Four men from Derby, aged between 22 and 36, were held along with a 27-year-old man from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, and a 32-year-old woman from London.
Police said they were arrested "on suspicion of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism" during morning raids across the country.
Properties in Burton, Derby and London were being searched as part of the investigation and the six suspects remain in police custody.
In the hope of smoothing ruffled feathers and restoring some peace, may I commend to all, especially Mr Royale and Mr Meeks, this excellent article by Ian Hislop:
FPT, bugger Ronnie Scott's would be my view. Right-on entertainers who think that everyone shares their left wing views are just one of those irritants one has to put up with.
FPT, bugger Ronnie Scott's would be my view. Right-on entertainers who think that everyone shares their left wing views are just one of those irritants one has to put up with.
Ronnie Scott was anything but left wing. He just hated petty provincialism.
Andy Burnham has only done one thing as an MP that is worthy of praise, and that is to champion Hillsborough. I try hard to suppress the part of me that questions his motivation even on that.
FPT, bugger Ronnie Scott's would be my view. Right-on entertainers who think that everyone shares their left wing views are just one of those irritants one has to put up with.
What's left wing about saying your costs are going up because of a falling pound?
Labour will hold quite comfortably. I do not know why tyhe media and yourself persist with this UKIP northern Labour heartland issue. Almost all the polling evidence from the North West over recent months has shown a decline in UKIP and Labour and Cons gaining ground from them. I lived in Ashton in Makerfield for a time and know Leigh well.
Labour will hold quite comfortably. I do not know why tyhe media and yourself persist with this UKIP northern Labour heartland issue. Almost all the polling evidence from the North West over recent months has shown a decline in UKIP and Labour and Cons gaining ground from them. I lived in Ashton in Makerfield for a time and know Leigh well.
I'm going to take a lot of persuading that it's not going to be Oldham West & Royton all over again.
As a greenish Libdem, if I lived in Leigh my motivation would be to stop Nuttall, and I would vote Labour. Therein lies UKIP's problem. More people dislike them than like them.
Also worth noting that Nuttall has virtually the worst personal popularity ratings of anyone - much worse than May, Corbyn, Farage, or anyone else on the UK scene. A lot of that must be simply his job, but I do know several Kippers and I've not met one who actually likes him yet - the best I've heard so far is "With luck he'll appeal to white working-class voters apart from me". There's a patronising idea that if you're WWC and shave your head then WWC voters will flock to you, but the WWC is actually diverse like everyone else:
I think he might come second as the media will talk him up, but he won't come close.
Were Andy Burnham not to resign as an MP beforehand, the by election should occur mid to late June 2017, so on or around the first anniversary of the referendum, which might add a new dynamic to the by election, especially if Mrs May goes for a softish Brexit.
UKIP could turn the by election into a referendum on Mrs May's handling of Brexit.
If you've not already bought shares in betrayal, there's still time.
In the hope of smoothing ruffled feathers and restoring some peace, may I commend to all, especially Mr Royale and Mr Meeks, this excellent article by Ian Hislop:
Labour will hold quite comfortably. I do not know why tyhe media and yourself persist with this UKIP northern Labour heartland issue. Almost all the polling evidence from the North West over recent months has shown a decline in UKIP and Labour and Cons gaining ground from them. I lived in Ashton in Makerfield for a time and know Leigh well.
I'm going to take a lot of persuading that it's not going to be Oldham West & Royton all over again.
Probably correct, unless Labour really is nudging 20% by May.
As a Greater Mancunian, I despair of the impending Andy Burnham mayoralty. Manchester has for years been led by an excellent Labour council which has worked well with governments of all stripes to do well for Manchester. Most of the other GM Councils too, and AGMA, are run by pragmatic Labour types who value getting the best deal for their constituents. There are numerous Great Manchester Labour politicians at both municipal and national level who could do a good job. Why now have Labour decided to foist this dickhead on us? His general attitude to the Northern Powerhouse has been one of contempt; his priority has always been 'taking on the Tories' rather than doing the best for his constituents.
On topic, Leigh is one of those interesting ex-coalfield seats where massive Labour majorities have masked a long-term drift away from Labour. There are fewer and fewer here who remember the time when the small towns in the area were dominated by coal, and the housing stock of the area is increasingly typified by the new estates which have sprung up close to the East Lancs Road in recent years, housing commuters to Manchester and Warrington. There were a rash of independent councillors in this area during the Blair/Brown years (I think?) - it is no longer as unquestioningly Labour as it once was. That said, it swung towards Labour in 2015 - I put this down to the 'outer Merseyside' affect in 2015, where Labour did particularly well in seats within and adjacent to Merseyside (map it! it's fascinating) - the reasons for which really haven't been discussed or explained enough. Should still be a nailed on Labour win, but an interesting seat for those who take an interest in long-term political shifts.
Labour will hold quite comfortably. I do not know why tyhe media and yourself persist with this UKIP northern Labour heartland issue. Almost all the polling evidence from the North West over recent months has shown a decline in UKIP and Labour and Cons gaining ground from them. I lived in Ashton in Makerfield for a time and know Leigh well.
I'm going to take a lot of persuading that it's not going to be Oldham West & Royton all over again.
Probably correct, unless Labour really is nudging 20% by May.
Which will be six months into the twelve months that Dianne Abbot kindly gave her leader yesterday on Marr to turn around the poll gap. So if its down at 20 in May then panic will be setting in in the leader's bunker.
As a greenish Libdem, if I lived in Leigh my motivation would be to stop Nuttall, and I would vote Labour. Therein lies UKIP's problem. More people dislike them than like them.
Also worth noting that Nuttall has virtually the worst personal popularity ratings of anyone - much worse than May, Corbyn, Farage, or anyone else on the UK scene. A lot of that must be simply his job, but I do know several Kippers and I've not met one who actually likes him yet - the best I've heard so far is "With luck he'll appeal to white working-class voters apart from me". There's a patronising idea that if you're WWC and shave your head then WWC voters will flock to you, but the WWC is actually diverse like everyone else:
I think he might come second as the media will talk him up, but he won't come close.
The argument is that we live in a new politics, where all that matters is Leave or Remain and this new dividing line will cut parties in two and split voters away from their usual homes. The guests on BBC Sunday Politics were at it again yesterday, pontificating on this new prism on politics.
Is it really true? Was in Richmond, but will it be in Leigh? This makes the by-election pretty important.
