Skip to content

Are John Rentoul and Dan Hodges right? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,225
edited 3:41AM in General
Are John Rentoul and Dan Hodges right? – politicalbetting.com

There was the Makerfield by-election which the national polls indicated should be an easy Reform gain yet there’s not a Labour poilitician that appears to blunt Reform.

Read the full story here

Comments

  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,830
    Did John Rentoul and Dan Hodges say it would go to penalties? If so, they were right. If not, thread timing is poor.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,241
    This penalty shootout is one for the ages.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,241
    Morocco!
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,830
    European teams are not doing as well as one might have expected. Too hot in America? It is due to get worse next week.

    We must hope for a Brexit benefit.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 129,241

    Did John Rentoul and Dan Hodges say it would go to penalties? If so, they were right. If not, thread timing is poor.

    I had to publish it now as I've been up all day and I have to go to bed.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,830
    I had the last three winners in a yankee. Unfortunately, being greedy, I took the better odds in the 90-minute market where penalty wins are draws.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,830
    Betfair has £5 at 25+ available on the header tip Lee Anderson to be next Reform leader, though it might be a bet on whoever Nigel Farage recommends to the membership.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 64,659
    Sandpit said:

    So who had Paraguay and Morocco knocking out Germany and the Netherlands?

    That side of the draw now looks much more open.

    Earlier today, I found myself dancing with a Panamanian American insurance agent (it was work), who was supporting Paraguay, on the basis that Paraguay and Panama sound kinda similar, and they're both vaguely Central American.

    I explained that I would simply support whoever was playing Germany. Unless it was Argentina.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 64,659
    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    So who had Paraguay and Morocco knocking out Germany and the Netherlands?

    That side of the draw now looks much more open.

    Earlier today, I found myself dancing with a Panamanian American insurance agent (it was work), who was supporting Paraguay, on the basis that Paraguay and Panama sound kinda similar, and they're both vaguely Central American.

    I explained that I would simply support whoever was playing Germany. Unless it was Argentina.
    Hmmm... I see on reflection that Paraguay is very definitely South America.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,364

    This penalty shootout is one for the ages.

    I went to bed early so missed it.
    Like the Germans.

    What's their word for schadenfreude ?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,830
    From a Telegraph interview with Jon Culshaw:-

    Worst part of being an impressionist?

    People in interviews asking, “Is there anybody you can’t do?” You get it every single time. It’s always asked as if it’s never been asked before. The answer is David Cameron, because there’s a generic poshness to him, he’s a little entitled, and feels like someone who doesn’t want to be there.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/what-to-see/best-and-worst-jon-culshaw/ (£££)
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,813
    edited 5:21AM
    Agent Anderson is an interesting idea, though I am not sure how well it would hold together if he won, as it would change it from "minigarchs, munchkins, and manipulators" to something else - and I'm not sure what it would be.

    I can't see Tice being happy in such circumstances.

    Anderson is in to about 9s on BFX.
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,981

    From a Telegraph interview with Jon Culshaw:-

    Worst part of being an impressionist?

    People in interviews asking, “Is there anybody you can’t do?” You get it every single time. It’s always asked as if it’s never been asked before. The answer is David Cameron, because there’s a generic poshness to him, he’s a little entitled, and feels like someone who doesn’t want to be there.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/what-to-see/best-and-worst-jon-culshaw/ (£££)

    Not ‘Do your Frank Spencer’

    Being asked to perform on command.
  • Now this has appeared I feel I can comment. I have heard it said the significant figures in the Tory Party would prefer the GE to be delayed until May 2027 when they expect Reform to be led by Lee Anderson not Nigel Farage. Having said that they do not expect Farage to survive an election campaign even in October but fear that such an onslaught as will happen if he is still Reform leader at the GE would deflect scrutiny away from the Labour Party whoever is leading it.

    With Labour we have a different issue, AB's election expenses haven't even been filed yet. When they are they are bound to be front page news and there are six months from election day to file a complaint. I find it hard to believe there won't be an application for a writ of undue election, probably emanating from Lancashire rather than Greater Manchester. Lancashire Police have an honorable track record of taking complaints seriously unlike many other forces.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 8,011
    I’ve only just heard about No Job For A Lady (early 90s sitcom starring Penelope Keith as a Labour MP)

    I m definitely going to watch it
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,777
    'Are John Rentoul and Dan Hodges right?' - Yes.

