Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
I thought Ohio was the bell weather state? If Biden is ahead so much everywhere else why is this on a knife edge?
Pennsylvania is the tipping point state according to the Economist prediction, and that is consistent with the Cook Partisan Voter Index scores, but the tipping point state wasn't particularly accurately forecast last time.
I thought Ohio was the bell weather state? If Biden is ahead so much everywhere else why is this on a knife edge?
Ohio hasn't been the tipping point state for a while; It's still a swing state but it's one of the more GOP-leaning ones, especially with Trump being strong with low-education white people. That said, state polling is hard and there hasn't been much of it yet, so I wouldn't pay too much attention to those numbers.
I backed Dems to win Ohio yesterday. I`ve built up a very large position against Trump already and am looking for opportunities to back Dems in certain individual states.
I`ve already covered Wisconsin, Florida, N Carolina. Iowa, Arizona and New Hampshire (at longer odds than is currently the case) - and I added Ohio to this tally.
Ohio has a high population of black people. Polls in Ohio are close and there, no doubt, will be some shy Trumpers, but on balance I thought that there was a bit of value in the 2.18 that I took yesterday. I took all of it I`m afraid.
My only Rep bet is for them to win Pennsylvania - a small stake at 2.5.
If Pa. falls to Trump, I can't see a Biden presidency.
End of an era with the death of Dame Vera Lynn. I think when the Queen leaves this mortal coil it will really reinforce the sense that World War II is gone.
They have been marvellous people, and we should remain eternally grateful, but it's time to move on now.
I don't think I will be taking a flight for more than an hour for some time to come. I will do my best to stay away from airports completely. Let's face it they were truly appalling places before this: unbelievably crap service, utterly absurd and pointless security requirements (never, ever caught a terrorist), designed to make a rat in a maze feel good as they pushed you by shops you just might be bored enough to shop in. And now an airborne disease! Fantastic.
I agree that Airports and Flying is crap, but your comment on terrorism is inappropriate.
The point of airport security is not to catch terrorists, but to stop them from attempting an attack. This is something which can only be assesed using counterfactuals and so is not really provable.
In comparison to the early mid & 70s when any political fanatic could hijack a plane it is clear that security measures have reduced the incidence of hijacking considerably. In the USA in 2001 the internal flight security was very lax, and the hijackers' weapons on 11/9/2001 would probably have been detected in a European airport.
The massively annoying limitation on liquids in hand baggage was more or less introduced overnight due to good intellegence about a planned attack using liquid explosive. This attack did not take place, whether it woud have been succesful had the liquid restiction not been imposed, is unknowable.
I agree (unenthusiastically) with Eristdoof's point, but in other respects DavidL's summary of the airport experience is a wonderful SeanT-worthy diatribe.
I have a lot of friends in other countries, so probably will be travelling when allowed to. My airport strategy is to take a large book, find a seat somewhere, set a phone alarm for when I need to board and then ignore everything, especially the shops which bring seedy tax-dodging together with luxury consumerism in a marriage from hell. The possibility of getting ill is still a snag, though.
For the last few years I've avoided Heathrow and Gatwick wherever possible. Edinburgh is about the largest airport I regularly use.
Southampton and City are really quite good. Or were, not sure how they'll look post Flybe and post Covid-19.
But otherwise they're a pain. Even the lounges have been too busy during the last few years.
My sector is changing - so I am going to be travelling less. But I do enjoy the travel, generally, when it is by train.
Re the 1kg mass v weight argument above: 9.8N would have been more accurate, but if you say “the weight of 1kg” then you get across the same information in a way that more people will understand. “A weight of 1kg” is still wrong though.
's summary of the airport experience is a wonderful SeanT-worthy diatribe.
I have a lot of friends in other countries, so probably will be travelling when allowed to. My airport strategy is to take a large book, find a seat somewhere, set a phone alarm for when I need to board and then ignore everything, especially the shops which bring seedy tax-dodging together with luxury consumerism in a marriage from hell. The possibility of getting ill is still a snag, though.
The shops pay for the airport. Would you rather pay an extra £10-30 each time you fly?
Maybe you would, but I doubt most passengers share your views.
Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
Should note that it is not just Tories.
Sajid Javid and James Cleverly have had that one, but also Chukka Umunna.
HMG: Our app is not a priority right now. Maybe Winter would be a good time.
This has become beyond a shambles. Just plain nonsensical and indeed dangerous.
Arguably the app isn't a good means of contact tracing.
I think it's a good way of getting people to get a test.
Yes; see what you mean. Sort of on-topic, does anyone know if, when one has a blood test as part of normal medical treatment, the lab now routinely include Coronavirus antibody levels? I ask because I'm soon to have such a test as part of my prostate cancer follow-up.
I'd be interested to know that too as I've just had a letter to go for a blood test and CT scans as part of my annual kidney-cancer follow up.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
The last thing we need is for Cummings to start trying to meddle with Universities.
