Albanese swerves on rationing but encourages a switch to public transport and conserving fuel use. Warns economic impact to last many months
So Starmer has called for rationing unilaterally. What a c***!
He hasnt called for rationing. Yet
@wooliedyed called it on here earlier. That is good enough for me. Rationing it is and as I can't vote Tory, Nigel gets my vote!
I didnt 'call it' at all. I saiid if the Aussie press rumours were right and Albanese went for it then its likely Starmers conference would be in the same vein. Albanese didnt, so there's no reason to think Starmer now will
On Today a government minister was asked by Webb if the public should be careful about energy usage - what with there being a war on and all. In answering he took great pains to say no, people should carry on as normal. I found this odd, since of course people should be careful, it's commonsense, and then it struck me the reason for it. They know any other answer translates immediately to "Starmer looks at rationing!" reporting in the usual places.
There will be a reduction in fuel usage as people restrict themselves because of the extra costs.
Its the imposition of restrictions by the government which would be resented as there would be too many people unfairly losing out while too many others were not affected.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
That 3% LibDem to Reform shift is interesting!
Tories on 20%+ will help in May. As will a 2% lead over Labour - Labour led them by 5% in 2022...
On those MiC numbers Tory vote is still down 9% on the 30% they got under Boris even in 2022 so plenty of Tory councillors will still be losing their seats to Reform and the LDs sadly. Even if Labour who were on 35% NEV in 2022 lose even more councillors to Reform and the Greens
The LibDems are only up 1% against the Tories on 2022.
Against Reform, it will depend on tactical voting.
The Tories main threat is Reform in May more than the LDs yes though a few seats in Hampshire and Sussex for example the Tories held against the LDs in 2021 may now fall.
Without anti Reform tactical voting Tory councillors face a massacre by Reform on the MiC numbers certainly, as do Labour councillors in Leave voting areas
Labour face a massacre in all areas, from Reform, from Greens, from Plaid and even from the Tories in any straight Labour-Tory fights.
The only places I could really see significant Tory gains from Labour are in West and North and Central London eg Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and Barnet ie areas Reform will be weak. Otherwise with Reform now leading UK polls straight Labour v Tory fights will be few and far between, mainly confined to posh urban areas which would not vote for Farage's party of oiks but where the LDs don't have much presence either and which are too economically wealthy and centre right to vote Green
There will be some gains though which shoukd ameliorate some of the carnage from Reform. Rural Bradford, Trafford, Kirkless etc for example all have areas where Con should be gaining direct from Labour. No majority council gains likely outside London of course
Even in those rural seats Reform will be strong contenders too
In some, yes. Not in all of them. They arent polling 40%, there will be areas they are not a factor
They don't need to, Reform lead all national polls polling around 25-30% and are likely to be contenders in most rural seats
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Surely more likely Green.
Mornin' everyone!
10mph speed limits ahoy?
One can dream.
In all seriousness, we really are in a bind here. At short notice very little fuel consumption can be reduced without significant damage to the economy. And a large proportion of that discretionary travel is incurred by those rich enough to absorb the cost - I won’t be cancelling my Easter weekend, and I won’t be doing 40 on the way up.
You can mock as much as you want but the government doesn’t have any other options but to suggest stuff like this. If only we’d made the transition to EVs more quickly.
Once again, I'm confused.
On the one hand, we seem to be, as usual, talking ourselves into a fuel panic and crisis.
From what I can see, we now get very little oil from the Gulf - most of ours comes from the US (I wonder if Trump knows how much leverage that gives him potentially), Norway and Libya according to Statista.
We are nowhere near as dependent on Gulf supplies as China and other countries.
So, while accepting we will pay more for our petrol and especially diesel in the coming weeks and months, is there really any threat of a shortage or are we going to panic ourselves into shortages?
As for the usual suspects calling for the temporary scrapping of fuel duty, I'd again mention the £25 billion the Government gets from said duty each year and set that against the debt interest payments we have to make following the insanity of previous administrations. I'm fine with a temporary relaxation but perhaps we should have a temporary rise in other taxes to offset - I suspect that won't be popular.
We should be permanently seeking to replace that £25 billion from general taxation.
As we transition away from fuel usage that tax is going to trend towards 0 anyway, so that is a black hole that needs addressing anyway. And it should be addressed from general taxes not drivers.
By not replacing fuel duty you are just kicking the can down the road. A slashing of fuel duty, funded by an increase in general taxation, would put our taxes on a more stable long term footing.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
It is an iron law of politics and of course Starmer would rightly tell Plaid to sod off and rip to pieces any independence referendum request if they had the audacity to send one given they would have zero mandate for one as it was not even in their manifesto.
Many Welsh Unionists who lent their vote to Plaid only to remove Labour would also go back to Labour if Plaid pushed independence, the only reason Plaid have a chance of winning most seats for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was founded 27 years ago is they have dumped pushing independence this Senedd election
You are wishcasting
It didn't happen in Scotland nor will it in Wales
And your final sentence is simply bunkum as has been commented on by other posters
It did, the UK government has refused to allow the Scottish government a second independence referendum for the last decade.
Even the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was only allowed as the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, not even needing the Greens
Albanese swerves on rationing but encourages a switch to public transport and conserving fuel use. Warns economic impact to last many months
So Starmer has called for rationing unilaterally. What a c***!
The situation for each country will be different.
Rationing is not an obviously stupid policy, given what has happened.
We don’t have the import “pipeline” data to tell when the constraints will hit us. But they will.
The biggest problem with announcing rationing is the panic buying that will hit. Needs coordination with the oil companies, the various retailers and the police (public order)
Among other things, expect the justice system to go to “riot mode” - charging offences to the maximum sustainable by the evidence.
