked into educational / parental background of the boss classes there will probably not be too much evidence of social mobility. So although the bosses and boards may look different and increasingly look different - I daresay, excluding those with an international background, most of them will have been through similar schools and what not.
US energy secretary deletes post about Navy escorting vessel through strait of Hormuz An update to a post from a few moments ago, US energy secretary Chris Wright has deleted a post on X which had said the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the strait of Hormuz “to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets”.
OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas
She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.
But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
To me she's typical of most of the countries in those parts.. They have some rules that everyone ignores like they don't let you share a room with someone who doesn't have the same surname but I've never known anyone who enforces it. Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want.
I've never worked in Iran but I've shot a raunchy underwear ad in Beirut that wouldn't have passed the ITCA in the UK. The other thing I always notice is how cultured the people are. They know films from different countries. They're old civilisations and even the most junior people often surprise you with their lateral thinking. My Turkish producer is gay and she's taken me to places in Istanbul I didn't know existed anywhere! They've also got more varieties of dope than Costa have varieties of coffee!
Sweet Jesus Christ
"Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want."
A woman in Iran was literally beaten to death by the regime, for not wearing a hijab properly
"On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini,[a] also known as Jina Amini,[b][1][2][3] died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police of Iran's government, had arrested Amini for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards. The Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that she had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed, and fell into a coma before being transferred to a hospital.[4][5] However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, reported that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality,[6][7][8] which was denied by the Iranian authorities.[9] The assertions of police brutality, in addition to leaked medical scans,[10] led some observers to believe Amini had a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries received after her arrest.[11]"
Every time this subject comes up, you ridiculous, pathetic, tiny-brained fecal burp of a man, your trot out this low IQ story about some tampon ad you did in Beirut in 1977 and how everyone in the Middle East is therefore sexy and liberated and nice, as if this dismal cringefest of a micro-story proves anything other than your absolute confusion, and your intellectual effeminacy, and the entire reason your pitiful career never got beyond shooting stupid TV ads for tampons about 9000 years ago
US energy secretary deletes post about Navy escorting vessel through strait of Hormuz An update to a post from a few moments ago, US energy secretary Chris Wright has deleted a post on X which had said the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the strait of Hormuz “to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets”.
Fag Ash Lil is just dialling it in now. Sub par May results and he will be off to the States
Yeah, I thought his heart wasn't really in that tax bollocks. He just never assumed that full throated golf club bore mode that normally comes so naturally.
"We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."
Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?
As of now, you can request a refund for day tickets (rather than advance tickets) on the day of ticket validity. So for example if you get to the station and your train is cancelled, hence missing a meeting, you can get a refund.
This change means they don't get hit for poor performance...
The cynic in me says it is because it has been nationalised. And nationalising industry usually means the consumer loses out to the producer interests.
In short, don't buy 'day singles 'or 'day return' tickets before the actual day you want to use it. The Man in Seat 61 has been quite vocal about this.....
"Iran responds to Trump threats: 'Be careful not to get eliminated yourself'
An Iranian official has apparently threatened Donald Trump with "elimination" after the US president hit out at Tehran over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Larijani, Iran's national security council chief and a top adviser to the slain supreme leader, responded to Trump on X today, writing:
"The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn't fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.""
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
"We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."
Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?
As of now, you can request a refund for day tickets (rather than advance tickets) on the day of ticket validity. So for example if you get to the station and your train is cancelled, hence missing a meeting, you can get a refund.
This change means they don't get hit for poor performance...
The cynic in me says it is because it has been nationalised. And nationalising industry usually means the consumer loses out to the producer interests.
In short, don't buy 'day singles 'or 'day return' tickets before the actual day you want to use it. The Man in Seat 61 has been quite vocal about this.....
On top of that I think there has been a whole set of fraud cases where people have been caught travelling and then asking for a refund because they've managed to travel without their ticket being inspected..
For election junkies there’s the Georgia Special Election tonight to replace MTG .
It’s classed as Ruby Red seat but it’s very likely Shawn Harris the Dem will get to the run off as it’s unlikely one GOP candidate will get the necessary majority .
The real interest at this stage is seeing the combined Dem v GOP totals .