He would turn them from rather pompous virtue-signalling fellow travellers to full fledged violent anarchists.
I'd love to see a greater diversity in Universities, with more in the independent sector.
Some of these people tipping £100-200m into Oxbridge institutes would do a better job by helping create smaller, more specialist universities imo. One of the things that can really underpin an area.
University of Mansfield .... yum.
Open University expansion, with online courses that can result in an actual degree qualification for a fraction of the price of residential, in-person courses.
We need to use modern technology, to change the market for education for the better.
Agreed the OU should be enormously expanded. Instead a while back the number of courses was cut, payments to tutors were lowered, and fees were trebled or quadrupled, all with little resistance. The University of London too used to encourage independent study as well as external tuition. If even a single reputable university were to open up exams in all subjects to private candidates the stimulus would be there for a growth of a healthy study culture (always assuming it didn't give degrees away like sweeties but then it wouldn't deserve to be reputable any more). That this doesn't happen shows how stuck in the mud universities are.
You say: "Instead a while back the number of courses was cut, payments to tutors were lowered, and fees were trebled or quadrupled, all with little resistance."
This was the Conservative`s abolishing of the subsidy for the OU - in order to remove its status as a quasi state university. A superb place - I graduated 8 or so years ago just before the changes were made. I`ll never forgive the CP for that.
Course fees trebled overnight - and what for me was a good value degree, taken purely personal enrichment rather than for occupational reasons, has been taken from others who would have benefited from a similar experience (who maybe like me left a poor school at age 16). My degree cost about £5k. There is no way I would have paid £15k-£20k.
That`s why the OU did what it did - it had no choice. It is now not the place that it was. A great shame. Harold Wilson`s finest achievement dismantled out of spite I think.
HMG: Our app is not a priority right now. Maybe Winter would be a good time.
This has become beyond a shambles. Just plain nonsensical and indeed dangerous.
Be comforted by the £1m paint job of Britola Gay.
Before you start criticising Boris , what about the billions wasted on ludicrously large aircraft carriers that our planes can not land on.. How much was it 9 billion>?>?.. Lets not go there with the NHS Computer debacle either...
I criticise all three shit decisions, and plenty more. Whats wrong with doing that?
Dura is on Boris's case.. just pointing out all Govts make shit decisions. none worse than the Labour Party allowing the loon Brown to become PM. He fecked the economy for generations.
You can blame the Govt of the day for how it has handled elements of the COVID 19 crisis, but the cost is largely unavoidable/
Rather than reclassifying defence as aid, we should be going the other way. The spending we make on pandemic preparedness, improving the health systems of developing countries to detect infectious diseases do more for actually defending the UK public than aircraft carriers.
Or Trident. As I pointed out above, the most powerful man in the world isn't even aware we have it.
Some deterrent...
... If we were to very quietly cancel the program, would anyone notice ?
The key is Putin knows we have Trident, the US is an ally of the UK, Putin's Russia is still a threat
HMG: Our app is not a priority right now. Maybe Winter would be a good time.
This has become beyond a shambles. Just plain nonsensical and indeed dangerous.
Be comforted by the £1m paint job of Britola Gay.
Before you start criticising Boris , what about the billions wasted on ludicrously large aircraft carriers that our planes can not land on.. How much was it 9 billion>?>?.. Lets not go there with the NHS Computer debacle either...
I criticise all three shit decisions, and plenty more. Whats wrong with doing that?
Dura is on Boris's case.. just pointing out all Govts make shit decisions. none worse than the Labour Party allowing the loon Brown to become PM. He fecked the economy for generations.
You can blame the Govt of the day for how it has handled elements of the COVID 19 crisis, but the cost is largely unavoidable/
Rather than reclassifying defence as aid, we should be going the other way. The spending we make on pandemic preparedness, improving the health systems of developing countries to detect infectious diseases do more for actually defending the UK public than aircraft carriers.
Or Trident. As I pointed out above, the most powerful man in the world isn't even aware we have it.
Some deterrent...
... If we were to very quietly cancel the program, would anyone notice ?
Agree entirely. But Starmer is in favour of trident I believe, and the Lib Dems now are I think? So the prospects for scrapping it look bleak.
I don't think I will be taking a flight for more than an hour for some time to come. I will do my best to stay away from airports completely. Let's face it they were truly appalling places before this: unbelievably crap service, utterly absurd and pointless security requirements (never, ever caught a terrorist), designed to make a rat in a maze feel good as they pushed you by shops you just might be bored enough to shop in. And now an airborne disease! Fantastic.
I agree that Airports and Flying is crap, but your comment on terrorism is inappropriate.
The point of airport security is not to catch terrorists, but to stop them from attempting an attack. This is something which can only be assesed using counterfactuals and so is not really provable.
In comparison to the early mid & 70s when any political fanatic could hijack a plane it is clear that security measures have reduced the incidence of hijacking considerably. In the USA in 2001 the internal flight security was very lax, and the hijackers' weapons on 11/9/2001 would probably have been detected in a European airport.
