Interesting morning thread, especially Casino's briefing on Bulgaria, all of which was new to me.
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
I agree that Starmer remains good value (2/5), and think Nandy is good value as an outsider at 11/2. Long Bailey seems too short at 9/2. The telling figure is that she has somehow managed to pick up only 15% of CLP nominations from a reasonable sample of 49. Given the supposed dominance of the far left in constituencies, that is pretty pathetic and confirms that things have changed. Last nights nominations went Starmer 10 Nandy 6 RLB 2.
Unite are making their nomination today and it now seems inevitable that they will back Long Bailey which will bring her price in a bit and push the others out. So it would be worth waiting until the prices change later today before backing one of the others.
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
As I've said before, we've been fixating on the top 10% and the bottom 10%, and the 80% in the middle are an afterthought.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
I agree that Starmer remains good value (2/5), and think Nandy is good value as an outsider at 11/2. Long Bailey seems too short at 9/2. The telling figure is that she has somehow managed to pick up only 15% of CLP nominations from a reasonable sample of 49. Given the supposed dominance of the far left in constituencies, that is pretty pathetic and confirms that things have changed. Last nights nominations went Starmer 10 Nandy 6 RLB 2.
Unite are making their nomination today and it now seems inevitable that they will back Long Bailey which will bring her price in a bit and push the others out. So it would be worth waiting until the prices change later today before backing one of the others.
I've done a scientific analysis and concluded that you can make a case for any of KS, RLB and LN being available at value prices, which is clearly nonsense but what happens when you consider each candidate in isolation. Overnight, RLB has shortened and LN drifted in a thin market.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
The hospital, which is due to open next week, is similar to those established in Beijing in 2003, when the city faced a Sars outbreak that killed almost 800 people and reached nearly 30 countries.
During that crisis, 7,000 workers in Beijing built the Xiaotangshan hospital in its northern suburbs in just a week. Within two months, it treated one-seventh of all the country’s Sars patients, the Changjiang Daily said...
On topic, and apologies if this has already been addressed, but what percentage of people who will vote in the final contest have been voting in the CLP votes? And if it's a relatively small percentage, how representative of the wider membership do we think they are?
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
Usually before they commence full time employment...
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
The hospital, which is due to open next week, is similar to those established in Beijing in 2003, when the city faced a Sars outbreak that killed almost 800 people and reached nearly 30 countries.
During that crisis, 7,000 workers in Beijing built the Xiaotangshan hospital in its northern suburbs in just a week. Within two months, it treated one-seventh of all the country’s Sars patients, the Changjiang Daily said...
yet we need 30 years to get a railway line to Manchester, kind of explains why UK is circling the drain
For all those praising China's swiftness over a new hospital, bear in mind they've introduced compulsory face scans for anyone buying a new mobile phone, and the social credit system is bloody horrendous.
When the Government is all-powerful it can do lots of things quickly.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
"Who run the world?! Women" - Beyonce
Probably at the same time a boy becomes a man, back in the good old days it was 21.
It will be Professor Bercow from now on when he appears on the TV and woe betide any presenter that does not refer to him correctly. He is joining the politics Dept at Royal Holloway.
For all those praising China's swiftness over a new hospital, bear in mind they've introduced compulsory face scans for anyone buying a new mobile phone, and the social credit system is bloody horrendous.
When the Government is all-powerful it can do lots of things quickly.
when it is Tory and full of lying cheating toerags it can only manage stuff that helps it and its chums.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
And then, where does "lass" fit in?
And when do you stop saying totty ???
If I call a fifty year old lady señora she will scowl at me as will a thirty year old I call senorita you are a chica till forty and only a senora if you are a pensioner.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romanain 90% of Polish"
The country with the fascinating story regarding the Holocaust is Bulgaria. It started the war with 50,000 Jews. Despite being an Axis country, it ended the war with 50,000 Jews. Entirely down to the efforts of King Boris, who played a cunning game of chess with Hitler. He was ordered to send them to the death camps, but delayed and delayed and then delayed some more - then he moved them all out into the countryside.