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
ALSO, when I got home there'd been a delivery, and I am now the proud owner of an absolutely mahoohoohoohoohoohoosive fossilised Megalodon shark tooth from the Miocene
It's much more likeable than my weird, sinister, dark-noomy Trilobite
So, a good day
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! But who cares? No big deal I want more
Be careful with pyritised fossils. Yes they look great but they are prone to pyrite rot and you can find your lovely fossil just crumbling to dust in very short order.
@NatashaBertrand Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says in new statement: "Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care."
US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY IRAN IS STARTING TO PLACE MINES IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A KEY SHIPPING PATH, ACCORDING TO CBS NEWS.
How any mine-dropping vessels are getting out of port should be a worry to the US. Should be more of a priority trashing that coastal strip than central Tehran.
The tweet claiming this has been withdrawn. Looks like it didn't happen. Since we need more than 150 tankers a day through there 1 was not that significant anyway but it appears we do not even have that.
The tweet claiming this has been withdrawn. Looks like it didn't happen. Since we need more than 150 tankers a day through there 1 was not that significant anyway but it appears we do not even have that.
ALSO, when I got home there'd been a delivery, and I am now the proud owner of an absolutely mahoohoohoohoohoohoosive fossilised Megalodon shark tooth from the Miocene
It's much more likeable than my weird, sinister, dark-noomy Trilobite
So, a good day
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got whozits and whatzits galore You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! But who cares? No big deal I want more
Be careful with pyritised fossils. Yes they look great but they are prone to pyrite rot and you can find your lovely fossil just crumbling to dust in very short order.
Ugh! But thanks for the tip. I already have one pyritised ammonite (I just want a bigger one). I never knew this was a thing! Until now
Hmm. Maybe I should just accept it? All things must pass? Doesn't look like there is much you can do, except dip them in resin or spray them with lacquer but that would ruin the enticing glint
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
Were they the same nuclear bombs Iran was ready to deploy for the last 30 years ?
No, clearly must be quite different to the ones that the USA took out in June 2025.....
Trump - 22nd June 2025 "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
Suspect it is a Trump style approach. They actually want maybe 25% of jury trials scrapped but knew it would be controversial so asked for 90% to be scrapped hoping people move to 25% as a compromise.
I'm fine with a lower proportion moving to judges only but not as standard for the serious cases, so might be hopecasting here or whatever the cool kids call it.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
That is very sad. I am utterly opposed to them, not least because they won't do what the Government claims. As was pointed out the other day, the Magistrates Court system has an even great backlog (360,000 cases as of mid 2025) than Crown Courts and this will do nothing to ease that.
The bottom line is that this Government hates the idea of any justice that is not completely under the control of the State and will do everything they can to restrict or end jury trials. Speeding up the process is both an excuse and very misleading.
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
Were they the same nuclear bombs Iran was ready to deploy for the last 30 years ?
No, clearly must be quite different to the ones that the USA took out in June 2025.....
Trump - 22nd June 2025 "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
Could we ask them to build us nuclear facililities? Should get it done quickly.
US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY IRAN IS STARTING TO PLACE MINES IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A KEY SHIPPING PATH, ACCORDING TO CBS NEWS.
How any mine-dropping vessels are getting out of port should be a worry to the US. Should be more of a priority trashing that coastal strip than central Tehran.
Iran has about 30 small submarines which can be used for this task.
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
Were they the same nuclear bombs Iran was ready to deploy for the last 30 years ?
No, clearly must be quite different to the ones that the USA took out in June 2025.....
Trump - 22nd June 2025 "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
The media don’t seem to want to ask the US government about this .
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
That is very sad. I am utterly opposed to them, not least because they won't do what the Government claims. As was pointed out the other day, the Magistrates Court system has an even great backlog (360,000 cases as of mid 2025) than Crown Courts and this will do nothing to ease that.
The bottom line is that this Government hates the idea of any justice that is not completely under the control of the State and wil do everything htey can to retrict or end jury trials. Speeding up the process is both an excuse and very misleading.
Yes, it is disgraceful
I would say this is a shameful government, except that they seem to exhibit no shame. Nor indeed any normal human emotions at all, beyond the odd awkward cringe as they make yet another terrible error. But the embarrassment is brief, as they proceed to their next gigantic mistake
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
Were they the same nuclear bombs Iran was ready to deploy for the last 30 years ?
No, clearly must be quite different to the ones that the USA took out in June 2025.....
Trump - 22nd June 2025 "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
The media don’t seem to want to ask the US government about this .