The government uses / wastes too much fuel itself for rationing to be politically sustainable.
Using taxis to take SEND kids to school or asylum seekers to the doctors
Bollocks
1) that is a fart in a thunderstorm of national fuel usage. 2) many taxi drivers are now fully electric.
Every individual's fuel usage is a fart in the thunderstorm of national fuel usage.
And every person's fuel usage is somewhere between important and vital to themselves.
Restrict Peter's usage but not that of Paul and Peter is not going to be happy.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Surely more likely Green.
Mornin' everyone!
10mph speed limits ahoy?
One can dream.
In all seriousness, we really are in a bind here. At short notice very little fuel consumption can be reduced without significant damage to the economy. And a large proportion of that discretionary travel is incurred by those rich enough to absorb the cost - I won’t be cancelling my Easter weekend, and I won’t be doing 40 on the way up.
You can mock as much as you want but the government doesn’t have any other options but to suggest stuff like this. If only we’d made the transition to EVs more quickly.
Once again, I'm confused.
On the one hand, we seem to be, as usual, talking ourselves into a fuel panic and crisis.
From what I can see, we now get very little oil from the Gulf - most of ours comes from the US (I wonder if Trump knows how much leverage that gives him potentially), Norway and Libya according to Statista.
We are nowhere near as dependent on Gulf supplies as China and other countries.
So, while accepting we will pay more for our petrol and especially diesel in the coming weeks and months, is there really any threat of a shortage or are we going to panic ourselves into shortages?
As for the usual suspects calling for the temporary scrapping of fuel duty, I'd again mention the £25 billion the Government gets from said duty each year and set that against the debt interest payments we have to make following the insanity of previous administrations. I'm fine with a temporary relaxation but perhaps we should have a temporary rise in other taxes to offset - I suspect that won't be popular.
I heard that a lot of tankers heading to Europe from the US rerouted to head to Asia, because they were offered higher prices to do so.
I don't think we can assume that all of the 20% cut in supply is going to fall on countries that used to get their oil from the Gulf. Those countries will be looking to buy from the US now too.
Remember those stories about PPE shipments being seized on runways at the start of the pandemic? There's going to be all sorts of competition to secure oil supplies.
I know there's a practice whereby cargoes of oil are basically bought and sold in transit so the ship's destination could change en route from the Gulf.
The question then is how much of the oil originally destined for the UK is now heading for Asia and how much that will impact on our supplies.
I presume no one knows or isn't going to say if they do.
Oil prices down a little this morning - WTI still around $100. I presume this is because of the "comments" from the Iranian Presidency whose power is probably that of the last man standing (or cowering). As to whether said comments have any authority or credibility, I'm not convinced.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
That 3% LibDem to Reform shift is interesting!
Tories on 20%+ will help in May. As will a 2% lead over Labour - Labour led them by 5% in 2022...
On those MiC numbers Tory vote is still down 9% on the 30% they got under Boris even in 2022 so plenty of Tory councillors will still be losing their seats to Reform and the LDs sadly. Even if Labour who were on 35% NEV in 2022 lose even more councillors to Reform and the Greens
The LibDems are only up 1% against the Tories on 2022.
Against Reform, it will depend on tactical voting.
The Tories main threat is Reform in May more than the LDs yes though a few seats in Hampshire and Sussex for example the Tories held against the LDs in 2021 may now fall.
Without anti Reform tactical voting Tory councillors face a massacre by Reform on the MiC numbers certainly, as do Labour councillors in Leave voting areas
Labour face a massacre in all areas, from Reform, from Greens, from Plaid and even from the Tories in any straight Labour-Tory fights.
The only places I could really see significant Tory gains from Labour are in West and North and Central London eg Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and Barnet ie areas Reform will be weak. Otherwise with Reform now leading UK polls straight Labour v Tory fights will be few and far between, mainly confined to posh urban areas which would not vote for Farage's party of oiks but where the LDs don't have much presence either and which are too economically wealthy and centre right to vote Green
There will be some gains though which shoukd ameliorate some of the carnage from Reform. Rural Bradford, Trafford, Kirkless etc for example all have areas where Con should be gaining direct from Labour. No majority council gains likely outside London of course
Is it the wards elected in 2022 that are up? I've just had a look at Trafford: I can see Tories picking up Ashton on Mersey and Brooklands, simply through antipathy to Labour, and perhaps Davyhulmes East and West - though the Tories have seriously waned in Greater Manchester: the unfashionability of voting Tory even in quite affluent areas which was already firmly entrenched within the M60 appears to have spread outwards over the past fifteen years. More interesting to me are Altrincham ward and Hale Central ward - these are amongst the most affluent wards in Trafford, but were won easily by the Greens last time round largely on a NIMBY issue. I wonder whether momentum here will be maintained? This is very much not natural territory for the far left.
Yeah its the 2022 Third up this time
Thanks. Further observation: I'd expect Ref to be competitive in Bucklow St. Martin's, but nowhere else to me looks instinctively favourable for them.
Tories should also take Broadheath. And of course won Hale in a by last year
At the risk of looking a things at the absurdly-micro level: funny ward, Broadheath. NW Altrincham is the least nice sector of a nice town (this is where John Squire of the Stone Roses grew up) - I always felt the Tories won just by rejection of everyone else when they did win. A mix of ex-council and a lot of (very tiny) new build. It's not clear to me it's natural territory for anyone. Too unfashionable for Green and Lib Dem, not affluent enough for Tory, not state-dependent enough for Labour, not angry or old enough for Reform.
There is a large retail park where I sometimes buy cat litter, but I don't expect that to be a factor.
Iran has pretty much no air defences left, with the Warthogs (A10s) and Apaches (helicopter gunships) having being in the air over Iran and the Straight for a couple of weeks now.