The massively annoying limitation on liquids in hand baggage was more or less introduced overnight due to good intellegence about a planned attack using liquid explosive. This attack did not take place, whether it woud have been succesful had the liquid restiction not been imposed, is unknowable.
I agree (unenthusiastically) with Eristdoof's point, but in other respects DavidL's summary of the airport experience is a wonderful SeanT-worthy diatribe.
I have a lot of friends in other countries, so probably will be travelling when allowed to. My airport strategy is to take a large book, find a seat somewhere, set a phone alarm for when I need to board and then ignore everything, especially the shops which bring seedy tax-dodging together with luxury consumerism in a marriage from hell. The possibility of getting ill is still a snag, though.
I thought Ohio was the bell weather state? If Biden is ahead so much everywhere else why is this on a knife edge?
Ohio hasn't been the tipping point state for a while; It's still a swing state but it's one of the more GOP-leaning ones, especially with Trump being strong with low-education white people. That said, state polling is hard and there hasn't been much of it yet, so I wouldn't pay too much attention to those numbers.
I backed Dems to win Ohio yesterday. I`ve built up a very large position against Trump already and am looking for opportunities to back Dems in certain individual states.
I`ve already covered Wisconsin, Florida, N Carolina. Iowa, Arizona and New Hampshire (at longer odds than is currently the case) - and I added Ohio to this tally.
Ohio has a high population of black people. Polls in Ohio are close and there, no doubt, will be some shy Trumpers, but on balance I thought that there was a bit of value in the 2.18 that I took yesterday. I took all of it I`m afraid.
My only Rep bet is for them to win Pennsylvania - a small stake at 2.5.
If Pa. falls to Trump, I can't see a Biden presidency.
The nightmare scenario is on election night Trump being ahead in PA but after a month of counting Biden wins it.
Many people missed how incredibly close it got in PA despite being 'decisive' on the night. The counting around Philly was California levels of slow.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive if the become pro-Scottish. If they don’t, they won’t.
That is the inevitable consequence of being national institutions funded by the taxpayer. Either you work in the broad interests of the nation or else you try your luck in the free market.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
Recessions, economic cycles and unexpected difficulties are part of life.
If universities haven't prepared for those then they haven't been run well.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
Recessions, economic cycles and unexpected difficulties are part of life.
If universities haven't prepared for those then they haven't been run well.
Agreed.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow have been run by charlatans, chancers and marketing men for decades now. They are living in last chance saloon. They need a total clear out and a return to the values of academic excellence.
No Game of Thrones mentioned here. What an idiot Raab is.
Kaepernick and his 49ers teammate Eric Reid said they choose to kneel during the anthem to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality. "After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, ... during the anthem, as a peaceful protest," said Reid. "We chose to kneel because it's a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy."
On topic, at what point can Trump decide he doesn't want to stand?
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
That would be such (!) a cheat. Like feigning injury when you're 0/5 love 30 in the 5th. Really hope he doesn't do that. Don't think he will. He'll want to do some rallies and stuff, some negative on Biden, a TV debate, keep a hold of the spotlight to the end, see how it all shakes out.
End of an era with the death of Dame Vera Lynn. I think when the Queen leaves this mortal coil it will really reinforce the sense that World War II is gone.
They have been marvellous people, and we should remain eternally grateful, but it's time to move on now.
I suspect you are wrong. My older relatives and former work colleagues from years ago, who partook in WW2 seldom mentioned the war and their role in it with any relish. On the few occassions one could engage in conversation, they were generally factual and not remotely subjective.
It is the mawkish baby boomers of my generation that like to wrap themselves in the flag and regale stories of their friends and relations' wartime exploits and bravery.
Good for him - a very good answer to the question.
Protesting Police brutality is "from Game of Thrones", 100% correct, a very good answer?
Stop drinking so early in the day, guys.
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial and I don't want my leaders subjugating themselves before Marxist protesters. Hope that helps.
Agree entirely. But Starmer is in favour of trident I believe, and the Lib Dems now are I think? So the prospects for scrapping it look bleak.
What will happen is a continuation of the current trend of reducing boats, missiles and warheads until it's a D(eterrent)INO. The RN have gone from 4 boats with 16 missiles and 192 warheads to 3 boats, 8 missiles and 40 warheads. The tories have done more actual nuclear disarmament than Corbyn could have dreamt of. It's very much analogous to the QEC carriers; the UK wants the trappings of superpower status but can't afford them.
End of an era with the death of Dame Vera Lynn. I think when the Queen leaves this mortal coil it will really reinforce the sense that World War II is gone.
They have been marvellous people, and we should remain eternally grateful, but it's time to move on now.
Don’t forget Prince Phillip: one of the few WWII veterans still around now.
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
Hilary needs to shut up and stay invisible - and I say that as someone who quite liked her as a candidate
Generally I agree, although she's media catnip, so there might be a time she's useful for Team Biden to push a message they can't otherwise get attention for.