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY IRAN IS STARTING TO PLACE MINES IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A KEY SHIPPING PATH, ACCORDING TO CBS NEWS.
How any mine-dropping vessels are getting out of port should be a worry to the US. Should be more of a priority trashing that coastal strip than central Tehran.
Iran has about 30 small submarines which can be used for this task.
If they.lay.mines the US response will be fearful.. if it isn't already.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
Who said this in 2020?
Jury trials are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement. Criminal trials without juries are a bad idea.
The Government need to pull their finger out and acquire empty public buildings across the country to make sure these can happen in a way that is safe.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
The delays have nothing to do with juries, according to a number of judges and lawyers.
The delays are the typical story of everything running at capacity so when things go wrong, there is a delay of months until the combination of lawyers and judges are available again.
Fuel price gouging latest. Last Friday, diesel at our local garage was 144.9p per litre. By yesterday it had risen to 149.9p. Between 12 o’clock and 3pm today it rose again, to 155.9p. I don’t expect they have had two fuel deliveries since Friday. I expect they are profiteering on the fuel in their tanks.
Fuel price gouging latest. Last Friday, diesel at our local garage was 144.9p per litre. By yesterday it had risen to 149.9p. Between 12 o’clock and 3pm today it rose again, to 155.9p. I don’t expect they have had two fuel deliveries since Friday. I expect they are profiteering on the fuel in their tanks.
I suspect they are looking at the price of the next delivery and thinking - best get people prepared for £1.80..
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
The delays have nothing to do with juries, according to a number of judges and lawyers.
The delays are the typical story of everything running at capacity so when things go wrong, there is a delay of months until the combination of lawyers and judges are available again.
"I want to protect our armed forces I am the only person doing that"
"I want our Armed Forces to have boots on the ground, we must support the US and Israel in attacking Iran"
We must support Cyprus which is under attack"
"We are an embarrassment, we must act now"
A few questions from me
Surely our Armed Forces are safest in Barracks, in Port, on Air fields
Why do you want boots on the ground, are you seriously suggesting our Army should be the first of the Iranian expeditionary force
Can you clarify, when, how and how many Iranian attacks have affected Cyprus (aside from the ones our RAF and other NATO forces have intercepted
How many body bags will be required to be repatriated to meet your rank hypocricy political opportunitism, lack of compassion, understanding and clearly craven bloodlust
OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas
She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.
But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
To me she's typical of most of the countries in those parts.. They have some rules that everyone ignores like they don't let you share a room with someone who doesn't have the same surname but I've never known anyone who enforces it. Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want.
I've never worked in Iran but I've shot a raunchy underwear ad in Beirut that wouldn't have passed the ITCA in the UK. The other thing I always notice is how cultured the people are. They know films from different countries. They're old civilisations and even the most junior people often surprise you with their lateral thinking. My Turkish producer is gay and she's taken me to places in Istanbul I didn't know existed anywhere! They've also got more varieties of dope than Costa have varieties of coffee!
Sweet Jesus Christ
"Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want."
A woman in Iran was literally beaten to death by the regime, for not wearing a hijab properly
"On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini,[a] also known as Jina Amini,[b][1][2][3] died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police of Iran's government, had arrested Amini for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards. The Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that she had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed, and fell into a coma before being transferred to a hospital.[4][5] However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, reported that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality,[6][7][8] which was denied by the Iranian authorities.[9] The assertions of police brutality, in addition to leaked medical scans,[10] led some observers to believe Amini had a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries received after her arrest.[11]"
Every time this subject comes up, you ridiculous, pathetic, tiny-brained fecal burp of a man, your trot out this low IQ story about some tampon ad you did in Beirut in 1977 and how everyone in the Middle East is therefore sexy and liberated and nice, as if this dismal cringefest of a micro-story proves anything other than your absolute confusion, and your intellectual effeminacy, and the entire reason your pitiful career never got beyond shooting stupid TV ads for tampons about 9000 years ago
You're not wrong but it's pointless wasting time with this idiot .
US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY IRAN IS STARTING TO PLACE MINES IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A KEY SHIPPING PATH, ACCORDING TO CBS NEWS.
How any mine-dropping vessels are getting out of port should be a worry to the US. Should be more of a priority trashing that coastal strip than central Tehran.
Iran has about 30 small submarines which can be used for this task.