I lived in London for four years in my teens and early twenties, and Ronnie Scott's felt like some mythical place that existed only in the minds of the media. It didn't really exist. It couldn't exist.
I'm actually surprised to find relatively normal people go there, yet alone regularly!
Then again, I was much more into rave than Jazz.
Raving was much fun. Although the bit 72 hours afterwards wasn't so much.
You could always tell the people who were on e. You'd get into the club at ten, and by two in the morning be drenched in sweat and utterly knackered from the dancing. I'd end up in the chill-out room, resting. If it was the Astoria I'd sit on the bass speakers, my legs jumping in and out with the beat.
Yet the e-heads would be there from ten until kick-out time at six or eight, dancing nearly continuously. Or so it seemed.
Some friends called me the 'straight' one; not because I was heterosexual, but because I didn't do drugs. Drugs, and especially e, were that much part of the fabric amongst the hardcore ravers.
It all feels like a different life now.
I remember going to a rave somewhere around 1994, where despite being in a 'proper' venue, they didn't even bother applying for a liquor licence. I was very disappointed that the only drink on offer was expensive water, but the other 2,000 people there didn't seem to care at all - and they were all still raving as us sober ones started felling tired around 3am!
This bit could have been culled from the pages of PB almost verbatim...
Orwell was always confident that the populist response would be in favour of everyone being allowed their own views. That might be different now. If you were to substitute the name “Trump” or “Farage” and ask the question, you might not get such a liberal response. You might get a version of: “Get over it! Suck it up! You lost the vote! What bit of ‘democracy’ do you not understand?”
Orwell quotes from Voltaire (the attribution is now contested): “I detest what you say; I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Most of us would agree with the sentiment, but there is a worrying trend in universities that is filtering through into the media and the rest of society. Wanting a “safe space” in which you do not have to hear views that might upset you
As a greenish Libdem, if I lived in Leigh my motivation would be to stop Nuttall, and I would vote Labour. Therein lies UKIP's problem. More people dislike them than like them.
Also worth noting that Nuttall has virtually the worst personal popularity ratings of anyone - much worse than May, Corbyn, Farage, or anyone else on the UK scene. A lot of that must be simply his job, but I do know several Kippers and I've not met one who actually likes him yet - the best I've heard so far is "With luck he'll appeal to white working-class voters apart from me". There's a patronising idea that if you're WWC and shave your head then WWC voters will flock to you, but the WWC is actually diverse like everyone else:
I think he might come second as the media will talk him up, but he won't come close.
The argument is that we live in a new politics, where all that matters is Leave or Remain and this new dividing line will cut parties in two and split voters away from their usual homes. The guests on BBC Sunday Politics were at it again yesterday, pontificating on this new prism on politics.
Is it really true? Was in Richmond, but will it be in Leigh? This makes the by-election pretty important.
I'd argue that the Brexit referendum exposed a chasm in society that some of us preferred to ignore, or felt too polite/intimidated to voice.
PB is just mirror to much of it - if very unrepresentative overall.
Leavers have had a taste of power for the first time in decades and experiencing the bile of some Remain voters who feel terribly affronted at being rejected. I don't think many decide on Leave vs Remain, it's just broken the linkage for enough re Labour vs Others.
Six months on, I still have more in common value wise with Leavers. I'll be drawn to those who share my outlook. It won't be the only factor, but a big one.
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I take it you don't frequent standup comedy clubs? All Remoaner, anti-American, right-on crap, if you take their politics seriously. I have a friend who is a comic, but neither a Remoaner nor left-wing, and he has to take care to write jokes that are exactly the opposite of what he thinks, lest he be exiled to the Gulf.
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
Since it seems to be the thing to do this morning:
There was a young chap called Casino Who was enjoying some music and vino When a nasty jazz mag Caused his manhood to sag He should clearly have stuck to the Beano!
Mr. Fishing, might be why fat people are funnier than skinny people.
Historically, skinniness was a sign of starvation/poverty and fatness of wealth to gluttonous excess. It's more acceptable to mock the well-off than the impoverished.
The left are (to use caricatures) brainless, and the right heartless. A good idiot is often seen with sympathy, whereas an uncaring genius is tolerated but never loved.
There's also the way that the parties see themselves. I remember a talking heads piece (top 100 list) which featured Kenny Everett[sp] and his appearance at Conservative conference. One talking head said he was offended (albeit with a smile on his face) that Everett had 'come out' but as a Tory, because he assumed 'he was on your side'.
On the topic of Brexit appearing in unexpected contexts, I was surprised to read Gavin Hamilton - editor of World Soccer magazine - stating that the UK had taken a decision that would be an unmitigated disaster. Hilariously he implied that he thought it was the harbinger of UK isolationism from European football.
More bizarre still was the Chairman of the organization I work for declaring that Brexit was very bad for our organization as we depend upon being able to recruit European workers. This, of course, is utter bollocks.
I lived in London for four years in my teens and early twenties, and Ronnie Scott's felt like some mythical place that existed only in the minds of the media. It didn't really exist. It couldn't exist.
I'm actually surprised to find relatively normal people go there, yet alone regularly!
Then again, I was much more into rave than Jazz.
Raving was much fun. Although the bit 72 hours afterwards wasn't so much.
You could always tell the people who were on e. You'd get into the club at ten, and by two in the morning be drenched in sweat and utterly knackered from the dancing. I'd end up in the chill-out room, resting. If it was the Astoria I'd sit on the bass speakers, my legs jumping in and out with the beat.
Yet the e-heads would be there from ten until kick-out time at six or eight, dancing nearly continuously. Or so it seemed.
Some friends called me the 'straight' one; not because I was heterosexual, but because I didn't do drugs. Drugs, and especially e, were that much part of the fabric amongst the hardcore ravers.
It all feels like a different life now.
I remember going to a rave somewhere around 1994, where despite being in a 'proper' venue, they didn't even bother applying for a liquor licence. I was very disappointed that the only drink on offer was expensive water, but the other 2,000 people there didn't seem to care at all - and they were all still raving as us sober ones started felling tired around 3am!
This has never been my scene, but a very difficult employee of mine finally thawed and invited me on a night out to the Zap club in Brighton back in the very early 90s. The place was underground, almost pitch black and the floor covered in ship's lino swimming in puddles of water.