    'I have often wondered if deep down Nigel Farage really wants to be Prime Minister, it would feel like too much hard work and he prefers to carp from the sidelines yet becoming Prime Minister would allow him to reshape the country in his own image.'

    I have been absolutely sure for a wee while now that Nigel Farage does not want to be Prime Minister and simple because it would feel like too much hard work to have to become a full time 24/7 politician leading a party and the country with all the responsibility that comes with that position with and for what I now suspect for him would be a very underwhelming annual salary that would dwarf what he is now earning outside politics as an MP and party Leader at Westminster.

    Farage is far more comfortable being an Opposition politician and leader carping from the sidelines part time at Reform rallies addressing the party faithful or on his GB News show unapposed by awkward scrutiny and questioning. Trying to reshape the country in his own image would take too much hard work and more importantly serious detailed policy which on the evidence of the last couple of years is not where he or his party shines.

    I have never seen Farage outside his own various opposition party vehicles/fiefdoms being someone who would then settle down to the hard daily grind and graft of detailed governing of a country when he cannot even now devote himself to the full time job of being a party leader and MP at Westminster. The very fact he is now under incredible media scrutiny due to the £5M gift he accepted back in early 2024 and still arrogantly refusing to accept why it should be of such media/public interest or worthy of some tough questioning from the media suggests this is a hypocritical politician who would not thrive in No 10 being under constant scrutiny and tough questioning on his delivery rather than his comfort zone of using protesting tough single issue soundbite rehetoric from the sidelines.

    The interesting question is what would happen to Reform in a post Farage era in Opposition in the longer term if Andy Burnham decides to play it long and does not go for an early snap GE with a resurgent Conservative party under Kemi Badenoch and with Rupert Lowe's Restore party mopping up disaffected Reform members as others head back to the Conservatives?

  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,813
    edited 6:05AM
    OT:

    Do we have any Yorkies here?

    I am told that there is (finally) a "Barrier Removal Programme" starting to move - the Council "put aside a fund"! in 2021.

    I'd be interested to hear If anyone notices.

    This after a friend who is a Professor at York University who has multiple sclerosis, and now uses a 3-wheeled mobility aid (having gone from cycle to stabilised cycle over the years). sued the Council under the Equality Act 2020 after they blocked the entrance to a green space (Hob Moor) with the following custom-made anti-wheelchair obstruction, which was uniquely abusive of them. They spent taxpayers' money installing barriers quite widely, at several thousand a pop to implement law breaking.

    Before that he attempted to engage the Council for 3 years. They did the usual things - ignore him, ask for more time, dissemble, then cave at a cost of several thousand.

    This is his own account from 2021. Only a disabled victim personally can take legal action, and in 2021 it cost £600 to get to Court. Thank-you David Cameron (mainly):
    https://yorkcyclecampaign.bike/2021/03/20/taking-legal-action-on-barriers/

    The problems with facilities designed by people who do not understand disability, or without thinking about it, are covered in his article.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,283

    I’ve only just heard about No Job For A Lady (early 90s sitcom starring Penelope Keith as a Labour MP)

    I m definitely going to watch it

    I vaguely remember it. It was no Yes Minister or The thick of it. My recollection is that the writing rather let it down. But I’d be interested to know if you thought differently.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 66,941
    He doesn't.

    If you remember, he pretty much did all he could to stop Vote Leave winning too during the referendum.

    Being in charge or responsible terrifies him.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 81,239
    Backing Ivory Coast and laying Norway this evening, I think they should be closer in the betting than they are.

    Ivory Coast
    £39.50
    Draw
    £2.00
    Norway
    -£24.64


    Draw onside because well can quite possibly see it going to ET.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,220
    Ukraine now has an interceptor drone with a range of at least 84.7km.

    https://x.com/letsarmukr/status/2071605588635590999

    This is a quadcopter that looks like a hobby drone, with upgraded radio and battery, flown by a pilot 55 miles away!
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 13,560
    MattW said:

    OT:

    Do we have any Yorkies here?

    I am told that there is (finally) a "Barrier Removal Programme" starting to move - the Council "put aside a fund"! in 2021.

    I'd be interested to hear If anyone notices.

    This after a friend who is a Professor at York University who has multiple sclerosis, and now uses a 3-wheeled mobility aid (having gone from cycle to stabilised cycle over the years). sued the Council under the Equality Act 2020 after they blocked the entrance to a green space (Hob Moor) with the following custom-made anti-wheelchair obstruction, which was uniquely abusive of them. They spent taxpayers' money installing barriers quite widely, at several thousand a pop to implement law breaking.