If they.lay.mines the US response will be fearful.. if it isn't already.
: U.S. intelligence assets have begun to see indications Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Iran is using smaller crafts that can carry 2 to 3 mines each . While Iran’s mine stock isn’t publicly known, estimates over the years have ranged from roughly 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines of Iranian, Chinese and Russian-made variants, @JimLaPorta reports
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
The delays have nothing to do with juries, according to a number of judges and lawyers.
The delays are the typical story of everything running at capacity so when things go wrong, there is a delay of months until the combination of lawyers and judges are available again.
1) Members of The House Of Commons 2) Any permanent official who had received and accepted an honour. 3) All Kings Council
Beyond satire that a former DPP and someone who literally seems to run his entire government based on international law is the one PM in hundreds of years who plans to get rid of ancient right of jury.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
Sure, the previous Tory government created loads of problems, a mess that is so big, and so deep and so tall that it feels impossible to fix, there is no way at all.
But Labour are making things worse.
So much so you could forgive people for thinking they might need the Tories back to fix it.
It's starting to dawn on him that this is a debacle from which he needs to distant himself.
They probably embarked on Operation Epstein Fury because they managed to convince themselves it would be easy. See also the SMO, Suez and Leeds Utd's 2000/2001 Champions League campaign
Looks like Rubio is going to be set up for the fall, rather than Hegseth.
Well, he's got eyes on the Presidency hasn't he. Which could be a problem for Vance or Don Jr.
FPT. I have a hunch that Trump will endorse Newsom for the Presidency in 2028 for a number of reasons. 1. It will be very dramatic and newsworthy. Trump will remain the centre of attention. 2. Newsom looks the part. 3. He despises Vance and little Rubio and thinks they are nothing without him. 4. He might be able to do a deal with Newsom to protect himself and his family from litigation in return for his endorsement.
As a means of sinking Newsom's bid for the job it might work.
But actually Trump has been publicly musing about supporting Rubio instead of Vance.
Is this the most stupid, gullible thing that Trumps team has said so far?:
QUINTANILLA: Do we think the Russians have shared intel about US military assets, and if so, why would we be giving waivers on oil sanctions?
WITKOFF: I can tell you that on the call with POTUS, the Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
What they are proposing doesn't seem very extreme from Scotland. Sheriff Courts here can sentence for about 2 years (some complexities for breaches of bail etc) at what is called Summary level with a single Sheriff. Sheriff Courts have juries too and these give the Sheriff a sentencing power of 5 years. In the High Court life is an option and we have juries for everything.
It seems in England there are issues with the defence having a say in whether there should be a jury or not and the right to a jury is at far too low a level. But hey, each system has its own features.
It's starting to dawn on him that this is a debacle from which he needs to distant himself.
They probably embarked on Operation Epstein Fury because they managed to convince themselves it would be easy. See also the SMO, Suez and Leeds Utd's 2000/2001 Champions League campaign
Looks like Rubio is going to be set up for the fall, rather than Hegseth.
Well, he's got eyes on the Presidency hasn't he. Which could be a problem for Vance or Don Jr.
FPT. I have a hunch that Trump will endorse Newsom for the Presidency in 2028 for a number of reasons. 1. It will be very dramatic and newsworthy. Trump will remain the centre of attention. 2. Newsom looks the part. 3. He despises Vance and little Rubio and thinks they are nothing without him. 4. He might be able to do a deal with Newsom to protect himself and his family from litigation in return for his endorsement.
As a means of sinking Newsom's bid for the job it might work.
But actually Trump has been publicly musing about supporting Rubio instead of Vance.
I so look forward to the day when whatever he is 'musing' about becomes of interest to friends and family only.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
I'm not sure such a fundamental shift could be described as mere pragmatism, even if one is in favour.
The government needs to do more to justify it beyond giving the impression it's just too difficult and expensive to maintain the old system. Which I think they have tried, but not well.
Is this the most stupid, gullible thing that Trumps team has said so far?:
QUINTANILLA: Do we think the Russians have shared intel about US military assets, and if so, why would we be giving waivers on oil sanctions?
WITKOFF: I can tell you that on the call with POTUS, the Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word.
It's starting to dawn on him that this is a debacle from which he needs to distant himself.
They probably embarked on Operation Epstein Fury because they managed to convince themselves it would be easy. See also the SMO, Suez and Leeds Utd's 2000/2001 Champions League campaign
Looks like Rubio is going to be set up for the fall, rather than Hegseth.