It took me about an hour to realise it was sweat. No one was drinking anything bar bottled water. I stood around smiling and enduring. Few venues have made a bigger impact on me. Revolting.
Two Motorhead gigs were another - at the Mayfair in Newcastle. So loud the air in my lungs pounded. I decided to hang out behind the speakers on the balcony as the safest place to retain my hearing and still breathe.
The WTO has 164 members and 20 observer governments.[81] Liberia became the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 July 2016.[82][83] In addition to states, the European Union, and each EU Country in its own right,[84] is a member.
Forget about Ronnie Scotts - the main talk in my office this morning is over how Kylie has utterly ruined '92 seminal dance classic "Everybody's Free" by Rozalla.
FPT, bugger Ronnie Scott's would be my view. Right-on entertainers who think that everyone shares their left wing views are just one of those irritants one has to put up with.
What's left wing about saying your costs are going up because of a falling pound?
What's patriotic about boasting you employ 80% non-Brits?
On the discussion last thread over whether Leave campaigners made it clear enough that they believed leaving the EU meant having to leave the Single Market:
On lincolnshire news this morning, farmers complaining that there has been a big drop in returning seasonal migrant workers since brexit vote. But suggesting that the main reason is the fall in sterling. Could just be farmers pressuring for coninued access to a large labour pool though.
On the subject of costs going up because of the referendum vote causing the pound to fall: the price of a packet of cigarettes has dropped by 15p in my local newsagents this morning and the lady in the off-licence tells me that Famous Grouse is going to drop from £16 to £12 a bottle at the end of the week.
Pint-sized Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is currently sharing Platform 3 of Leamington Spa train station with me. He's having a chuckle-filled chat on his mobile. We're both waiting for the same delayed train.
On the topic of Brexit appearing in unexpected contexts, I was surprised to read Gavin Hamilton - editor of World Soccer magazine - stating that the UK had taken a decision that would be an unmitigated disaster. Hilariously he implied that he thought it was the harbinger of UK isolationism from European football.
More bizarre still was the Chairman of the organization I work for declaring that Brexit was very bad for our organization as we depend upon being able to recruit European workers. This, of course, is utter bollocks.
Actually it is a fear within football.
I know someone who works for Man City and someone who works for Sky Sports (working out which matches to show live) and they think Brexit will have some very obvious downsides and some not so obvious ones.
To take an example from your club, without free movement Arsenal would not have been able to sign the young Fabregras as he wouldn't qualify under the work permit rules. Ditto Ronaldo at United.
Nice to hear you have such little respect for those who you don't agree with, even when they are known to you individually.
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I don't know why you insist on bracketing everyone together as a group every time someone who didn't vote the way you did makes a point.
Probably because it makes it easier for you to be ruder.
I see @SeanT has gone into battle for you on Twitter. What chance some journo picks this up?
If it gets into the Mail or Express Ronnie Scotts will think Christms has come early
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I take it you don't frequent standup comedy clubs? All Remoaner, anti-American, right-on crap, if you take their politics seriously. I have a friend who is a comic, but neither a Remoaner nor left-wing, and he has to take care to write jokes that are exactly the opposite of what he thinks, lest he be exiled to the Gulf.
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
Comedy clubs have become safe spaces.
Brexit. Disaster! Trump. Disaster! *bows at applause*
Where are the Jerry Sadowitz of our times? Can you imagine a Comedy Store where somebody cracked a gag like:
""Nelson Mandela, what a c***. Terry Waite, f*cking bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."[
It sets the standard for the fast food industry, was seen for a very long time as the yardstick of capitalism when it appeared in East Germany or China et al. It was a million miles better and cleaner than Wimpy here.
I honestly can't say when I last bought a burger, nuggets or curly fries - maybe 5+yrs ago in Victoria station waiting for the last train home. It offers very strong training to those who have nothing bar a good work ethic. Frankly, I'm delighted they're creating more jobs in the UK.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
It sets the standard for the fast food industry, was seen for a very long time as the yardstick of capitalism when it appeared in East Germany or China et al. It was a million miles better and cleaner than Wimpy here.
I honestly can't say when I last bought a burger, nuggets or curly fries - maybe 5+yrs ago in Victoria station waiting for the last train home. It offers very strong training to those who have nothing bar a good work ethic. Frankly, I'm delighted they're creating more jobs in the UK.
MacDonalds does surprisingly good coffee. I used to use the one at the corner of Moorgate and London Wall and the coffee was much better than in the nearby Starbucks.
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I take it you don't frequent standup comedy clubs? All Remoaner, anti-American, right-on crap, if you take their politics seriously. I have a friend who is a comic, but neither a Remoaner nor left-wing, and he has to take care to write jokes that are exactly the opposite of what he thinks, lest he be exiled to the Gulf.
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
Comedy clubs have become safe spaces.
Brexit. Disaster! Trump. Disaster! *bows at applause*
Where are the Jerry Sadowitz of our times? Can you imagine a Comedy Store where somebody cracked a gag like:
""Nelson Mandela, what a c***. Terry Waite, f*cking bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."[
I went to the Comedy Store for the final time a few years back - it was a predictable fest of unfunny bashing of the Right by wimmin who aped Jo Brand. There wasn't any clever observation at all. It made Rick from the Young Ones look more credible. After about 2hrs hoping for something better - we left for a kebab.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
Welcome to the ranks of PB posters, Mr Mawbs. Your first post being both off-topic and about Formula 1 indicates that you will fit right in. Are you also interested in trains, engineering, history or cricket?
It sets the standard for the fast food industry, was seen for a very long time as the yardstick of capitalism when it appeared in East Germany or China et al. It was a million miles better and cleaner than Wimpy here.
I honestly can't say when I last bought a burger, nuggets or curly fries - maybe 5+yrs ago in Victoria station waiting for the last train home. It offers very strong training to those who have nothing bar a good work ethic. Frankly, I'm delighted they're creating more jobs in the UK.
MacDonalds does surprisingly good coffee. I used to use the one at the corner of Moorgate and London Wall and the coffee was much better than in the nearby Starbucks.
MacDonalds coffee? I think it makes all otehr coffee look overpriced rubbish. It's superb.
And if you just want a fast fillup, MacDonalds takes some beating... And every six cup is free - if you collect tokens.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I take it you don't frequent standup comedy clubs? All Remoaner, anti-American, right-on crap, if you take their politics seriously. I have a friend who is a comic, but neither a Remoaner nor left-wing, and he has to take care to write jokes that are exactly the opposite of what he thinks, lest he be exiled to the Gulf.