    Before that he attempted to engage the Council for 3 years. They did the usual things - ignore him, ask for more time, dissemble, then cave at a cost of several thousand.

    This is his own account from 2021. Only a disabled victim personally can take legal action, and in 2021 it cost £600 to get to Court. Thank-you David Cameron (mainly):
    https://yorkcyclecampaign.bike/2021/03/20/taking-legal-action-on-barriers/

    The problems with facilities designed by people who do not understand disability, or without thinking about it, are covered in his article.

    The EqA was passed under Brown and then implemented after the election under Cameron. I remember at the time talk of whether they would implement it or just leave it on the statute book like the Easter Act.
  • eekeek Posts: 34,312

    Now this has appeared I feel I can comment. I have heard it said the significant figures in the Tory Party would prefer the GE to be delayed until May 2027 when they expect Reform to be led by Lee Anderson not Nigel Farage. Having said that they do not expect Farage to survive an election campaign even in October but fear that such an onslaught as will happen if he is still Reform leader at the GE would deflect scrutiny away from the Labour Party whoever is leading it.

    With Labour we have a different issue, AB's election expenses haven't even been filed yet. When they are they are bound to be front page news and there are six months from election day to file a complaint. I find it hard to believe there won't be an application for a writ of undue election, probably emanating from Lancashire rather than Greater Manchester. Lancashire Police have an honorable track record of taking complaints seriously unlike many other forces.

    The odds of Andy Burnham overspending money is zero.

    I suspect you are looking at people and thinking they cost money, volunteers know they won’t get expenses and pay their own money to be there
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 29,069
    edited 6:28AM

    eek said:

    Foxy said:

    Tres said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Tres said:

    Jeez. Already the media hyena pack are now off on one wondering out loud how many nights Burnham will sleep at No 10 and how many at home in the North and so on.

    FFS.

    Focus on something important for a change.

    quite astute from burnham, get the meeja interested in frivolous stuff and not policy
    It's one thing wanting this to happen, but realistically is there long enough left of this term to put it into practice? It's surely quite a big project, duplicating No 10? Suitable property to buy or build, for one thing.
    House of Commons is falling apart anyway and needs a big refurb. Other countries manage having power spread out across different locations. Plus it will be a hugely visible change. It really is quite amusing watching all London elite getting vapours at the idea we might try something different
    Closing Westminstrr for 5-10 years and moving Parliament to Manchester for the duration is an excellent idea.
    Closing Westminster and moving Parliament elsewhere is a brilliant idea fullstop.

    But unless you move Westminster to the NEC it's got to be a permanent move..
    A permanent move is a truly stupid idea. It will cost vast billions and achieve nothing
    Unless you really wanted to break the Westminster stranglehold on all things in this country.
    Still a stupid idea. All you do is cause chaos in Government

    The only first world country that has their seat of Government elsewhere than their capital is the Netherlands. And the distance from The Hague to Amsterdam? 37 miles. Almost exactly the same distance as from one side of Greater London to the other.
    Only because you are defining it based on the capital and not based on their primary city.

    Washington DC is a tertiary city compared to New York, Los Angeles etc
    Canberra is a tertiary city compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
    Ottowa is a tertiary city compared to Toronto, Vancouver etc

    Actually separating the capital/seat of government from the primary cities which can concentrate on finance and other issues without government being there is quite common across the first world. Move government wholesale out of London.
    Like I said an idiotic idea that will set back both governance and the economy in this country for decades. Don't get me wrong, I detest London and do everything I can to avoid going anywhere near it. But tghis is a truly stupid and self harming idea.
    Tell me what infrastructure we have had approved by London up here in the past couple of decades?

    London keeps getting new train lines. Crossrail, HS2 etc

    Have we had any new train lines? Any new motorways? Anything?

    The Civil Servants who make the decisions don't give a shit beyond London. Kick them out of the city and see how soon they wake up.

    You call that setting things back? I can live with that.

    Developed countries with successful cities and separate capitals tend to work very well, not badly.
    This isn't true. HS2 was for the North, and there's the Transpennine Upgrade Programme and before that the West Coast Mainline Upgrade.

    Northern Rail does get the shitty stick, and that needs to change, but let's not pretend that no-one cares.
    PMSL!

    Tell me how the absolute hell is a train line in the South of England that goes to London and terminates up in the Midlands in Birmingham is "for the North"?