He won in that he saved their lives. He lost in that he was poisoned - probably with snake venom - on the orders of Hitler.
Bulgarians are very proud of that, and there is still a substantive monarchist minority in Bulgaria, which includes my parents-in-law.
Wasn't it King Boris' son who became Prime Minister of Bulgaria after the Communist regime fell? Is he still about in Bulgarian politics? Strange country in some ways; went there in 1984 as part of a 'sort of' official group. The first week at each reception, and they were daily, we were served 'our delicious fruits'; strawberries. The second week it was cherries.
Yes, and no.
King Simeon became PM for a few years in the noughties (and got Bulgaria into the EU) but fell from power at the next election, partly due to vested interests in Bulgaria which he was challenging. It’s a corrupt country, sadly, and that really holds it back.
Lots of fruit there. They also grow a lot of roses. It was the Roman province of “Thrace” and used to be quite a wealthy one.
Now, it’s more like a very affordable Spain. Although, you can’t get a good steak there you can get delicious salads, pork, lamb and wine for a pittance. Same with spa treatments and spa resorts. Younger generation speak fluent English and will be delighted to see (non lager lout) Brits, which means avoiding Sunny Beach and the Black Sea resorts. Instead, try Bansko for skiing or Plovdiv (excellent Roman ruins, including an intact original amphitheatre) or Sofia for a city break. Older generation will speak Russian, but little or no English, and be more circumspect about the West, although curious about the UK.
Both are very moderately but consistently respectful of religious traditions through the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in a “CofE” type way.
During our 1984 trip we went to the Valley of the Roses, near Plovdiv, but sadly we didn't spend enough time there.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
"Who run the world?! Women" - Beyonce
Probably at the same time a boy becomes a man, back in the good old days it was 21.
Now they have raised the school-leaving age to 21.
17% swing to the Tories and 27% to the LibDems against Labour in London? Suggests they might just have bigger issues than the Hindus......
Brent north used to be a very safe Tory seat pre 1997.
The lab candidate in Alperton was suspended for anti Muslim and anti Pakistan tweets. I live next door to this ward, and although Libdems used to have past strength in Alperton if Labour are losing areas like it they are in very deep trouble come the locals in May.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
"Who run the world?! Women" - Beyonce
Probably at the same time a boy becomes a man, back in the good old days it was 21.
Now they have raised the school-leaving age to 21.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
Yep, a university friend who worked in San Francisco came home last January. Her accountant recommended purchasing a large sea front house in Norfolk to store some money she wouldn't need access to.
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
And then, where does "lass" fit in?
And when do you stop saying totty ???
When you get to my age, anything that casts a glance in my direction is totty.....
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
Surely the problem is that for voters aged 60+, what passes as poverty today doesn't come close to what they saw/experienced as children.
The problem is that those campaigning against poverty ran out of genuine poverty to campaign about - so they changed their definition to a 'relative' measure, that seems to most observers to mean people with an iPhone 8 rather than an iPhone 10.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
Yep, a university friend who worked in San Francisco came home last January. Her accountant recommended purchasing a large sea front house in Norfolk to store some money she wouldn't need access to.
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Edit - it seems she is still on a career break.
Given the number of Norfolk sea front houses that are reported on BBC East as falling into the sea, I'd question the wisdom of that advice!
For all those praising China's swiftness over a new hospital, bear in mind they've introduced compulsory face scans for anyone buying a new mobile phone, and the social credit system is bloody horrendous.
When the Government is all-powerful it can do lots of things quickly.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
Yep, a university friend who worked in San Francisco came home last January. Her accountant recommended purchasing a large sea front house in Norfolk to store some money she wouldn't need access to.
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Edit - it seems she is still on a career break.
Given the number of Norfolk sea front houses that are reported on BBC East as falling into the sea, I'd question the wisdom of that advice!
I don't know exactly where it is, could be in land - we usually meet at reunions and I didn't want to confirm how much her new found wealth was (I know it's over £1m) when there were far poorer people around.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Inyeresting question .. when does a girl.become a woman.?
And then, where does "lass" fit in?
And when do you stop saying totty ???