Well, he's got eyes on the Presidency hasn't he. Which could be a problem for Vance or Don Jr.
FPT. I have a hunch that Trump will endorse Newsom for the Presidency in 2028 for a number of reasons. 1. It will be very dramatic and newsworthy. Trump will remain the centre of attention. 2. Newsom looks the part. 3. He despises Vance and little Rubio and thinks they are nothing without him. 4. He might be able to do a deal with Newsom to protect himself and his family from litigation in return for his endorsement.
As a means of sinking Newsom's bid for the job it might work.
But actually Trump has been publicly musing about supporting Rubio instead of Vance.
I so look forward to the day when whatever he is 'musing' about becomes of interest to friends and family only.
When (if) he leaves office, his every utterance is going to be waited on with bated breath, interpreted intensely and fervently. He will end his days incredibly rich, still powerful, and beloved by millions.
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
The delays have nothing to do with juries, according to a number of judges and lawyers.
The delays are the typical story of everything running at capacity so when things go wrong, there is a delay of months until the combination of lawyers and judges are available again.
1) Members of The House Of Commons 2) Any permanent official who had received and accepted an honour. 3) All Kings Council
Beyond satire that a former DPP and someone who literally seems to run his entire government based on international law is the one PM in hundreds of years who plans to get rid of ancient right of jury.
Not get rid, restrict to crimes with a 3 years or more sentence. As recommended (amongst other things) by the Leveson review set up to look at ways of unblocking a criminal justice system which has been brought to crisis point by years of underfunding principally under the tories.
I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.
Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.
There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.
Why is is "waifs" and not "waives"? You know, like knife/knives, wife/wives.
I can only assume because the singular doesn't end in an "e"?
I’ll be honest I’m very supportive of the government’s changes to jury trials.
It makes sense to me. And the criticisms seem very bad faith.
Who created the backlog Who closed the Courts Who reduced Prison spaces Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
Sure, the previous Tory government created loads of problems, a mess that is so big, and so deep and so tall that it feels impossible to fix, there is no way at all.
But Labour are making things worse.
So much so you could forgive people for thinking they might need the Tories back to fix it.
Thats like bringing back the guy who chopped somebody's head off to glue it back on
Tories in utter denial to the extent of the shit show they left behind after 14 years of under investment
Refuse to back any measure to fix anything, because the Tory Leader has an issue with agreeing with anyone and has to argue about everything.
Comments
You can also get the refund and then get delay-repay too, double-dipping. But you might end up in jail:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/students-bagged-140k-train-refund-110701970.html
so just 2 wins from 7 today
An Iranian official has apparently threatened Donald Trump with "elimination" after the US president hit out at Tehran over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Larijani, Iran's national security council chief and a top adviser to the slain supreme leader, responded to Trump on X today, writing:
"The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn't fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.""
https://news.sky.com/story/iran-latest-trump-tehran-israel-strikes-us-drone-live-sky-news-13509565
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs?
I've got twenty!
But who cares?
No big deal
I want more
The whole thing is a bit of a nonsense anyway. Government knows demand is so high the regluar limit is not enough for many areas, hence the adult social care levy.
Im going to guess they might already know whats coming out in the morning - loss of the lead??
"White males will have ‘fewer board seats’ in future, says UK diversity chair"
Financial Times
https://x.com/FT/status/2031160714484674567?s=20
Let me tell them. The end result of all this is the creation of an aggressive "white" identity in the UK. If you are white, you will vote for the "White People's Party", so you are not crushed, nor your kids, by official "anti-white-racism". Thus Britain will become a new South Africa
They are amazing
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397253782127?_skw=Pyritized+Ammonite&itmmeta=01KKCDNDWPMB76MM60DNXS9HZ7&hash=item5c7e2baa6f:g:HPYAAeSw1dppE-wz&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xClzLm529HDUJuI2WgS/kxNY0VXe73Sj+2qQXiaUY72n/hxun+A+zhPZ95b11vaVwwqhXzLo010bAwjXPQBlrS0A5R4aC+ppjhg3b31Bvpw8L18Pp7af13MAVa/GTmADMecsO5Ec+Zo8sk+aHfFbzYVlY/kMbuarV4mo9ImWV/Px/KX4XwMviOGm3EkBi1o0KG9s8BqFDE1RlgDiqbkkb99ItWFT2MwYof8pDANlwz9IAGZBrY+UBE2Bwlym5iMhP2xxDMstOrzi8RR5Wcl0IR1gDPr5ttvQXIKuFslxex+mA==|tkp:Bk9SR7re1Y2bZw
It will be a case of managing how much it goes up by.