What they do still have is attack drones (Shaheds) and a few missiles left. They were throwing cruise missiles at the UAE yesterday, which were all shot down, but it’s indicative of low supplies of the ballistics. Almost every known defence industry factory and fixed launch site in Iran has been bombed, so it’s now a case of whatever they have stored and mobile or hidden launch facilities, plus whatever Russia and China can sneak in.
There’s probably a good chance the Americans can keep the Strait of Hormuz open tomorrow, but they don’t want to do it on their own.
The Houthis proved that it's dangerously easy to keep a shipping lane closed with a bunch of drones, and the US found that you couldn't stop drones being launched with air power alone.
And there were European warships involved trying to protect shipping then, and it still couldn't be done, and a deal had to be done with the Houthis instead.
If the US could reopen the Strait of Hormuz then they would do it. It would leave Iran defeated and impotent. They haven't because they can't.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
You claimed “they could not push” for a referendum because they “would have no mandate”.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
That 3% LibDem to Reform shift is interesting!
Tories on 20%+ will help in May. As will a 2% lead over Labour - Labour led them by 5% in 2022...
On those MiC numbers Tory vote is still down 9% on the 30% they got under Boris even in 2022 so plenty of Tory councillors will still be losing their seats to Reform and the LDs sadly. Even if Labour who were on 35% NEV in 2022 lose even more councillors to Reform and the Greens
The LibDems are only up 1% against the Tories on 2022.
Against Reform, it will depend on tactical voting.
The Tories main threat is Reform in May more than the LDs yes though a few seats in Hampshire and Sussex for example the Tories held against the LDs in 2021 may now fall.
Without anti Reform tactical voting Tory councillors face a massacre by Reform on the MiC numbers certainly, as do Labour councillors in Leave voting areas
Labour face a massacre in all areas, from Reform, from Greens, from Plaid and even from the Tories in any straight Labour-Tory fights.
The only places I could really see significant Tory gains from Labour are in West and North and Central London eg Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and Barnet ie areas Reform will be weak. Otherwise with Reform now leading UK polls straight Labour v Tory fights will be few and far between, mainly confined to posh urban areas which would not vote for Farage's party of oiks but where the LDs don't have much presence either and which are too economically wealthy and centre right to vote Green
There will be some gains though which shoukd ameliorate some of the carnage from Reform. Rural Bradford, Trafford, Kirkless etc for example all have areas where Con should be gaining direct from Labour. No majority council gains likely outside London of course
Is it the wards elected in 2022 that are up? I've just had a look at Trafford: I can see Tories picking up Ashton on Mersey and Brooklands, simply through antipathy to Labour, and perhaps Davyhulmes East and West - though the Tories have seriously waned in Greater Manchester: the unfashionability of voting Tory even in quite affluent areas which was already firmly entrenched within the M60 appears to have spread outwards over the past fifteen years. More interesting to me are Altrincham ward and Hale Central ward - these are amongst the most affluent wards in Trafford, but were won easily by the Greens last time round largely on a NIMBY issue. I wonder whether momentum here will be maintained? This is very much not natural territory for the far left.
Yeah its the 2022 Third up this time
Thanks. Further observation: I'd expect Ref to be competitive in Bucklow St. Martin's, but nowhere else to me looks instinctively favourable for them.
Tories should also take Broadheath. And of course won Hale in a by last year
At the risk of looking a things at the absurdly-micro level: funny ward, Broadheath. NW Altrincham is the least nice sector of a nice town (this is where John Squire of the Stone Roses grew up) - I always felt the Tories won just by rejection of everyone else when they did win. A mix of ex-council and a lot of (very tiny) new build. It's not clear to me it's natural territory for anyone. Too unfashionable for Green and Lib Dem, not affluent enough for Tory, not state-dependent enough for Labour, not angry or old enough for Reform.
There is a large retail park where I sometimes buy cat litter, but I don't expect that to be a factor.
The Tories took it in the by in October fairly handily. Should be able to maintain that i think. Hale a little more ??
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
You claimed “they could not push” for a referendum because they “would have no mandate”.
The former doesn’t follow from the latter
It’s a pity the EU didn’t use HYUFD rules and refuse to let the UK brexit.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
Have we heard from Tridentsubcommander recently ?
Who went down on whom?
That's sub judice ?
Very good. Any time I try dent your composure I fail.
President Donald Trump to attend Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court. https://x.com/AP/status/2039165239506206976
What does he have to say to the supply issue? Just banging on about workers rights and cutting fuel bills.
Not one attempt to reassure on supply.
I can actually understand that. If he says he's trying to secure supply, panic buying immediately follows.
Isn’t the correct response to tell people to go about business as usual though?
I just think it’s a huge elephant in the room and rumours start to spread in a vacuum.
No. The correct response is not to mention it as otherwise people assume there must be a reason for mentioning it. And will start panic buying.
It's like the 'MP denies beating wife' headline that means everyone assumes the MP is a wife beater.
Supermarkets seem to be running out fairly frequently. I'd guess that the average car tank is more full than it normally is right now - also people will want to be topped up before easter. I'd say it's a fairly orderly panic right now personally.
President Donald Trump to attend Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court. https://x.com/AP/status/2039165239506206976
President Donald Trump to attend Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court. https://x.com/AP/status/2039165239506206976
He always did like some oral. It gratifies his tiny penis and makes him feel important.
Things like this always intrigue me. The Greens hope to go into coalition in Suffolk. With whom? Labour and the LDs have currently 11 between them and are unlikely to increase that combined figure by more than one or two (LDs may gain a couple but Lab are going nowhere) the4e are a handful of indies. The entire non Tory/Reform bloc need 13 gains to hold a majority. Greens might gain a few but not that many and any remaining Tories plus the Reform lot wont touch them with yours
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
I haven't been following this story, but is that the case that she is an alleged Chinese spy, and now she's been doing honey-trap stuff with a Trident submariner?