    If HS2 were actually for the North then it would have made sense to start construction with the Northern legs of it and deal with the Chilterns and South of England later on, and scrap that if anything were to be scrapped. But no, it was never for us.

    Only a Southerner could think that what the North is desperately crying out for is another line in London.
  • eekeek Posts: 34,312

    eek said:

    Foxy said:

    Tres said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Tres said:

    Jeez. Already the media hyena pack are now off on one wondering out loud how many nights Burnham will sleep at No 10 and how many at home in the North and so on.

    FFS.

    Focus on something important for a change.

    quite astute from burnham, get the meeja interested in frivolous stuff and not policy
    It's one thing wanting this to happen, but realistically is there long enough left of this term to put it into practice? It's surely quite a big project, duplicating No 10? Suitable property to buy or build, for one thing.
    House of Commons is falling apart anyway and needs a big refurb. Other countries manage having power spread out across different locations. Plus it will be a hugely visible change. It really is quite amusing watching all London elite getting vapours at the idea we might try something different
    Closing Westminstrr for 5-10 years and moving Parliament to Manchester for the duration is an excellent idea.
    Closing Westminster and moving Parliament elsewhere is a brilliant idea fullstop.

    But unless you move Westminster to the NEC it's got to be a permanent move..
    A permanent move is a truly stupid idea. It will cost vast billions and achieve nothing
    Unless you really wanted to break the Westminster stranglehold on all things in this country.
    Still a stupid idea. All you do is cause chaos in Government

    The only first world country that has their seat of Government elsewhere than their capital is the Netherlands. And the distance from The Hague to Amsterdam? 37 miles. Almost exactly the same distance as from one side of Greater London to the other.
    Only because you are defining it based on the capital and not based on their primary city.

    Washington DC is a tertiary city compared to New York, Los Angeles etc
    Canberra is a tertiary city compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
    Ottowa is a tertiary city compared to Toronto, Vancouver etc

    Actually separating the capital/seat of government from the primary cities which can concentrate on finance and other issues without government being there is quite common across the first world. Move government wholesale out of London.
    Like I said an idiotic idea that will set back both governance and the economy in this country for decades. Don't get me wrong, I detest London and do everything I can to avoid going anywhere near it. But tghis is a truly stupid and self harming idea.
    Tell me what infrastructure we have had approved by London up here in the past couple of decades?

    London keeps getting new train lines. Crossrail, HS2 etc

    Have we had any new train lines? Any new motorways? Anything?

    The Civil Servants who make the decisions don't give a shit beyond London. Kick them out of the city and see how soon they wake up.

    You call that setting things back? I can live with that.

    Developed countries with successful cities and separate capitals tend to work very well, not badly.
    This isn't true. HS2 was for the North, and there's the Transpennine Upgrade Programme and before that the West Coast Mainline Upgrade.

    Northern Rail does get the shitty stick, and that needs to change, but let's not pretend that no-one cares.
    PMSL!

    Tell me how the absolute hell is a train line in the South of England that goes to London and terminates up in the Midlands in Birmingham is "for the North"?

    If HS2 were actually for the North then it would have made sense to start construction with the Northern legs of it and deal with the Chilterns and South of England later on, and scrap that if anything were to be scrapped. But no, it was never for us.
    The reason why HS2 started in London is because the biggest issues are in the London to Birmingham bit - capacity is required between Euston and Milton Keynes / Hemel..
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 29,069
    eek said:

    eek said:

    Foxy said:

    Tres said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Tres said:

    Jeez. Already the media hyena pack are now off on one wondering out loud how many nights Burnham will sleep at No 10 and how many at home in the North and so on.

    FFS.

    Focus on something important for a change.

    quite astute from burnham, get the meeja interested in frivolous stuff and not policy
    It's one thing wanting this to happen, but realistically is there long enough left of this term to put it into practice? It's surely quite a big project, duplicating No 10? Suitable property to buy or build, for one thing.
    House of Commons is falling apart anyway and needs a big refurb. Other countries manage having power spread out across different locations. Plus it will be a hugely visible change. It really is quite amusing watching all London elite getting vapours at the idea we might try something different
    Closing Westminstrr for 5-10 years and moving Parliament to Manchester for the duration is an excellent idea.
    Closing Westminster and moving Parliament elsewhere is a brilliant idea fullstop.