It will take a decade at least to recover from their blitzkreig on our defence capabilities.
Perhaps a combination of both
Oh sorry, is that not what you meant?
@NickCohen4
Watching the Labour front bench's attempt to restrict trial by jury makes me wonder whether Keir Starmer and David Lammy understand England at all. They are smashing up the fundamental freedoms of this country as if they were foreign invaders
https://x.com/NickCohen4/status/2031388439921258968
1. It will be very dramatic and newsworthy. Trump will remain the centre of attention.
2. Newsom looks the part.
3. He despises Vance and little Rubio and thinks they are nothing without him.
4. He might be able to do a deal with Newsom to protect himself and his family from litigation in return for his endorsement.
“We ask voting intention using two questions. First, we ask people how they would vote if a general election were held tomorrow. Then we ask people to think about their own constituency, the parties standing there, and ask how they would vote there. It is the answers to the second question that we use to drive our headline voting intention figure. We have found this approach is more effective at picking up tactical voting considerations and how people actually cast their vote on the day, in particular in seats where the Liberal Democrats are in contention.”
It’s a shame we only get to see the headline numbers and not the more general one . I would have thought though this type of polling incorporating more tactical voting would be better served closer to an election .
In 2025 there were 14 chief executives of FTSE 100 companies with ethnic minority backgrounds, the highest number on record, as well as eight chairs and nine chief finance officers.”
My favourite press release on this was from a few years ago that found that there were more Daves and Steves heading up UK FTSE companies than women or those from an ethnic minority.
If anything the linked article shows that there has been pretty good progress on the ethnic background of the boss classes. Just not so much on the female side (regardless of ethnic background).
Also I suspect if you looked into educational / parental background of the boss classes there will probably not be too much evidence of social mobility. So although the bosses and boards may look different and increasingly look different - I daresay, excluding those with an international background, most of them will have been through similar schools and what not.
[troops cheer!]
An update to a post from a few moments ago, US energy secretary Chris Wright has deleted a post on X which had said the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the strait of Hormuz “to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets”.
The above is from the Guardian.
"Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want."
A woman in Iran was literally beaten to death by the regime, for not wearing a hijab properly
"On 16 September 2022, 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini,[a] also known as Jina Amini,[b][1][2][3] died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police of Iran's government, had arrested Amini for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards. The Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that she had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed, and fell into a coma before being transferred to a hospital.[4][5] However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, reported that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality,[6][7][8] which was denied by the Iranian authorities.[9] The assertions of police brutality, in addition to leaked medical scans,[10] led some observers to believe Amini had a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries received after her arrest.[11]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Mahsa_Amini#:~:text=A series of protests and,hijab law—while visiting Tehran
Every time this subject comes up, you ridiculous, pathetic, tiny-brained fecal burp of a man, your trot out this low IQ story about some tampon ad you did in Beirut in 1977 and how everyone in the Middle East is therefore sexy and liberated and nice, as if this dismal cringefest of a micro-story proves anything other than your absolute confusion, and your intellectual effeminacy, and the entire reason your pitiful career never got beyond shooting stupid TV ads for tampons about 9000 years ago
This change means they don't get hit for poor performance...
The cynic in me says it is because it has been nationalised. And nationalising industry usually means the consumer loses out to the producer interests.
In short, don't buy 'day singles 'or 'day return' tickets before the actual day you want to use it. The Man in Seat 61 has been quite vocal about this.....
@atrupar
Witkoff: "In a year, if you had someone who didn't have the courage to do this action, you'd have 30 or 40 nuclear bombs. And what would the world look like there? So thank God we have a president and leadership at the helm that makes these courageous decisions."
https://x.com/atrupar/status/2031404161439326576
===
Where as now they'll be ready in six months.
It’s classed as Ruby Red seat but it’s very likely Shawn Harris the Dem will get to the run off as it’s unlikely one GOP candidate will get the necessary majority .
The real interest at this stage is seeing the combined Dem v GOP totals .