And the Government thinks this country is our ally and we need to be 'working in close consultation' with them.
Tbf (and I am not a fan of Ms Reid) she appears to have got pished and then touchy freely with one submariner and done a bit of sexting with another. She’s a very silly person but not I think John Profumo or Mata McHari. I don’t foresee her being shot or doing charitable good works in any subsequent career, if she has one.
Have we heard from Tridentsubcommander recently ?
Who went down on whom?
That's sub judice ?
Very good. Any time I try dent your composure I fail.
I'm ever Vigilant for such efforts, and I dread nought.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
Lol, I suspect the date of this report may be significant.
What does he have to say to the supply issue? Just banging on about workers rights and cutting fuel bills.
Not one attempt to reassure on supply.
I can actually understand that. If he says he's trying to secure supply, panic buying immediately follows.
Isn’t the correct response to tell people to go about business as usual though?
I just think it’s a huge elephant in the room and rumours start to spread in a vacuum.
No. The correct response is not to mention it as otherwise people assume there must be a reason for mentioning it. And will start panic buying.
It's like the 'MP denies beating wife' headline that means everyone assumes the MP is a wife beater.
Supermarkets seem to be running out fairly frequently. I'd guess that the average car tank is more full than it normally is right now - also people will want to be topped up before easter. I'd say it's a fairly orderly panic right now personally.
We only have the petrol Mini as a 2nd car (primarily for the boy), but have refuelled more frequently than normal. Not because of fear of shortages, a rational consideration of the price going up...
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Bored teenagers + social media = trouble. Clapham is a shithole anyway.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
It is an iron law of politics and of course Starmer would rightly tell Plaid to sod off and rip to pieces any independence referendum request if they had the audacity to send one given they would have zero mandate for one as it was not even in their manifesto.
Many Welsh Unionists who lent their vote to Plaid only to remove Labour would also go back to Labour if Plaid pushed independence, the only reason Plaid have a chance of winning most seats for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was founded 27 years ago is they have dumped pushing independence this Senedd election
You are wishcasting
It didn't happen in Scotland nor will it in Wales
And your final sentence is simply bunkum as has been commented on by other posters
It did, the UK government has refused to allow the Scottish government a second independence referendum for the last decade.
Even the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was only allowed as the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, not even needing the Greens
Bear in mind that the postulated SNP or SNP/Green pro-Indy majority will likely be based on an actual vote in which a minority support pro-Indy parties, with the majority split among pro-union parties. So, not that difficult for Starmer to refuse.
Swinney is going through the motions, and nothing much will change at Holyrood, apart from voter dissatisfaction ramping up even more as they fail to see any return for their taxes going up.
FWIW, I'm firmly of the belief that for another IndyRef, the SNP would have to go into opposition first, and then storm back into power with a refreshed mandate, and without a lousy record in govt to defend, as they did under Salmond in 2011. So we are, at the very least, 10 years from that - almost certainly more, if ever.
Spy suspect’s MP wife ‘had relationship with submarine captain’ ... An MP whose husband is suspected of spying for China allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a Royal Navy submarine captain.
Oh good! overnight Saturday Sunday we have Storm Bastard coming in, with 68mph gusts forecast. Which my weather app tells me is Force 11 "violent storm"
Easter Day morning. He is risen! Carried away by the wind!
Re Clapham. What the hell is this "Easter holiday" lark? No wonder the country is in a state with effete Londoners clocking off. We don't break up till tomorrow.
Oh good! overnight Saturday Sunday we have Storm Bastard coming in, with 68mph gusts forecast. Which my weather app tells me is Force 11 "violent storm"
Easter Day morning. He is risen! Carried away by the wind!
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Bored teenagers + social media = trouble. Clapham is a shithole anyway.
Like the recent Red/Blue School Wars thing, which I think was traced back to a bored windup merchant on TikTok.
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
The earth moved for me today in Tokyo... quite disconcerting, although as this is the second one I've experienced in three visits to the country I suspect it's quite an everyday thing here.
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
Spy suspect’s MP wife ‘had relationship with submarine captain’ ... An MP whose husband is suspected of spying for China allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a Royal Navy submarine captain.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
It is an iron law of politics and of course Starmer would rightly tell Plaid to sod off and rip to pieces any independence referendum request if they had the audacity to send one given they would have zero mandate for one as it was not even in their manifesto.
Many Welsh Unionists who lent their vote to Plaid only to remove Labour would also go back to Labour if Plaid pushed independence, the only reason Plaid have a chance of winning most seats for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was founded 27 years ago is they have dumped pushing independence this Senedd election
You are wishcasting
It didn't happen in Scotland nor will it in Wales
And your final sentence is simply bunkum as has been commented on by other posters
It did, the UK government has refused to allow the Scottish government a second independence referendum for the last decade.
Even the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was only allowed as the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, not even needing the Greens
Bear in mind that the postulated SNP or SNP/Green pro-Indy majority will likely be based on an actual vote in which a minority support pro-Indy parties, with the majority split among pro-union parties. So, not that difficult for Starmer to refuse.
Swinney is going through the motions, and nothing much will change at Holyrood, apart from voter dissatisfaction ramping up even more as they fail to see any return for their taxes going up.
FWIW, I'm firmly of the belief that for another IndyRef, the SNP would have to go into opposition first, and then storm back into power with a refreshed mandate, and without a lousy record in govt to defend, as they did under Salmond in 2011. So we are, at the very least, 10 years from that - almost certainly more, if ever.
So vote SNP to stay in the Union? Might even work better than vote No to stay in the EU.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Bored teenagers + social media = trouble. Clapham is a shithole anyway.