The allegations in the book are Trump wanted the Chinese to buy more US food, supported detention of the Uighur Muslims, called George Bush a 'stupid person' for invading Afghanistan, was mocked by Mike Pompeo and persuaded by Putin not to invade Venezuela and did not know we had nuclear weapons. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53086042
Will that make the average Trump voter less likely to vote for him though? No. The allegations are more about reinforcing amongst the US elite why they despise Trump and he is unsuited for the office.
For the average Trump voter in Ohio they might even agree with Trump.
HYUFD worryingly that makes sense.
Just like our discussion the other day re Conservatives and freedoms I want you to be wrong. You should be wrong. But there is more than a little niggle that you are actually right.
Yes, his core supporters will dismiss it all as fake news. What it does do is limit the scope for him pushing out beyond them to anyone who might seriously consider casting their vote for another.
His core support appears stuck around 40%. It's not enough. He will lose - heavily if the Democrats get their act together.
I agree with what you have said, but what struck me was that they don't even have to even think this stuff is fake news. Most of the topics that HYUFD astutely highlighted are ones that his supporters can accept and agree with (China to buy more US food, detention for muslims, etc).
Whereas we can pick out the stuff that makes you think 'Why on earth do his supporters support him', HYUFD identified stuff that makes you think 'That is why his supporters support him'
It is why I thought HYUFDs post was both good and worrying.
Same with Rishi Sunak, Munira Mirza, Kemi Badenoch, Shaun Bailey, Alok Sharma, Bim Afolami, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sajid Javid and many more.
I don't doubt that ethnic group (and also probably sex) plays a part for some Patel-critics, but it's wrong to say that any critic of Patel is racist/anti-Hindu/whatever.
Patel is the only person on that list whom I dislike and think is unfit for high office (based on past actions and stated views). I don't know much about Mirza to have a strong view on her, nor Bim Afolami. The others I believe to be decent enough people, even though I would disagree with some of them politically.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
Recessions, economic cycles and unexpected difficulties are part of life.
If universities haven't prepared for those then they haven't been run well.
Then they haven't been run well. They have grown fat on an apparently ever increasing market for their services. English Universities, bloated by the fees they are able to charge are similar. No doubt there is a great deal of blubber to cut but we are at risk of losing bone and muscle too.
Most English universities are just running their courses online, which means fewer costs while still getting the fees.
Only Scotland does not have student fees
“Only Scotland does not have student fees.”
Bollocks. Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey.... and that’s just the other European examples.
On topic, at what point can Trump decide he doesn't want to stand?
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
That would be such (!) a cheat. Like feigning injury when you're 0/5 love 30 in the 5th. Really hope he doesn't do that. Don't think he will. He'll want to do some rallies and stuff, some negative on Biden, a TV debate, keep a hold of the spotlight to the end, see how it all shakes out.
I`ve said this repeatedly for months. Lay Trump for Next President rather than back Biden or Dems to win. The odds are only marginally inferior and you win if Trump doesn`t stand regardless of what happens in the GE.
I`ve thought for months that he may petulantly jack it when he becomes convinced he can`t win. He won`t care about leaving the Reps in a bind.
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial
But they're not "bending the knee, they're taking a knee
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
On the contrary, the only difference is your spin. The gesture's intrinsic meaning remains exactly the same as it has always been, and a visual humbling of the forces of traditional authority is exactly what the protesters want. Well, we shouldn't give it to them, under any circumstances.
If you want to prostrate yourself, then feel free. But kindly don't drag the rest of us down with you.
Sometimes saying nothing really would be the best option.
Actually, I'm proud of my foreign secretary for standing up to this nonsense. The country didn't overwhelming vote Conservative to sit in cowed silence before this far-left movement.
Sometimes saying nothing really would be the best option.
Actually, I'm proud of my foreign secretary for standing up to this nonsense. The country didn't overwhelming vote Conservative to sit in cowed silence before this far-left movement.
On topic, at what point can Trump decide he doesn't want to stand?
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
That would be such (!) a cheat. Like feigning injury when you're 0/5 love 30 in the 5th. Really hope he doesn't do that. Don't think he will. He'll want to do some rallies and stuff, some negative on Biden, a TV debate, keep a hold of the spotlight to the end, see how it all shakes out.
I`ve said this repeatedly for months. Lay Trump for Next President rather than back Biden or Dems to win. The odds are only marginally inferior and you win if Trump doesn`t stand regardless of what happens in the GE.
I`ve thought for months that he may petulantly jack it when he becomes convinced he can`t win. He won`t care about leaving the Reps in a bind.