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
Comedy clubs have become safe spaces.
Brexit. Disaster! Trump. Disaster! *bows at applause*
Where are the Jerry Sadowitz of our times? Can you imagine a Comedy Store where somebody cracked a gag like:
""Nelson Mandela, what a c***. Terry Waite, f*cking bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."[
The leftiness of comics is probably magnified by two effects. First, the establishment and HMG will be principal targets of jokes. Second, some comics will be mislabelled for spin reasons eg Jimmy Carr when his tax affairs became public.
Can I just say that whether someone voted Leave or Remain would play no part in whether or not I was friends with - or even be civil to - someone.
As for businesses making their political views known, it's up to them but always worth bearing in mind that you cannot assume what people's views are from externalities and that your customers will likely cover a wide range of views.
Personally I choose businesses on the basis of their products and service not their politics and if they choose to tell me about their political views I choose to ignore them. Dangerous territory for business to venture into because the chances of them being outed as hypocrites or inconsistent (did Ronnie Scotts write similar missives on other occasions when sterling fell?) is high.
Having "received opinions" foisted on you is tiresome, even if you agree with them. But easy enough to ignore. Taking offence at everything must be so tiring.
On the topic of Brexit appearing in unexpected contexts, I was surprised to read Gavin Hamilton - editor of World Soccer magazine - stating that the UK had taken a decision that would be an unmitigated disaster. Hilariously he implied that he thought it was the harbinger of UK isolationism from European football.
More bizarre still was the Chairman of the organization I work for declaring that Brexit was very bad for our organization as we depend upon being able to recruit European workers. This, of course, is utter bollocks.
Actually it is a fear within football.
I know someone who works for Man City and someone who works for Sky Sports (working out which matches to show live) and they think Brexit will have some very obvious downsides and some not so obvious ones.
To take an example from your club, without free movement Arsenal would not have been able to sign the young Fabregras as he wouldn't qualify under the work permit rules. Ditto Ronaldo at United.
As much as I like Hector Bellerin (needs to work on his crossing, mind), I have no problem whatsoever on clubs like Arsenal having to develop homegrown talent rather than poaching kids from La Masia.
But more importantly, you know someone who works out which matches Sky pick? This is massive, that's like my dream job. I have a spreadsheet and everything:
Must have been pissed, then. Never met a person who ate a kebab sober.
We were - we'd drunk far too much horrible overpriced white wine in an effort to force a laugh.
I once tried a kebab whilst sober about a decade ago - won't do that again. But they're entrancingly yummy when plastered.
I used to rather like Pizza Hut in my 20s - ARGH. I tried one again around the same time and what a vile salty horror. Like Heinz Beans - so sweet I can't bear them. Anything that comes in a tin bar water chestnuts/plum tomatoes/sardines gets the thumbs down in Chez Plato.
As a Greater Mancunian, I despair of the impending Andy Burnham mayoralty. Manchester has for years been led by an excellent Labour council which has worked well with governments of all stripes to do well for Manchester. Most of the other GM Councils too, and AGMA, are run by pragmatic Labour types who value getting the best deal for their constituents. There are numerous Great Manchester Labour politicians at both municipal and national level who could do a good job. Why now have Labour decided to foist this dickhead on us? His general attitude to the Northern Powerhouse has been one of contempt; his priority has always been 'taking on the Tories' rather than doing the best for his constituents.
Snip
I think the success of the GM Mayoralty will be predicated very very heavily on the success or otherwise of the GMNHS & Social Care department. If Andy Burnham can put together a good team to run health/social care (plus others), combining all those solid AGMA types as well as selected Labour thinkers from Westminster, then he has a chance. If done well, it could even flag the way ahead for national government on how to combine health and social care, and provide Labour with some meaty executive and policy experience (perhaps moreso even than London can). However, if done badly, which is possible given the serious funding constraints, it could be the beginning of the end for Labour's grip on the metropolitan suburbs, perhaps even city fringes (but not Manchester Central as I once ended up implying!). At least as someone with long experience in the health department, Burnham should know where to start.
I know several of you are just itching to reply to this one with 'Mid Staffordshire'. Looking back, I see that as one of the first of type outputs from NHS data analytics, and it did take much too long to believe the data. GM has had its fair share of troubled hospitals, e.g. Tameside (and I have family there and knowledge of their care failings, so GMNHS success is personal), so I hope and trust Burnham knows how to implement best practice to deal with this stuff now.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
On the topic of Brexit appearing in unexpected contexts, I was surprised to read Gavin Hamilton - editor of World Soccer magazine - stating that the UK had taken a decision that would be an unmitigated disaster. Hilariously he implied that he thought it was the harbinger of UK isolationism from European football.
More bizarre still was the Chairman of the organization I work for declaring that Brexit was very bad for our organization as we depend upon being able to recruit European workers. This, of course, is utter bollocks.
Actually it is a fear within football.
I know someone who works for Man City and someone who works for Sky Sports (working out which matches to show live) and they think Brexit will have some very obvious downsides and some not so obvious ones.
To take an example from your club, without free movement Arsenal would not have been able to sign the young Fabregras as he wouldn't qualify under the work permit rules. Ditto Ronaldo at United.
As much as I like Hector Bellerin (needs to work on his crossing, mind), I have no problem whatsoever on clubs like Arsenal having to develop homegrown talent rather than poaching kids from La Masia.
But more importantly, you know someone who works out which matches Sky pick? This is massive, that's like my dream job. I have a spreadsheet and everything:
He and his team have to play a game of chicken with BT Sport, working out which package/first picks BT will go for, but BT like to be cute and say the Manchester derby isn't a top pick or a bank holiday match isn't a midweek match.
Simple rule, Sky have the top picks for the first third of the season, then BT for the middle third, Sky for the business end of the season.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
Welcome to PB. Some of us here got on Bottas at 5/2, and I think he's still the driver Toto wants.
The sticking point is believed to be the contract Stroll has with Williams, which possibly requires Bottas to be his team mate. They'd need an equally experienced development driver (and older, over 21 'cos alcohol sponsorship) to replace him, possibly Paul Di Resta rather than Pascal Wherlein. Joe Saward is indeed well a connected hack, and often right with his musings.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
May is interestrd in her career, not what is best for the UK. She'd rather have headlines about cutting immigration than the benefits our world class university system currently delivers.