Like the recent Red/Blue School Wars thing, which I think was traced back to a bored windup merchant on TikTok.
Yeah, we got some comms from the school warning us about that... so much BS they have to deal with. I hate social media, it is the absolute worst and seems to have facilitated every kind of mindless idiocy that exists in human nature. (PB is not social media, that's my line and I'm sticking to it).
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Bored teenagers + social media = trouble. Clapham is a shithole anyway.
Like the recent Red/Blue School Wars thing, which I think was traced back to a bored windup merchant on TikTok.
Yeah, we got some comms from the school warning us about that... so much BS they have to deal with. I hate social media, it is the absolute worst and seems to have facilitated every kind of mindless idiocy that exists in human nature. (PB is not social media, that's my line and I'm sticking to it).
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
Possibly because they are -in fact- fictitious?
How much do you want to bet, that within 12 months, this case will be cited in a brief for a lawsuit?
The relatively new Belgian prime minister has apparently cited Theodore Dalryple as an important influence. Interesting because I'm often going on about how he, Dalyrmple, is my favourite essayist.
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
But - credit where it’s due. The European summit is a good move. And the government should be bold on this.
Given Trump’s latest diatribe, we need to build Fortress Europe as soon as possible.
A great speech in one regard.
A clear long term aim of closer European integration on defence. Long overdue. Long constricted by NATO membership with US meddling.
An EU defence organisation fit for purpose pooling many different skills, air, naval, drone, Eastern flank, Southern flank, balkan flank, Scandinavian flank
I like it.
Then closer links with EU without full binding membership.
Treat America as America, no different to Canada, Australia etc
That dynamic could be a massive vote winner.
Closer EU links too refuting Brexit... 60% in favour, sideline Reform and Tories, make it an integration issue... Alliances in favour, tactical voting to beat Reform and Tories who gouge and gorge each other, one of them to extinction.
Make Trump and his ass hole and those licking his ass hole an issue.
Perhaps too the European Army takes on European Border Force Role.... The issue for UK that largely Did NOT happen before Brexit illegal migration solved on a continent wide basis.
The comments about heating and lower costs now and until July on cost cap and lower heating anyway makes sense to logical minds, the shrill right wing media and intellectual challenged like Farage and Badenoch who want to act like farts in a colander can make I'll judged un funded knee jerk comments, let the Adults oversee the situation.
The pressing issues, which Labour need to deal with and act on with intent and intensity are petrol diesel oil supply and food supply chain.
The fact roundtable meetings already happening and planned with specific sectors is reassuring.
The message is
FU Donald We will work with Europe and the rest of the world We will combine our military strengths to cover weakness We do retain the right to negotiate with Europe for Europe
We are British We are Europeans Now feck off.
In the tent or out of the tent
We know Farage will lick American ass
Massive massive dilemma for Tories
Their biggest single nightmare back in focus
Europe Europe Europe
Who said Starmer didn't do politics
He's just bowled a 99mph yorker right at Kemis middle stump
For those advocating fuel rationing can you explain how it would work ?
It is not the same as rationing for food where everyone needs approximately the same amount per person and per week.
With fuel some people might need 20L per month while others need 100L per week.
Then there is the issue of those who use fuel for work purposes as well as for personal use.
Back in 2000, it was done with things like a £20 limit and attended service, with long queues to get in. I was a 1,000 miles/week IT support guy at the time and spent hours in queues.
In 1973 my dad was sent tokens from the Ministry of Transport with his car registration number on them. Once you had used your token for the week that was it. Fortunately Ted was a political god, so they were never used.
I saved my fuel tokens. I have a full book of them. I wonder if they are still valid.
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
Re Clapham. What the hell is this "Easter holiday" lark? No wonder the country is in a state with effete Londoners clocking off. We don't break up till tomorrow.
Its probably just that they were getting into character to play Barabas in the Passion Play.
Its not like the good old days when Mods and Rockers would peacefully assemble on Bank Holidays.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
The simple fact the UK government would refuse both and given Wales voted Leave more than the UK voted Leave percentage wise if Wales was really pushing rejoin we would likely be heading back in as one UK anyway
The earth moved for me today in Tokyo... quite disconcerting, although as this is the second one I've experienced in three visits to the country I suspect it's quite an everyday thing here.
And Greece. It's odd the first time round, sounding like a large (ghost) lorry going past.
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
The Old Guard of the Democratic Party is still thinking in terms of their internal politics for who gets the nomination.
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
Harris led the Democrats to their worst electoral college defeat since Dukakis, the fact she did slightly better than a dementia ridden Biden might have done does not alter that
Trump will say he's thinking of taking US out of NATO but the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 prohibits a President from widrawing from a treaty alliance without the consent of Congress - and he doesnt have the votes - not that that will stop him from saying it
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
You claimed “they could not push” for a referendum because they “would have no mandate”.
The former doesn’t follow from the latter
Yes it does, if you don't include something in your manifesto you have no mandate for it
Trump will say he's thinking of taking US out of NATO but the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 prohibits a President from widrawing from a treaty alliance without the consent of Congress - and he doesnt have the votes - not that that will stop him from saying it
If he says they are out of NATO that de facto makes them out of NATO (at least for the duration of his term) regardless of Congress. The whole point of NATO is confidence that countries support each other if attacked, and it is the President who makes that call.
Some would say they are effectively already checked out of NATO and have been for some time.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
You claimed “they could not push” for a referendum because they “would have no mandate”.
The former doesn’t follow from the latter
It’s a pity the EU didn’t use HYUFD rules and refuse to let the UK brexit.
Well the EU didn't need to include Article 50 on the TEU on the terms they did
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
Yes absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t mean Reform is the answer to the UKs problems .