When you get to my age, anything that casts a glance in my direction is totty.....
Rent a flat above a shop, Cut your hair and get a job, Smoke some fags and play some pool, Pretend you never went to school.
That song is a perfect description of the way people who move into an urban area marvel at and boast of the things that a lot of those who were born and bred there want to get away from
It is the Animal Farm or Candide for the early twenty-first century.
I can just imagine taking Emily Thornberry to Aldi .... and saying "Pretend you've got No Money".
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
The Poles were a lot more efficient at rounding up their Jews than many other occupied countries. His family may have been blameless, but the record of the Poles vs - say - the Italians or the Danes is not good.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romainian 90% of Jewish
According to Yad Vashem, which is the Israeli Holocaust Authority, Polish Jews were by far the most likely to be killed in the Holocaust.
Because Poland was occupied by the Nazis, no functioning Polish state existed between 1939 and 1945. The Nazis were running the country during that time (or 1941 and 1945 for the eastern part which is mostly now part of Belarus and Ukraine).
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
AMS works very well as a hub, and KLM fly pretty much anywhere that BA does. Last few European flights have been through there.
Just have to be careful when booking though, that one doesn't end up on a French plane by accident.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
Yep, a university friend who worked in San Francisco came home last January. Her accountant recommended purchasing a large sea front house in Norfolk to store some money she wouldn't need access to.
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Edit - it seems she is still on a career break.
Given the number of Norfolk sea front houses that are reported on BBC East as falling into the sea, I'd question the wisdom of that advice!
I don't know exactly where it is, could be in land - we usually meet at reunions and I didn't want to confirm how much her new found wealth was (I know it's over £1m) when there were far poorer people around.
Buy an inland property, wait for a big storm, sell a seafront property!
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
AMS works very well as a hub, and KLM fly pretty much anywhere that BA does. Last few European flights have been through there.
Just have to be careful when booking though, that one doesn't end up on a French plane by accident.
Not a problem where I am as I have to head north for an Air France flight.
Mr. Eek, it's a few months ago but I think I remember reading that property prices in Silicon Valley are insane (to the extent that even most of London is significantly cheaper).
Yep, a university friend who worked in San Francisco came home last January. Her accountant recommended purchasing a large sea front house in Norfolk to store some money she wouldn't need access to.
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Edit - it seems she is still on a career break.
Given the number of Norfolk sea front houses that are reported on BBC East as falling into the sea, I'd question the wisdom of that advice!
I don't know exactly where it is, could be in land - we usually meet at reunions and I didn't want to confirm how much her new found wealth was (I know it's over £1m) when there were far poorer people around.
There's plenty of $200k salaries in the Silly Valley, but it's by all accounts a terrible place to live.
There's no housing, what housing does exist makes London prices seem like Middlesborough, there's a massive homeless problem and many people commute two or three hours each way by car, for a 14-hours-a-day job.
That's not much of an exaggeration either. But most hope that their company is the one that makes it, in which case there's a lot of money to be made.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
Back in London after three nights in Aberdeen with my brother and sister-in-law. Days out with them in and around Aberdeen, eg. Dunottar Castle, but managed a quick out-and-back from Aberdeen to Inverurie yesterday morning. Track has been doubled, since last summer if the train crew are to be believed.
The Poles were a lot more efficient at rounding up their Jews than many other occupied countries. His family may have been blameless, but the record of the Poles vs - say - the Italians or the Danes is not good.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romainian 90% of Jewish
According to Yad Vashem, which is the Israeli Holocaust Authority, Polish Jews were by far the most likely to be killed in the Holocaust.
Because Poland was occupied by the Nazis, no functioning Polish state existed between 1939 and 1945. The Nazis were running the country during that time (or 1941 and 1945 for the eastern part which is mostly now part of Belarus and Ukraine).
A point Timothy Snyder makes in some detail in his book Bloodlands. The capacity to resist was much greater in countries where the Nazis left state institutions even partially intact.
More details on Bercow i see. If he is not a bully how unfortunate for him that his public persona that many like about him - his pompous self importance, his withering put downs at the slightest provocation; his confidence to make his own decisions regardless of advice - make it seem quite believable he would be terrible to work for.