Trump is, of course, a psychopath. And psychopaths are surprisingly sensitive when it comes to dents in their own ego. See:
"Narcissists love compliments and lavishly praise anyone who admires or affirms them. The flip side of this coin means that they are extremely sensitive to insults and often respond to criticism with seething rage and retribution. They have what psychologists refer to as “unstable self-esteem.” This means they put themselves on a very high pedestal, but it doesn’t take much to topple them to the ground. What others would perceive as constructive criticism, narcissists see as a declaration of war."
"I'm not committing adultery, I'm giving a special naked friendship hug. Why do you have to make everything so sordid?"
You can call it taking a knee. Or you can call it flying a flag at half mast. It's kneeling.
But that's all part of this weird cult: demanding participation in strange rituals whilst asserting a refusal to be blindly obedient is proof of bigotry.
Mr. Sandpit, the clapping was a weird ritual but at least that's over now.
Sometimes saying nothing really would be the best option.
Actually, I'm proud of my foreign secretary for standing up to this nonsense. The country didn't overwhelming vote Conservative to sit in cowed silence before this far-left movement.
I think the last time sports people were heavily persuaded to do a political sign at sport events was in 30's Germany - That did not end well .FFS dont make players do political signs (or even tolerate them frankly ) -keep sport and politics separate
Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
Vile racism of course exists, but are people really singling out Hindus? What I hope isn't happening is that the Right, feeling itself late to the identity wars, is now recruiting its own victims to counter the those under the 'protection' of the Left. This would be a very dangerous play if it's happening.
's summary of the airport experience is a wonderful SeanT-worthy diatribe.
I have a lot of friends in other countries, so probably will be travelling when allowed to. My airport strategy is to take a large book, find a seat somewhere, set a phone alarm for when I need to board and then ignore everything, especially the shops which bring seedy tax-dodging together with luxury consumerism in a marriage from hell. The possibility of getting ill is still a snag, though.
The shops pay for the airport. Would you rather pay an extra £10-30 each time you fly?
Yes.
I despise the shits that have polluted airports with tawdry consumerism.
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial
But they're not "bending the knee, they're taking a knee
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
On the contrary, the only difference is your spin. The gesture's intrinsic meaning remains exactly the same as it has always been, and a visual humbling of the forces of traditional authority is exactly what the protesters want. Well, we shouldn't give it to them, under any circumstances.
If you want to prostrate yourself, then feel free. But kindly don't drag the rest of us down with you.
You have read Colin Kapearnik's explination right?
Same with Rishi Sunak, Munira Mirza, Kemi Badenoch, Shaun Bailey, Alok Sharma, Bim Afolami, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sajid Javid and many more.
I don't doubt that ethnic group (and also probably sex) plays a part for some Patel-critics, but it's wrong to say that any critic of Patel is racist/anti-Hindu/whatever.
Patel is the only person on that list whom I dislike and think is unfit for high office (based on past actions and stated views). I don't know much about Mirza to have a strong view on her, nor Bim Afolami. The others I believe to be decent enough people, even though I would disagree with some of them politically.
It's perfectly fine to call out Priti Patel for her actions as a politician, just as it's perfectly fine to call out Diane Abbot for hers, without being racist about it.
Comments such as a cartoon showing her as a cow (in the Guardian this week), or as a coconut in a coconut shy, letters telling her to f*** off back to India or to her parents' corner shop are all blatantly racist and need to be called out as such.
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial
But they're not "bending the knee, they're taking a knee
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
On the contrary, the only difference is your spin. The gesture's intrinsic meaning remains exactly the same as it has always been, and a visual humbling of the forces of traditional authority is exactly what the protesters want. Well, we shouldn't give it to them, under any circumstances.
If you want to prostrate yourself, then feel free. But kindly don't drag the rest of us down with you.
You have read Colin Kapearnik's explication right?
Did someone elect him world president, or are we allowed to use our own judgement to interpret centuries-old gestures? You also can't spell his name, amusingly.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
The last thing we need is for Cummings to start trying to meddle with Universities.
He would turn them from rather pompous virtue-signalling fellow travellers to full fledged violent anarchists.
I'd love to see a greater diversity in Universities, with more in the independent sector.
Some of these people tipping £100-200m into Oxbridge institutes would do a better job by helping create smaller, more specialist universities imo. One of the things that can really underpin an area.
University of Mansfield .... yum.
Open University expansion, with online courses that can result in an actual degree qualification for a fraction of the price of residential, in-person courses.
We need to use modern technology, to change the market for education for the better.
Agreed the OU should be enormously expanded. Instead a while back the number of courses was cut, payments to tutors were lowered, and fees were trebled or quadrupled, all with little resistance. The University of London too used to encourage independent study as well as external tuition. If even a single reputable university were to open up exams in all subjects to private candidates the stimulus would be there for a growth of a healthy study culture (always assuming it didn't give degrees away like sweeties but then it wouldn't deserve to be reputable any more). That this doesn't happen shows how stuck in the mud universities are.
You say: "Instead a while back the number of courses was cut, payments to tutors were lowered, and fees were trebled or quadrupled, all with little resistance."
