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May 2021 election benchmarks – politicalbetting.com

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  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    The growing number of incels is a very serious problem IMO.
    In my opinion, they need to get offline, have a shower, dress and groom themselves properly, then treat women with respect, and to be a good listener. It is a simple formula that works.
    That isn't the problem IMO. The problem is women have been told they should only accept their perfect idea of a male partner, or something very close to it.
    He's old, introverted and sheltered, he has no conception
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870
    algarkirk said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    The growing number of incels is a very serious problem IMO.
    Agree. A high proportion of bloke problems are solved by three things: girl, job, getting past the age of 23. Shakespeare said something along those lines.

    Ahhh! 22 years late for me :lol:
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,176
    Ha ha ha. Poor Wales.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,662
    edited March 2021
    YEs!!!!!!

    Well done France!

    [Moderated] the Welsh.
  • What a finish

    Fair play to France
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,431
    tlg86 said:

    Ha ha ha. Poor Wales.

    Luck finally ran out for them. Ironically probably their best game too.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547
    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    The growing number of incels is a very serious problem IMO.
    In my opinion, they need to get offline, have a shower, dress and groom themselves properly, then treat women with respect, and to be a good listener. It is a simple formula that works.
    That isn't the problem IMO. The problem is women have been told they should only accept their perfect idea of a male partner, or something very close to it.
    Well they should target perfection. And we should aim to provide that for them.
  • Allons enfants de la Patrie,

    Le jour de gloire est arrivé !

    Contre nous de la tyrannie

    L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)

    Entendez-vous dans les campagnes

    Mugir ces féroces soldats ?

    Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras

    Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870
    Rugby? Seriously?

    Whatever turns you on, guys :lol:
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    Superb sport

    Well done both teams
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,204
    A classic
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    I was supporting Wales until they did about 19 penalties in a row, and were clearly cheating
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,710
    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    The growing number of incels is a very serious problem IMO.
    In my opinion, they need to get offline, have a shower, dress and groom themselves properly, then treat women with respect, and to be a good listener. It is a simple formula that works.
    That isn't the problem IMO. The problem is women have been told they should only accept their perfect idea of a male partner, or something very close to it.
    In that case men need to make an effort.
  • Reports tonight HMG to take over the running of Liverpool
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870

    Allons enfants de la Patrie,

    Le jour de gloire est arrivé !

    Contre nous de la tyrannie

    L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)

    Entendez-vous dans les campagnes

    Mugir ces féroces soldats ?

    Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras

    Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !

    Good moaning!

    I brung you a massage: The Frunch have won the Rigby match against the Wulsh!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429
    edited March 2021
    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    The growing number of incels is a very serious problem IMO.
    In my opinion, they need to get offline, have a shower, dress and groom themselves properly, then treat women with respect, and to be a good listener. It is a simple formula that works.
    That isn't the problem IMO. The problem is women have been told they should only accept their perfect idea of a male partner, or something very close to it.
    In that case men need to make an effort.
    You might as well say to short guy "be taller"

    You do not understand what you are talking about, not remotely. It is a tiny bit embarrassing
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421
    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.
  • Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,410
    Well done France. Attempting to play expansive football at all times means they don't look like headless chickens when they need a quick score.
    Literally millimetres away from a Grand Slam game against Scotland.
    DuPont is the best player in Europe by a country mile. Everything goes through him. Quick, decisive, and, crucially, almost always the correct decision.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Today Liverpool.

    Tomorrow, Holyrood?
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    Reports tonight HMG to take over the running of Liverpool

    Well to be fair Klopp could probably use a hand right now.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,672

    Reports tonight HMG to take over the running of Liverpool

    They would probably do better than Klopp to be fair.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,429

    Rugby? Seriously?

    Whatever turns you on, guys :lol:

    Rugby, at its worst, can be the most boring major team sport on the globe. At its best - like that - it ceaselessly exciting and endlessly absorbing and dashed with real beauty.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,410

    Reports tonight HMG to take over the running of Liverpool

    Well to be fair Klopp could probably use a hand right now.
    Klopp out! Gavin Williamson in!
    Northern Premier League soon.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,104
    ClippP said:

    HYUFD said:



    I am a Tory, I never saw the need to change the Lords as it was in 1999 and I certainly do not seek to change it now, the remaining hereditaries have had a stake in our nation for hundreds of years, they should stay

    A good point, young HY. And 400 years ago your ancestors were downtrodden peasants, living short and brutish lives. So if you follow your own logic.......