Too many snowflakes about, pathetic creatures that need hand holding and constant attention and praise or they think they are being bullied.
Blaming an overbearing elder sibling or senior partner, let's say, for their own failure to progress...
The Poles were a lot more efficient at rounding up their Jews than many other occupied countries. His family may have been blameless, but the record of the Poles vs - say - the Italians or the Danes is not good.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romainian 90% of Jewish
According to Yad Vashem, which is the Israeli Holocaust Authority, Polish Jews were by far the most likely to be killed in the Holocaust.
Because Poland was occupied by the Nazis, no functioning Polish state existed between 1939 and 1945. The Nazis were running the country during that time (or 1941 and 1945 for the eastern part which is mostly now part of Belarus and Ukraine).
A point Timothy Snyder makes in some detail in his book Bloodlands. The capacity to resist was much greater in countries where the Nazis left state institutions even partially intact.
There was a collaborationist "Blue Police", but they were a very minor element in the occupation regime. The northwest and west of Poland were directly annexed to Germany in 1939, the central and southern bit became the "General Government", which was kind of part of the Reich, but administered separately as kind of a "testing ground" for cracking down on Poles and Jews. Meanwhile, the eastern parts were annexed by the Soviets. Then in 1941, the Nazis took over those regions, transferring the area around Lviv (eastern Galicia) to the General Government, and the area around Bialystok to East Prussia.
Thanks for sharing, this was very interesting. I'm also wondering whether Labour banging on about homelessness and extreme poverty is a mistake (obviously we should do things about those issues, but is it wise to campaign so much on them when they don't affect many voters?).
Surely the problem is that for voters aged 60+, what passes as poverty today doesn't come close to what they saw/experienced as children.
I've been called a heartless Tory for pointing out that in 1945, helping people out of poverty, and introducing basic standards of housing, affected the majority of voters directly. Now it affects many of us indirectly, but a smaller proportion directly.
Dealing with poverty and homelessness should be an absolute basic target for any Labour government (really, any govt), but the main thrust of any party's message needs to directly improve the lives of the majority.
For all those praising China's swiftness over a new hospital, bear in mind they've introduced compulsory face scans for anyone buying a new mobile phone, and the social credit system is bloody horrendous.
When the Government is all-powerful it can do lots of things quickly.
17% swing to the Tories and 27% to the LibDems against Labour in London? Suggests they might just have bigger issues than the Hindus......
Brent north used to be a very safe Tory seat pre 1997.
The lab candidate in Alperton was suspended for anti Muslim and anti Pakistan tweets. I live next door to this ward, and although Libdems used to have past strength in Alperton if Labour are losing areas like it they are in very deep trouble come the locals in May.
Agree the locals will be challenging for Lab with all the met boroughs up, which includes red wall areas like Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Wakefield.
Lab's big problem is that because the met boroughs have previously been up for election when Lab were in opposition they are pretty much already maxed out e.g.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
Back in London after three nights in Aberdeen with my brother and sister-in-law. Days out with them in and around Aberdeen, eg. Dunottar Castle, but managed a quick out-and-back from Aberdeen to Inverurie yesterday morning. Track has been doubled, since last summer if the train crew are to be believed.
There should be two new stations in that part of the world shortly.
When I have "words" when cycling around London and want to be passive aggressive with men because they're being twats I say "mate*" When I occasionally have to do the same to women I say "love". And for some reason it drives them bonkers.
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romainian 90% of Jewish
According to Yad Vashem, which is the Israeli Holocaust Authority, Polish Jews were by far the most likely to be killed in the Holocaust.
Because Poland was occupied by the Nazis, no functioning Polish state existed between 1939 and 1945. The Nazis were running the country during that time (or 1941 and 1945 for the eastern part which is mostly now part of Belarus and Ukraine).
A point Timothy Snyder makes in some detail in his book Bloodlands. The capacity to resist was much greater in countries where the Nazis left state institutions even partially intact.