This was the Conservative`s abolishing of the subsidy for the OU - in order to remove its status as a quasi state university. A superb place - I graduated 8 or so years ago just before the changes were made. I`ll never forgive the CP for that.
Course fees trebled overnight - and what for me was a good value degree, taken purely personal enrichment rather than for occupational reasons, has been taken from others who would have benefited from a similar experience (who maybe like me left a poor school at age 16). My degree cost about £5k. There is no way I would have paid £15k-£20k.
That`s why the OU did what it did - it had no choice. It is now not the place that it was. A great shame. Harold Wilson`s finest achievement dismantled out of spite I think.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive if the become pro-Scottish. If they don’t, they won’t.
That is the inevitable consequence of being national institutions funded by the taxpayer. Either you work in the broad interests of the nation or else you try your luck in the free market.
They will not survive on £1820 per student, not as serious research funding Universities anyway. Contrary to your assertions to @another_Richard these Universities have been very successful export businesses who have thrived in the international market place despite being hobbled at home because their government wants to make political points. But they are in real trouble right now and the exposure of their dependence upon English subsidy (through English students paying 5x their Scottish cohort) has been exposed.
Same with Rishi Sunak, Munira Mirza, Kemi Badenoch, Shaun Bailey, Alok Sharma, Bim Afolami, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sajid Javid and many more.
I don't doubt that ethnic group (and also probably sex) plays a part for some Patel-critics, but it's wrong to say that any critic of Patel is racist/anti-Hindu/whatever.
Patel is the only person on that list whom I dislike and think is unfit for high office (based on past actions and stated views). I don't know much about Mirza to have a strong view on her, nor Bim Afolami. The others I believe to be decent enough people, even though I would disagree with some of them politically.
What's not to like about her membership of a pro-IRA Communist political group.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
Recessions, economic cycles and unexpected difficulties are part of life.
If universities haven't prepared for those then they haven't been run well.
Then they haven't been run well. They have grown fat on an apparently ever increasing market for their services. English Universities, bloated by the fees they are able to charge are similar. No doubt there is a great deal of blubber to cut but we are at risk of losing bone and muscle too.
Most English universities are just running their courses online, which means fewer costs while still getting the fees.
Only Scotland does not have student fees
“Only Scotland does not have student fees.”
Bollocks. Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey.... and that’s just the other European examples.
It is England that is an oddity, not Scotland.
Not in the Anglosphere and English universities still have a reliable income because of those fees for online courses
On topic, at what point can Trump decide he doesn't want to stand?
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
That would be such (!) a cheat. Like feigning injury when you're 0/5 love 30 in the 5th. Really hope he doesn't do that. Don't think he will. He'll want to do some rallies and stuff, some negative on Biden, a TV debate, keep a hold of the spotlight to the end, see how it all shakes out.
I`ve said this repeatedly for months. Lay Trump for Next President rather than back Biden or Dems to win. The odds are only marginally inferior and you win if Trump doesn`t stand regardless of what happens in the GE.
I`ve thought for months that he may petulantly jack it when he becomes convinced he can`t win. He won`t care about leaving the Reps in a bind.
Trump is, of course, a psychopath. And psychopaths are surprisingly sensitive when it comes to dents in their own ego. See:
"Narcissists love compliments and lavishly praise anyone who admires or affirms them. The flip side of this coin means that they are extremely sensitive to insults and often respond to criticism with seething rage and retribution. They have what psychologists refer to as “unstable self-esteem.” This means they put themselves on a very high pedestal, but it doesn’t take much to topple them to the ground. What others would perceive as constructive criticism, narcissists see as a declaration of war."
I`m sure we can all see Trump in that.
Is Trump is a sociopath or psychopath or are they connected?
Walking away rather than allowing himself to be defeated doesn't seem impossible either way.
Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
Vile racism of course exists, but are people really singling out Hindus? What I hope isn't happening is that the Right, feeling itself late to the identity wars, is now recruiting its own victims to counter the those under the 'protection' of the Left. This would be a very dangerous play if it's happening.
What I find most worrying at the moment is that there's a mutual incomprehension on both left and right that both sides are involved in identity wars.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive if the become pro-Scottish. If they don’t, they won’t.
That is the inevitable consequence of being national institutions funded by the taxpayer. Either you work in the broad interests of the nation or else you try your luck in the free market.
Those 3 are the only world class universities Scotland has, lose those, lose world class higher education in Scotland
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial
But they're not "bending the knee, they're taking a knee
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
BB is just trying to stir up the culture war again as it's a wonderful distraction from the continuing incompetence of the government he supports. Straight out of Trump's playbook.
With every PL football team taking the knee comments like BB's just look idiotic. Did they learn nothing from the Rashford incident. Far more people will take their lead from PL footballers than an arrogant lightweight like Raab.
On topic the big stuff is on China: Asked Xi to help him get reelection, called him the greatest leader in Chinese history, said the Uighur concentration camps were a good idea.