US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY IRAN IS STARTING TO PLACE MINES IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, A KEY SHIPPING PATH, ACCORDING TO CBS NEWS.
* 157 total
* 0 transiting
* 157 anchored
https://timescavengers.org/2026/03/09/pyrite-disease-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter/
Edit - I speak from bitter experience.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell says in new statement: "Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care."
Hmm. Maybe I should just accept it? All things must pass? Doesn't look like there is much you can do, except dip them in resin or spray them with lacquer but that would ruin the enticing glint
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi
Trump - 22nd June 2025 "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
I'm fine with a lower proportion moving to judges only but not as standard for the serious cases, so might be hopecasting here or whatever the cool kids call it.
The bottom line is that this Government hates the idea of any justice that is not completely under the control of the State and will do everything they can to restrict or end jury trials. Speeding up the process is both an excuse and very misleading.
I would say this is a shameful government, except that they seem to exhibit no shame. Nor indeed any normal human emotions at all, beyond the odd awkward cringe as they make yet another terrible error. But the embarrassment is brief, as they proceed to their next gigantic mistake
Who closed the Courts
Who reduced Prison spaces
Why is there a log jam
Which Tory Minister or Reform Minister if they have jumped ship would like to answer
Crisis of Tory making
Pragmatic solutions required
Jury trials are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement. Criminal trials without juries are a bad idea.
The Government need to pull their finger out and acquire empty public buildings across the country to make sure these can happen in a way that is safe.
The answer is David Lammy.
Are traders that thick to believe anything that spews out of Trump ?
See https://bsky.app/profile/lizziedearden.bsky.social/post/3mg32x5thxs2e for an story from last week.
"WATCH: Labour MP Charlotte Nichols reveals she was raped as an MP as she opposes the jury trial reforms
"I waited 1,088 days to go to court. We've been told [by the Government] that if we have concerns about this Bill, it's because we've not been raped""
https://bsky.app/profile/politicsuk.com/post/3mgpuu5yjm225
Withdraw the right to a jury trial from
1) Members of The House Of Commons
2) Any permanent official who had received and accepted an honour.
3) All Kings Council
All comments today from the same person
"I want to protect our armed forces I am the only person doing that"
"I want our Armed Forces to have boots on the ground, we must support the US and Israel in attacking Iran"
We must support Cyprus which is under attack"
"We are an embarrassment, we must act now"
A few questions from me
Surely our Armed Forces are safest in Barracks, in Port, on Air fields
Why do you want boots on the ground, are you seriously suggesting our Army should be the first of the Iranian expeditionary force
Can you clarify, when, how and how many Iranian attacks have affected Cyprus (aside from the ones our RAF and other NATO forces have intercepted
How many body bags will be required to be repatriated to meet your rank hypocricy political opportunitism, lack of compassion, understanding and clearly craven bloodlust
Jennifer Jacobs
@JenniferJJacobs
NEWS via
@CBSNews
: U.S. intelligence assets have begun to see indications Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Iran is using smaller crafts that can carry 2 to 3 mines each . While Iran’s mine stock isn’t publicly known, estimates over the years have ranged from roughly 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines of Iranian, Chinese and Russian-made variants,
@JimLaPorta
reports
But Labour are making things worse.
So much so you could forgive people for thinking they might need the Tories back to fix it.
But actually Trump has been publicly musing about supporting Rubio instead of Vance.
@SpencerHakimian
·
1h
So who just made $100 million dollars shorting oil for the 3 minutes that Chris Wright had that post up?
https://x.com/SpencerHakimian/status/2031426736533942470
QUINTANILLA: Do we think the Russians have shared intel about US military assets, and if so, why would we be giving waivers on oil sanctions?
WITKOFF: I can tell you that on the call with POTUS, the Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word.
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mgpqya2yux25
It seems in England there are issues with the defence having a say in whether there should be a jury or not and the right to a jury is at far too low a level. But hey, each system has its own features.
The government needs to do more to justify it beyond giving the impression it's just too difficult and expensive to maintain the old system. Which I think they have tried, but not well.
Witkoff is a Russian agent of influence.
He's stupid, but not that stupid.
Tories in utter denial to the extent of the shit show they left behind after 14 years of under investment
Refuse to back any measure to fix anything, because the Tory Leader has an issue with agreeing with anyone and has to argue about everything.