It's not "Leavers", it's me. It was my weekend, my evening, my money and I was outright insulted in a club I love and made to feel totally unwelcome. That hurt.
I take it you don't frequent standup comedy clubs? All Remoaner, anti-American, right-on crap, if you take their politics seriously. I have a friend who is a comic, but neither a Remoaner nor left-wing, and he has to take care to write jokes that are exactly the opposite of what he thinks, lest he be exiled to the Gulf.
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
Comedy clubs have become safe spaces.
Brexit. Disaster! Trump. Disaster! *bows at applause*
Where are the Jerry Sadowitz of our times? Can you imagine a Comedy Store where somebody cracked a gag like:
""Nelson Mandela, what a c***. Terry Waite, f*cking bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."[
It sets the standard for the fast food industry, was seen for a very long time as the yardstick of capitalism when it appeared in East Germany or China et al. It was a million miles better and cleaner than Wimpy here.
I honestly can't say when I last bought a burger, nuggets or curly fries - maybe 5+yrs ago in Victoria station waiting for the last train home. It offers very strong training to those who have nothing bar a good work ethic. Frankly, I'm delighted they're creating more jobs in the UK.
MacDonalds does surprisingly good coffee. I used to use the one at the corner of Moorgate and London Wall and the coffee was much better than in the nearby Starbucks.
MacDonalds coffee? I think it makes all otehr coffee look overpriced rubbish. It's superb.
And if you just want a fast fillup, MacDonalds takes some beating... And every six cup is free - if you collect tokens.
I don't drink coffee as it repeats on me all day/gives me a headache - but the McD's article I noted earlier has loads of comments praising their coffee too.
I only drink black tea - pref Earl Grey and always ask for a cup of hot water and the tea bag. Being dished up a stewed brew of tannin is just horrible. Who'd drink such muck? Yuck. Those who don't drink tea understandably miss the difference between the different tea experiences/tastes/strengths - yet are totally au fait with lattes, espressos et al.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
Welcome to the ranks of PB posters, Mr Mawbs. Your first post being both off-topic and about Formula 1 indicates that you will fit right in. Are you also interested in trains, engineering, history or cricket?
As a long time lurker I felt it was time to give something back as I had already taken as much as I was comfortable with. It occurs to me that Mercs problem is giving them as many headaches as brexit will give May.
He and his team have to play a game of chicken with BT Sport, working out which package/first picks BT will go for, but BT like to be cute and say the Manchester derby isn't a top pick or a bank holiday match isn't a midweek match.
Simple rule, Sky have the top picks for the first third of the season, then BT for the middle third, Sky for the business end of the season.
You do realize that what you've just written is phenomenally massive? You need to follow this thread on Digital Spy:
When you say rule - I suspect you mean strategy - I think Sky have control of first picks (Sunday 16:00 slot) but they have to relinquish control for 15 of the 33 weekend rounds of which BT then get first pick for nine of them.
I think it looks a really fun job. The packages have changed this season and I have been a bit surprised by some of the picks. What seems apparent is that Sky will die in a ditch before they give up big head to heads featuring Man Utd. So for United to be out of the title race is not great for Sky.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
Yes, the solution involves a more nuanced debate over student numbers than has been had so far. I'd allow unlimited numbers of foreign students, subject to their being enrolled on a full-time degree-level course at an accredited university, with appropriate fees paid up front.
I'll eat McDonalds sober and every kind of kebab. I love it all. Meat, n'fat, n'grease, n'carbs. Delicious. It's why I am such a fat git, of course; but I've had a great time getting this way.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
As I understand it, most of the low hanging fruit in this orchard was plucked years ago: the Tories seriously reduced the numbers of dodgy "language colleges" etc etc.
What's left is pretty much real students, at proper universities. If they go home after their courses, what is the problem? If they want to stay on, count them as migrants and impose all the usual restrictions.
If these students were going home at the end of their course, they would be netted out of the immigration stats anyway, eg they would appear as UK residents emigrating. The trouble must be that they aren't.
Its obvious that immigration was what won the referendum for Out, so any politician concerned about their long term survival would be doing the same I guess.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Of course, a steady state ingress of 300,000 first years and egress of 300,000 graduates would be totally neutral to net migrations, (up to the point where they stay on after their studies).
I don't know if this still holds true, but my experience of international students was that they were, in the main, either utterly brilliant or relatives of state officials who were a danger to themselves and others (I was STEM, obviously the chance the hurt anything more than TSE's feelings with some terrible Classics exposition is somewhat limited). There was very little middle ground.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
Yes, the solution involves a more nuanced debate over student numbers than has been had so far. I'd allow unlimited numbers of foreign students, subject to their being enrolled on a full-time degree-level course at an accredited university, with appropriate fees paid up front.
The whole thing got caught up with the government's drive to increase private sector education provision.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
As I understand it, most of the low hanging fruit in this orchard was plucked years ago: the Tories seriously reduced the numbers of dodgy "language colleges" etc etc.
What's left is pretty much real students, at proper universities. If they go home after their courses, what is the problem? If they want to stay on, count them as migrants and impose all the usual restrictions.
May will always prioritise good headlines over good policy.
As a greenish Libdem, if I lived in Leigh my motivation would be to stop Nuttall, and I would vote Labour. Therein lies UKIP's problem. More people dislike them than like them.
Also worth noting that Nuttall has virtually the worst personal popularity ratings of anyone - much worse than May, Corbyn, Farage, or anyone else on the UK scene. A lot of that must be simply his job, but I do know several Kippers and I've not met one who actually likes him yet - the best I've heard so far is "With luck he'll appeal to white working-class voters apart from me". There's a patronising idea that if you're WWC and shave your head then WWC voters will flock to you, but the WWC is actually diverse like everyone else:
I think he might come second as the media will talk him up, but he won't come close.
The argument is that we live in a new politics, where all that matters is Leave or Remain and this new dividing line will cut parties in two and split voters away from their usual homes. The guests on BBC Sunday Politics were at it again yesterday, pontificating on this new prism on politics.
Is it really true? Was in Richmond, but will it be in Leigh? This makes the by-election pretty important.
Conservative, Labour and Greens are divided on Brexit.
Only UKIP is solidly pro Brexit and SNP and Lib Dems solidly opposed.