    Not all of them actually, on my mother's side some of them had estates in Ireland and or were tradesmen and on my father's mother's side some were bankers with an estate in Dorset
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,212
    Leon said:

    Freggles said:

    kle4 said:

    This week I haves been mostly eating...BOURBON BISCUITS
    I only eat biscuits named for historical figures, so Bourbons and Garibaldis are basically it.
    Nice
    So many people forget Sir Alexander Tollemache Carlyon de Chocolate-Hobnob, Admiral of the Blue and renegade leader of the Patagonian Revolutionary War in 1822
    You unaccountably forgot the abolitionist baronet, Sir Christopher Kat.

    Charles James Fox also possessed biscuits, reputedly.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,104
    Well done France for saving the English from a night of Welsh crowing
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    ydoethur said:

    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.

    If the French get the bonus point against Scotland then France and Wales finish on equal points in the table. That being the case, isn't the title decided in the first instance on the head-to-head rather than points difference? That's what seems to have been implied by the commentators.
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    I like how it opens with 'unprecedented in modern times', then immediately undermines that by saying it has happened 3 times in the last 25 years, which is very rare, but not unprecedented.

    And what about Anglesey?

    The interesting thing as well is such crappy governance is not an automatic result of dominance by a party, as there are plenty of councils well run despite that.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,692
    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,410
    edited March 2021

    ydoethur said:

    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.

    If the French get the bonus point against Scotland then France and Wales finish on equal points in the table. That being the case, isn't the title decided in the first instance on the head-to-head rather than points difference? That's what seems to have been implied by the commentators.
    Nah. Points difference then tries scored.
    So a 21 points win with four tries scored.
    We ought to see France REALLY chuck the ball around.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,212
    .
    dixiedean said:

    Reports tonight HMG to take over the running of Liverpool

    Well to be fair Klopp could probably use a hand right now.
    Klopp out! Gavin Williamson in!
    Northern Premier League soon.
    It’s an unfair Gov. , Klopp.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    ydoethur said:

    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.

    If the French get the bonus point against Scotland then France and Wales finish on equal points in the table. That being the case, isn't the title decided in the first instance on the head-to-head rather than points difference? That's what seems to have been implied by the commentators.
    Should be points difference, AIUI.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,410

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    More significantly perhaps.
    The Union could end up in opposition.
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    That would have massive implications for EU level policy too. You have to assume a Green led Gvt would side with a lot of Mediterranean countries on protectionist measures and tightening up the financial markets in the EU.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
    Well, at the moment the Metro Mayor situation in Liverpool is more than a bit complicated in itself.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870
    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Freggles said:

    kle4 said:

    This week I haves been mostly eating...BOURBON BISCUITS
    I only eat biscuits named for historical figures, so Bourbons and Garibaldis are basically it.
    Nice
    So many people forget Sir Alexander Tollemache Carlyon de Chocolate-Hobnob, Admiral of the Blue and renegade leader of the Patagonian Revolutionary War in 1822
    You unaccountably forgot the abolitionist baronet, Sir Christopher Kat.

    Charles James Fox also possessed biscuits, reputedly.
    I thought Kit Kats were named after the club in Cabaret.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.

    If the French get the bonus point against Scotland then France and Wales finish on equal points in the table. That being the case, isn't the title decided in the first instance on the head-to-head rather than points difference? That's what seems to have been implied by the commentators.
    Should be points difference, AIUI.
    My bad, you're right. It would therefore appear that France need to put four tries past Scotland and win by a margin of 21 points.
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547
    edited March 2021

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
    Maybe, but it feels like something we should have done to empower the intermediate layers of Gvt (if we’re going to have them). You could send them the specialist DCLG advisers and in any case you’d mostly lean on the existing local officials.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421
    justin124 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
    Dre I make a cutting remark about Gavin Williamson?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870
    edited March 2021
    justin124 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
    Do you think masturbation is "impure"?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    So TSE had the French to thank for his day not being completely miserable.

    Although if I read the table aright Wales should still take the trophy unless France beat Scotland by something crazy like 25 points.

    If the French get the bonus point against Scotland then France and Wales finish on equal points in the table. That being the case, isn't the title decided in the first instance on the head-to-head rather than points difference? That's what seems to have been implied by the commentators.
    Should be points difference, AIUI.
    My bad, you're right. It would therefore appear that France need to put four tries past Scotland and win by a margin of 21 points.
    Well, if they managed the first against us it shouldn’t be out of the question against Scotland.