I didn’t say it was. However you can understand why such scenes will push a few voters towards Reform
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Before it dangerously spreads to Camden, you mean.
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
If her and Newsom both run they would be fishing in similar waters and open up the field for alternatives, especially on the left.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
It is an iron law of politics and of course Starmer would rightly tell Plaid to sod off and rip to pieces any independence referendum request if they had the audacity to send one given they would have zero mandate for one as it was not even in their manifesto.
Many Welsh Unionists who lent their vote to Plaid only to remove Labour would also go back to Labour if Plaid pushed independence, the only reason Plaid have a chance of winning most seats for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was founded 27 years ago is they have dumped pushing independence this Senedd election
You are wishcasting
It didn't happen in Scotland nor will it in Wales
And your final sentence is simply bunkum as has been commented on by other posters
It did, the UK government has refused to allow the Scottish government a second independence referendum for the last decade.
Even the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was only allowed as the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, not even needing the Greens
Bear in mind that the postulated SNP or SNP/Green pro-Indy majority will likely be based on an actual vote in which a minority support pro-Indy parties, with the majority split among pro-union parties. So, not that difficult for Starmer to refuse.
Swinney is going through the motions, and nothing much will change at Holyrood, apart from voter dissatisfaction ramping up even more as they fail to see any return for their taxes going up.
FWIW, I'm firmly of the belief that for another IndyRef, the SNP would have to go into opposition first, and then storm back into power with a refreshed mandate, and without a lousy record in govt to defend, as they did under Salmond in 2011. So we are, at the very least, 10 years from that - almost certainly more, if ever.
Alternatively, they could start governing for the whole of Scotland, not just the urban central belt.
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
The simple fact the UK government would refuse both and given Wales voted Leave more than the UK voted Leave percentage wise if Wales was really pushing rejoin we would likely be heading back in as one UK anyway
Does your keyboard have commas? Your post reminds me of when our daughter’s class were told to express themselves and not worry about punctuation and grammar. She still can’t spell!
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
The simple fact the UK government would refuse both and given Wales voted Leave more than the UK voted Leave percentage wise if Wales was really pushing rejoin we would likely be heading back in as one UK anyway
A Green government might give both Scotland and Wales an Independence Referendum.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
This country is losing its mind !
Have you seen what’s happening in Clapham?
No.
What now?
Law and order has been restored: two girls were arrested.
Surely not:
I never thought it would happen With me and a girl from Clapham Out on the windy common That night I ain't forgotten When she dealt out the rations With some or other passions I said: "You are a lady" "Perhaps" she said: "I may be"
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
The simple fact the UK government would refuse both and given Wales voted Leave more than the UK voted Leave percentage wise if Wales was really pushing rejoin we would likely be heading back in as one UK anyway
A Green government might give both Scotland and Wales an Independence Referendum.
LOL
I fear for @HYUFD well being in that scenario !!!!!!!!!
Restore will be running just ten candidates on May 7th - the 9 Gt Yarmouth Norfolk County Council seats and theres a Gt Yarmouth BC by election same day they are running in. His sole achievement might be scuppering Reform gaining Norfolk CC
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
You do have to make the extrapolation that Labour's further decline is Starmer having an absolutely shocking war. Trump pretty much declaring war on Starmer is a bad look for Labour.
Plaid would still likely need Labour support to form a government in Wales though on the Beaufort poll
Plaid Green government and SNP Green in Scotland
Your worse nightmare is just a few week away
Nope, as I pointed out to you last night the SNP are forecast their worst result since 2007 on the new Holyrood Survation with the SNP projected to lose 8 MSPs.
In Wales as I also pointed out earlier the new Beaufort poll has Plaid and the Greens combined well short of a Senedd majority, only with Labour support could Plaid form a government in Wales.
You just cannot accept the idea independence majority goverments are a very real possibility in Scotland and Wales
They are not. SNP and the Greens combined are forecast to be down on 2021 on the new Survation poll and so Starmer will easily refuse indyref2 even if Swinney requests it.
In the Senedd Plaid are likely to need Labour to govern and Labour would block independence referendum talk in Wales but in any case Plaid unlike the SNP have not even included pushing for independence in their manifesto, at least not for a first time Plaid government
You constantly quote polls so read the one I posted that debunks your claim about Wales
As I said and you ignored, Plaid have NOT included independence in their manifesto, so even if Plaid won 100% of Senedd seats, which they won't, they could not push for a Welsh independence referendum as they would have no mandate for one
You are so naive
No you are the naive one, if you do not have a manifesto pledge for something you have no mandate for it, even if you win the election
And you believe that
I doubt Independence would win in Wales but if Plaid Green do win a majority it will not go away because you want it to
I don't see that leading for a campaign for independence in the short term, not least because there are divisions within Plaid on the subject. Rather I suspect the Salmond approach would be taken of trying to differentiate Wales from England and sabotage relations with Westminster at every term so it becomes a viable option in the longer term (indeed, I think the referendum happened somewhat before Salmond wanted it - I suspect his goal was for around 2020-25).
The snag is, Wales needs a hell of a lot more work than Scotland to be even considering independence as an option. And I see nothing from any party that they're ready to do that.
Wales also voted for Brexit like England so rejoining the EU would not be an option for them either
Plaid Green it is
Given Welsh independence cannot happen without Westminster consent and given Westminster is more likely to support the UK rejoining the EU than allow Welsh independence it is all hypothetical anyway
While latest Beaufort poll indicates that a Plaid government would need Labour support, the previous poll (with 4 times as many polled) indicates that they would not. I suggest that it is 50:50 at the moment.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
The simple fact the UK government would refuse both and given Wales voted Leave more than the UK voted Leave percentage wise if Wales was really pushing rejoin we would likely be heading back in as one UK anyway
Does your keyboard have commas? Your post reminds me of when our daughter’s class were told to express themselves and not worry about punctuation and grammar. She still can’t spell!