There was a collaborationist "Blue Police", but they were a very minor element in the occupation regime. The northwest and west of Poland were directly annexed to Germany in 1939, the central and southern bit became the "General Government", which was kind of part of the Reich, but administered separately as kind of a "testing ground" for cracking down on Poles and Jews. Meanwhile, the eastern parts were annexed by the Soviets. Then in 1941, the Nazis took over those regions, transferring the area around Lviv (eastern Galicia) to the General Government, and the area around Bialystok to East Prussia.
I think in any genocide, those who passively acquiesce (willingly or unwillingly) constitute the large majority if the population, and the numbers who actively resist or actively collaborate depend very much on the extremity of the conditions.
Antisemitism existed in pretty well all European countries pre-war, but its extent does not correlate well with the degree of collaboration with the Holocaust during the war.
Suppose a CLP had a definite preference for Starmer over Long-Bailey. Might they think that if Thornberry was on the ballot, that would ensure fewer 2nd preferences for L-B when it came to the actual ballot? And might they have a reason to vote for Thornberry even if she was not their top choice? I don't know the answer. But I'm wondering whether CLPs, like some members of the PLP, could have a reason for nominating someone who wasn't their top choice.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Skyteam makes more sense for those of us out in the regions, where Amsterdam is our natural hub.
Back in London after three nights in Aberdeen with my brother and sister-in-law. Days out with them in and around Aberdeen, eg. Dunottar Castle, but managed a quick out-and-back from Aberdeen to Inverurie yesterday morning. Track has been doubled, since last summer if the train crew are to be believed.
There should be two new stations in that part of the world shortly.
Kintore is almost complete, I passed it between Dyce and Inverurie. The other station is Dalcross for Inverness Airport. Haven't done Inverness to Inverurie yet! The other ScotRail lines on my "need" list are Inverness to Kyle and Dingwall to Thurso/Wick.
When I have "words" when cycling around London and want to be passive aggressive with men because they're being twats I say "mate*" When I occasionally have to do the same to women I say "love". And for some reason it drives them bonkers.
* Not bruv or cuz, obvs.
And if you know their first name, but dont like them or are arguing with them, call them by it.. Two trademark James O'Brien techniques to make people, who already dislike you, dislike you even more, before claiming you're just trying calm the situation down and be friendly!
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
Hi Nick (if you are there). Roughly what proportion of your total CLP membership attended the nomination meeting?
Can anyone convince me that RLB is not a massive lay at 5.5 (or thereabouts)?
I am not trying to convince you, but I'd be wary of the fact that all the people with the down on her are desperate for Corbyn's Labour to be consigned to the dustbin
That said, someone I know who is a Corbyn fan, and a shrewd gambler, reckons she can probably only win if she wins the first round, so I would like to see prices on that
Can anyone convince me that RLB is not a massive lay at 5.5 (or thereabouts)?
Her price is coming in as the Unite nomination meeting progresses. So wait a bit until she inevitably gets the Unite nomination, then lay her at better odds.
When I have "words" when cycling around London and want to be passive aggressive with men because they're being twats I say "mate*" When I occasionally have to do the same to women I say "love". And for some reason it drives them bonkers.
* Not bruv or cuz, obvs.
And if you know their first name, but dont like them or are arguing with them, call them by it.. Two trademark James O'Brien techniques to make people, who already dislike you, dislike you even more, before claiming you're just trying calm the situation down and be friendly!
When I have "words" when cycling around London and want to be passive aggressive with men because they're being twats I say "mate*" When I occasionally have to do the same to women I say "love". And for some reason it drives them bonkers.
* Not bruv or cuz, obvs.
And if you know their first name, but dont like them or are arguing with them, call them by it.. Two trademark James O'Brien techniques to make people, who already dislike you, dislike you even more, before claiming you're just trying calm the situation down and be friendly!
2% of Danish Jews were killed 13% of Italian Jews were killed 21% of Estonian 22% of French 34% of Romainian 90% of Jewish
According to Yad Vashem, which is the Israeli Holocaust Authority, Polish Jews were by far the most likely to be killed in the Holocaust.