So Labour and Conservative supporters could be confused about what their party stands for.
I'll eat McDonalds sober and every kind of kebab. I love it all. Meat, n'fat, n'grease, n'carbs. Delicious. It's why I am such a fat git, of course; but I've had a great time getting this way.
KFC is my vice - haven't eaten for 2yrs, but if they delivered I'd be a shareholder...
He and his team have to play a game of chicken with BT Sport, working out which package/first picks BT will go for, but BT like to be cute and say the Manchester derby isn't a top pick or a bank holiday match isn't a midweek match.
Simple rule, Sky have the top picks for the first third of the season, then BT for the middle third, Sky for the business end of the season.
You do realize that what you've just written is phenomenally massive? You need to follow this thread on Digital Spy:
When you say rule - I suspect you mean strategy - I think Sky have control of first picks (Sunday 16:00 slot) but they have to relinquish control for 15 of the 33 weekend rounds of which BT then get first pick for nine of them.
I think it looks a really fun job. The packages have changed this season and I have been a bit surprised by some of the picks. What seems apparent is that Sky will die in a ditch before they give up big head to heads featuring Man Utd. So for United to be out of the title race is not great for Sky.
Yes, strategy not rule.
The problem for Sky is United's Europa league participation which means they have to play matches on Sunday, and Sky don't like having three matches live on a Sunday, nor do they like having no Premier League football on a Saturday. There were a lot Sky people hoping United went out of the Europa league last week
Sky's ultimate dream situation is Liverpool in 13/14 and Leicester last season, where you get an unexpected title challenger, which means you haven't front loaded the picks earlier on in the season, and you've got a range of packages to choose their matches from, as well as pick their matches from teams that normally don't get picked as often.
The package changes are fun, it allows BT to show occasionally two matches a weekend now.
Off topic (and my first post). Betfair have a next merc F1 driver market. Bottas can be laid at 2.0 and Joe Saward's blog suggests Williams will not be able to release him even if they want to. . Dyor and I hope this tip helps.
Welcome to PB. Some of us here got on Bottas at 5/2, and I think he's still the driver Toto wants.
The sticking point is believed to be the contract Stroll has with Williams, which possibly requires Bottas to be his team mate. They'd need an equally experienced development driver (and older, over 21 'cos alcohol sponsorship) to replace him, possibly Paul Di Resta rather than Pascal Wherlein. Joe Saward is indeed well a connected hack, and often right with his musings.
I'll eat McDonalds sober and every kind of kebab. I love it all. Meat, n'fat, n'grease, n'carbs. Delicious. It's why I am such a fat git, of course; but I've had a great time getting this way.
I'm not a fan of the traditional kebab, but doner meat on naan bread i find to be the ultimate fast fusion food. i don't have to be drunk to enjoy it but it does requires beer accompaniment.
On the discussion last thread over whether Leave campaigners made it clear enough that they believed leaving the EU meant having to leave the Single Market:
Some of Burnham's recent remarks re Manchester appear to blame the present Labour council for failings on transport and employment. Yet George Osborne praised the Council's recently retired CEO, for approaching the Treasury with good workable schemes. The MetroLink project has secured money, new lines were built, the BBC site in the City Centre is being redeveloped. I would suggest that Burnham is making enemies when he doesn't need to.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
As I understand it, most of the low hanging fruit in this orchard was plucked years ago: the Tories seriously reduced the numbers of dodgy "language colleges" etc etc.
What's left is pretty much real students, at proper universities. If they go home after their courses, what is the problem? If they want to stay on, count them as migrants and impose all the usual restrictions.
I think it would be easier to just tighten up which institutions get to give out visa stamps and take the student numbers out of net migration until after they graduate and have stayed for longer than 90 days, either working or looking for work.
I'll eat McDonalds sober and every kind of kebab. I love it all. Meat, n'fat, n'grease, n'carbs. Delicious. It's why I am such a fat git, of course; but I've had a great time getting this way.
KFC is my vice - haven't eaten for 2yrs, but if they delivered I'd be a shareholder...
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Of course, a steady state ingress of 300,000 first years and egress of 300,000 graduates would be totally neutral to net migrations, (up to the point where they stay on after their studies).
I don't know if this still holds true, but my experience of international students was that they were, in the main, either utterly brilliant or relatives of state officials who were a danger to themselves and others (I was STEM, obviously the chance the hurt anything more than TSE's feelings with some terrible Classics exposition is somewhat limited). There was very little middle ground.
The problem isn't students so much as it is them bringing dependents and then having "family reunions" once they get citizenship. It is a literal back door to immigration to the UK.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Theresa May has been wrong about this issue for years. However, note that student visas are not just for what most would regard as traditional universities but also for all sorts of colleges, some of which offer degrees and others do not, and it might be that some of these are being abused.
Yes, the solution involves a more nuanced debate over student numbers than has been had so far. I'd allow unlimited numbers of foreign students, subject to their being enrolled on a full-time degree-level course at an accredited university, with appropriate fees paid up front.
I'd agree with that. My boy is studying at Leeds at the moment and opposite his flat is a Hall of Residence for Post Grad students, at least 50% of the residents of which are of oriental appearance and the vast majority female (I wish I was fifty years younger). The number of overseas students at Leeds is phenomenal and wholly a good thing.
On the other hand we have the backstreet "colleges" of Management Studies and Language schools that have survived despite the supposed clamp downs. They just need to be put out of business.
As ever the problem is not with who we let in but the ability to chuck 'em out if they don't play by the rules. Work permits and study visas are probably the way to go but any system will fail if it cannot be enforced.
I'll eat McDonalds sober and every kind of kebab. I love it all. Meat, n'fat, n'grease, n'carbs. Delicious. It's why I am such a fat git, of course; but I've had a great time getting this way.
I'm not a fan of the traditional kebab, but doner meat on naan bread i find to be the ultimate fast fusion food. i don't have to be drunk to enjoy it but it does requires beer accompaniment.
As a serious carnivore, I'd eat a steak stuck on a fork. Doners with chilli sauce, pickled cabbage and salad/onions is beyond delicious - but too greasy without beer. I used to get a spare slipper too as our favourite kebab takeaway chilli sauce was pretty devilish.
Does anyone know what the lamb shank dish is called - braised, meat falls off the bone? Only had it once and it was superb.
This would destroy UK universities. What is wrong with May and Rudd? Are they just dim?