You mean that they don't even know when to use "was" and "were"? Shocking.
I see that Trump's threats to leave NATO have this morning been escalated to the "seriously considering" leaving stage.
He doesn't seem to realise that that ship has long sailed. Paper membership of NATO means diddly squat if a former ally can't be relied upon to honour their commitments. The perils of relying for security on paper agreements with unreliable signatories are crystal clear, as became apparent to the Czechs in 1938 and to Neville Chamberlain in March 1939. In terms of security, no NATO country in their right minds is any longer relying on Trump for anything, so his comments change nothing.
As my late father used to say, on the back of the experience of WW1 and WW2 "the Americans are always unreliable and always late". That may have been more questionable in the Cold War period, but it's the case again now.
Restore will be running just ten candidates on May 7th - the 9 Gt Yarmouth Norfolk County Council seats and theres a Gt Yarmouth BC by election same day they are running in. His sole achievement might be scuppering Reform gaining Norfolk CC
Restore will be running just ten candidates on May 7th - the 9 Gt Yarmouth Norfolk County Council seats and theres a Gt Yarmouth BC by election same day they are running in. His sole achievement might be scuppering Reform gaining Norfolk CC
What a shower! This from the party which is no longer than 12/1 to win most seats across the UK at the next GE. There seems to be some serious manipulation of betting markets going on.
Restore will be running just ten candidates on May 7th - the 9 Gt Yarmouth Norfolk County Council seats and theres a Gt Yarmouth BC by election same day they are running in. His sole achievement might be scuppering Reform gaining Norfolk CC
What a shower! This from the party which is no longer than 12/1 to win most seats across the UK at the next GE. There seems to be some serious manipulation of betting markets going on.
123,500 members you know. Lol. Running fewer candidates than Residents for Uttlesford will next year Ill wager SDP, Liberal, Advance Uk, WPB, UKIP will all run more than this
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
How has that judge missed a career as a planning officer?
I see that Trump's threats to leave NATO have this morning been escalated to the "seriously considering" leaving stage.
He doesn't seem to realise that that ship has long sailed. Paper membership of NATO means diddly squat if a former ally can't be relied upon to honour their commitments. The perils of relying for security on paper agreements with unreliable signatories are crystal clear, as became apparent to the Czechs in 1938 and to Neville Chamberlain in March 1939. In terms of security, no NATO country in their right minds is any longer relying on Trump for anything, so his comments change nothing.
As my late father used to say, on the back of the experience of WW1 and WW2 "the Americans are always unreliable and always late". That may have been more questionable in the Cold War period, but it's the case again now.
PS. It's pretty apt now that the opponents in NATO exercises use the colour Orange.
Comments
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-public-library-english-book-club-law-14-1.7443547
"Montreal public library says it can't host English book club, citing Quebec's new language law"
Its the imposition of restrictions by the government which would be resented as there would be too many people unfairly losing out while too many others were not affected.
As we transition away from fuel usage that tax is going to trend towards 0 anyway, so that is a black hole that needs addressing anyway. And it should be addressed from general taxes not drivers.
By not replacing fuel duty you are just kicking the can down the road. A slashing of fuel duty, funded by an increase in general taxation, would put our taxes on a more stable long term footing.
Even the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 was only allowed as the SNP won an outright majority in 2011, not even needing the Greens
What now?
The question then is how much of the oil originally destined for the UK is now heading for Asia and how much that will impact on our supplies.
I presume no one knows or isn't going to say if they do.
Oil prices down a little this morning - WTI still around $100. I presume this is because of the "comments" from the Iranian Presidency whose power is probably that of the last man standing (or cowering). As to whether said comments have any authority or credibility, I'm not convinced.
There is a large retail park where I sometimes buy cat litter, but I don't expect that to be a factor.
The former doesn’t follow from the latter
Keir Starmer - you are PM and that role demands leadership, not delegation and 'it never crossed my desk' !!!!!!
We know where this will go -- the targeting of Democrats for mass disenfranchisement.
We will sue and we will win.
https://x.com/marceelias/status/2039095743512773031
I just think it’s a huge elephant in the room and rumours start to spread in a vacuum.
Given Trump’s latest diatribe, we need to build Fortress Europe as soon as possible.
It's like the 'MP denies beating wife' headline that means everyone assumes the MP is a wife beater.
Ref 283
LD 84
Lab 74
Grn 64
Con 63
SNP 46
PC 11
https://electionmaps.uk/nowcast
President Donald Trump to attend Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court.
https://x.com/AP/status/2039165239506206976
Things like this always intrigue me. The Greens hope to go into coalition in Suffolk. With whom? Labour and the LDs have currently 11 between them and are unlikely to increase that combined figure by more than one or two (LDs may gain a couple but Lab are going nowhere) the4e are a handful of indies. The entire non Tory/Reform bloc need 13 gains to hold a majority. Greens might gain a few but not that many and any remaining Tories plus the Reform lot wont touch them with yours
I cannot see Leicester West going Green, or East staying Conservative.
In any case Plaid have clearly stated that Indy is not on the agenda in this Senedd. Maybe next time.
Previous vote on Brexit is irrelevant - but what is to stop a future Welsh Government calling for a two stage referendum - firstly a preliminary 'advisory' referendum on a future independent Wales rejoining the EU, with multiple options including joining the Euro, Schengen etc. Then once direction is established calling for an independence referendum.