This is important because opposition to China was supposed to be Trump's big - um - trump card that was going to let him get away with bollocksing up the rona response.
Funny thing is, the only couple of times I've been round the back of Whitehall, the Clive statue was surrounded by Indian students. I've no idea what their teachers told them, and that might in any case be changed now, but at the time my thought was that if India thought Clive important then maybe HMG should refurbish the statue which looked a bit shabby. On the other hand, there are no statues of Hermann Goering despite his crucial role in London's town planning.
Continuing this theme despite wandering off-topic, some American big cheeses visiting our company were disappointed that a statue to some early American settlers (off Cheapside iirc) was a bit faded.
Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
Labour BAME politicians have been receiving masses of racist hate mail for years but Tories have never seemed too concerned about that.
Love that from Raab. Seems very in touch with the public.
As long as none of them have ever seen Game of Thrones. They all think he's an idiot.
I've never watched Game of Thrones. But clearly the general public won't be taking a knee soon so he's bang on. Raab has very much impressed this year, and I certainly had some doubts prior to his appointment in the foreign office,
Same with Rishi Sunak, Munira Mirza, Kemi Badenoch, Shaun Bailey, Alok Sharma, Bim Afolami, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sajid Javid and many more.
Splitters
It can go the other way too. I had an Indian neighbour for 8 years who opened my eyes to the intra-Indian "race" and caste battles and skirmishes. He said he suffered more racism from other Asians than he ever got from white people.
Universities need to act now on free speech on the campus, or the baleful eye of Cummings and the need for 'sector reorganization' will fall on them.
They actually have bigger problems, certainly in Scotland where the Universities are facing a complete shit storm.
The Scottish government gives £1820 per student with a set number of places. This of course is absolutely unsustainable for anything other than the most basic of institutions so Universities have sought English students (£9250 a pop) and foreign non EU students (up to £24K) to cross subsidise. The Russell group members in particular have been very successful at this allowing the Universities to thrive with an ever smaller part of their cohort being made up of Scottish students.
Boris has now capped the number of English grants that will be paid to Scottish Universities and the foreigners are not coming because of Covid. The Scottish Government is not able to increase the number of places it funds because it has no money. I am not sure whether the likes of Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive. It really depends on how long the foreign market takes to recover but the clock is ticking
.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow will survive if the become pro-Scottish. If they don’t, they won’t.
That is the inevitable consequence of being national institutions funded by the taxpayer. Either you work in the broad interests of the nation or else you try your luck in the free market.
Those 3 are the only world class universities Scotland has, lose those, lose world class higher education in Scotland
Says Rupert Murdoch.
The rest of the planet does not see the world through those London-tinted spectacles that so distort your vision.
Is this a real thing or has The Spectator just invented it for Priti, miffed that she keeps getting it in the neck?
Sadly it's real. Many BAME conservatives have spent the last couple of weeks receiving copious amounts of racist hate mail, mostly because they don't see themselves as victims but as successes.
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
Labour BAME politicians have been receiving masses of racist hate mail for years but Tories have never seemed too concerned about that.
Bending the knee has been a sign of subjugation since time immemorial
But they're not "bending the knee, they're taking a knee
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
BB is just trying to stir up the culture war again as it's a wonderful distraction from the continuing incompetence of the government he supports. Straight out of Trump's playbook.
With every PL football team taking the knee comments like BB's just look idiotic. Did they learn nothing from the Rashford incident. Far more people will take their lead from PL footballers than an arrogant lightweight like Raab.
Ah yes, people should take their lead from unelected footballers. Good to know that you've given away any right to complain about government via 'populism' ever again.
And in case you haven't been paying attention, it was the protesters who started the culture war, and who are pressing ever forwards with it.
Mr. xP, kneeling can also occur at marriage proposals and when being knighted. I didn't say he was swearing fealty. I said that when he was kneeling, he was kneeling.
Comments
Terms like "coconut" being used, meaning someone brown on the outside but white on the inside.
They have been marvellous people, and we should remain eternally grateful, but it's time to move on now.
Southampton and City are really quite good. Or were, not sure how they'll look post Flybe and post Covid-19.
But otherwise they're a pain. Even the lounges have been too busy during the last few years.
My sector is changing - so I am going to be travelling less. But I do enjoy the travel, generally, when it is by train.
9.8N would have been more accurate, but if you say “the weight of 1kg” then you get across the same information in a way that more people will understand. “A weight of 1kg” is still wrong though.
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1273528083145011202
If he looks like losing "bigly" would he just walk away from the contest?
Boris Johnson, 17 June 2020
Remember when they insisted that independence would mean Scotland being kicked out of the EU?
Jackson Carlaw must tear his hair out every time that buffoon opens his mouth.
Maybe you would, but I doubt most passengers share your views.
Sajid Javid and James Cleverly have had that one, but also Chukka Umunna.