Boris is right: take students out of the migration stats, unless they stay on after they graduate.
FFS.
Of course, a steady state ingress of 300,000 first years and egress of 300,000 graduates would be totally neutral to net migrations, (up to the point where they stay on after their studies).
I don't know if this still holds true, but my experience of international students was that they were, in the main, either utterly brilliant or relatives of state officials who were a danger to themselves and others (I was STEM, obviously the chance the hurt anything more than TSE's feelings with some terrible Classics exposition is somewhat limited). There was very little middle ground.
The problem isn't students so much as it is them bringing dependents and then having "family reunions" once they get citizenship. It is a literal back door to immigration to the UK.
Time spent as a student in the UK doesn't count for citizenship however.
Comments
Four men from Derby, aged between 22 and 36, were held along with a 27-year-old man from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, and a 32-year-old woman from London.
Police said they were arrested "on suspicion of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism" during morning raids across the country.
Properties in Burton, Derby and London were being searched as part of the investigation and the six suspects remain in police custody.
Andy Burnham has only done one thing as an MP that is worthy of praise, and that is to champion Hillsborough. I try hard to suppress the part of me that questions his motivation even on that.
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/brexit-uks-wto-status-could-be-blocked-over-territorial-disputes/ar-AAlrhAF?li=AA59G2&ocid=spartandhp
I think he might come second as the media will talk him up, but he won't come close.
UKIP could turn the by election into a referendum on Mrs May's handling of Brexit.
If you've not already bought shares in betrayal, there's still time.
https://twitter.com/meharxsingh/status/806236278115008512
On topic, Leigh is one of those interesting ex-coalfield seats where massive Labour majorities have masked a long-term drift away from Labour. There are fewer and fewer here who remember the time when the small towns in the area were dominated by coal, and the housing stock of the area is increasingly typified by the new estates which have sprung up close to the East Lancs Road in recent years, housing commuters to Manchester and Warrington. There were a rash of independent councillors in this area during the Blair/Brown years (I think?) - it is no longer as unquestioningly Labour as it once was.
That said, it swung towards Labour in 2015 - I put this down to the 'outer Merseyside' affect in 2015, where Labour did particularly well in seats within and adjacent to Merseyside (map it! it's fascinating) - the reasons for which really haven't been discussed or explained enough.
Should still be a nailed on Labour win, but an interesting seat for those who take an interest in long-term political shifts.
https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/807661070491979776
https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/808115496944095232
Is it really true? Was in Richmond, but will it be in Leigh? This makes the by-election pretty important.
Orwell was always confident that the populist response would be in favour of everyone being allowed their own views. That might be different now. If you were to substitute the name “Trump” or “Farage” and ask the question, you might not get such a liberal response. You might get a version of: “Get over it! Suck it up! You lost the vote! What bit of ‘democracy’ do you not understand?”
Orwell quotes from Voltaire (the attribution is now contested): “I detest what you say; I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Most of us would agree with the sentiment, but there is a worrying trend in universities that is filtering through into the media and the rest of society. Wanting a “safe space” in which you do not have to hear views that might upset you
PB is just mirror to much of it - if very unrepresentative overall.
Leavers have had a taste of power for the first time in decades and experiencing the bile of some Remain voters who feel terribly affronted at being rejected. I don't think many decide on Leave vs Remain, it's just broken the linkage for enough re Labour vs Others.
Six months on, I still have more in common value wise with Leavers. I'll be drawn to those who share my outlook. It won't be the only factor, but a big one.
"Moors murderer Ian Brady says Brexit judges ‘must not block the people’s vote’
http://tinyurl.com/jp84rz2
I love London's standup scene, I must say, but despite the politics, rather than because of it.
The interesting question is why? Is it because stamd-up comedy, of which a large chunk is inherently about making fun of the status quo, is inherently left-wing? Or is it because central London, the centre of the scene, is a left-wing city? Or is it the dominance of people who haven't made a living in conventional business but long for the success and gratification that money and fame bring?
As ever, the chattering classes, who love analysing other people, don't like turning the gaze on themselves ...
There was a young chap called Casino
Who was enjoying some music and vino
When a nasty jazz mag
Caused his manhood to sag
He should clearly have stuck to the Beano!
Historically, skinniness was a sign of starvation/poverty and fatness of wealth to gluttonous excess. It's more acceptable to mock the well-off than the impoverished.
The left are (to use caricatures) brainless, and the right heartless. A good idiot is often seen with sympathy, whereas an uncaring genius is tolerated but never loved.
There's also the way that the parties see themselves. I remember a talking heads piece (top 100 list) which featured Kenny Everett[sp] and his appearance at Conservative conference. One talking head said he was offended (albeit with a smile on his face) that Everett had 'come out' but as a Tory, because he assumed 'he was on your side'.
https://twitter.com/casinoroyalepb/status/808070256870694913
More bizarre still was the Chairman of the organization I work for declaring that Brexit was very bad for our organization as we depend upon being able to recruit European workers. This, of course, is utter bollocks.
It took me about an hour to realise it was sweat. No one was drinking anything bar bottled water. I stood around smiling and enduring. Few venues have made a bigger impact on me. Revolting.
Two Motorhead gigs were another - at the Mayfair in Newcastle. So loud the air in my lungs pounded. I decided to hang out behind the speakers on the balcony as the safest place to retain my hearing and still breathe.
The WTO has 164 members and 20 observer governments.[81] Liberia became the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 July 2016.[82][83] In addition to states, the European Union, and each EU Country in its own right,[84] is a member.
Edited extra bit: the source: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/european_communities_e.htm
Edited extra bit 2: and membership list here: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0xGt3QmRSZY&feature=youtu.be
http://order-order.com/2016/12/12/tatchell-heckler-says-hes-labour-member-who-voted-corbyn/
Another day same old shit
I know someone who works for Man City and someone who works for Sky Sports (working out which matches to show live) and they think Brexit will have some very obvious downsides and some not so obvious ones.
To take an example from your club, without free movement Arsenal would not have been able to sign the young Fabregras as he wouldn't qualify under the work permit rules. Ditto Ronaldo at United.
Would they really let £50 million players leave for free? If not they'd become unattractive for foreign footballers.