Tribunal Awards £45,000 to Employee Forced to Wear Lanyard
An employment tribunal in Leeds has ruled in Fontaine v Helvetica Solutions that a compulsory workplace lanyard policy amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010 after a claimant demonstrated that the lanyard in question - a polyester-blend design in corporate teal - clashed so severely with her complexion and personal aesthetic as to constitute a daily indignity of sufficient gravity to satisfy the detriment threshold.
The tribunal accepted expert evidence from a workplace wellbeing consultant, a colour psychologist and a personal stylist who gave evidence by video link from Milan. The employer’s defence - that the lanyard was required for building security and that “everyone has to wear one” - was rejected on the basis that “everyone suffering equally does not negate individual suffering.”
The tribunal awarded £45,000 for injury to feelings, describing the teal as “aggressive”. The judge added that the lanyard’s font - Helvetica Neue in 8 point - was “an aggravating feature”.
The employer has appealed.
Incidentally there are rumours this mass looting stuff nearly spread to north london last night. The Met and Khan need to get it squashed NOW before it dangerously spreads
Swinney is going through the motions, and nothing much will change at Holyrood, apart from voter dissatisfaction ramping up even more as they fail to see any return for their taxes going up.
FWIW, I'm firmly of the belief that for another IndyRef, the SNP would have to go into opposition first, and then storm back into power with a refreshed mandate, and without a lousy record in govt to defend, as they did under Salmond in 2011. So we are, at the very least, 10 years from that - almost certainly more, if ever.
...
An MP whose husband is suspected of spying for China allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a Royal Navy submarine captain.
The Royal Navy opened an investigation into allegations that Joani Reid had an inappropriate relationship with a nuclear-armed submarine captain, who is also married, last year.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/01/spy-suspect-mp-wife-had-relationship-with-submarine-captain/ (£££)
And so history repeats itself.
Easter Day morning. He is risen! Carried away by the wind!
What the hell is this "Easter holiday" lark?
No wonder the country is in a state with effete Londoners clocking off.
We don't break up till tomorrow.
The earth moved for me today in Tokyo... quite disconcerting, although as this is the second one I've experienced in three visits to the country I suspect it's quite an everyday thing here.
(I guess both, arguably, when on duty)
Either way, may have threatened their nuclear families.
Might even work better than vote No to stay in the EU.
(PB is not social media, that's my line and I'm sticking to it).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_De_Wever#Ideology_and_views
A clear long term aim of closer European integration on defence. Long overdue. Long constricted by NATO membership with US meddling.
An EU defence organisation fit for purpose pooling many different skills, air, naval, drone, Eastern flank, Southern flank, balkan flank, Scandinavian flank
I like it.
Then closer links with EU without full binding membership.
Treat America as America, no different to Canada, Australia etc
That dynamic could be a massive vote winner.
Closer EU links too refuting Brexit... 60% in favour, sideline Reform and Tories, make it an integration issue... Alliances in favour, tactical voting to beat Reform and Tories who gouge and gorge each other, one of them to extinction.
Make Trump and his ass hole and those licking his ass hole an issue.
Perhaps too the European Army takes on European Border Force Role.... The issue for UK that largely Did NOT happen before Brexit illegal migration solved on a continent wide basis.
The comments about heating and lower costs now and until July on cost cap and lower heating anyway makes sense to logical minds, the shrill right wing media and intellectual challenged like Farage and Badenoch who want to act like farts in a colander can make I'll judged un funded knee jerk comments, let the Adults oversee the situation.
The pressing issues, which Labour need to deal with and act on with intent and intensity are petrol diesel oil supply and food supply chain.
The fact roundtable meetings already happening and planned with specific sectors is reassuring.
The message is
FU Donald
We will work with Europe and the rest of the world
We will combine our military strengths to cover weakness
We do retain the right to negotiate with Europe for Europe
We are British
We are Europeans
Now feck off.
In the tent or out of the tent
We know Farage will lick American ass
Massive massive dilemma for Tories
Their biggest single nightmare back in focus
Europe
Europe
Europe
Who said Starmer didn't do politics
He's just bowled a 99mph yorker right at Kemis middle stump
I wonder if they are still valid.
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.”
https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
Its not like the good old days when Mods and Rockers would peacefully assemble on Bank Holidays.
Simon Schama
@simon_schama
Trump will say he's thinking of taking US out of NATO but the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 prohibits a President from widrawing from a treaty alliance without the consent of Congress - and he doesnt have the votes - not that that will stop him from saying it
https://x.com/simon_schama/status/2039275774025384167
Some would say they are effectively already checked out of NATO and have been for some time.
I never thought it would happen
With me and a girl from Clapham
Out on the windy common
That night I ain't forgotten
When she dealt out the rations
With some or other passions
I said: "You are a lady"
"Perhaps" she said: "I may be"
Arrested? Seems harsh.
I fear for @HYUFD well being in that scenario !!!!!!!!!
Restore will be running just ten candidates on May 7th - the 9 Gt Yarmouth Norfolk County Council seats and theres a Gt Yarmouth BC by election same day they are running in.
His sole achievement might be scuppering Reform gaining Norfolk CC
https://x.com/i/status/2039266138484269169
He doesn't seem to realise that that ship has long sailed. Paper membership of NATO means diddly squat if a former ally can't be relied upon to honour their commitments. The perils of relying for security on paper agreements with unreliable signatories are crystal clear, as became apparent to the Czechs in 1938 and to Neville Chamberlain in March 1939. In terms of security, no NATO country in their right minds is any longer relying on Trump for anything, so his comments change nothing.
As my late father used to say, on the back of the experience of WW1 and WW2 "the Americans are always unreliable and always late". That may have been more questionable in the Cold War period, but it's the case again now.
Running fewer candidates than Residents for Uttlesford will next year
Ill wager SDP, Liberal, Advance Uk, WPB, UKIP will all run more than this