Because Poland was occupied by the Nazis, no functioning Polish state existed between 1939 and 1945. The Nazis were running the country during that time (or 1941 and 1945 for the eastern part which is mostly now part of Belarus and Ukraine).
A point Timothy Snyder makes in some detail in his book Bloodlands. The capacity to resist was much greater in countries where the Nazis left state institutions even partially intact.
There was a collaborationist "Blue Police", but they were a very minor element in the occupation regime. The northwest and west of Poland were directly annexed to Germany in 1939, the central and southern bit became the "General Government", which was kind of part of the Reich, but administered separately as kind of a "testing ground" for cracking down on Poles and Jews. Meanwhile, the eastern parts were annexed by the Soviets. Then in 1941, the Nazis took over those regions, transferring the area around Lviv (eastern Galicia) to the General Government, and the area around Bialystok to East Prussia.
I think in any genocide, those who passively acquiesce (willingly or unwillingly) constitute the large majority if the population, and the numbers who actively resist or actively collaborate depend very much on the extremity of the conditions.
Antisemitism existed in pretty well all European countries pre-war, but its extent does not correlate well with the degree of collaboration with the Holocaust during the war.
In Poland anyone who helped Jews was shot and risked having their family shot as well. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to resist a regime as evil as the Nazi regime in those circumstances. Those who criticise the Poles should ask themselves how brave they would be in a similar situation. Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands is very good at explaining the awful choices that people faced in those countries and what informed the decisions they took. It is far too crude and ahistorical to say with hindsight that it was a simple or easy choice. I think that it is in his book he describes a Polish priest who held classic Christian anti-Semitic views about Jews (Christ killers etc) but nonetheless protected individual Jews from harm. How to classify such a person?
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
I remember you saying before that you didn't know anyone who was supporting Nandy, and that only two topics were really being discussed (who is left enough? who is capable of winning a general election?).
Did last night indicate a change in mood, or was it just that you were hearing from different people?
On topic, we had our monthly CLP meeting last night (the nomination meeting is not till Feb 4) for an election post-mortem. Lots of new members taking part, and an amicable atmosphere. General agreement on the causes of defeat (Corbyn's reputation, Brexit, lack of clear Labour theme, lack of cheery optimism), a variety of views on what was needed, from more centrism (appeal to the insecure middle class) to more focused socialism (a couple of key themes, not a dozen). Nobody expressed a clear preference or aversion on leadership candidates. I suspect we'll end up with a Starmer or Nandy nomination, with RLB getting a third of the vote, but I'm guessing.
Hi Nick (if you are there). Roughly what proportion of your total CLP membership attended the nomination meeting?
Lisa Nandy is the only Labour candidate who doesn’t scare me: a right-wing Tory.
Now, I’m savvy enough to recognise she’s actually quite left-wing, and I very much doubt I’d enjoy her period in office, but if that’s how I’m feeling viscerally now it’d be enough to have a real shot at winning a GE.
When I have "words" when cycling around London and want to be passive aggressive with men because they're being twats I say "mate*" When I occasionally have to do the same to women I say "love". And for some reason it drives them bonkers.
* Not bruv or cuz, obvs.
And if you know their first name, but dont like them or are arguing with them, call them by it.. Two trademark James O'Brien techniques to make people, who already dislike you, dislike you even more, before claiming you're just trying calm the situation down and be friendly!
When some twat of a taxi driver tries to do a U-turn in front of me I often don't manage to get a glimpse of his driver's badge...
I made it clear at the time that I strongly disagreed with Justin. However, I am capable of strongly disagreeing with people without hating them. And as I also said at the time, I strongly dislike mob-mentality.
Your comments betray a deep prejudice towards religious people, along with a self-righteousness that makes you unable to see that prejudice. I felt it necessary to challenge your views, because others were challenging Justin's views but nobody was challenging yours.
Do you really think God exists?
An obvious sign of homophobia is believing that anyone who stands up against homophobia is, themselves, gay.
An obvious sign of religious bigotry is believing that anyone who stands up against religious bigotry is, themselves, a member of the targeted religion.