    But it isn’t exactly a gimme to have a 21 point margin,
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547
    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    On a “the world’s gone to pot since the Welsh wizard left” platform?
  • kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    And how does Starmer explain it all
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126
    justin124 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
    Onanism, surely?
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    ydoethur said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
    Well, at the moment the Metro Mayor situation in Liverpool is more than a bit complicated in itself.
    I thought all the brouhaha over mayors in Liverpool pertained to the city mayor (who may have been naughty) and not the metro mayor (who AFAIK is not implicated in anything untoward) - unless there are other things going on of which I have yet to read?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,822

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
    CDU/CSU
  • Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    For most of the 2010s Joe Anderson kept on railing about how Tory 'austerity' was forcing him to cut essential services in Liverpool.

    Yet Mayor Anderson found the resources to give Everton FC a £250 million loan for their new football stadium.

    Would you be shocked to learn that Anderson is a Everton fan?
  • MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    alex_ said:

    Re: London mayor race (and extended to elections in general). Is there any rule against a candidate changing their name to “None Oftheabove” and chancing their luck?

    If they did they would need a surname that ensured them the bottom slot.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    ydoethur said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
    Well, at the moment the Metro Mayor situation in Liverpool is more than a bit complicated in itself.
    I thought all the brouhaha over mayors in Liverpool pertained to the city mayor (who may have been naughty) and not the metro mayor (who AFAIK is not implicated in anything untoward) - unless there are other things going on of which I have yet to read?
    You’re right, my mistake.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905
    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    ydoethur said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Seems odd not to hand it over to the City Region?
    Presumably not done because the metro mayors are neither elected to take over the running of local authorities nor resourced to do so? I'm assuming that the process for central government to supplant the executive functions of councils is also defined in law.
    Well, at the moment the Metro Mayor situation in Liverpool is more than a bit complicated in itself.
    I thought all the brouhaha over mayors in Liverpool pertained to the city mayor (who may have been naughty) and not the metro mayor (who AFAIK is not implicated in anything untoward) - unless there are other things going on of which I have yet to read?
    Another sign we needed a different name for these different positions.

    In Bristol there was the Mayor of Bristol, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, and the West of England Mayor. I think someone even proposed a fourth kind of mayor.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870

    alex_ said:

    Re: London mayor race (and extended to elections in general). Is there any rule against a candidate changing their name to “None Oftheabove” and chancing their luck?

    If they did they would need a surname that ensured them the bottom slot.
    Zimmerman?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    alex_ said:

    Re: London mayor race (and extended to elections in general). Is there any rule against a candidate changing their name to “None Oftheabove” and chancing their luck?

    If they did they would need a surname that ensured them the bottom slot.
    Nuncos Zesebastardsareuseless should cover it.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,104

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    I doubt it but on that poll the CSU leader Soder will now almost certainly be the Union chancellor candidate now not the CDU leader Laschet
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870
    Cookie said:

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
    CDU/CSU
    Oh I see, so they're properly "Merged" for this election?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    True - and they can use it now showing how the gov is trying to take them down ahead of the elections. Though in fairness of the local election results in a Tory majority on the council I think we can all agree that would indeed be suspicious intervention.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    And how does Starmer explain it all
    In defence of Starmer, local government is hard to control. Tory councils across the land don't shy away from railing against the government when it is convenient, and poorly run Labour councils would I imagine be very hard to rein in by the national party.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,104
    dixiedean said:

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    More significantly perhaps.
    The Union could end up in opposition.
    On that poll Greens, SPD and Linke still only come to 47%, the FDP will not join a Green led government due to major ideological differences and the Greens will not touch the AfD, so a CDU/CSU and Green government on 49% combined still looks the likeliest outcome
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126
    ydoethur said:

    justin124 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
    Dre I make a cutting remark about Gavin Williamson?
    It would be most out of character.
  • kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Actually as I understand it commissioners sent in to run LA's negates the powers of local politicians
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    Cookie said:

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
    CDU/CSU
    Oh I see, so they're properly "Merged" for this election?
    They function as sister parties. CSU only stands candidates in Bavaria, CDU throughout Germany except in Bavaria. I don't know why there's a formal split. AIUI, however, CSU is slightly more conservative.
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    The Liberals have run Liverpool within living memory. Many of us recall Trevor Jones -'Jones - The Vote'.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Actually as I understand it commissioners sent in to run LA's negates the powers of local politicians
    Yes, but eventually they will get powers back, and they can help maintain their numbers, if they needed any help, by blaming the government day in day out until the election, and the lot of them can sit there sullenly until those powers are back, then blame the gov again.
  • kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    And how does Starmer explain it all
    In defence of Starmer, local government is hard to control. Tory councils across the land don't shy away from railing against the government when it is convenient, and poorly run Labour councils would I imagine be very hard to rein in by the national party.
    Indeed but how can he even support Labour in local government in Liverpool