Brexit. Disaster! Trump. Disaster! *bows at applause*
Where are the Jerry Sadowitz of our times? Can you imagine a Comedy Store where somebody cracked a gag like:
""Nelson Mandela, what a c***. Terry Waite, f*cking bastard. I dunno, you lend some people a fiver, you never see them again."[
The STimes comment section yesterday was pretty good - Monday's offerings are very thin gruel.
Re the chatterati talking about McDonald's moving their Euro HQ to UK - I really don't understand the snobbery about the brand. This is rare praise http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2016-12-11/comment/classless-cheap-and-backing-britain-theres-plenty-tasty-about-mcdonalds-d9zvmfvh2
It sets the standard for the fast food industry, was seen for a very long time as the yardstick of capitalism when it appeared in East Germany or China et al. It was a million miles better and cleaner than Wimpy here.
I honestly can't say when I last bought a burger, nuggets or curly fries - maybe 5+yrs ago in Victoria station waiting for the last train home. It offers very strong training to those who have nothing bar a good work ethic. Frankly, I'm delighted they're creating more jobs in the UK.
Must have been pissed, then. Never met a person who ate a kebab sober.
And if you just want a fast fillup, MacDonalds takes some beating... And every six cup is free - if you collect tokens.
As for businesses making their political views known, it's up to them but always worth bearing in mind that you cannot assume what people's views are from externalities and that your customers will likely cover a wide range of views.
Personally I choose businesses on the basis of their products and service not their politics and if they choose to tell me about their political views I choose to ignore them. Dangerous territory for business to venture into because the chances of them being outed as hypocrites or inconsistent (did Ronnie Scotts write similar missives on other occasions when sterling fell?) is high.
Having "received opinions" foisted on you is tiresome, even if you agree with them. But easy enough to ignore. Taking offence at everything must be so tiring.
But more importantly, you know someone who works out which matches Sky pick? This is massive, that's like my dream job. I have a spreadsheet and everything:
https://1drv.ms/x/s!Av4jQcUMVtBphjHrcSrGV2AWiJz4
I once tried a kebab whilst sober about a decade ago - won't do that again. But they're entrancingly yummy when plastered.
I used to rather like Pizza Hut in my 20s - ARGH. I tried one again around the same time and what a vile salty horror. Like Heinz Beans - so sweet I can't bear them. Anything that comes in a tin bar water chestnuts/plum tomatoes/sardines gets the thumbs down in Chez Plato.
I think that lot should be profitable in the round.
I know several of you are just itching to reply to this one with 'Mid Staffordshire'. Looking back, I see that as one of the first of type outputs from NHS data analytics, and it did take much too long to believe the data. GM has had its fair share of troubled hospitals, e.g. Tameside (and I have family there and knowledge of their care failings, so GMNHS success is personal), so I hope and trust Burnham knows how to implement best practice to deal with this stuff now.
He and his team have to play a game of chicken with BT Sport, working out which package/first picks BT will go for, but BT like to be cute and say the Manchester derby isn't a top pick or a bank holiday match isn't a midweek match.
Simple rule, Sky have the top picks for the first third of the season, then BT for the middle third, Sky for the business end of the season.
Only layable at 3 now, alas. At evens was quite tempting.
If not Bottas, then Wehrlein or (outsider) Sainz seem the best prospects.
Anyway, if the latter two get it, I'm ahead on that, if Bottas gets it, I've got 26 each way on the title.
...
If Alonso gets it, I'll be impoverished, but entertained next year.
The sticking point is believed to be the contract Stroll has with Williams, which possibly requires Bottas to be his team mate. They'd need an equally experienced development driver (and older, over 21 'cos alcohol sponsorship) to replace him, possibly Paul Di Resta rather than Pascal Wherlein. Joe Saward is indeed well a connected hack, and often right with his musings.
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/lowe-expectations/
Come back Jim Davidson?
I only drink black tea - pref Earl Grey and always ask for a cup of hot water and the tea bag. Being dished up a stewed brew of tannin is just horrible. Who'd drink such muck? Yuck. Those who don't drink tea understandably miss the difference between the different tea experiences/tastes/strengths - yet are totally au fait with lattes, espressos et al.
http://tinyurl.com/zndxovq
When you say rule - I suspect you mean strategy - I think Sky have control of first picks (Sunday 16:00 slot) but they have to relinquish control for 15 of the 33 weekend rounds of which BT then get first pick for nine of them.
I think it looks a really fun job. The packages have changed this season and I have been a bit surprised by some of the picks. What seems apparent is that Sky will die in a ditch before they give up big head to heads featuring Man Utd. So for United to be out of the title race is not great for Sky.
Its obvious that immigration was what won the referendum for Out, so any politician concerned about their long term survival would be doing the same I guess.
I'd rather be in Mercedes' shoes than May's, though.
I don't know if this still holds true, but my experience of international students was that they were, in the main, either utterly brilliant or relatives of state officials who were a danger to themselves and others (I was STEM, obviously the chance the hurt anything more than TSE's feelings with some terrible Classics exposition is somewhat limited). There was very little middle ground.
Conservative, Labour and Greens are divided on Brexit.
Only UKIP is solidly pro Brexit and SNP and Lib Dems solidly opposed.
So Labour and Conservative supporters could be confused about what their party stands for.
If Bottas doesn't go, Wehrlein is the likeliest chap for the job. But if Mercedes wants more experience, Sainz is an outside option.
Edited extra bit: that's with Ladbrokes, by the way.
Edited extra bit 2: he's also 17 for the seat (down from 21) so you may prefer that.
The problem for Sky is United's Europa league participation which means they have to play matches on Sunday, and Sky don't like having three matches live on a Sunday, nor do they like having no Premier League football on a Saturday. There were a lot Sky people hoping United went out of the Europa league last week
Sky's ultimate dream situation is Liverpool in 13/14 and Leicester last season, where you get an unexpected title challenger, which means you haven't front loaded the picks earlier on in the season, and you've got a range of packages to choose their matches from, as well as pick their matches from teams that normally don't get picked as often.
The package changes are fun, it allows BT to show occasionally two matches a weekend now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT8fkefynzM
On the other hand we have the backstreet "colleges" of Management Studies and Language schools that have survived despite the supposed clamp downs. They just need to be put out of business.
As ever the problem is not with who we let in but the ability to chuck 'em out if they don't play by the rules. Work permits and study visas are probably the way to go but any system will fail if it cannot be enforced.
Does anyone know what the lamb shank dish is called - braised, meat falls off the bone? Only had it once and it was superb.