Your question is the equivalent of mockingly asking "Are you gay?" to someone who has just challenged homophobia. As I mentioned before, I am not religious. You need to take a long hard look at yourself.
I made it clear at the time that I strongly disagreed with Justin. However, I am capable of strongly disagreeing with people without hating them. And as I also said at the time, I strongly dislike mob-mentality.
Your comments betray a deep prejudice towards religious people, along with a self-righteousness that makes you unable to see that prejudice. I felt it necessary to challenge your views, because others were challenging Justin's views but nobody was challenging yours.
Do you really think God exists?
An obvious sign of homophobia is believing that anyone who stands up against homophobia is, themselves, gay.
An obvious sign of religious bigotry is believing that anyone who stands up against religious bigotry is, themselves, a member of the targeted religion.
Your question is the equivalent of mockingly asking "Are you gay?" to someone who has just challenged homophobia. As I mentioned before, I am not religious. You need to take a long hard look at yourself.
Dude, where did I say it is "wrong" to believe in God?
What a load of codswallop. At least he's not swearing every Tweet anymore but still nonsense.
The UK is perfectly entitled to and able to decide which sectors (or products) it makes sense to maintain alignment with and which it wants to divert from - and if it maintains alignment with the EU because it makes sense to on one thing, that doesn't stop us from diverging where we desire to do so elsewhere.
The idea that only those aligned can export is patently absurd. I'm pretty certain whatever phone or Laptop foolish Dunt sent his moan from was certified to be exported to the EU but was not manufactured in the EU. Its not the dark ages and trade is possible, muppet.
I think Unite would do well to swing in behind Nandy and try and back a possible winner rather than fuck about trying to help RLB in a doomed campaign.
Star Alliance is a go! Unsurprisingly I wasn't the only one irritated with BA. That's a huge corporate account with regular flights to Asia and North America plus personal flights of everyone eligible to use their own executive club number. The girl who books our flights is doing the numbers but the cost to BA looks about £30-35k per month in business flights from the company plus the people who switch their personal flights as well.
Woman not 'girl' you sexist twat.
Lol, you go and call her "woman" and I'll just stand by and watch. You know fuck all about fuck all as usual.
For what it's worth (probably not much), it's looking like there'll be a negative correlation between gender of union-membership and gender of union's preferred candidate.
Lisa Nandy is the only Labour candidate who doesn’t scare me: a right-wing Tory.
Now, I’m savvy enough to recognise she’s actually quite left-wing, and I very much doubt I’d enjoy her period in office, but if that’s how I’m feeling viscerally now it’d be enough to have a real shot at winning a GE.
My thoughts exactly: despite the fact that her policies will no doubt be very left wing, she doesn't inspire that visceral 'Labour terror' that makes me run to the polling station and drove the Tory vote share to 43.6%.
She seems like an actual normal person who occasionally thinks for herself and understands regular human feelings, which is as rare as rocking-horse shit on the current Labour benches.
I thought for a moment that no one so seemingly nice had ever become Prime Minister, but then I remembered ... Tony Blair!
Comments
Unite are making their nomination today and it now seems inevitable that they will back Long Bailey which will bring her price in a bit and push the others out. So it would be worth waiting until the prices change later today before backing one of the others.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/24/coronavirus-chinese-hospitals-in-chaos-as-lockdown-spreads-to-affect-25m-people
...In the city of Wuhan, where most cases have occurred, the race to build a new 1,000-bed hospital in just six days began on Thursday night. Diggers and bulldozers beginning work on the site of a holiday complex once intended for local workers, according to Chinese media.
The hospital, which is due to open next week, is similar to those established in Beijing in 2003, when the city faced a Sars outbreak that killed almost 800 people and reached nearly 30 countries.
During that crisis, 7,000 workers in Beijing built the Xiaotangshan hospital in its northern suburbs in just a week. Within two months, it treated one-seventh of all the country’s Sars patients, the Changjiang Daily said...
When the Government is all-powerful it can do lots of things quickly.
Cut your hair and get a NON-job,
Smoke some fags and play some pool,
Pretend you never went to school.