    Also are there not serious criminal allegations at present
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,765

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Liverpool was run by Liberals in 1970s.
  • DeClareDeClare Posts: 483
    edited March 2021

    Nigelb said:

    Leon said:

    Freggles said:

    kle4 said:

    This week I haves been mostly eating...BOURBON BISCUITS
    I only eat biscuits named for historical figures, so Bourbons and Garibaldis are basically it.
    Nice
    So many people forget Sir Alexander Tollemache Carlyon de Chocolate-Hobnob, Admiral of the Blue and renegade leader of the Patagonian Revolutionary War in 1822
    You unaccountably forgot the abolitionist baronet, Sir Christopher Kat.

    Charles James Fox also possessed biscuits, reputedly.
    I thought Kit Kats were named after the club in Cabaret.
    There was a nightclub in Berlin called the Kitkat club all one word, but there was an earlier gentleman's club in London called the Kit Cat Club.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit-Cat_Club
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870

    Cookie said:

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
    CDU/CSU
    Oh I see, so they're properly "Merged" for this election?
    They function as sister parties. CSU only stands candidates in Bavaria, CDU throughout Germany except in Bavaria. I don't know why there's a formal split. AIUI, however, CSU is slightly more conservative.
    Yes, I know all that, but that graph is the first time I've seen them NOT referred to as "CDU/CSU".
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,410

    Cookie said:

    The Greens could end up the largest party in Germany.
    https://twitter.com/Wahlen_DE/status/1373394751714697225

    Union? Who are Union?
    CDU/CSU
    Oh I see, so they're properly "Merged" for this election?
    They function as sister parties. CSU only stands candidates in Bavaria, CDU throughout Germany except in Bavaria. I don't know why there's a formal split. AIUI, however, CSU is slightly more conservative.
    Because they are both "Christian". But the Bavarian one is overtly Catholic.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421
    kle4 said:

    ydoethur said:

    justin124 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    The incel thing definitely seems to be a thing, but one wonders whether the pasty, overweight Nazi chicken comes before you think I’d shag that egg.

    https://twitter.com/tejmuk/status/1373372389363490819?s=21

    Free booze in pubs and clubs for all for a week in August should solve the problem.
    Incels won't be going. They will be sitting in their underpants in their bedroom complaining online that women don't deserve them.
    That's quite a lot of unwanted human misery which you are happily chortling at.

    Is it possible to dabble in Celibacy because one is, shall we say, "just curious"?
    Yes but they wouldn't count as an incel.
    What about those who rely on masturbation?
    Dre I make a cutting remark about Gavin Williamson?
    It would be most out of character.
    Well, yes, given my famous mildness and restraint it would be.

    But he is trying my patience at the moment.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,468
    Local government in this country is a complete joke
  • kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Actually as I understand it commissioners sent in to run LA's negates the powers of local politicians
    Yes, but eventually they will get powers back, and they can help maintain their numbers, if they needed any help, by blaming the government day in day out until the election, and the lot of them can sit there sullenly until those powers are back, then blame the gov again.
    One report suggests the commissioners could be in place for several years
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Liverpool was run by Liberals in 1970s.
    And the Tories in the late 1960s.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126
    justin124 said:

    The Liberals have run Liverpool within living memory. Many of us recall Trevor Jones -'Jones - The Vote'.

    This is one of those times where your exhaustive historical recall actually makes 'within living memory' seem like it was a lot longer ago than it was for the Liberals, let alone the LDs.

    Heck 'within living memory' it looks like even the Conservatives had control.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,421

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    Well, a Lee Hurst sort of joke. Crude, offensive, badly thought out, not actually funny and totally counterproductive.

    And on that cheerful note, good night.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,468
    RobD said:

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
    Just incompetent on every level.
  • kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    And how does Starmer explain it all
    In defence of Starmer, local government is hard to control. Tory councils across the land don't shy away from railing against the government when it is convenient, and poorly run Labour councils would I imagine be very hard to rein in by the national party.
    Indeed but how can he even support Labour in local government in Liverpool

    Also are there not serious criminal allegations at present
    Wait until you hear about Northamptonshire council.