This was the Conservative`s abolishing of the subsidy for the OU - in order to remove its status as a quasi state university. A superb place - I graduated 8 or so years ago just before the changes were made. I`ll never forgive the CP for that.
Course fees trebled overnight - and what for me was a good value degree, taken purely personal enrichment rather than for occupational reasons, has been taken from others who would have benefited from a similar experience (who maybe like me left a poor school at age 16). My degree cost about £5k. There is no way I would have paid £15k-£20k.
That`s why the OU did what it did - it had no choice. It is now not the place that it was. A great shame. Harold Wilson`s finest achievement dismantled out of spite I think.
https://twitter.com/jbloom_lab/status/1273468547474153473
Many people missed how incredibly close it got in PA despite being 'decisive' on the night. The counting around Philly was California levels of slow.
That is the inevitable consequence of being national institutions funded by the taxpayer. Either you work in the broad interests of the nation or else you try your luck in the free market.
"Get on your knees, or you're a racist" is nuts. It's weird and cultish.
Stop drinking so early in the day, guys.
Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow have been run by charlatans, chancers and marketing men for decades now. They are living in last chance saloon. They need a total clear out and a return to the values of academic excellence.
Kaepernick and his 49ers teammate Eric Reid said they choose to kneel during the anthem to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality. "After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, ... during the anthem, as a peaceful protest," said Reid. "We chose to kneel because it's a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy."
It is the mawkish baby boomers of my generation that like to wrap themselves in the flag and regale stories of their friends and relations' wartime exploits and bravery.
Don't start me on the "Love NHS" logos, treating a healthcare system as a religion is a seriously bad idea.
Whereas we can pick out the stuff that makes you think 'Why on earth do his supporters support him', HYUFD identified stuff that makes you think 'That is why his supporters support him'
It is why I thought HYUFDs post was both good and worrying.
It's a totally different thing, for a totally different reason.
Raab remains an idiot.
Patel is the only person on that list whom I dislike and think is unfit for high office (based on past actions and stated views). I don't know much about Mirza to have a strong view on her, nor Bim Afolami. The others I believe to be decent enough people, even though I would disagree with some of them politically.
Bollocks. Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey.... and that’s just the other European examples.
It is England that is an oddity, not Scotland.
I`ve thought for months that he may petulantly jack it when he becomes convinced he can`t win. He won`t care about leaving the Reps in a bind.
If you want to prostrate yourself, then feel free. But kindly don't drag the rest of us down with you.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-social-thinker/201801/3-key-traits-may-be-red-flags-psychopathy
"Narcissists love compliments and lavishly praise anyone who admires or affirms them. The flip side of this coin means that they are extremely sensitive to insults and often respond to criticism with seething rage and retribution. They have what psychologists refer to as “unstable self-esteem.” This means they put themselves on a very high pedestal, but it doesn’t take much to topple them to the ground. What others would perceive as constructive criticism, narcissists see as a declaration of war."
I`m sure we can all see Trump in that.
"I'm not committing adultery, I'm giving a special naked friendship hug. Why do you have to make everything so sordid?"
You can call it taking a knee. Or you can call it flying a flag at half mast. It's kneeling.
But that's all part of this weird cult: demanding participation in strange rituals whilst asserting a refusal to be blindly obedient is proof of bigotry.
Mr. Sandpit, the clapping was a weird ritual but at least that's over now.
I despise the shits that have polluted airports with tawdry consumerism.
Plenty of reports tory MPs are very unhappy. Maybe they are even less happy than we think.
Who, exactly, was Kapernick swearing fealty to when he knelt down?
Comments such as a cartoon showing her as a cow (in the Guardian this week), or as a coconut in a coconut shy, letters telling her to f*** off back to India or to her parents' corner shop are all blatantly racist and need to be called out as such.
As one more example:
https://twitter.com/AyoCaesar/status/1272780056331522048
Otherwise, entirely agree.
Raab is right not to do it though. Like me he will feel awful about the death of Floyd but will not feel the need to demonstrate this graphically.
https://twitter.com/AlStewartOBE/status/1273535656548073472
Walking away rather than allowing himself to be defeated doesn't seem impossible either way.
Get her husband out campaigning for Biden.
Its not like society is caving in to a bunch of Marxists who have never been tested at the ballot box and have precisely zero popular support!
The Tories went in two by two,
the buffoon and the charlatan too.
With every PL football team taking the knee comments like BB's just look idiotic. Did they learn nothing from the Rashford incident. Far more people will take their lead from PL footballers than an arrogant lightweight like Raab.
This is important because opposition to China was supposed to be Trump's big - um - trump card that was going to let him get away with bollocksing up the rona response.
Continuing this theme despite wandering off-topic, some American big cheeses visiting our company were disappointed that a statue to some early American settlers (off Cheapside iirc) was a bit faded.
The rest of the planet does not see the world through those London-tinted spectacles that so distort your vision.
And in case you haven't been paying attention, it was the protesters who started the culture war, and who are pressing ever forwards with it.