The lab candidate in Alperton was suspended for anti Muslim and anti Pakistan tweets. I live next door to this ward, and although Libdems used to have past strength in Alperton if Labour are losing areas like it they are in very deep trouble come the locals in May.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jan/23/national-shame-mp-sounds-alarm-over-uk-fast-fashion-factories
I think she's started her new job now but she really wasn't in any rush to find anything.
Edit - it seems she is still on a career break.
Mr. G, a Conservative, or Labour, or SNP government would be a great step forward for freedom in China.
I can just imagine taking Emily Thornberry to Aldi .... and saying "Pretend you've got No Money".
Just have to be careful when booking though, that one doesn't end up on a French plane by accident.
Which is the fortunate position I find myself in.
There's no housing, what housing does exist makes London prices seem like Middlesborough, there's a massive homeless problem and many people commute two or three hours each way by car, for a 14-hours-a-day job.
That's not much of an exaggeration either. But most hope that their company is the one that makes it, in which case there's a lot of money to be made.
The capacity to resist was much greater in countries where the Nazis left state institutions even partially intact.
Dealing with poverty and homelessness should be an absolute basic target for any Labour government (really, any govt), but the main thrust of any party's message needs to directly improve the lives of the majority.
Johnson doesn't do details.
Lab's big problem is that because the met boroughs have previously been up for election when Lab were in opposition they are pretty much already maxed out e.g.
Manchester - 92/96 Lab
Sandwell - 68/72 Lab
Wakefield - 49/63 Lab
So I would suggest they are likely to lose councillors but not councils in the met boroughs (as only a third of councillors are up for election)
In terms of the unitaries, there are some classic marginal areas like Swindon and Peterborough up.
One area where perhaps Lab could do a bit better is Northants, where the 2 new unitaries are coming in after the failure of the county council
I expect the new leader will blame any losses on Corbyn as they will only be fresh in the job.
* Not bruv or cuz, obvs.
Antisemitism existed in pretty well all European countries pre-war, but its extent does not correlate well with the degree of collaboration with the Holocaust during the war.
I don't know the answer. But I'm wondering whether CLPs, like some members of the PLP, could have a reason for nominating someone who wasn't their top choice.
That said, someone I know who is a Corbyn fan, and a shrewd gambler, reckons she can probably only win if she wins the first round, so I would like to see prices on that
Are you flying to Davos again today and leaving an enormous and reprehensible carbon footprint?
Did last night indicate a change in mood, or was it just that you were hearing from different people?
I’m only playing this market for pennies, but think Nandy is probably the value of the candidates at the moment.
Now, I’m savvy enough to recognise she’s actually quite left-wing, and I very much doubt I’d enjoy her period in office, but if that’s how I’m feeling viscerally now it’d be enough to have a real shot at winning a GE.
https://twitter.com/RoryStewartUK/status/1220670713369104385
An obvious sign of religious bigotry is believing that anyone who stands up against religious bigotry is, themselves, a member of the targeted religion.
Your question is the equivalent of mockingly asking "Are you gay?" to someone who has just challenged homophobia. As I mentioned before, I am not religious. You need to take a long hard look at yourself.
It's a lie basically.
I fear my Ed Miliband to be next Labour leader bet might not come off.
The UK is perfectly entitled to and able to decide which sectors (or products) it makes sense to maintain alignment with and which it wants to divert from - and if it maintains alignment with the EU because it makes sense to on one thing, that doesn't stop us from diverging where we desire to do so elsewhere.
The idea that only those aligned can export is patently absurd. I'm pretty certain whatever phone or Laptop foolish Dunt sent his moan from was certified to be exported to the EU but was not manufactured in the EU. Its not the dark ages and trade is possible, muppet.
For what it's worth (probably not much), it's looking like there'll be a negative correlation between gender of union-membership and gender of union's preferred candidate.
She seems like an actual normal person who occasionally thinks for herself and understands regular human feelings, which is as rare as rocking-horse shit on the current Labour benches.
I thought for a moment that no one so seemingly nice had ever become Prime Minister, but then I remembered ... Tony Blair!