    Or Northampton borough council.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/06/northampton-town-extinction-missing-millions
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,662
    edited March 2021
    RobD said:

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
    I could list a dozen rotten boroughs off the top of my head.

    Here's one.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/06/northampton-town-extinction-missing-millions

    The councils that really do mess up spectacularly are the ones where they are effectively one party states.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,932

    RobD said:

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
    Just incompetent on every level.
    Well, I think that's a bit of an overstatement.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Actually as I understand it commissioners sent in to run LA's negates the powers of local politicians
    I'm not sure exactly what competences the local councillors would retain (presumably little or none) but the council itself will still be elected anyway. I had a look at the Northamptonshire County Council website (Northants having been subject to the commissioners since 2018) to check, and their councillors are all still in office. Though granted their situation is a bit different, as they'll be taking part in the unitarisation process that the Government has imposed.
  • Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    RobD said:

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
    I could list a dozen rotten boroughs off the top of my head.

    Here's one.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/06/northampton-town-extinction-missing-millions

    The councils that really do mess up spectacularly are the ones where they are effectively one party states.
    There are an awful lot of those, and they're not all bad.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    edited March 2021
    Made me smile.

    Reminds me of :Con Gain Bottle @Ave_it .

    https://twitter.com/JonTonge/status/1373403551502888963
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,104
    justin124 said:

    kle4 said:

    Wow.

    The Government is poised to take over the running of the city of Liverpool this week after a string of corruption allegations, The Telegraph can disclose.

    The expected decision by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to intervene in the running of one of the UK's biggest cities is unprecedented in modern times.

    Commissioners could be sent in to run the day-to-day operations of the council for several years, something which has only happened three times in the past 25 years.

    Commissioners were sent in by the Government to take over the running of councils in Northampton in 2018, Rotherham in 2015 and Towers Hamlets in 2014. None of them was the scale of a city like Liverpool, however.

    Max Caller, a respected local government inspector who was the commissioner in Tower Hamlets, was appointed by Mr Jenrick to lead the investigation into Liverpool last December.

    Mr Caller focused his investigation on property management, regeneration, highways, contracts and planning at the council over the past five years.

    The Telegraph understands that Mr Jenrick has now received the final report and recommendations from Mr Caller.

    He will make a final decision on what action to take this week before the formal purdah period begins ahead of the local government elections. It is likely that Mr Jenrick will order commissioners into Liverpool.

    Mr Caller has already briefed local MPs in the area about the findings which will be published this week. His report is understood to contain a “damning indictment of the council”.

    Councillors will still be elected in Liverpool but could cede executive powers to the commissioners for as long as they are appointed.

    The city's accounts have not been signed off by auditors for the past five years because of the continuing police inquiry into "financial irregularities".


    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/20/ministers-poised-run-liverpool/

    Husband tells me that failure to get accounts signed off is a very serious matter. If the auditors have failed to do it for five years straight then I'm somewhat surprised that measures haven't been taken in Liverpool before now.
    Manchester City Council will be feeling pretty smug right about now.

    Maybe the Liberal (not Liberal Democrats) Party can build on their strength in Liverpool from this :)
    Nah, Liverpool Labour is indestructible. Besides anything else, once the Evil Tories send their stooges in to take over the show, the Labour councillors can act as an opposition and blame the central Government for everything that happens in the city.
    Liverpool was run by Liberals in 1970s.
    And the Tories in the late 1960s.
    Currently Liverpool has 72 Labour councillors, 10 LD councillors, 4 Green councillors , 3 Liberal councillors and 0 Tory councillors

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_City_Council
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,126
    RobD said:

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    In what way? I thought the Liverpool situation was due to the current Mayor being under arrest on corruption charges.
    Seems to be more to it given the statement about the signing off of their accounts. But I think a lot of local government gets on, quietly, with a pretty decent job. It was cut back hard by austerity (there was a lot of wood to cut, but it may have gone a little too far) but those local politician's I've seen are often less partisan than national equivalents (obviously this is not the case everywhere) and it can be pretty thankless as there are many national dictats (for good and ill) which people don't like which councils have to follow (I've had a leaflet today which rather boldly proclaims in response to local housing matters and national rules 'X needs protecting. if the government won't do it, then we will').

    Parishes are the real wild west, despite having minimal power. There's so much that could be going on that is unlawful, deliberately or through lack of knowledge, and it'd be hard to discover it or challenge it.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,870

    Local government in this country is a complete joke

    This is a local joke for local people! There's nothing for YOU here!
This discussion has been closed.