    But unless you move Westminster to the NEC it's got to be a permanent move..
    A permanent move is a truly stupid idea. It will cost vast billions and achieve nothing
    Unless you really wanted to break the Westminster stranglehold on all things in this country.
    Still a stupid idea. All you do is cause chaos in Government

    The only first world country that has their seat of Government elsewhere than their capital is the Netherlands. And the distance from The Hague to Amsterdam? 37 miles. Almost exactly the same distance as from one side of Greater London to the other.
    Only because you are defining it based on the capital and not based on their primary city.

    Washington DC is a tertiary city compared to New York, Los Angeles etc
    Canberra is a tertiary city compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
    Ottowa is a tertiary city compared to Toronto, Vancouver etc

    Actually separating the capital/seat of government from the primary cities which can concentrate on finance and other issues without government being there is quite common across the first world. Move government wholesale out of London.
    Like I said an idiotic idea that will set back both governance and the economy in this country for decades. Don't get me wrong, I detest London and do everything I can to avoid going anywhere near it. But tghis is a truly stupid and self harming idea.
    Tell me what infrastructure we have had approved by London up here in the past couple of decades?

    London keeps getting new train lines. Crossrail, HS2 etc

    Have we had any new train lines? Any new motorways? Anything?

    The Civil Servants who make the decisions don't give a shit beyond London. Kick them out of the city and see how soon they wake up.

    You call that setting things back? I can live with that.

    Developed countries with successful cities and separate capitals tend to work very well, not badly.
    This isn't true. HS2 was for the North, and there's the Transpennine Upgrade Programme and before that the West Coast Mainline Upgrade.

    Northern Rail does get the shitty stick, and that needs to change, but let's not pretend that no-one cares.
    PMSL!

    Tell me how the absolute hell is a train line in the South of England that goes to London and terminates up in the Midlands in Birmingham is "for the North"?

    If HS2 were actually for the North then it would have made sense to start construction with the Northern legs of it and deal with the Chilterns and South of England later on, and scrap that if anything were to be scrapped. But no, it was never for us.
    The reason why HS2 started in London is because the biggest issues are in the London to Birmingham bit - capacity is required between Euston and Milton Keynes / Hemel..
    So nothing to do with the North then.

    Got it.
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,550
    I think the most likely scenario for Farage, he's actually VERY consistent...will be that he will "step back" in 2027, and when a GE is called he will return and messiah Version 4 or is it 5. That's his DNA .

    The Right are hopelessly fracturing at the moment and for all what Burnham isn't what he IS , is an incredibly shrewd "politicial" and "tactician!.

    Farage is losi interest, Lowe is gaining traction and then there is Kemi, god i almost feel sorry for her, the classic rabbit in the headlights.

    She will work with NO-ONE , not Farage not Lowe. No one will work with her, not Farage, Jenrick, Lowe.

    She drifts right right right in to a political cul de sac with narrowing bandwith.

    She attacks Burnhams speech, before he speaks, and simply looks desperately LOST.

    The biggest problem she has is this.

    IF she canot quickly realise the fact that the Right Wing Pool is full .

    There will be millions of centre ground voters, many Tories in the Midlands / North / Scotland and Wales who cannot stand Farage, aren;t in the same parish as Lowe, hated Starmer, who suddently have someone they can vote for with the sole aim of stopping Farage and Lowe.

    That ain;t Kemi.....it;s BURNHAM!
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,981
    fitalass said:

    'Are John Rentoul and Dan Hodges right?' - Yes.

    'I have often wondered if deep down Nigel Farage really wants to be Prime Minister, it would feel like too much hard work and he prefers to carp from the sidelines yet becoming Prime Minister would allow him to reshape the country in his own image.'

    I have been absolutely sure for a wee while now that Nigel Farage does not want to be Prime Minister and simple because it would feel like too much hard work to have to become a full time 24/7 politician leading a party and the country with all the responsibility that comes with that position with and for what I now suspect for him would be a very underwhelming annual salary that would dwarf what he is now earning outside politics as an MP and party Leader at Westminster.

    Farage is far more comfortable being an Opposition politician and leader carping from the sidelines part time at Reform rallies addressing the party faithful or on his GB News show unapposed by awkward scrutiny and questioning. Trying to reshape the country in his own image would take too much hard work and more importantly serious detailed policy which on the evidence of the last couple of years is not where he or his party shines.

    I have never seen Farage outside his own various opposition party vehicles/fiefdoms being someone who would then settle down to the hard daily grind and graft of detailed governing of a country when he cannot even now devote himself to the full time job of being a party leader and MP at Westminster. The very fact he is now under incredible media scrutiny due to the £5M gift he accepted back in early 2024 and still arrogantly refusing to accept why it should be of such media/public interest or worthy of some tough questioning from the media suggests this is a hypocritical politician who would not thrive in No 10 being under constant scrutiny and tough questioning on his delivery rather than his comfort zone of using protesting tough single issue soundbite rehetoric from the sidelines.

    The interesting question is what would happen to Reform in a post Farage era in Opposition in the longer term if Andy Burnham decides to play it long and does not go for an early snap GE with a resurgent Conservative party under Kemi Badenoch and with Rupert Lowe's Restore party mopping up disaffected Reform members as others head back to the Conservatives?

    Although I’m no Cassandra I have said the same about Farage

    He’s a disruptor. He snipes from the sidelines. Has he ever had any real,responsibility.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,220
    edited 6:34AM

    eek said:

    Foxy said:

    Tres said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Tres said:

    Jeez. Already the media hyena pack are now off on one wondering out loud how many nights Burnham will sleep at No 10 and how many at home in the North and so on.

    FFS.

    Focus on something important for a change.

    quite astute from burnham, get the meeja interested in frivolous stuff and not policy
    It's one thing wanting this to happen, but realistically is there long enough left of this term to put it into practice? It's surely quite a big project, duplicating No 10? Suitable property to buy or build, for one thing.
    House of Commons is falling apart anyway and needs a big refurb. Other countries manage having power spread out across different locations. Plus it will be a hugely visible change. It really is quite amusing watching all London elite getting vapours at the idea we might try something different
    Closing Westminstrr for 5-10 years and moving Parliament to Manchester for the duration is an excellent idea.
    Closing Westminster and moving Parliament elsewhere is a brilliant idea fullstop.

    But unless you move Westminster to the NEC it's got to be a permanent move..
    A permanent move is a truly stupid idea. It will cost vast billions and achieve nothing
    Unless you really wanted to break the Westminster stranglehold on all things in this country.
    Still a stupid idea. All you do is cause chaos in Government

    The only first world country that has their seat of Government elsewhere than their capital is the Netherlands. And the distance from The Hague to Amsterdam? 37 miles. Almost exactly the same distance as from one side of Greater London to the other.
    Only because you are defining it based on the capital and not based on their primary city.

    Washington DC is a tertiary city compared to New York, Los Angeles etc
    Canberra is a tertiary city compared to Sydney and Melbourne.
    Ottowa is a tertiary city compared to Toronto, Vancouver etc

    Actually separating the capital/seat of government from the primary cities which can concentrate on finance and other issues without government being there is quite common across the first world. Move government wholesale out of London.
    Like I said an idiotic idea that will set back both governance and the economy in this country for decades. Don't get me wrong, I detest London and do everything I can to avoid going anywhere near it. But tghis is a truly stupid and self harming idea.
    Tell me what infrastructure we have had approved by London up here in the past couple of decades?

    London keeps getting new train lines. Crossrail, HS2 etc

    Have we had any new train lines? Any new motorways? Anything?

    The Civil Servants who make the decisions don't give a shit beyond London. Kick them out of the city and see how soon they wake up.

    You call that setting things back? I can live with that.

    Developed countries with successful cities and separate capitals tend to work very well, not badly.
    This isn't true. HS2 was for the North, and there's the Transpennine Upgrade Programme and before that the West Coast Mainline Upgrade.

    Northern Rail does get the shitty stick, and that needs to change, but let's not pretend that no-one cares.
    PMSL!

    Tell me how the absolute hell is a train line in the South of England that goes to London and terminates up in the Midlands in Birmingham is "for the North"?

    If HS2 were actually for the North then it would have made sense to start construction with the Northern legs of it and deal with the Chilterns and South of England later on, and scrap that if anything were to be scrapped. But no, it was never for us.

    Only a Southerner could think that what the North is desperately crying out for is another line in London.
    The root of the problem is congestion south of Birmingham on the WCML, which was the reasoning for doing the London to Birmingham section first.

    But yes the whole project has been a mess from start to, well clearly not finish, and the Northern routes now need to be prioritised, alongside upgrades of the E-W lines from Liverpool through Manchester to Sheffield and Leeds. Train travel in the North of England is a disjointed mess.
Sign In or Register to comment.